Every MPC is a 9 out of 10

I was talking to Khordmaster the other day and realized that every MPC is basically a 9 out of 10. Let's talk about why!
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#mpckey37 #mpc #musicproduction

[@Khordmaster]

First off thanks for the shoutout it may or may not have made my day. Second this video is incredibly timely because it’s coming at a time where I am very eager to give this specific mpc (37) a spin. On paper and from what I’ve heard from you and others, for someone like me who 1) plays keys 2) makes beats 3) prefers workstation over daw 4) appreciates portably (somewhat with this, I suppose) there really isn’t anything else out there that checks all the boxes.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Heck yeah man! Thanks for the good conversations as always 😎🙏 let me know if you get the 37, the mpcs are a bit tricky to learn but worth it!

[@Khordmaster]

@@DylanParisMusic 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@HIFI1965]

@DylanParisMusic One question: Would you take the MPC on stage to perform? If yes, How would you organize an hour long set? If not, why not?

[@DylanParisMusic]

I probably wouldn’t alone but I also haven’t ever played my stuff live so I’m not a good authority on that. When I consider a live show I imagine an MPC as the primary “played” device, handling vocal processing and giving me some different synth and key sounds to play. Would route in the push 3 for a hardware setup so I could switch projects but maintain the live performance elements on the MPC. But really it feels like almost none of the standalone devices I like are actually made for full live sets with vocals and stuff. It seems doable but not ideal, for a solid live setup I’m 50/50 on just getting a MacBook Pro and running Ableton with some gear on the table to go along

[@HIFI1965]

@@DylanParisMusic I would agree. I have an MPC Live (v1), and could not manage, I believe, playing it out live as the context switching is far too complicated. I'm becoming a super fan of the SP-404mk2. I have about 10 years of music in ableton. The SP can take full on stems, stems in sections, or even full on tracks. I'm pairing with a digitakt for some sequencing and drums. All very new to me. I last played out pre-pandemic, and am trying to get something on the books for this spring. I have played out a bunch with ableton, and have not had a crash, but have succumbed with Ableton to making things way to complicated. Having moments on stage where you don't know what the fuck is going on is not fun. I also have the Push3, but am, well, .... meh.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Oh heck yeah! I’ve heard great things about the 404 for live stuff, may check it out down the line!

[@markrobinson5190]

Hey, so im a beginer looking to learn and make beats on this keyboard. I was not sure if this can be played through a amp or will i need some kind of speakers to plug in, also can it be play entirely by just using headphones, sorry for all the questions .🙈🙈🙈

[@DylanParisMusic]

It can definitely be played with just headphones, you’ll want a 1/4th to 3.5mm headphone adapter, most over ear headphones for music production include these. You can also use cables to send the sound out to speakers. I would recommend using monitors vs an amp but you could technically send the audio out to an amp as well

[@markrobinson5190]

@@DylanParisMusic hey I appreciate your reply your information is very helpful 🙂 👍thank

[@CDMESD]

Thank you. The limitation in plugins is what holds the Maschine Plus back. Great review. I agree with a lot of your points about the Akai devices. I really was rooting for the Machine Plus. I hear there may be some great things with the new iteration of the Plus.

[@dustyaudio]

My og MPC One… it’s been love/hate with this thing, I do like the workflow & the looper is nice for my setup. I can’t bring myself to get rid of it (especially because… 12:52)

[@tricks-and-tips]

Good video and man, you're doing great on the subs and views :) Nice mic too for this type of video! I'm considering one myself, but have to do a lot of saving before I'm going to get one. (probably the Mic 2 with the Pocket 3 combo, so that is an investment). Now back on topic, the Key37 almost made it to my cart, but it lacks one thing that is critical for me unfortunately. It does not have a second stereo output pair. I really don't understand why they left that out for something that is ment to be a central piece in your studio (in my case it would be). 2 reasons why I need that. The first one is at home, for separating the drums from the melodic content (the last part usually gets treated with my nice reverb / delay pedal via my mixer) and the second reason is to be able to send the click track out to another channel in the rehearsal room. Now I know, you can add a soundcard, but that's one more item to drag around and I would like to scale down. Plus there are some very mixed results with them that I keep hearing. So.... Darn. Not my MPC.... It would be great to replace my 707 in the rehearsal room, which clearly lacks the keys..... Well, maybe another MPC then ;P

