basic question - what software to use with mpc

i have just recently got my first 2kxl, my first venture into making beats. and i make cut and paste mixtapes on a mac with garageband...however going to buy logic or reason as garageband seems quite basic and i want to start making beats etc.

now i always hear people saying they use reason or logic with their mpcs and actually having problems with compatibilty of some programs

my question is, i thought the mpc could do all you need? (obviously not to a "super-professional level, im sure you need some upgrades then) do people use software as well just top get the best from both worlds as it were and combine?

i often see clips on youtube etc "using reason as a mod for the mpc" (i think) or words to that effect...probably wrong somewhere on my part...what does that mean exactly?

im between logic and reason, is either partularly good or bad with the mpc?

any advice most welcome. this forum is my first port of call when in doubt! much appreciated

rob

Well, your mpc is a sampler with a sequencer, and while apps like logic and reason have sequencers built in as well, they also have soft synths, effects, their own samplers etc.

So it's not that the MPC can't do all you need, it just depends on what you need. So maybe you should think about what you want to do with it before you pick a sequencer, then shop around and see which one fits you best.

When people use their mpc with something like reason they're using the mpc as a controller for reason. So you could do things like assign notes to your pads and play one of reason's synths that way, or send midi sequences to reason and play one of its synth that way. I'm sure there are lots of other uses as well.

I'm a bit behind with the latest versions of Reason, but one limitation I believe it has is that you can't use it to control other hardware, whereas you could with logic, cubase, live, or some other sequencer like that. I also don't think that you can track out beats from your mpc like you could with logic. But maybe that's changed now.

Here's a page that might fill you in on setup options:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/

But I think the bottom line is you should figure out what you want to be able to do and then shop. For example, say you make a drum beat on y our mpc and then want a bassline. You could sample an entire bassline, chop it and rearrange it like you want, or just take a bass hit and change the pitch then play it with your pads etc, but all within the mpc. Or you might want to make one from scratch using an external synth (hardware or software), sample that, etc. I'm really just scratching the surface, it's wide open.

Also, you might look into some of the free sequencers that are available, I forget their names but I'm sure someone here will tell you.

And for what it's worth I've recently started using Ableton Live and really like it - it has some cool features that the others don't have, worth looking into.

thanks man, that has really helped to break it down for this beginner! respect!