Do I want an MPC One?

So I did have an MPC One for maybe like, about 2 months...This was last year. I didn't like it that much. I think because I am someone who likes to make their own samples/sampling and the unit seem bloated with preset stuff. I'm a guy who typically doesn't like preset stuff. Unless it's like, a synthesizer. I use an MX49.

I also was having trouble with making my own samples and pgms and saving them correctly. I think I should give it another chance and I might be buying an MPC One very soon, maybe today.

I also have used an SP404 before and made exactly one track with it before I sold/traded it. I watched a video about the SP404MK11 and it looks a lot better than the older one.

My recent MPC excursion was a few months ago. Had a 1000. I sold it but I think I have a future in producing beats using my tape/vinyl/LP collection of classical music.

anyway- is it going to be easy/ straightforward to use the MPC One like it's a 2KXL or other MPCs? I don't use all the bells and whistles when I 'mpc' I just like rearranging chopped samples.

you can hear one I made with the 1000

https://soundcloud.com/jdsy/hi-jascha

and this one too:

https://soundcloud.com/jdsy/bluebird-wav-voice

and this one as well- this is an EP that I made with an MPC Studio black.

https://jdsy.bandcamp.com/album/incoming-outgoing

So- I'm not apposed to buying another MPC Studio, or the Ren even. Is this a good move? The ONE is so affordable though. I usually buy new Schitt on zZounds because of the payment plan. I could get an MPC One for like 60$ a month so that wouldn't hurt. It feels more affordable to go that route then to find a Ren for example, which could be in the same ballpark as a new ONE.

SO-

Should I know anything about the MPC One before buying it? It works like an MPC right? Any glaring issues with the work flow? Especially saving and making your own pgms and samples.

I’d advise you not to get one. If you weren’t pleased the first time, why would another experience be any different.

The sampling method hasn’t changed. The preloaded sounds haven’t changed. For you to get value from a MPC One, your outlook would need to change. Preloaded sounds don’t affect how the device performs in any fundamental way. If you’re were feeling the sampler or the editor, only being patient and adjusting to how it works would make a difference. I have three modern MPCs and they serve me well. That being said, not everything is for everybody.

How do you think you’ll benefit from getting an MPC One?

JDSY wrote:So I did have an MPC One for maybe like, about 2 months...This was last year. I didn't like it that much.

JDSY wrote:Should I know anything about the MPC One before buying it? It works like an MPC right? Any glaring issues with the work flow? Especially saving and making your own pgms and samples.

I might be missing something, but what is the point in getting a MPC ONE for a secound time, when you did not like it the first time...

RandomVibration wrote:I’d advise you not to get one. If you weren’t pleased the first time, why would another experience be any different.

It would be different because my attitude might change. I never really got my hands dirty with the ONE. . .
Anyway I might adopt it because it's a new device. it isn't going to fall apart or need repairs. I'm usually really light on the MPC anyway, any model. The price for a new AKAI is cheaper than it ever has been, too.

My friend has a MPC 500 that I might buy from him.. .. ..

I guess for now- I'll write music with a keyboard sequencer.

did you guys peep the links to these MPC type songs?

I'm also remembering that I disliked using the touch screen

Don’t get one. Try Maschine first.
I also deeply hate the preloaded stuff on MPC and love it on Maschine.
Get a used MK3 to tether to your computer and see if you enjoy the workflow. Everything can be done on the controller and no touchscreen.

I feel you. I also have that with some very specific gear. Namely the Push 3 Standalone. I want to love it but just can’t . Sent it back pretty quickly just to order it again a couple month later to come to the same conclusion a second time. The potential I see is huge but then it’s rather stoopid to order because of potential that might never be met. Because in the end it’s Ableton and it will always be Ableton. Which I have left many moons ago and never used since then if it wasn’t to export some old projects that I wanted to pick up on again.

It’s the same with the MPC for you probably. From what I read it at least feels that way. Huge potential but not to your liking?
In the end every MPC since the dawn of the 60 worked (very basically) the same way and will continue to work that way in the future. An MPC is an MPC because it works like an MPC. Akai will likely only add more features that you don’t need in the future.

If you really need closure order one again and see. Then send it back if you still hate it.

But also ask yourself the questions: „Why do I feel that I „need“ an MPC and what do I hope to accomplish with it? Is there other gear that works the way I like? Maybe I already have that piece of gear in my possession and just need a new angle?“

Think about if it’s just FOMO or GAS of some sort?
Best of luck

I have a pretty stripped down studio when you take into account all the gear I've burned through and sold off. SO- I'm sort of recreating Christmas Morning when I order or buy something I've owned and used in the past. Right now I have pianos, a guitar, an MX49, a QY100 sequencer for the MX, and some microphones. I don't even have a mixer! Oh, I do have yamaha Studio monitors.

So- I did indeed order the MPC One, and I also ordered a small keyboard amp that can play back one of my computers and the MPC.

I'm going to try and slowly work through using it. learn it. And try to make some cool thangs.

this is a bit of a GAS like syndrome, but ya- I think like i said, my future has me sampling my music collection!

I had an MPC One for a couple of months and returned it because of faulty pads they couldn't fix. Then got a Force and it is HUGELY better to use. It just needs a tilt stand for comfortable use.

Making your own samples... It depends on what kind of sampling you're talking about. Make a sampled acoustic piano, orchestral library, realistic "real" instruments... not going to happen, you'll have to use something else, probably a desktop computer DAW system. But for creative electronic choppy or just non-realistic stuff, it's OK. For realistic instrument sounds, it's a bit painful to label, group, categorize and map stuff, there are no wav foldering/grouping facilities, making sustain loops is too hard, there's not even sustain loop fine-tuning, only four velocity layers, no scripting. For that kind of stuff you'll need to use a computer and real modern sampler software.

The only easy way for making multi-sample keygroup programs on the MPC/Force itself is auto-sampling. It has its downsides and shortcomings, but if you can live with the large file sizes, it's useful and easy.

For any device you have to have an decent understanding of how it what it is & how it works. You should consider buying thebl MPC Bible, since it sounds like you just need to some basic, but confusing at first stuff like Akai’s file management. Once you comprehend how saving/loading stuff works you'll realize how power it is compared to some hardware units.

I don't get how the MPC or any device stock sounds that are optional would take away from you using as a sampler. That's 1 of the mental attitude adjustments you'll need to make to get the best out of the MPC or Force which have disk-streaming that allows you to record way pass the MPC time limit.

I found that just overviewing the manual & focusing on the parts that most important to me & testing it out is a great way to learn.

cool, ya I feel kinda dumb for not liking the MPC One the first time, since I didn't look at the manual. Does the unit come with a paper manual or just PDF?

JDSY wrote:cool, ya I feel kinda dumb for not liking the MPC One the first time, since I didn't look at the manual. Does the unit come with a paper manual or just PDF?

Just PDF which has it's own search engine & you can bookmark or screenshot pages. I also, would try to look up videos on each topic. The manual isn't best to read from front to back like a novel . Read what's important or interesting to you first.

right on. I think I was stuck last time trying to change the time signature. It seemed like it should just pop up when you hit that space on the screen. Oh well...

Well she's here! Haven't opened up the box yet!