MPC combined with computer programs.

Hello. I'm fresh MPC (mine is 1000) user. I got it 3 months already and didn't worked much. Basically I tought it will handle the most of work for me but I was wrong :p. So my questions are:
1. I've seen MPC combined with Propellerheads Reason:
- what for?
- adventages and disadventages?
2. I was very dissapointed when it came to chop samples (I never really liked this small screen but I feel like I don't need it that big except for chopping) so I went back to use computer software. I am currently using Sound Forge but I heard a lot about ReCycle and as a former user of Reason it is a shame that I can't compare those 2. So which one is better or which one better suits you? And which one would be best for me as I don't spend much time on chopping, usually I think about how to chop and then I simply chop.
3. My laziness is very big problem when it comes to work, but I can handle few books and manuals. I've learned from MPC1k tutorial that it is not good machine for sampling (well it wasn't hard to notice...) and not good machine for mastering your beats (that was a little harder but not very hard to notice...). How do you master your beats? Do you use computer programs and if so then what? Or do you have any other methods for mastering? (sounds pretty amatour I know but everyone was newbie once)
4. What other software should I consider to use?

whoa that's a lot of questions. seeing as your not lazy when it comes to work, I suggest you search this forum and find out how people do all this stuff that your asking.

A simple google search: "MPC with Propellerheads Reason"

and voila a video about using Reason and an MPC 1000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhuM7gS1fEo

first of all get JJ OS! everything is much more organized and layed out way better then the akai OS

Well I'm lazy but I have JJ OS already and I've red this Beat Making on the MPC1000 tutorial. TBH JJ OS is very nice and I will definitely won't change to classic OS.
About the video I simply need to fck around a little to understand this all. This is a lot of informations for me in a short period of time. I was never learning that quickly until I've jumped to MPC, so yea this is a lot of questions

shimmyshimmy wrote:Well I'm lazy but I have JJ OS already and I've red this Beat Making on the MPC1000 tutorial. TBH JJ OS is very nice and I will definitely won't change to classic OS.
About the video I simply need to fck around a little to understand this all. This is a lot of informations for me in a short period of time. I was never learning that quickly until I've jumped to MPC, so yea this is a lot of questions

sounds like you're better off just learning the mpc first on its own, then start learning how to integrate it more with the rest of your setup

It's not so kind of you :/. As for me MPC is very simple machine. I expected something more but how could I knew when I only used 500 before my very own 1000. Of course it has very nice features but on the other hand some of them sucks. I don't know much about software 'cus I was using only Reason, Acid and sometimes Sound Forge (from now on it's my mine chopping program). For mastering I only seen T-Rex (or something like this IMO it sucks) and then I started to use MClass (built in Reason). Don't treat my that bad 'cus I was around production a couple of years already. My computer wouldn't allow me (memory) to combine something more with Reason, but now I can combine Computer with MPC and it suits me well. So please if it is that big problem then just give me some names and I will handle the rest.
BTW. I wasn't working much on the MPC 'cus I was only learning how to use it. I was looking what it is good for and what is bad in it. The tutorial time is over so I wan't to start making some beats and keep on learning as it is never enough for me.

You would have been better sticking to software and buying propper controllers for reason. I dont really see much benefit workflow wise for someone that started off with reason or any advanced computer program. For many of us the MPC allows us to focus on a very simplified creative workflow using basic functions that are familiar to us. Things like screen size and chopping feature are much "easier" on the computer today. You dont even have to think about things any more.

I use my mpc with software because I use software for instruments. I like the familiarity of the mpc sequencer cause I started making beats with it. Im much faster sequencing on the MPC than with Reason for example. I use the computer as an instrument now becuase i have many more sounds than I ever had when i used racks and keyboards, and saving my patches and setups is so much easier than using keyboards and racks. After dealing with hardware recall for years, software gives me a big advantage now.

An mpc is a great creative tool today, you dont need it to make beats, but some times you can get inspired by working a different way, and forcing yourself to think outside of your normal workflow. Use the MPC and learn it.

watch my youtube channel to see how I use the MPC with software. www.youtube.com/altruwest check out episode 12 , I sequencing software instruments on the MPC. It comfortable for me that way. In episode 1, I do a track entirely in reason with no MPC. It doesnt matter how you use them together, as long as you can get inspired.

OMG Fmajor! man i like your beats.. remember long time ago that u had soundclick.. but u deleted it... u still keepin the beats funky and westcoast. I like it.


And to Shimmy... U can do as i do i have connected a midikeyboard to my MPC and Reason so i can use Reason as a soundmodule. But the MPC doesnt record audio only Mididata so u will need a DAW for recording in to your pc.

When it comes to chopping.. u dont really need to use the MPC to chop samples. I forexample use a simple recording software where i can easely chop the samples and load it in to my MPC

U should have looked and see what teh MPC can do before u bought it...

About softwares... Cubase is a good software u can wire Reason with if u want..

Whats good fam I still have my old soundclick it just changed to http://www.soundclick.com/altruwestproductions

There were TOO many FM Productions cats on soundclick so I had to change names.

Well, I still think I made, a good choice. MPC is not the best place where you should chop samples, but it is perfect for playing it. I couldn't have that in Reason.
My bad that I was thinking: "oh shit this machine will fcking rock", but yeah I'm really happy that I own one. I'm narrow minded so I look around how to improve my workflow. I just simply think production is not about sticking to one program e.g. Reason or one machine e.g. MPC.