[@DylanParisMusic]

Thanks man! I’ve really been digging this mic, can plug it right into the lumix s5 so it’s a single video file with baked good enough vocal audio! And that’s a good call out, I saw others noting the lack of that as well. It isn’t something that has affected my workflow yet but if it’s something you need it’s a bummer to not have it

[@tricks-and-tips]

​@@DylanParisMusic oh yes and it's so small and convenient for when you're doing stuff while filming (like on the instrument). Can't wait to get my hands on one myself. Yeah, it's a bummer and I feel it was very much driven by the desire to keep enough space between the 61 and the 37 (it can't be adding that much cost to the 37 as it has the same IO board and it's just some wires and 2 plugs that cost close to nothing at their scale) But it is what it is. Not my MPC. I'm still hoping for a Force+ with 4 Gb of ram and some more IO :) Keep dreaming!

[@aikighost]

IMHO the main thing the MPCs need to improve is note entry and editing, the on screen note editing is still too fiddly. If they improved that Id be much happier with my MPCs. I'd also love to see a really efficient xox style note entry option.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Good call out! Hopefully they improve that a bit

[@babysunn2]

Hybrid Is Always The Best Way to Go when Finalizing a Song... Unlimited Flexibility.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Agreed! I have a ton of respect to folks who can do everything in hardware but I love the hybrid workflow

[@babysunn2]

@@DylanParisMusicMPC LIVE 2 In Controller Mode Within FL 21 With Its STEM SEPARATION Is Music Madness. I Have To Throw in IZOTOPE'S Plugin's in as well... The Ultimate Combo to Quickly Master A Decent Product While Enjoying The Process.😁

[@blue.sunset]

3:58 This was a really fun moment hahaha😂😂 . It was difficult to stop laughing. Very funny music! I would like to hear the full song. This song has something that puts us in a good mood. I'm not kidding! It's real! 😀😀

[@DylanParisMusic]

Hahaha thank you 😅🙏

[@Geekraver]

I returned my (new) Key 37 and got a (used) MPC One + ASM Hydrasynth Explorer. Cost me about the same and got me a polyphonic aftertouch keybed and an awesome extra synth.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Ooooh that sounds like a really nice combo!!

[@janjansen3716]

I think about the same deal since days. What do you think about the keys of Hydrasynth (mini) vs. Key 37?

[@Geekraver]

@@janjansen3716 I got the Hydra about a week after, so it’s hard to compare, but I think the Hydra is slightly better, at least for aftertouch. IIRC the Key 37 felt like there was no real give on aftertouch - while the Hydra feels a bit more springy. The Key 37 has (almost) full size keys, and the Hydra has mini keys, so that’s another difference. I prefer full size but am getting used to mini. I will say that I have given up some convenience here; having the keys integrated in the Key 37 is great as you can dive right into playing, while setting up the Hydra looks like its going to be a bit more work (I haven't done it yet). I think once it is set up I can save the configuration as a patch, so hopefully it’s one-off work.

[@harveygarrett4129]

Key 37 has after touch

[@owizlo]

but it isnt polyphonic and the feel isnt great, hence what this guy did. i use the full hydra 49 key to take advantage of this setup but my setup aint small@@harveygarrett4129

[@alexandrosroussos]

I agree it’s very good value. Would rate 8 or 9. Very few things are missing : some more plugins, a vocoder, instant sample based/key group preset loading and transversal audio tracks and this will be a 10.

