From TR-6S, SP-404, Model:Samples to the MPC Sample?

Been going round in circles on this one, so I'd rather ask people who own it than read another review.

Quick background. Had a TR-6S and loved it, but no sampling. Then an SP-404, which sounds great and I wanted to like more than I did, but I was menu diving constantly and doing anything chromatic was a pain. Then a Model:Samples, which was the easy one. Sounded decent but ended up being too limiting.

What I want is one box sitting next to a hardware synth doing three jobs: sequencing the synth, drum machine duty, and layered samples.

My worry is that every time I've looked at MPCs they've come across as deep but a lot of work, and I lose the plot when a box makes me stop and think about the hardware. The Sample looks like it's trying to solve that problem. I've read the known limits and honestly none of them bug me. No slice by slice editing, no automating sample start or end, no stems out. Fine for what I do.

For what it's worth I've been looking at the EP-133 K.O. II too but I'm not sure that meets my needs.

Three things I couldn't get a straight answer on re: the Sample.

Chromatic. This is the one that decides it for me, because it's what killed the 404. How well does it play a sample melodically across the pads? Is that a real part of using it or is it just checking a box?

MIDI out. I know it's got it. Is it actually hard to work with when you're sequencing an outboard synth? Can you split across multiple channels?

Layering. Can I stack a few samples on one pad and have it feel like an instrument, or is that a workaround?

I guess the last question is really workflow... can you jam with this thing and have fun? does it get out of the way?

Thanks for any help!

Layering is limited in the MPC Sample. Officially you can layer two pads together using pad link. On full MPCs you have the ability to layer 8 sounds per pad (and use linking to layer an additional 4 pads as well = 40 layers).

MPC Sample is not ideal for chromatic instrument playing. No support for keygroups so the main option is to use 16 levels where you temporarily tune a single sample across all 16 pads. Sonically this can sounds poor but your milage will vary depending on the sample, and another limitation is that each event in your sequencer can only support a single 16 level event so recording chords requires you manually nudge all your samples at least 1 tick apart. Not a problem for live playing but limiting for recorded sequences.

Alternatively manually tune multisamples across the pads - I've done this in my Electric Bass expansion.

But if 'less fussy, less distractions' is the aim, MPC Sample is great.

IMO for your use, if it needs to be an MPC, go for the MPC One.

MPC-Tutor wrote:Layering is limited in the MPC Sample. Officially you can layer two pads together using pad link. On full MPCs you have the ability to layer 8 sounds per pad (and use linking to layer an additional 4 pads as well = 40 layers).

MPC Sample is not ideal for chromatic instrument playing. No support for keygroups so the main option is to use 16 levels where you temporarily tune a single sample across all 16 pads. Sonically this can sounds poor but your milage will vary depending on the sample, and another limitation is that each event in your sequencer can only support a single 16 level event so recording chords requires you manually nudge all your samples at least 1 tick apart. Not a problem for live playing but limiting for recorded sequences.

Alternatively manually tune multisamples across the pads - I've done this in my Electric Bass expansion.

But if 'less fussy, less distractions' is the aim, MPC Sample is great.

IMO for your use, if it needs to be an MPC, go for the MPC One.

Ahh... this is helpful, if a little disappointing.

Perhaps I'm asking too much from one piece of gear. I'll take a look at the expansion - thank you.