Support and discussion for all of Akai’s modern standalone MPCs including the MPC X / X SE, MPC Live 1, 2 & 3, MPC One / One+, MPC Key 37/61.
By Alpha13 Wed Oct 18, 2023 7:38 am
Good morning,

New to the world of Mpc, I would like to have your opinion, in order to make the right choice for my purchase.

I would like to control a Waldorf Blofeld (MIDI DC to control the filter, resonance, arpeggiator, etc.), as well as modify the exchange programs, exchange banks.

I'm hesitating between an mpc Live 2 and a midi controller (midimix) to control 24 Blofeld parameters or the Mpc X Se which already has 16 Knobs incorporated into the hardware.

Unless I'm mistaken, the 16 Knobs can be used in a project, but unfortunately only 16 Knobs per project, therefore more limiting as not several user banks.

The more control knobs I have the better I know, it just has to be compatible with the MPC.

Given the big difference in price between the Live 2 and the X Se version and that the

On the other hand, the X Se version certainly has a more direct workflow than Live 2.

What bothers me, however, is the limitation of 16 Knobs per project for the X Se version.

Thank you in advance for your responses and opinions.
By handthrow Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:29 am
FYI you can have 16 q links for global project parameters, but also you can have 16 separate q links per each program - so you can switch between the two q-link modes with a button.


I have a Live 2 and an X and there is a difference in workflow - X is more comfortable, has direct monitoring, transport section, numeric pad, palmrest, much more flexible IO, but as with everything it might be also down to personal preference
By Alpha13 Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:38 am
Many thanks for your response.

Sorry for my beginner's ignorance, but I'm just starting out with how an MPC works and I don't yet fully understand the differences (project and program).

Can you tell me the differences?

I thank you in advance.
User avatar
By Juxx Wed Oct 18, 2023 10:44 am
A "project" is Earth everything that can or will exist is in it.

A "Sequence" is A City on earth of which earth has many....what ever you build up will be in a sequence.

A "track" is like a street in the city of which there can be many... but in this city each street contains only
one building. You choose what building to construct on that street.

A "program" is like a building of which there can be many.... you choose to build at the end of one of
these streets. You have 6 choices the most popular of which is Drum, Plugin, key group,

A "Drum Program" is a empty Apartment building you can put samples(people) into up to 128 each
with their own separate pad.

On a X there is
16 knobs that can control at the Project-earth level
16 Knobs that can change things in your Program-Building level.....Pad scenes are like........

Ok I think this analogy may be at its end.... :hmmm: :hmmm: :hmmm: Geezzzzz
By Alpha13 Wed Oct 18, 2023 11:14 am
Many thanks for your response and explanation.

Very clear and precise explanation, thank you again.

Better to take an X Se version or a Live 2 and for example a Midimix (or another controller perhaps more suitable or more possibilities) in relation to my needs, my use to pilot and control the
Blofeld desktop?

Does the size of the screen of the X Se version and the Live 2 make a real difference in use?
given that the larger screen of the X Se is further away than the screen of the Live 2?
User avatar
By EnochLight Wed Oct 18, 2023 3:34 pm
Alpha13 wrote:Better to take an X Se version or a Live 2 and for example a Midimix (or another controller perhaps more suitable or more possibilities) in relation to my needs, my use to pilot and control the
Blofeld desktop?

Does the size of the screen of the X Se version and the Live 2 make a real difference in use?
given that the larger screen of the X Se is further away than the screen of the Live 2?


This is the only question you need to ask: Do I need to take my MPC with me easily and be completely mobile? If the answer is yes, then the Live 2 is your best bet. But in almost every other way, the X SE is a far better machine (especially since it has twice the RAM as the Live 2). The X SE has more buttons, more Q-links, more onboard input/output, and more "immediate" control of all parameters.
By Alpha13 Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:37 pm
Thanks for your response.

This will only be used to manage my machines in my home studio.

So the solution seems obvious, the Mpc X SE :)
By robleighton22 Thu Oct 19, 2023 12:13 am
Also...midi controllers for controlling the MPC are not easy to configure to same functionality as the qLinks. Prob done by design by Akai, controllers are fine for simple parameter mappings but the MPC X can switch from global to context sensitive stuff without any manual mapping. From a workflow perspective this is total integration and tbh not many other devices offer this level of automatically mapped control over effectively a DAW. Ableton Push comes close but even then misses the mark as doesn't map anything in arrangement view.
By Alpha13 Thu Oct 19, 2023 8:58 pm
Thank you for your reply.

The Mpc X Se really seems to be the perfect solution for my use and configuration for my home studio.