MPC Live vs MPC 3000 // My Issue With the MPC Live 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@RickyTinez]

Update: I own an MPC Live ii now and it's awesome. I don't use it all the time, and i haven't fnished an entire song on it just yet. but its a great machine. still buggy, but not NEARLY as bad as this one was.

[@thahyst]

I noticed the A beat had smoother softer hh's and the Live it sounded like you almost needed to 16 level the velocity on em but pretty close

[@GraffHabit]

I gotta say I think you might have gotten a defective Live 1. I got the Live 1 on sale right before the Live 2 release (dec 2019). Coming from the MPC1000 15 years ago I have to say I really like the Live. I especially like that I can put all my instrumental programs through a submix and have Air Lo-Fi bring the sample rate and bit rate down to get a much crunchier, grimier sound with some aliasing (or anti-aliasing). I think the 3000, 60, etc are wonderful machines and things of beauty but their real value is to people who were original owners of them years ago because most people these days don't have a ton of floppies laying around whereas some older producers have hundreds of them. Without the ability to store samples on there it's really only valuable as a pass through machine to bring lofi samples with warmth into a different development environment.... but to me is not worth the price tag for those machines. Although I've got my eye on the rossum sp1200...very different workflow though

[@HammyHavoc]

How are you feeling about the Live II 6 months on?

[@BrentODell]

@@HammyHavoc I'm not as cool at Mr Tinez, but I have a Live II and love it. I will say they(Akai) might have some quality control issues, because the first unit I got had a bad output(the right side main out didn't work, no sound), the replacement had a bad touchscreen(would just... flip out every so often), but the THIRD one has been great! :) Make sure you get it from someplace that will replace any bad units, and you're good to go.

[@Temporalmixproductions]

Ricky goes off on the MPC Live like it just hit on his girl. "What's up? WHAT'S UP?!"

[@RickyTinez]

hahahahah

[@DieSonderschuela]

so we gon just ignore that my guy seems to be chilling with dillas brother??

[@tripleeight5608]

he said it so casually i wasnt ready lol

[@gr00veh0lmes]

#humblebrag 😂

[@Soho-Fart]

yeh i wasn't sure if he really was talking about jaydee's brother! but it seems like they know each other haha

[@MS-1]

Yeah I had to rewind the video lol.

[@mpbangamusic9673]

I was thinking the same thing lol

[@NickOnBass47]

That wood frame on the 3k is gorgeous 🤤

[@drbop6951]

My MPC Live is completely liberating. I've written and created so much in the few weeks Ive had it. With midi, sampling and audio channels. So quick and solid to work at speed. So sorry you've had issues. For me this is a game changer and life changer - I can complete tracks in ways never before. Love your channel Ricky. Greetings from England.

[@jessepace8868]

yo same, I think he was just working with a Lemon. I've never had any kind of issues like that with my MPC One

[@HighMonkeyMonk]

Would you say it helps more than being in just Ableton? I'm considering buying the MPC live. Ableton is great but too many options and I always get lost in it and never complete anything.

[@drbop6951]

@@HighMonkeyMonk For me. It's been a long search for a quick and flexible way of recording ideas and full songs. This generation of MPC is all that. Cheers

[@james12erby43]

How would you compare the MPC Live to let's say Protools, Logic Pro, or even Studio 1. In terms of beat n song ideas/production? Just asking.

[@myheartpumpsmusic]

game changer. Other MPC were game changers. But this one change the whole game. it fits in my bookbag.

[@A1MadeTheBeat]

His internal hard drive is about to go out. When you start getting the grey and white screens (went thru a couple times, then Akai got tired of swapping them out so we trouble shot the hell out of it and we figured out the issue)...it is a hard drive surge issue. The live is far from not glitchy...especially stand alone. This was just a connection issue. Next time you having issues hit me up, I can help you out.

[@A1MadeTheBeat]

Yeah, the Live is sensitive to digital clipping. The converts are a little touchy. Play with the Lo-Fi plug in on the live also. You have waaaaaay more capability with the Live if you start incorporating the efx/plugins to sculpt the sound out the box.

[@fernandomercado5519]

Were old MPCs built with alien tech or what? Still relevant.

