Anyone use MPC?

[RockAustin]

Recently bought one and wondered if anyone else has one, how you are using them and for what kind of music.

I'm hoping to use it for doing some live dance. Pretty sure it will be useful for most of the other bands I'm playing in as well. I've got a lot of ideas... just need to learn how to use it properly!

[emergency72]

I don't know if they are usually used live tbh.... seem to be more of a studio tool which I could see the benefits of in the pre-computer days...but nowadays, I think its far quicker (if a little less fun and innovative) to slice and arrange stuff on a computer. Youtube is crawling with great MPC tutorial videos by beginners and seasoned pro's, definitely some stuff to pick up there!

[RockAustin]

Youtube is a great resource for tutorial type stuff for mpc, some real experts sharing their knowledge and techniques which is always useful (generous as well).

I'd have to disagree about the live aspect though ... having just played with it for a short period of time I think it'd be great for live performance there is a lot of scope for spontaneity. It is also a very tactile instrument, if played in such a way. Some of the youtube clips show this really well. Obviously the sets of samples they use can be sequenced and played back like you might with software sequencer. I've seen a couple of youtube clips of live techno stuff which would be something I'd be aiming for.

The editing is maybe not as instantly convenient as computer but I'm sure you could edit/create sample sets on the computer and download them for use on the MPC. I've yet to do any of this so can't really make a fair comparison.

I remember watching Ala Fu using an MPC one night a while back, I think it was along with decks, laptop and a synth of some sort. I think he may have had some trouble with the laptop that night.

[TigerInk]

I owned one until quite recently.

A couple of forums that may be of help:

MPC-Samples.com Forums

and

Rap + Hip Hop engineering & production - Gearslutz.com

Hope that helps Colin - and I hope you're getting on well with the new toy.

Steven.

[RockAustin]

Originally Posted by TigerInk

I owned one until quite recently.

A couple of forums that may be of help:

MPC-Samples.com Forums

and

Rap + Hip Hop engineering & production - Gearslutz.com

Hope that helps Colin - and I hope you're getting on well with the new toy.

Steven.

Ha ha, yeah of course! Knew there was at least one person. Not really surprised with the lack of responses on this topic ... I guess it's not really an every day piece of equipment.

Having had it for a little while now, I kind of know my way around the menues now - still really stilted when converting what I want to do into actually doing it. The menue and function layout is possibly the hardest bit to get past when learning a new machine though. I love the way it plays and although I'm not doing anything at all complicated I think my cooridination is there. I know computers can do everything that it can but for me there is something much more satisfying about it. Could be that I'm generally into the hardware option. You can just turn on and play so it's great for jamming ideas.

Anyway, I'm so pleased to have bought it off you and you'll be glad to know it's being enjoyed!

Cheers Steven

Colin

[Stripey]

argh

the mpc is an over-rated, out of date piece of hardware which is surrounded by a lot of bullshit mythology. It was cool in the 90's because it was the only thing at the time that did what it does, but now you can buy a laptop, audio interface and far better midi pad controller for less money and acheive a hell of a lot more.

[Stichman]

Originally Posted by Stripey

but now you can buy a laptop, audio interface and far better midi pad controller for less money and acheive a hell of a lot more.

know computers can do everything that it can but for me there is something much more satisfying about it. Could be that I'm generally into the hardware option

He likes buttons.

[Stripey]

Originally Posted by Stichman

He likes buttons.

yeah you can buy a 16 pad velocity sensitive midi controller (akai even make an "mpc alike" one, the entry level one costs something like 60 quid), I like hardware too which is why I have one of these which cost 120 quid



Unlike the mpc family the pads use square rather than circular sensors so they are fully velocity sensitive right to the corners, it has an assignable x/y touchpad controller and the pads LIGHT UP WHEN YOU TOUCH THEM! if you're into that kind of performance value kind of nonsense

MPC's are overrated, expensive out of date junk! The only thing that has outlived their technical worth is the quantisation templates they have and those are easy to get off the internet.

[Stichman]

Originally Posted by Stripey

yeah you can buy a 16 pad velocity sensitive midi controller (akai even make an "mpc alike" one, the entry level one costs something like 60 quid), I like hardware too which is why I have one of these which cost 120 quid



Unlike the mpc family the pads use square rather than circular sensors so they are fully velocity sensitive right to the corners, it has an assignable x/y touchpad controller and the pads LIGHT UP WHEN YOU TOUCH THEM! if you're into that kind of performance value kind of nonsense

MPC's are overrated, expensive out of date junk! The only thing that has outlived their technical worth is the quantisation templates they have and those are easy to get off the internet.

That looks an impressive piece of kit.

But surely if he'd rather not delve into the realms of computing, an MPC could be useful? But I agree, your suggested setup would be much more effective. At the risk of sounding like an old bastard, I find the rate at which technology is moving to be pretty amazing. A piece of hardware like an MPC can go from being cutting-edge stuff to practically redundant in a few years... crazy days.

[Stripey]

Originally Posted by RockAustin

Recently bought one and wondered if anyone else has one, how you are using them and for what kind of music.

I'm hoping to use it for doing some live dance. Pretty sure it will be useful for most of the other bands I'm playing in as well. I've got a lot of ideas... just need to learn how to use it properly!

you assign samples to the buttons, you press the buttons, the sound plays. It's not that exciting.