[@tombaonline4829]

If we were able to do the pad perform chord progressions triggered via the keyboard I’d be a happy clam

[@DylanParisMusic]

Oooh that would be neat! You can do custom chords you make using the chord button on the 37, but i don’t think you can use the progressions that way

[@avace917]

I've been using MPCs for 30 years. Starting with the MPC 60II. I've seen them grow from literally just being drum samplers with MIDI sequencing to the literal workstations they are now. Even though I'm mostly using it in controller mode opening the software in Reason as a VST, I never thought I'd make a track on an MPC with synths coming from it AND I programmed all the music from the pads. A brand new way of composing that I never explored with my MPC Touch which my One Plus is replacing. 9 out of 10 indeed. At least 8 GB of RAM would earn it a 10.

[@quantumsheep]

I must have watched every MPC 37 vid about 10 times waiting for mine to arrive! It finally did a couple of days ago and I took to it immediately. Love this thing! And I'm coming from Ableton but was still able to 'get' the workflow - it just clicked with me! I have a bunch of synths and a couple of grooveboxes too - the OPZ, for example, I use as a portable sketch pad. It’s just so immediate. The lovely thing is I can hook up the OPZ o the 37 and transfer the tracks from my projects via USB MIDI. I love it! I’ve not even come close to scratching the surface with this thing, and having so much fun along the way. It’s my first ever MPC and I’m deffo in the ecosystem now! Hope they don’t ‘upgrade’ the tech specs for a few years (sorry everyone wanting that!) It’s great that I can basically look up any MPC vid for any of the current formats and it’s still relevant to the 37 - great stuff! Anyway, thanks for reading. I very much enjoy your vids and look forward to more! :)

[@Khordmaster]

This sounds awesome! Tell me more about how you’re transferring stuff from your Z to here 🤔

[@DylanParisMusic]

Thanks for watching my videos and sharing your story! That sounds like an awesome workflow!

[@quantumsheep]

It was a lot easier than I thought it would be! I just turn on the MPC, attach the OPZ via USB cable, turn on the OPZ, choose my project on that, and then press the play button. The OPZ will play the track (turn down the volume on it so it doesn’t get annoying!) and you’ll hear the MPC try and play everything from each track on the OPZ. A bit messy! All you have to do is mute all the tracks on the OPZ project except the one you want to hear on the MPC. The MPC will now be playing just that one track. Go into your MPC Sequence and select a sound you want and you’ll hear the OPZ track playing on the MPC. All you have to do is now record the track as it’s playing on your MPC. Then do the same thing with the other tracks on the OPZ. Hope that’s clear and that it helps! :)@@Khordmaster

[@quantumsheep]

@@DylanParisMusic It's pretty cool! Also means that I can carry on using the OPZ as a sketchpad knowing I can get it off that and onto the MPC (and sounding much nicer to boot!) :)

[@DylanParisMusic]

I miss my old opz sometimes! Hoping the Yamaha seqtrak will fill the void if I ever get one

[@MyNameJeff..]

My mpc live 2 is the greatest piece of gear I ever owned. I’ve made more complete songs with vocals all in the box than any maschine/daw I ever used. Coming from maschine since 2011, I forced myself to learn the Live 2 in 2020. Kind of hated the workflow compared to maschine, but soon preferred it. Love that thing and will keep it forever. However, haven’t touched it since getting the op-1 field 😂 Currently learning everything I can about it. Both are just so immediate and satisfying, and can be used in tandem. We’re lucky to have this kind of gear available to us.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Biiiig agree on both the MPC workflow being tricky to learn at first, and being in a really lucky era of good gear right now

[@MyNameJeff..]

@@DylanParisMusic It just seemed kind of archaic at first coming from maschine and daws being all I knew. But the muscle memory came quick with it and it’s like second nature now.

[@DylanParisMusic]

@MyNameJeff.. 100 percent

[@MyNameJeff..]

@@DylanParisMusic Dude… We both have the same nuances on gear/music making… I guaranteed if you tried the op-1 again you would love it. I feel like a cult member reeling you in, but it’s the most unique piece of gear I ever used 😂 The new merge update is so sick!

