Why use MIDI?

Reason is easy to get around on since all the modules are built in and right at your finger tips.

The MPC w/MIDI sound modules (or a keyboard) are just as easy.

Both Reason and an MPC have sequencers that pretty much have the same basic functions.

Honestly, I don't know much about hardware sequencers, such as the triton, or in this case, the mpc. I feel that software sequencers, such as reasons, are just fast as hell to operate and record with. Maybe it's just how I've been so far raised, but I just my akai a couple of days ago, so I can't say much about it. I know for the triton, I always playback the midi from protools to then choose a sound.

Its basically what you start with..many times. Since I started on an MPC, I can't imagine using nothing else. I even use my MPC to sequence Reason and other software synths.

However, I have partners that started with software first and find the MPC a little awkward. But what ever gets the job done is the one you should choose for yourself...

But they are pretty much the same. Assign MIDI channel/instrument to a track..press record..and bang on the pads/keyboard...nothing more to it..

^^^good point

im fast as hell with the mpc. I can have a drum pattern in two seconds.

With midi, its nice because you can write a bassline, or riff, then just flip through the sounds until you find something you like better than what you started with. Maybe you started with an acoustic piano patch, but realized you whanted a wurly instead.

Plus you can edit the notes after they are recorded. Or you can cross midi channels to layer sounds and create giant combinations............some what to combi mode on the triton.

Well, I will say this. I find the drums in Reason horrifying--sounds and programming--which is why I picked up the akai mainly. It's such a pain in the ass to program. The rex sucks and the redrum, which I like a lot (I think step drum machines are great), would be so much better with a hardware controller designed for the redrum. If they made a hardware replica of the redrum, that would be awesome.

Aside from this, I've been having a major problem loading sounds from the CD drive for my 2000 classic, using the SCSI. So, if you can help, great. I've been told that you have to use data files, not audio, to burn on cd. When I finally did this from my mac powerbook (using itunes, to burn data files onto cd ((I heard toast was better but would still be able to do it on itunes))), hopeful that it would now finally work, the akai still didn't see any of the files. It shows the device: scsi 5; no files; and type:??. That's pretty much it... When I go to format, the akai recognizes the drive. I feel like king nube with this one...but help would be helpful at this point. I'm pretty sure it has to do with how I'm burning the file...

jahrome wrote:Its basically what you start with....

Yep. I started on a PC, FruityLoops to Reason to Cubase. And once you get your head in to that way of programing it does take quite a leap to move over to an MPC. I got good background on the PC and would recommend it to any new music maker.

But once you understand how the MPC has been designed to be used then it is a amazing creative process. Completely different to the PC which was creating music through graphics, this is creating music through hammering away on Pads. Which I believe is a much 'looser' and real sound.

Esp if you program everything with the Timing Correct (quantise!!) off.