MPC1000 vs. MIDI Controller

Hi everyone.

My MPC1000 has been my baby for about two years now, I originally bought it as a replacement drum machine for my Alesis SR-16 for the ability to load my own drum samples and apply tempo changes to my compositions -- my band used it to play back as the drums for live shows.

I just started using my computer solely to produce my beats, it's then dumped down to a CD played by a DJ-style CD player for live shows (I didn't want to risk bringing my MPC1000 to shows any more.)

Now I'm in a situation where I'm starting to experiment using FruityLoops and Pro Tools to make the beats, using the MPC as just a midi controller. I seem to be able to work a lot faster this way. I'm low on cash and am considering selling my MPC1000 and just spending the money on a decent MIDI controller.

Should I do this? What's the MPC1000 really offering me that I can't accomplish just as well with a good MIDI controller in software? Are there any distinct advantages I'm missing with sequencing in the MPC and then tracking the beats out to Pro Tools? I love the MPC, I just am not aware of any advantages it's offering for my purposes, since I'm not using it as a live playback unit any more, and any time I'd be using it -- I'd be sitting right next to a computer anyway.

Please offer your comments and advice.

Lars

the way I see it you aren't really losing anything by switching to a software based setup, if anything you're gaining more features and are probably able to do more things. computers are probably the most powerful samplers there are, at least in my opinion. it's more of a different feel really, with computers you can see your whole track in front of you so editing is easier. the mpc is really just a personal preference and a much different workflow and feel than using software, some just like it a lot better I guess, which is apparently why this site exists. any way you go about it though it's up to you, just about whatever is easier for you.

For me recording and composing on a computer is so much better than on MPC. However, for live performance MPC is king.

What I'm saying is - if you do move to a wholly computer-based set-up for composing, think about how you wanna play live in the future too.

philly wrote:For me recording and composing on a computer is so much better than on MPC. However, for live performance MPC is king.

What I'm saying is - if you do move to a wholly computer-based set-up for composing, think about how you wanna play live in the future too.

keep the MPC1k ,and earn some extra money doing something else.Believe me you'll want to come back and do some live feels on the MP. Also PC base recording is ok,but don't jus depend on one method of recording,each has it's own feel sorta speak. I use to sequence on the PC it jus got to cheezie for me I needed that live feel so I went to the MP and never looked back.

Funny, I'm doing the exact opposite that you are. I've been making beats on the computer for about 6 years now. Finally got my "studio" running good and I'm slowly stepping towards using my 1000 for making beats. Its just too dope, being able to bang out shit live on the pads. I'll mostly likely still record samples through my computer, but I'll chop and sequence through the MPC. I'd say keep it unless its some real ill shit you need money for. Just my opinion.

it seems that u re beginning to experiment with different workflows....
it s a good thing to wait to go deeper into that, to work it out
before selling quickly equipment to not regret it after a while.....
computer is one thing with enormous potential but also distracting
from essentials....(music makin) not telling the time spent to make
a good system run!!!! mpc has less but brings it very more to the point
in my opinion,
as it s a question of interface and preference....

Thanks for all of your advice -- You all had very helpful stuff to say.

After being demo'ed BFD, Guru and Battery on Ableton Live by a friend last night, I definitely got my mind opened a bit and am leaning towards the midi/PC route at the moment.

I could possibly keep my MPC, but $500-$600 on eBay is a pretty big chunk of change. (And would probably make the difference in me spending $100 on a controller or $200-$250 on a controller.)

You guys kind of opened another can of worms though -- workflows. What are some different ways you guys go about assembling a finished track? In the past for me it was:

1) Dig for samples on the PC, load into MPC programs.
2) Jam along with my bandmates and program skeleton beats at band practice.
3) Refine the beats/samples for each song after the "basic skeleton" is done.
4) Track it out to Pro Tools sessions to take to the studio when we record, or just bounce to CD for live shows.

(If you guys wanna hear this shit: http://www.myspace.com/theundoingofdavidwright)

if like you said, youre low on cash, and its not that vital to your stup anymore then go ahead and sell it. cos thats onehell of an expensive midi controler sitting on your desk there.

there is so much more a pc can do, but it comes with its own hassles. and then theres so much that you can really only do efficiently on an mpc. you'll get guys making basic beats swearing that they cant sleep without it, while others making complex multilayered stuff only use a mouse.

if you can, keep it as an expensive and not that great a controler, cos you might find you need it downthe road.

if you need the money and youre happy with your new work flow, then flog it. you can always buy another when finances ease a little cos there aint nothing great about being a starving artist.

i only went the midi interface + pc route after i bought my mpc, and that was just as a suppliment. when i bought my mpc i switched from using acid and reason and PC samples via mouse. now i have a radium 49.

i have to say i am not enamoured with software sequencers at all. They're highly detailed and well drawn out, don't get me wrong, but the mpc allows me to actually work directly in grid edit, cell by cell. i live in there, recording and rerecording notes, playing with their individual qualities. you can do all the same thing on the pc regardless of what software, but i'm much faster and better at it in the mpc. individual note placement is a breeze. this depends some on what kind of music you're making - i go for groove heavy stuff with very expressive drums as of late, because that's the direction the mpc pushes me. if you're just gonna be sticking to 100% quantised more electro sound, then the mpc might not be the best choice. "expressive" is really the mpc sequencer's strongest point, especially with the grid edit.

great comments.

i'm not really in a financial crisis or anything where selling the MPC is a neccesity -- i work at an ad agency doing animation/web dev and do pretty well (puts a totally new perspective on my music -- i'm not forced to make money.) but still, i'm 22 got a wife and two baby girls... so not much disposable income. selling the MPC means more shit for my studio (i need monitors -- headphones only right now) and i need some cash to repair my P.A. setup.

part of the reason i want to switch to PC is because I'm very fast on a computer, and I enjoy the visual layout/grid-style midi editing that can be accomplished in software.

what i think i might two is get an Axiom or other good MIDI controller with pads. (i've already got a Fatar Studio 90 for piano type sounds that need lots of keys -- but no pitch or mod wheels and the keys don't feel right for synths.) then i'll use the MPC as a midi controller too. i'll do a few tracks like that, and if i end up staying 99% on the Axiom -- i'll sell the MPC. if i end up using the MPC a lot, i'll sell the MPC and buy an MPD16 or MPD24 maybe.

most of the stuff i do is very NY no wave inspired post-punk/electro (and skinny puppy) shit -- so the "expressive" sound is saved more for the live instruments, whereas the beats are pretty mechanical.

School of hardnocks is the best way to learn. Pending on how in depth you are wanting to get into any music form determines what equipment you'll need. jus do your home work and decide from there.

Thanks again for the help, guys.

So I got an Axiom yesterday to try it out. Got it plugged in and working fine with battery 2, but on the pads -- there seems to be a slight latency or delay from hitting the pad to hearing the sound? I've heard you need external ASIO or some shit to fix this? Or maybe this is just where the MPC sounds better? Anybody got some tips? Same thing with a delay on the keys too -- I have to push them halfway down to get even the softest register. Thinking about taking this back and getting an Oxygen (for more anologue synth-like keys) + MPD16 instead. Any ideas?

why not go for oxygen and the MP?

Might be the best bet. I'm gonna give that a shot using the MPC as a controller, see if I don't end up using it beyond that -- and if not, I'll sell it and get an MPD16 or MPD24. (Should be the same thing, if I'm just using the MPC as a controller right?)