[@wired99999999]

So, the usual route is like this: you experience some random problems with your MPC live (pads not working, notes are skipping, whatever), then go to MPC forums to complain a and a bunch of locals there with massive stockholm syndrome tell you to be creative and overcome those issues, because one must be creative to make music. Or, alternatively, you may contact AKAI support and wait for a useless response for months.

[@andersjeppsson8499]

Sounds like it’s broken. My MPC one is amazing. Key group “all” doesn’t lock when editing which is super frustrating and when you sample lower than 127 pressure and forget to set it after.

[@LukeLine]

Had my MPC Live for 3 years now and I love it still... no crashes, no freezes, sampling... drums , effects, sound, storage, SD, screen and pads all still are good! Each to there own.. sounds like that was is dead or on pad mute? Maybe and error in the mixer/ hope this situation doesn’t happen to mine. £1000 was and still is a big investment for a music tool/instrument... 💪🏽💯💛🎛

[@smackdammit4266]

Rock solid here as well!!!!

[@PHeMoX]

There's no way you didn't run into freezes or crashes or bugs. I keep getting those at times even now, many updates later. I wouldn't say it crashes often at all, but to suggest it never does is plain lying. And there have been LOADS of bugs un-arming tracks, muting parts of a pad bank and so on. Some of them aren't fixed even today. So, it's pretty impossible you never ran into them.

[@LukeLine]

@@PHeMoX I’ve had loads of track mute issues in the latest update, usually drum tracks I’ll put in a sequence and no playback. Only problems this past year man. It’s still fun to use, I just make a new sequence or delete all midi on that track and make a new one. Wondering what 3.0 will bring!?

[@HammyHavoc]

@@LukeLine Not an MPC Live user, but did this get resolved?

[@LukeLine]

@@HammyHavoc haven’t had it since back then! It’s pretty solid. Do this as it’s 5 years old I get 3.5 hours now on battery but all drum and key group programs are fine for me now… no midi bugs.

[@miamiangelo]

i work at a repair shop. I can attest that we've seen a lot of MPC Live come in with similar issues. doesn't seem very reliable. everytime we get a 3000 its a simple psu or lcd swap.

[@RaulSanchez-ps6du]

where are you guys located?

[@MexiChriS]

For reals. Where are you at?

[@myheartpumpsmusic]

Lolol

[@miamiangelo]

oh wow just seeing this now. WISH YOU WERE GEAR is the name of the shop located in sunny Miami, FL. The first and only modular synthesizer store in South Florida! eyyyy

[@myheartpumpsmusic]

@@miamiangelo people wanna give you money lol.

[@guerrillastrange]

Sounds like your homie’s Live is broken bruv. I’ve had it for almost 9mo without any of those problems you had. In fact never one issue, even updating the firmware.

[@DidierBampiliMusicProduction]

I have the best music contents check me out

[@LexOfNP]

I was thinking the same thing

[@wagnermalo8022]

Yep same! No problems here with my mpc

[@nathanbrown19]

I've had the occasional hiccup with my live, but for what's worked, it definitely out ways the bad.

[@chrismose3252]

I've had mine for a few years now with no problem. For anyone who has had issues with your Live, was it after upgrading the hard drive?

[@sammaguire2879]

The very last issue where it shut down is just a power saver feature when you don't have the power supply connected. You have to click start before the bar fills up or it shuts down. Stops if from being turned on in a backpack or something. My live has been fine all these years, have never experienced problems like these. Probably just a faulty unit, have heard a lot of people struggle with those.

[@GothProfessor]

The machine you've got is buggy as hell. Still, the Live can be hard to get into it at first, even with a clean unit. But updates 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, and now 2.9 really made the MPC Live the GOAT for me. I struggled to be inspired by it before, but now the multimbral MIDI, Tube Synth, Drum Synth, auto sampler, grid automation, and step automation have me hooked and happy.

[@MrScrooge1980]

2.10 has brought everything full circle ☝️

[@kryzoxy1]

@@MrScrooge1980 Usb Audio Interface (bug or feature) is a big scam from Akai, IMHO.

