Do you only use your MPC independently or with a DAW?

Hello everyone,

I've been using my MPC ONE independently for about 3 years now and have been getting along quite well so far. However, I think I could get even more out of my tracks by using a DAW.

No hate, but somehow I don't get along with the DAW from AKAI.

How do you work?

Do you use your MPCs independently or do you use another DAW?

I was thinking about getting Ableton. Do you think it's advisable to use the MPC ONE with ABleton or do I need to pay attention to something?

Thanks in advance and have a nice weekend!

Currently I use my MPC Key 37 alongside iPhone Pro Max 1TB.
I record samples from iPhone to MPC (endless possibilities via YouTube, insta reels, AppStore synths, DAWs, etc).
I finish off some tracks in GarageBand. Logic Pro on standby if need be.

Every tool does something unique, I like to find those oddities and combine them all. Beats made on one platform tend to sound flat, without character, soulless.

Both: the MPC is the DAW !

I got the MPC Live as a drum machine, so for a while I only really used standalone occasionally. I was that guy back in the day with a computer based sequencer. After some time, I enjoy the workflow of the MPCs and started writing on the hardware.

Bad timing though, MPC3 beta is on standalone, so now I have to use the MPC 2 software to get odd time signatures, so I'm back to using the MPC2 VSTi as a plugin in a DAW (Digital Performer in my case), most of the time, and testing MPC3, sending in feature requests and hoping that it won't be rendered useless for live performance, one of the reasons I got MPC Live and not the Studio or Touch.

I don't get completely peoples issue with the MPC 2 software? it's not any different than standalone unless you want it to be.

Lampdog wrote:

MPCKey37 wrote:Beats made on one platform tend to sound flat, without character, soulless.

Gonna disagree.

Me too, strongly.

MPCKey37 wrote:Beats made on one platform tend to sound flat, without character, soulless.

That was my first thought/impression. But the more I discover all the effects and modulation possibilities, the more I get the impression that I was wrong. I think it wouldn't hurt to use another tool to maybe make a few fine adjustments or add the finishing touches, but basically I'm very happy with the result of the standalone MPC ONE.

However, as I'm just a beginner/ layman, I can't judge it technically enough from my point of view.

However, I'm glad to read that there are other members here who probably have a lot more experience than I do and who are also very happy with the results when using the MPC ONE or comparable hardware exclusively =)

machinesworking wrote: I don't get completely peoples issue with the MPC 2 software? it's not any different than standalone unless you want it to be.

I find the software somehow not so intuitive to use and don't get on well with the menu navigation. I find it much more difficult to get started with the software than with the hardware. I don't have this problem with Ableton.

But maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm already used to Ableton. Let's see, I'll try again to warm up to the software.

Jean-Marc Liotier wrote:Both: the MPC is the DAW !

You are right. Unfortunately, I'm a layman and didn't know the best way to define it conceptually. I was concerned with the distinction between a stand-alone hardware (on which a DAW is installed) and a pure software DAW.

If there are different terms for these two tools, it would be great if you could let me know so that I can make future posts less confusing

I mainly use a DAW (Logic) for audio routing now (other than finalizing tracks/mastering). I have everything connected to everything in my studio thru my patch bay and I use Logic to add EQ/FX/compression/etc. to any audio sources i want to sample in my MPC(s).

I can switch from sampling Youtube to sampling one of my synths to sampling my turntable thru my MPC 2500 in a second. Super handy.

The MPC Live is still a great way to sequence external gear, so I have it running my modular synth rig. But the tracks still become actual tracks in Logic and probably always will. The MPC is very much capable of producing a whole track standalone, right thru the mastering process, but the tools in Logic are fantastic and I much prefer going that route.

Plus the other half of my main music project also uses Logic so I can share files with bro super easily.

in that case, we actually record all our tracks to tape, then mix/EQ/FX/etc., THEN go into Logic to master hahaha. So our DAW is a 12 track tape recorder and an old Tascam mixing desk with external hardware sends

All that to say you don't necessarily need Ableton/a DAW, and that it all depends on your situation. but it may make life easier depending on what you wanna do. You can produce whole ass albums with the MPC Live alone, no question, but I wouldn't want to unless i had to