Should I get an MPC?

Hello MPC users. I am wondering If buying an MPC will give me what I am really after in my music production process.

I am currently using ableton live and have struggled to find nice grooves without exhaustion. I have heard that making a nice beat take minutes on an mpc. I am also looking to simplify music making process by not having my eyes glued to a monitor the whole time, and have some more fun in the process too. A few quick questions:

Can I use the mpc midi features to control standalone vst apps like massive or arturia minimoog, Reaktor?

Where would I struggle If trying to use the mpc exclusively?

Is sidechaining possible?

if your willing to dig for samples, load sounds, find your own sounds then yes but when your fukin wit an mpc everything is from scratch. no sounds built in. as far as minutes to make a beat it all depends. sometimes minutes, hours even day depending on what your doing. and yes you can use iot as a midi controller. you sound like your bored with computer based production so give it a try. but try before u buy cause it might not be for u

very well said GRMM D

I'm in the same position as you lester, I don't use the same programs but I'm used to software production. i will use the mpc (when I get it) in combination with my software and keyboards. basically i can do everything on computer and with my keyboard and pad controller that an mpc can do, but the workflow is very different and to me it just seems more intuitive on the mpc. it allows for a more creating experience, i'm not in my right element just moving a mouse around and clicking on stuff, that's why I got a keyboard and a pad controller, and that's why I get the mpc now.

i've heard some complaints about the mpc in terms of that it's limiting as a complete production package, but I will use it combo with other shit as well so it looks great to me. but maybe there's other alternatives that I/you should go for, that's better. but I don't know which those are. I've heard that the mv-8000 is great though.

hey guys....im a newbie and can tell you ive only had my mpc for a week and its amazing ....you dont see the beat you hear it and i think that is the most affective thing about the mp i love it....and i know nearly nothing about the mp other than chopping and little things.....buy it.... youll love it...2kxl

can you do sidechaining?

hey lester, see my first post in this thread, about me thinking bout getting an mpc.

well, i got it, and to answer your original questions in this thread, i've been producing for a while, but software only, and got my mpc1000 yesterday, i'm really happy about it and it's prolly my best purchase ever. feels really intuitive and i can sit for many, many hours without getting bored, or tired. it's really great to use and i'm making beats a lot faster now.

what's sidechaining?