[@sweetjonestonysnowpimpc4887]

agreed got one dirt cheap and after hearing people crap on it im really wondering what they are griping about it has enough shortcuts to get around fast after setting up your templates its pretty fast

[@enterprismhouse]

I played a show with a guy who used an MPC Live and it wouldn't turn on and load projects so he had to drop off the bill last second. Yeah...not buying one of those anytime soon.

[@AllThatsGone]

my darkest fear is this

[@RickyTinez]

that is horror movie worthy.. I've seen the Force crash live too and it takes longer to boot up than expected

[@billB101]

I just sent my MPC One back after two weeks of trying it out. Q overlay bugs and an awful touch screen sealed the deal for me. And, to be honest, as someone who's owned a lot of MPC's over the years ( 60/3000/2000/2000xl/1000) I just thought the timing was sloppy with the One.

[@LukezyM]

@bill borez Sloppy in what way?

[@jasonb.2430]

@@billB101 .What do you think of the mpc studio black as a first drum machine? i prefer being connected to a computer as i was looking at it or the mpc 2000xl but the studio is cheaper on the used market?thoughts everyone?

[@spookypen]

You got a point at the end with being an mpc snob of sorts, but I just haven't found a good reason to replace my 2500 w/ JJOS for any of thr new ones

[@vubeatz]

2:07 I never have problems like that in my 2 years history of owning MPC Live :)

[@sketchdashaman]

yep

[@craigdaubbeats-rapinstrume9185]

I have actually heard of different people getting random glitches after firmware updates. Like some are getting some issues while others get other issues while also some getting no issues at all. From what I understand if you do a soft reset it fixes any issues that most people run into. Nobody really knows what causes them. Even Akai has no explanation (that's public anyway). At least not that I'm aware of. I think it might have something to do with people's computers because I got the same glitch on both my ONE and X in the last update where when scrolling packs the curser would keep jumping back up to the top. So far I haven't heard of anyone else having this issue. But I highly doubt both my MPCs would have the same malfunction unless it's either in the file itself or the computer is possibly doing something to it during the installation?? Idk, doesn't make sense but as long as the soft reset fixes these issues I'm all good. Lol

[@dannymontreal6316]

You sure you’re not hitting the touchscreen with three fingers to scroll? 👌

[@hotel_yugoslavia]

I have an MPC X for 1.5 years, no probs whatsoever I would think you have a faulty unit. Btw, love your videos!

[@RickyTinez]

Good to know.. seems like its a coin toss at this point. I wonder if they applied any better processing to the X vs live?

[@altdel8006]

@@RickyTinez It's the same internal components on all the MPCs. X, Live, Live 2 and One. You have a faulty unit, that happens, you are not alone on this, but it's not usual.

[@DaveValencia1]

​@@RickyTinez could it be the cables?

[@HarryLoveTV]

I had a 3000 since 2000/01 and i found it pretty annoying, even with all the upgrades there was things that really irritated me like lack of mute groups, hpf, the only fx were delays, only 1 program plays at a time etc. I didnt really find the sound massively overwhelming like so many do, in fact I found it a bit flat and limited like it shaves off low and high. Anyway I got an mpc live and never had many problems. Yes it crashes every so often but I love it so much I sold my 3000 and havent missed it. The fact u can put any processing u want on it and sample via or resample/flatten is already great. Then theres the simple ability to load and save wavs. Honestly love my mpc live and I find the audio quality great. There are a couple of things i'd add or change but most are foreseeable firmware updates. To me the 3000 would have really benefitted from being more OS upgradeable. All this said I never put the 2 machines side by side

[@Feanarth]

I noticed that the pad velocity / sensitivity setting was giving me certain clipping issues at the beginning once I got my Live. Once I lowered it a bit it seemed to play samples at a much more consistent rate. That said - I have very little experience in music making.

[@kursive1]

Recently started using the 3k again. Fell in love all over. So simple and easy to use. Workflow is super fast and sound is great. Also the solid build quality. I borrowed a friends MPCOne a few weeks back thinking it would blow my mind and I'd have to run out and cop one. The technology is awesome. So much it can do and real fun to play with. I went into it thinking about purchasing the One or Live but after using it I couldn't pull the trigger. I can do all the same stuff with my 3k and 1000. I'd rather use the money on a new mixer or sp404. I'm an older guy, I work in front of a computer all day and like most of us, spend way too much time scrolling on my phone. I found that when I get into my lab I don't want to interact with screens to create. Buttons, sliders, knobs and cables all day for me.

