JJ OS: MPC standalone?

As more and more is squeezed into the latest MPCs with the Akai/JJ operating systems...it appears that many are using their MPCs as stand alone units versus taking advantage of the MPC features and complimenting it with other pieces of hardware and/or software.

So I would like to know how many users use these MPCs as stand alone units or using it with other gear.

Please feel free to elaborate on how you use your MPC.

Thanks in advance.

Let's see.. I use My 3000 to control all of my MIDI Racks and as a drum machine.
I use my 1000 standalone and live with nothing else because as you said it can stand by itself and offers most of what I need as far as Drum Sampling and other sampling .
I am looking at the 2500 to possibly be my main MPC but I am skeptical because my 3000 hits so HARD!
I use my 60 buy itself to purposefully limit myself sometimes.

I think for Hip Hop you could get by with just a 1000 or 2500 JJOs with a plethora of samples...fill up an internal hard drive.

They all bring different beats out in me and it may seem excessive but I get inspired by machines as much as by anything else.

i use my MPC1000 as the mainpiece. with samples.
i also use sounds from KorgTritonExtreme thru midi..
as i make my beats they all track through mackie onyx1620 -> Logic only for recording/mixing the final beat ..which is alll sequenced and saved into the mpc harddrive.

i still use FLstudio only as a library because i like how it browses my samples..and i can right click one..open with recycle.

once JJ fixes that lil "region change" proposal i made i will probably do all chopping in mpc too.. since i have all my samples copied to the internal HD anyways..

mpc as main composition sampler and midi sequencer. reason for additional bank sampling and basic synthesis, then everything tracked and mastered in acid.

They all bring different beats out in me and it may seem excessive but I get inspired by machines as much as by anything else.

I use my MPC to sequence my S950, DSI Evolver, SidStation. Yamaha DX200 using an Axiom 49 MIDI Controller. The MPC is also synced to a Roland MSQ-100 (used as a MIDI to DIN Sync converter) for my Roland MC-202 and TR-606. BTW, all the MIDI is routed through a 2x8 MIDI Patchbay... so there's even more gear... the Roland drum machines I circuit-bent are being sequenced from the MPC (TR-626, TR-727.. and soon I'll bend the TR-505 and TR-707). Also, I have a Lexicon MPX 200 multi-effects processor for all the old gear that don't have any internal effects.

Of course I use the MPC to sample, chop, and manipulate just about everything and sequence it as well. Basically, I can use it as a standalone, given all the samples I have stored on my hard drive and still make complete tracks. But I really enjoy running sounds through the SidStation and Evolver's audio inputs and effects, as well as through the s950 or Casio SK-1, then back into the MPC. It all depends on how experimental I feel. In the end, I can just take all those sounds I mangle, sample them all into the MPC and bring it anywhere loaded with sounds to mangle some more, then sequence. Diggin' through my record collection builds up my sample collection even further... especially after running those samples through my hardware as described above.

I know Nym would have a field day if he came over here with his mpc and a fat sack of weed.

pretty much standalone. i use reason as well but i usually sample it to the mpc so it's just like another sample source for me.
i track into cubase

I primarily use my 1000 as a sketchpad for sampled loops and drum programming and controling a circuit bent Roland 505.

Reason is used too when the main foundation drums and groove are made.

Then it's all tracked into Pro Tools using Rewire and MTC that JJ brought to the table.

I like all the features that JJ has brought to the table and the inherent "groove" that the MPC brings - but ultimately all deep editing of files etc are done in Pro Tools - kinda tinkering with certain areas and leaving others alone -using Beat Detective

I use my MPC 1000 sync'ed with Ableton Live, and then run everything through an outboard mixer.

at home, I use it with other gear (SP1200/Mofx/FS1r/turntables/filterqueen)

away from home, I use it stand alone...

[/list]

yeah dahkter that sounds about right.

i do most of the bulk of my songs away from my studio, in the library or a public place. all i need is a vhs player and a place to sit. i've been kicked out of a couple libraries because they thought i was duping the tapes or somethign. old ladies can't look at my beat machiens w/out thinking it's 1, a tape copier, 2, anthrax, or 3, a video game

but back to the question - i find myself more productive when using the mpc standalone - but mostly because i know it best of all my tools. when i'm home though it's reason that gets the workout alongside the mpc

I've used my MPC as a standalone for 90-95% of my beats. That includes recording. I just resample the main outs while a sequence is playing and record my beats in WAV. I use the pc just to convert the WAV files to MP3.

I have been recently messing with computer mult-tracking, but my laptop isn't quite powerful enough, and I'm still working on learning how to record and mix and eq and such. Thats also behind figuring out the settings of how different programs work, and trying to get around latency issues.

I recently went to GC to make a purchase that was long overdue. I bought a 8in/8out MIDI interface. The salesmans was like..."are you sure you need this? Most people probably only need a 4in/4out model. The other model would most likely be used in a studio with alot of MIDI gear." He goes on to tell me what a MIDI patchbay/router is for...I let him go on for a few minutes..then I just stopped him to explain the intermediate (for a lack of a better term) MIDI set-up I have.

So with that said...the MPC 2500 is the heart of my MIDI set-up. With several sound modules, two MPCs, PC, Mac, Digital mixer, a control surface, and a 88-key keyboard controller....I have everything connected to the MIDI patchbay/router. Everything is connected one way or the other. So if I want to use an MPC to sequence hardware or software..no problem, everything at my finger tips. If I want to turn the Mac into a standalone instrument and sequence it from my MPC or PC...piece of cake. If I want to primarily run Nuendo as my sequencer, I can easily add hardware instruments tracks (manage/edit them using Studio manager, Motif or Fantom X editior, etc) or add a software synth or drum module tracks...then use my MPC as a percussion pad controller...piece of cake. It took me sometime to learn how to use all this stuff together (and I am still learning). It is fun being a nerd

With my set-up...the MPC is rarely used as a stand alone instrument. I usually start with an MPC for basic composing, but will then multi-track record into Nuendo (up to 24 tracks at a time). Nuendo as well as other software handles many of the big chores that are really inefficient on the MPC...such as mixing (dynamics, effects), sample editing/tweaking, etc. Although I do like to have more things packed into the MPC, most of the time the new additional functions go unused because of more efficient alternatives.

i use my mpc as a standalone unit with an electribe emx1. all of its routed into my 3ch dj mixer with the sends going to the mpcs record in. the lets me send whatever is on the decks/emx to the mpc without reconfigging my setup. i have the additional outs going from the mpc to the emx1s input for effects. i see myself upgrading my mixer and getting a 2500. trading the emx1 for an elecktron monomachine. then maybe some nice outboard compressors/fx. i dont think using the mpc standalone is for everyone.

The MPC1000 is usually just one component. On occasion I will go to practice with nothing but the MPC just to force myself to get creative with it, but I try that with all my instruments. We usually do improv stuff so I'll preload it with some drums and sounds, hook a MS2000 and microKorg to it and create sequences on the fly.

At home I still use it with the two synths but usually more for recording directly into the MPC and building kits alongside an old Powerbook which makes utility tasks easier to manage than most of the gear is capable of on its own. I am also working with video so the laptop is usually slaved to the MPC for controlling software. I also have other audio sources (guitar amp, DVD player, videogames, etc) wired up to input easily into the mixer which is hooked to the RECORD IN on the MPC, so anything that produces sound can be easily sampled, including whatever video source is being output. All subject to change without notice.

The MPC1000 is really versatile, which is one reason I bought one. You don't really need anything else besides a microphone and it's go-time.