Is it me, or do the newer Mpc's soud "too clean"?

Ok, so i own the 1000, played around with 2000, 2500, sp404, mv8000, and I recently got my hands on a live 2. While there is a learning curve, I've found the newer mpc's sound really really clean. Like even before running everything through to analog or exporting the track, it just sounds pristine, or is it me?

For example, the 1000, while the sound is clean, it has a certain "warm" or ump to it. Like for me, my drums hit harder, the samples connect in a minute gritter way, I cant explain it.

That was one of my concerns when I first got the mpc studio, the software was great, but the sound was very clean, I would find myself, and I am now running plugins and fx to make it more grittier, more dirty, or more warm.

I was making a track recently with the live 2, and it just sounds crisp.

Well enough rambling, I just wanted to have a discussion with other users about my thoughts. I'm constantly looking for a fx or plugin to get the mpc as close to the previous gens.

Also, random question/topic, I believe years ago I was searching to see if akai implemented a feature where I can use the mpc studio vst in cubase, and drag and drop the drum sequence into cubase as midi (I believe someone referred to me as chromatic or autochromatic). With maschine, I was able to make a beat inside the vst, and drag and control all the notes inside my daw.

Thanks in advance if anyone can confirm how to do this.

nah bro its all in ur head

If Akai could have done it 'right' in the 80s, the MPC60/3000/2000/etc would have been clean and pristine as ****. The only reason they have 'that sound' is because of the tech at the time that they could use to keep it 'affordable'. Had A/D/D/A converters been as available and cheap as they are nowadays, it would've been squeaky clean which is what the entire recording industry also wanted.

There are plenty of ways to 'dirty' up the sound inside now if that's what you want.

The MPC Studio doesnt have an audio interface in it. Blame your computers audio interface for that one sounding the way it does.

When the MPC1000 was 'current', people said it sounded sterile. Now people say it has warmth. Recently I spotted on Facebook an expansion pack 'made on a classic MPC1000 for that vintage sound'

When the MPC2000XL came out, it was claimed it sounded super-thin compared to the 2000. Now it's considered thick, warm and beefy.

The MPC Live will soon be considered the warmest of the touchscreen MPCs, with those much sought after 2016 convertors.

We have so many ways to make stuff sound vintage, grimy, dirty, warm, whatever, be it outboard for real time processing, or post production processing with hardware or software, so surely being able to record 'clean' is the more flexible 'base' option.

I guess it's a human thing of nostalgia, that the thought of everything use to be better.
Just like you said , now you get best of both worlds , before you only had the "gritty and warm sound" now you can have it clean .. and also get it as Lo-fi as you want to

Monotremata wrote:If Akai could have done it 'right' in the 80s, the MPC60/3000/2000/etc would have been clean and pristine as ****. The only reason they have 'that sound' is because of the tech at the time that they could use to keep it 'affordable'. Had A/D/D/A converters been as available and cheap as they are nowadays, it would've been squeaky clean which is what the entire recording industry also wanted.

There are plenty of ways to 'dirty' up the sound inside now if that's what you want.

The MPC Studio doesnt have an audio interface in it. Blame your computers audio interface for that one sounding the way it does.

Focusrite. I had the saffire interface with the mpc studio/ren came out and it was just super pristine clean.

MPC-Tutor wrote:When the MPC1000 was 'current', people said it sounded sterile. Now people say it has warmth. Recently I spotted on Facebook an expansion pack 'made on a classic MPC1000 for that vintage sound'

When the MPC2000XL came out, it was claimed it sounded super-thin compared to the 2000. Now it's considered thick, warm and beefy.

The MPC Live will soon be considered the warmest of the touchscreen MPCs, with those much sought after 2016 convertors.

We have so many ways to make stuff sound vintage, grimy, dirty, warm, whatever, be it outboard for real time processing, or post production processing with hardware or software, so surely being able to record 'clean' is the more flexible 'base' option.

