Is 2GB enough on the MPC KEY 37 ?

I am trying to decide between the MPC KEY 37 and the MPC Live 3. Realistically I would not be using some of the advanced editing and sound design features as I am new to MPCs and am looking to build songs using the MPC workflow. The main issue I have is will the 2GB be enough for making a song consisting of: Drum plugin, Bass plugin, Piano plugin, Synth plugin, external microphone for vocal, external guitar plugged in, and one track consisting of samples imported with an iphone or lp player. I have heard the devices can’t handle multiple plugins like the fancy studio strings and fabric xl without freezing up or having really long load times. Also when navigating the presets menu to audition synth sounds are there a long load times between each selection? With thousand of sounds this could be very time consuming picking a sound. Are these software and loading issues common or are they just exaggerated by some impatient users? Thanks for reading. Bonus question: Is the audio fidelity of sampling with an iphone or lp player into the usbc port on the Live 3 significantly better or even noticeable compared to using a 3.5mm to lightning adaptor?

Go Live III and a Secondhand KEY37

40Beatz wrote:Go Live III and a Secondhand KEY37

They have the KEY37 on sale for $699 so I am considering it but don’t want to buy the “old” version that freezes up and loads slowly especially as the software improves each year. The KEY37 can’t even use version 3.6 so it is already at its processing limit. I plan on using external devices like guitar and microphone so I didn’t know if the units can handle using 8 tracks just fine as long as I don’t try using a bunch of premium plugins at once. I don’t need things like the built in speakers or stem separation on the LIVE 3 so the KEY37 seems like the best choice but I don’t want to buy the older version to save money and then regret it.

Lampdog wrote:

R0ckAndR0ll wrote:The KEY37 can’t even use version 3.6

It can use v3.6.0.

Key37 has different hardware then Live3, so those features won't work but all others will.
I have a Key61 and OG X running v3.6.0 working just fine, like I said, MPCe features and/or any other features/plug-ins that specifically need Live 3 hardware and /or v3.6.0 work.

Oh ok thank you for clarifying that. Have you had any issues with slow loading times and software issues or has that issue been exaggerated by others?

R0ckAndR0ll wrote:Oh ok thank you for clarifying that. Have you had any issues with slow loading times and software issues or has that issue been exaggerated by others?

Sample-based plugins like Fabric load slowly on all Gen1 hardware. On the other hand, they seem to load much faster on the Gen2 Live 3.

Thank you to everyone for their advice and feedback. I decided to go all in and buy the MPC Live 3. I used a 15% off black friday coupon and just sold my yamaha ck61 for $800 so its not too bad out of pocket for me. Also I know with the 8GB RAM the device has it will be able to handle all the features and updates that will come along.

Good for you - I think you'll be very happy with your choice!

The Key 61 has 4GB of RAM FYI. You could have gone with that and been fine. I have the Key 61 and never run out of resources.

I have a 2 GB MPC One and never run out of resources either, "thanks" to the eight plugins limit. Yes, I do not use large samples and rarely use multisampled instruments. RAM is a limitation for heavy sampling, but many other ways of using an MPC rarely ever find it insufficient.

2gb is annoying as more resource heavy plugins (*coughNativeInstrumentscough*) get added to the lineup but mostly that's just a time issue. will happily splash out for the MPC Two if/when it arrives but for now the old CPU memory constraints are more inconveniences than dealbreakers

Bouncing to an Audio File should our best friend when it comes to RAM Limitations

40Beatz wrote:Bouncing to an Audio File should our best friend when it comes to RAM Limitations

Then the 4GB RAM update is for marriage.

Nahhhh Still a Side Piece.