[@MDS-MixDaShit]

Awesome video!! Just got my Push 3 last week and I'm lost! Hahaha.... New to the production side so there is a huge learning curve. No clue what I'm doing. I also just got my Akai MPC 37 Key today and still in the box. Ive been DJing since 13 years old with 2 Technic 1200s and than Traktor controllers and so on. Traded in my Pioneer DJ REV5 for production equipment. So this will take me some time. Was going to return the Push 3 but I think I need more patience hahaha

[@DylanParisMusic]

My biggest recommendation is to watch a lot of tutorials, play with the new gear you've got and really learn it, and have fun! at the end of the day the joy of discovery and exploration is the best part I think

[@MDS-MixDaShit]

​@@DylanParisMusic Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!

[@owizlo]

pick one and learn it. then the other. dont do 2 at same time. 2 workflows will crush a smart person.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Probably a good call

[@harveygarrett4129]

It is so so easy to add an external hard drive if needed. My key 37 has 1tb and my MPC ONE+ has 2tb... Ram is not an issue 🤔

[@matthewgaines10]

It all boils down to what you want and works best for you personally. For me, it’s MPCs (Live II, One, Key 61). Personal ratings only matter to the person doing the rating. Pick what works for you.

[@DylanParisMusic]

💯

[@infriad]

In my dawless corner I currently have the MPC One+ and Roland Jupiter-Xm. This combo is pretty sweet. Xm is 4 part multitimbral + 1 drum track and it sounds amazing. The XMs sequencer is not that great so that’s where MPC comes in. This in combo with selecting sounds with msb and lsb from the MPC makes it so that I can work on multiple songs and they will always sound the same when opening them again. But I must say that the key 37 is tempting. If they included more of the usable plugins I would probably buy it. Hype and tube synth sounds awful in my opinion.

[@DylanParisMusic]

That’s a cool setup! And yeah I think Hype is actually pretty solid if you lower some of the fx on the presets, there’s a few decent sounds you can get out of tubesynth but it really shows its age

[@Stevie1da313]

I love the idea of an mpc and have had my eyes on the mpc live 2 for a while but been holding out to see if something better gets released. Unfortunately for me all Akia seems to be satisfied with is rehashing old outdated hardware. Don’t get me wrong the mpc key 37 is a great piece of gear and if it was released a few years ago with a different colourway I defiantly would have bit on it… even the mpc one plus would have interested me if it had included a battery and a different colourway… but as of now im fine waiting I guess

[@DylanParisMusic]

Understandable! I think because they continue to target this spec level the long term support has been really good for the platform. I’m curious if / when they do a full generational leap how many people will get left behind

[@CrusaderGeneral]

Agreed, best hardware fullstack for the money

[@norryellzy3455]

When I compare to OP one to the MPC 37 what a difference people need to use your head I would never in my life pay for a little tiny instrument for $2000. Never so competitive you still get your creativity while producing from the MPC but I do believe native instruments got some of their sleeve. Trust me I love them I’m always keep my maschine you got some awesome sounds on that package

[@hvhvgitaar]

What would make Maschine+ 9/10, is an included keyboard and better Audio support. As for the MPCs: I don’t think they are 9/10, because song arrangement is too clunky. The Force is the only AKAI device that reaches 9/10.

[@MyNameJeff..]

Maschine plus is mid. And it’s another piece of gear abandoned by NI. NI is crashing and about to burn.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Fair enough! I would love a maschine keys for sure

[@hvhvgitaar]

@@MyNameJeff.. I don’t think NI will crash, but the Maschine may be left abandoned. I hope not, but the signs are pretty bad…

[@DylanParisMusic]

I don’t have insider info but I’m pretty sure there will be future maschine hardware. I have to hope they’ve heard the feedback from their power users as well about not leaving them behind ie the Kontrol mk3. Hopefully they course correct moving forward

[@MyNameJeff..]

@@hvhvgitaar Maybe not for recycled sample packs and plugin after plugin, but for hardware and updates, I have 0 trust in them. Which sucks, I wish it wasn’t the case. From what I heard about kontrol s mk3, it’s been a dumpster fire. It’s all crazy because back in the 2010’s it seemed like akai was on it’s way out/outdated and NI would rule over all 7 kingdoms… Crazy how the tables flipped.