I remember this, but for me, the mpc 1000 sound was just perfect. Not dirty, but no squeaky clean, imo the 1k/2.5k/4k were some of the last analog pieces of akai great gear.

Dont get me wrong, I love all the "features" of the live 2, but there imo there is a learning curve, and almost anything I put in it sounds as clean as my daw. I know UAD interfaces, avid, etc, will make things come as clean as they can come, but just for me, there is something about that gritty sound. I know that doesnt mean I need to go out and spending $$$$ on a sp1200/mpc 3000/asr 10, but even with the vintage effects, it just seems like its super clean.

Almost to the point where the mix process (especially if you leave alot of headroom), is at the point where I'm barely using any plugins (just some basic eqing, minor compression, etc.) at this point.

IndigoBeatz wrote:I guess it's a human thing of nostalgia, that the thought of everything use to be better.
Just like you said , now you get best of both worlds , before you only had the "gritty and warm sound" now you can have it clean .. and also get it as Lo-fi as you want to

Videogame wise, I feel like this...Felt like the games were much harder back then, especially without autosave and hints.

jpeg wrote:nah bro its all in ur head

idk if it is.

TXDelta1010 wrote:

jpeg wrote:nah bro its all in ur head

idk if it is.

there are so many A/B comparissons vids showing the difference is negligble

But I can hear a difference. I've seen several videos, and usually can spot the older mpcs everytime. For example, this video...I spot it immediately when Malo started A/B'ing the drums.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugU36AdJaMA

If it doesn’t work for you find something else. Plenty of people are making great music on theses new mpcs without worrying about how “clean” they sound.

TXDelta1010 wrote:Ok, so i own the 1000, played around with 2000, 2500, sp404, mv8000, and I recently got my hands on a live 2. While there is a learning curve, I've found the newer mpc's sound really really clean. Like even before running everything through to analog or exporting the track, it just sounds pristine, or is it me?

For example, the 1000, while the sound is clean, it has a certain "warm" or ump to it. Like for me, my drums hit harder, the samples connect in a minute gritter way, I cant explain it.

That was one of my concerns when I first got the mpc studio, the software was great, but the sound was very clean, I would find myself, and I am now running plugins and fx to make it more grittier, more dirty, or more warm.

I was making a track recently with the live 2, and it just sounds crisp.

MPC GANG has entered the chat...Where we go again

The 1k/2500 didn't not make audio sound more dirty or gave it extra ump. Those samplers had no character at all, you got what you put in. I'm in the process of transferring MPC2500 beats to the Force & the beats sound just a nasty as it was on the MPC, but with the tools on the new MPC/Force, you can get it to sound way dirtier than you ever could on any vintage MPC...Don't sleep on them drum FX mixed with Flavor Pro or even the filters.

Also this demo proved that the new MPCs can sound just like the 3k or at least just as good.

The 1000 is known to be a bit nasty.certainly got many recordings myself of it sounding raw and uncompromising.lofi cheap converters ectect maybe.def has some character (not talking 60/1200) character,calm down )) but ultimately is also got a plastic sheen too.Use sparingly imo.To me the new MPCs sound…..well they dont sound.They just are.maybe a little more punchy otb that general generic Sample playback.but yeah.This MV8800 I just got smokes everything padwise tho.No competition….. Always been a fan of Roland samplers.anything i make with the computer/modern/transparent sound is transformed being processed inside the MV.I’ve come to the conclusion,soundwise im not Akai biggest fanboy these days.great all round boxes tho.nothing else can do everything MPC can do.just not a character box,soundwise.

dryad-66 wrote:The 1000 is known to be a bit nasty

Ok buddy. I sample something in the 1k/2500 & there no nastiness added what are you talking about. Do you mean after you sample something & add the LPF or the Bit Grunger?

The 24bit of the new MPCs just allow for more headroom, but even 16bit is more than enough tho. The 1k/2500 & the new gen sample rate is 44.1k & the 1k/2500 convertors were considered transparent back in the day. So when did people start saying it's a bit nasty?