MPC Sample vs The Alternatives

Now that the hype seems to have faded, it would be good to have a comparative of similar samplers. I know there are no alternatives that match 100% the Sample specs, but there's also people who don't fit 100% on what the Sample offers.

This post is basically my thoughts, out loud and written If I'm mistaken, corrections are more than welcome.

So far, I can think of:

MPC Sample
32 polyphony, Best usable display, 2 GB RAM, 8 GB storage + SD
Pros:

• Huge RAM
• Huge storage (Internal + SSD)
• MPC compatible
• Nice pads
• can sequence external MIDI Gear
• Rechargeable battery.

Cons:

• No keygroups.
• Chromatic samples play only on 16 notes
• Can't play chords from chromatic samples (workarounds available, but no chords natively)

TE EP 133 KO II
64/128 MB RAM. No storage. 16 mono or 12 stereo voice polyphony.

Pros:

• Usable and quick.
• Can sequence external MIDI Gear.

Cons:

• No song mode.
• No storage beyond RAM.
• AAA+ batteries

Roland Aira Compact P-6
A toy, reminds me of the old Casio SKs. About 10 MB of RAM. No storage. Polyphony: 16 voices.

Pros:

• Pocket size.
• Basic operation is quick.
• Granular engine.
• Rechargeable battery.

Cons:

• No actual screen, just a 4 digit pane.
• Takes time and effort learning how to operate it efficiently.
• Even shittier memory.
• External gear sequencing is weird and limited.

Other alternatives:

• Elektron: samples.
• Polyend Traker+ or mini: way more expensive, tracker style.
• Used MPC 500: worst of both worlds. The diving of the P6, small RAM and still no keygroups.

(I will edit this post with more specs and gear)

To be honest, I wouldn't even be considering any other options if the MPC Sample had keygroups or, at least, could play samples chromatically with more than 16 levels.

Maybe I'm thinking with the wrong mindset (maybe I could just play and sample chords and basslines, and just use them as samples), but the keyboardist in me says it's extremely weird not to have keygroups. I thought it was just me, but I've found a lot of users in Gearspace saying the same.

For the KO ii, it kills me that it doesn't have any storage at all. I can perfectly live with 128 or even 64 MB of sampling RAM, but having to use a PC every time I want to load or save... really??

I know the Roland P-6 is even worse in that aspect, but I consider it more a pocket sized toy than a real instrument.

bitermc wrote:
MPC Sample
32 polyphony, Best usable display, 2 GB RAM, 8 GB storage + SD

• Pros: Huge RAM, Huge storage (Internal + SSD), MPC compatible, nice pads, can sequence external MIDI Gear. Rechargeable battery.
• Cons: No keygroups. Chromatic samples play only on 16 notes.

can't you combine with a MPK mini for keys?

While the mpc sample does have 16 level for instruments (and chop mode), another issue is that the sequencer cannot record more than one pad event at any given time location, hence proper polyphonic 16 levels or chop is not possible. It will perform polyphonically, but the resulting recorded sequence will effectively be monophonic. The only workaround is to turn off quantise and ensure that all events for chords etc are entered at least 1 tick apart.

SKANDALOOX wrote:can't you combine with a MPK mini for keys?

I'm considering it. Actually, there are several options:

• MPK mini
• Other external minisynth (microKorg in my case)
• Software synth on my phone

Still, I find it too much for a workaround...

MPC-Tutor wrote:While the mpc sample does have 16 level for instruments (and chop mode), another issue is that the sequencer cannot record more than one pad event at any given time location, hence proper polyphonic 16 levels or chop is not possible. It will perform polyphonically, but the resulting recorded sequence will effectively be monophonic. The only workaround is to turn off quantise and ensure that all events for chords etc are entered at least 1 tick apart.

OMFG, it's worse than I thought

So, OK, let's face it, let's accept it... it's a DRUM sampler.

Don’t underestimate the P6. The lack of a proper screen makes it hard to navigate, but the sequencer is more capable than the Sample. It doesn’t have keygroups, but allows you to play more notes when in Keyboard mode, in which a sample is chromatically spread out over the keyboard, similar to the 16levels on the MPC.

Imo the MPC500 is still a worthy alternative as well. Although no dedicated chopping feature, USB sampling and outdated storage medium (FX, built in battery) it still has a superior sequencer. I love the Sample, but personally I miss some sequencing and sequence editing depth if I may do some nitpick complaining.

bitermc wrote:So, OK, let's face it, let's accept it... it's a DRUM sampler.

I spent a week developing instruments that use chop mode, all contain 16 mutlisamples in different scales. They sound fantastic, but I didn't check to see what the recorded sequences sounded like, I just assumed if they performed polyphonically, they would record polyphonically. I was literally 1 day away from launch and I saw someone post up about this limitation of 16 levels (and it turns out, chop mode as well). And yep, all my instruments are affected by this.

The other thing to realise is that this issue also affects chopped drums; for example if you chop a break down to individual hits and play it like an actual kit in chop mode, with, say, the kick and closed hat playing at the same time, the resulting sequence will only play either the kick or the hat, never both (unless you stagger the events by 1 or more ticks).

You can see what is happening if you go to STEP EDIT in chop or 16 level mode, hit OVERDUB and try inserting multiple 16 level or chop events are the same time location. Each time you try it just overrides the existing event.

TBF, it's the same problem in the full MPC3, but less of an issue as most people are using keygroups these days, or with drums they of course just extract to a separate chopped track rather than performing in chop mode itself.

bitermc wrote:

SKANDALOOX wrote:can't you combine with a MPK mini for keys?

I'm considering it. Actually, there are several options:

• MPK mini
• Other external minisynth (microKorg in my case)
• Software synth on my phone

Still, I find it too much for a workaround...

more than portable it's wearable, and with battery

Menco wrote:Don’t underestimate the P6. The lack of a proper screen makes it hard to navigate, but the sequencer is more capable than the Sample. It doesn’t have keygroups, but allows you to play more notes when in Keyboard mode, in which a sample is chromatically spread out over the keyboard, similar to the 16levels on the MPC

Yep, the more I see from it, the more I like it.

It's absurdly limited in memory, the pads aren't even velocity sensitive and lacks a screen, but still, it seems fun and immediate. It reminds me of the crazy experiments I use to do on the Casio SK when I was a kid.

If I want a proper sampler, I use my MPC One - and get everything else it provides, and the kitchen sink... But at the cost of being merely transportable, not portable.

My other studio is T-8, J-6, Zenbeats on Android and sometimes a compact keyboard... Limited in every way - except that I can shove them in my go bag with the least care in the world, be on my way and get some jamming fun in the interstices of my schedule, with lots of physical controls. A P-6 would fit right there: none of the alternatives are that compact and robust for 130€ on the used market. Though I'll first get a S-1 !

Cost, compacity and robustness are underrated.

The KOII has a song mode

TT_Lab wrote:The KOII has a song mode

Really? Noted!

Ok, seems like I've exceeded the amount of times I can edit the top post...

So, yes, the KO ii has a song mode since firmware 2.00.

Latest OS update is from December 2025, which is a good point.

Latest OS for the p6 is 1.02 from september 2024, so presumably this device won't get updates anymore (that is soooo Roland)