MPC vs Digital Alternatives(M-Audio TF + Ableton Live, etc.)

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an MPC (1000, 2500) over MIDI pads and the appropriate software?

Thanks for your patience as I know how newbies like myself can be frustrating in high tech environments like these.

biggest and most slept on benefit of an mpc

the screen is (usually) 240 by 60 pixils, and small. right in front of your face.
you don't need to tilt your head back and forth - which is a HUGE difference between that and something like reason or ableton, whose many screens make having 2 monitors a must. then, your tilting your head back n forth, again and again, whereas on the mpc, everything is there, right there.

such programs have their benefits over the mpc

reason - module
ableton - live work
acid - post-tracking

but composition/editing are 2 different beasts and the former is much better tackled by an mpc in my opinion

That's weird because I always looked at the MPCs as more of a live tool, or a creativity sketchpad. To perform your beats live instead of pressing play on a CD player. Or to just jot down rhythms you've hummed in your head from your 9 to 5.

I think I'm still going to buy an MPC, I think it's a good middle-man between analog vinyl and the laptop (not literally, that would be the mixer), and will be a great addition to my turntable setup. And if i choose to, the MPC is able to be the MIDI controller for Reason, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, etc., correct?

Thanks, I appreciate your input

You might wanna try the Akai MPD24 and FX Guru - not quite an mpc, but definately a software alternative, and from what i am told it's going to be much closer.

Thats coming from someone who loves his MPC's

MPCs are digital.

TheDeen wrote:MPCs are digital.

..but you know what he meant so why state the obvious?

IMO the disadvantage to using software is the (depending of the software) fact that you have to use more than one prog and switch back and forth between them. MPC is a simple all in one tool but this can also be very limiting. It all comes down to how much mouse work you wanna put in. Some ppl work 9-5 on a comp and dont wanna touch one when it comes to making their music.

I use the MPC and a PC together.

to me these are just tools and not one is better than the other... if you can use both you are better off than being tracked on one or the other.

But whatever you are more comfortable with is what is most important...

Ya Feel Me?

imo if you're not going to be using an MPC for sequencing, your money is almost definitely better spent elsewhere. There are cheaper samplers with more features for a lot less and even those usually fall short of a soft sampler's capabilities. If you're just looking for a pad-style controller then I'd go with the MPD or similar device.

Mrock wrote:imo if you're not going to be using an MPC for sequencing, your money is almost definitely better spent elsewhere. There are cheaper samplers with more features for a lot less and even those usually fall short of a soft sampler's capabilities. If you're just looking for a pad-style controller then I'd go with the MPD or similar device.

depends on the Laptop or computer(I say computer because it can be a MAC or PC) you are using. I had the MPD24 for 3 days. I could not get the MPD to work with a Dell Latitude D620. With Dell on the phone for 1.5 hours we came to the conclusion it was a chipset incompatibility issue. It hooked right up to my buddy's IBM Thinkpad...

MPD24 returned and the balance used to buy my MPC1000...

I still like the MPD24, I may get another one to plug up to a Powerbook...

Hamzter wrote:

Mrock wrote:imo if you're not going to be using an MPC for sequencing, your money is almost definitely better spent elsewhere. There are cheaper samplers with more features for a lot less and even those usually fall short of a soft sampler's capabilities. If you're just looking for a pad-style controller then I'd go with the MPD or similar device.

depends on the Laptop or computer(I say computer because it can be a MAC or PC) you are using. I had the MPD24 for 3 days. I could not get the MPD to work with a Dell Latitude D620. With Dell on the phone for 1.5 hours we came to the conclusion it was a chipset incompatibility issue. It hooked right up to my buddy's IBM Thinkpad...

MPD24 returned and the balance used to buy my MPC1000...

I still like the MPD24, I may get another one to plug up to a Powerbook...

I read in another forum someone had a problem with the built in camera on a PC and its driver messing with the USB port.

use both!

well the 4k is like my pen and paper ... everything is done on the 4

but even if your very good with filters and setting levels you will always have to bring it to a daw system or a studio eventually, as the mpc's are not meant to do the entier "a to z" of the production...

using both is the only intelligent thing in '07...

its a personal thing though... most producers I know love their laptops or pc systems ... you can get extreanmly good sounding vst that mash any on board dsp on any harwhare workstation today... so if your going mpc there's only one real reason> feel...

to put it simple I could not express myself like I do on a mpc on a laptop + mouse ... I would write completely dif music on a laptop..

I'm thrilled with the 4k though and I'd be even more thilled if akai brings out something bigger with vst suport ...

on the last note: the best thing about the mpc 's (besids the sound) is how simple and how open the arcitechture is; your not forced to do anything .. just do it your way... that can be said about softwhare too, specialy live very simple yet powerfull open sequencing....

but as always: each to their own...

Thanks guys for all your input. I plan on getting an MPC1000 since it seems to suit my needs.

I plan on using the MPC1000 for sampling, rearranging, editing and production. Then I'll do some post-production work like mastering and whatnot on the computer. And the option to use the pads as a MIDI controller is there in case I change my mind.

The portability is also nice since I plan on doing gigs with it in addition to my turntable setup.

Any objections? :]

Actually, now planning to buy a 2500.

Since this is going to be alongside turntables and a mixer, i decided to buy the 2500 for the input thru feature for on-the-fly sampling and balanced phono outputs because I'm using analog.

Checked some MPCs out at Guitar Center. 1000 is more portable, but not that much more portable. 2500 is only 10 cm larger both ways and will fit snugly with my laptop bag.

glide wrote:
... so if your going mpc there's only one real reason> feel...

to put it simple I could not express myself like I do on a mpc on a laptop + mouse ... I would write completely dif music on a laptop..

this is the crucial point IMO.
p