[@Curious_Skeptic]

Darn, I would have used your link! I just ordered a KEY 61 last night. I wanted the MPC X Se, but if you stop and look at bang for your buck, it's not there! Nothing beats the MPC ONE PLUS for value. The Key 37? If you must have the all in one and are on a MPC One budget? No brainer I guess. I really came around to loving the MPC One Plus in a short time. Having given it to my son, I felt so wanting for another MPC. I feel wanting by not getting the X. However, that $1000 is going towards a brand new Komplete Kontrol S88 MK3!

[@DylanParisMusic]

No worries at all! Thank you for watching my video and sharing your story!

[@milk_bath]

Really hope NI comes strong with their next Maschine hardware/s. If it wasn’t for the Expansions I would jump on the MPC Keys 37.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Agreed, hoping the long wait means a big jump up

[@vanibron]

I was lucky enough to buy Push 3 standalone during sale for 1500+ and Live Suite upgrade from Lite for 300+, so overall price was less than 2000, and at this price point it's unbeatable. BUT, 37 brings a huge value for the price. But agree 2 Gb is a strange decision.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Yeah at that price the push 3 is a really solid deal 😎🙏 would be cool if that became the standard price down the line

[@Puppetsinmyhead]

As a hardware device the push 3 is an 11 out of 10. As a workable device for creation. It’s a 4 at best. So many times I wanted to throw that damn thing out the window in frustration. Couldn’t be happyer taking your recommendation on getting the key 37. While it feels like a toy and the setup process was a buggy mess. I’m past that point now. As a workable interface with all the tools I need I couldn’t be happier. Getting opx-4 for free was also nice. As that would have been an instant buy. I will say so far I’m not overly happy with the fact I have to bang my fingers on the pads to get it to read. Is bumming me out. I’m sure I can change that. Still!! I’m definitely looking at picking up a used push 2 😜

[@DylanParisMusic]

These are good points re the setup and the pads! I will say the 37 pads seem better to me than the 61, but the push 3 pads are the best pads I’ve ever used and nothing is close besides maybe the maschine plus

[@groovindj]

I disagree with your comments on Push 3 & Suite, as I feel many people buying Push would already be Live users, and may already own Suite. I bought Suite before buying my 1st Push (mk2) and now have a Push 3 as well. Increasing the purchase price by including Suite when potential buyers may already own Suite? That's a no from me.

[@DylanParisMusic]

I hear you, but in that case maybe just give a discount for Suite owners? The Push 3 standalone without suite is a really cut down device imo

[@greyaltaer8788]

Portland Flonase Gang

[@DylanParisMusic]

Representtt hahaha

[@jacksp8de]

Rating should not take into account price in my opinion. It should only be the ability to make quality music. IMHO MPCs would be an 8 due to the learning curve and lack of a user friendly arranger. I’ll still give the MPC Live 2 a 9 due to portability

[@DylanParisMusic]

Fair!

[@BIG1TOWER]

I have a one plus 9/10 for me

[@DylanParisMusic]

Nice 😎🙏

[@remyvegamedia]

I feel like the most of the MPCs rank as a 7. The MPC Live 2 is the end of the goldilocks zone and I think anything price wise beyond that loses its value. The X and Key 61 are a lower ranking, in my opinion, because in the case of the X, it takes up so much space, it HAS to be a studio piece, but is much less flexible than any other DAW in a studio setting. The less the MPC costs, the more value it has, in my opinion, BECAUSE of them all running the same software, which is a less than ideal software at its best. The Live 2 I think has the highest functional efficiency**, but already getting into overpriced territory. Just my thoughts!

[@remyvegamedia]

To put it in context, I would rank the Push 3 an 8 due to its professional level processing and plugins. I can't think of any standalone devices that really hit 9 in my book. Haha. All in good fun man.

[@DylanParisMusic]

@remyvegamedia these are really interesting and well thought out points! I appreciate you sharing your perspective dude! 😎🙏

[@kafkawilde4604]

You tell us too much about you, ditch ego