MPC operation with DAW

hello all
i'm a total noob with the MPC live II. I have just got it and I must say i'm impressed with the tightness and timing of the sequencer when using it with my external synths. I'm not that into chopping up jazz records / break beats, rather making minimal synth tracks.

I have been using Cubase for many years and I am used to the interface. I like the ability to view a song big picture as it where. The MIDI tightness with external synths is not great. Currently all the audio outs of the synths go into a RME digiface with ADAT giving 32 audio channels.

So I would like some way of using the MPC to play my external synths but still have the advantages of the DAW environment.

I have seen that it seem tobe possible to use the MPC in a DAW but this seems to be as a sound card / MIDI controller so I would lose the 18 inputs of my current Focusrite interface.

I guess I need to either sync the AKAI to Cubase of preferable, Cubase to the AKAI as i'm sure it has a more stable clock.

Any pointers with this would be most appreciated.

hi thanks for the info. I was able to use it to setup and get MPC working as a VST. It integrates well but the timing is very sloppy, as bad as the DAW

I have a Roland SH09 attached to the MPC via CV and it's super tight but when I go into controller mode, the timing is no where near as good.

I suppose some sort of sync outside of USB etc may be better.

mindburner wrote:hi thanks for the info. I was able to use it to setup and get MPC working as a VST. It integrates well but the timing is very sloppy, as bad as the DAW

I have a Roland SH09 attached to the MPC via CV and it's super tight but when I go into controller mode, the timing is no where near as good.

I suppose some sort of sync outside of USB etc may be better.

I tried several Times using in Cubase and had the same results I using in my cubase in standalone only..The software is good locally..

hi, bizarrely when the MPC VST is running on it's own there is no issue. When I add say another VST or audio track, the issue appears. It's like a flaming on the kick drum like the track is being held back somehow

I tried several Times using in Cubase and had the same results I using in my cubase in standalone only..The software is good locally..

yes the MPC software on the PC is good and I do not see this phasing / flaming
I will try Ableton and report back

so Ableton live was super tight with the MPC VST running and internal VST instruments stayed in sync with the MPC VST.

So it's potentially a Cubase issue. I have version 7 and 11 pro and the issue is there with both versions,

It's so frustrating as I have used Cubase since day one I will investigate and report back any findings

more experimentation with Cubase and the culprit seems to be ASIO-guard. If on I get delays, OFF the timing s tight.
Something to be aware of if using Cubase

actually it's just rubbish. MPC doesn't work properly with a cubase host.