[@lindasson]

I've had my Live for a year and never had a issue at all, and I love it! Added a SP-404A and about to get a 202 or 303 to go along with it 🙏🏾✊🏾

[@nkozi]

that sponsor transition 😂

[@martinjazzpiano]

Crazy, I’m two years deep on my Live and have had zero issues like this!

[@Dachef313232]

Got mines in 2017 and no problems! The internal hard drive is not the best and they recommend use flash drives

[@auraglasswerks4900]

Guaranteed he fucked it up😆

[@miscmisc1023]

@@auraglasswerks4900 smh

[@MS-1]

Long time user of the 2000XL here and, a few months back copped the MPC One and lovin it.

[@ghostduster1]

Your final rant made so much sense to me. I've been an old school MPC user for over 20 years and I just can't get vibe with any DAW or new gear, even the stuff from Akai.

[@justdope1963]

Thanks for doing this comparison. I have a bit of irrational MPC 3000 gear lust, so I'm always curious to hear how it compares to other machines. I actually had a MPC X briefly that I just bought to flip, but the one thing I took away from playing with it was that it had so many features packed in it felt a little to close to using a PC for me. But that's just my own neuroses.

[@thepatzer]

Not sure about the glitches - sounds like that MPC Live could be a hardware issue (see suggestion below re ribbon cable). Gotta trust your equipment to be productive, especially for anything live. Love the philosophical discussion at about 13:00. I think that’s in interesting and healthy approach. I’ve got an Elektron in shipment I’m excited to try as my first DAWless box for some of the the same reasons. (Very Stoic in philosophy, BTW.) Love the voice sample - got a bit of a Q-Tip vibe.

[@therealliveguy]

Thankfully, I’ve never had any of those problems with my Live. I also have a 3000....i just hate that chopping on it is such a damn chore even with Valixi.

[@CyberSinZProductions]

Proud owner of a MPC live. Standalone mode exclusively. But do have a few expansion packs and Splice integration. I found 4 minor issues with the MPC. 1. It's very fickle when powering on. If i turn any of my other gear its connected to through midi BEFORE booting Up the MPC live it will either ignore that piece of gear or other midi tracts will be inexplicitly muted. The work around is pretty simple MPC turns on before the rest, Cool. 2. I have 2 piece of gear receiving midi data over 5 pin and one of them is multi timbral so I can send and recieve data on different channels I usually use this as the Master keyboard but if i wanted to plug in a keyboard to the MPC over usb or just have it transmit data over USB it will treat that gear as the ONLY data piece of gear in the chain and ignore all data coming in from the other keyboard. Kind of sucks. 3. Lastly a Software issue. You can't mute all MIDI EXT instruments for all tracks in the project. You have to go through and mute them for each sequence TLDR: I have to mute and record certain tracks at a time in my set up; Record drums into mix , Mute drums Unmute Keys, Record Keys etc. but i have to mute and unmute ext midi keys one by one for each sequence. Very Time Consuming GORGE! Though work around. If you Convert the song into a sequence you can mute all ext event on that collective Sequence plus then you can use the XY effects and still have the song continue. *Happy Instrumentalist Sounds* 4. The MPC doesn't recognize the SSD drive in it.You're Supposed to format it via Computer but the computer doesn't recognize or cant find it.But it'll show as an Read-Only storage in the MPC's interface. Weird. So just using a Old 32G SD in the mean time.

[@dether3]

Hey brother totally got ya at the end with the ego stuff. It is rarely a fear of the unknown that stops us, it is in actuality a fear of the known ending. Keep creating the new you even if others still carry old ideas, they'll catch up.

[@RickyTinez]

Hell yes! Anytime i was afraid of doing something, most times, it ended up being the best decision i could make

[@dether3]

@@RickyTinez for a long time people have told other to dim their brightness on account of blinding them. But some people need extra light so you better not hold back man!! You and what you make has value, and being honest in a world gone crazy helps keep us all sane. Much love my friend.

[@kylen-unixowy]

Hello Ricky Tinez, thanks for the video :) My MPC One+ also experiences random freezes; I've encountered the issue you're talking about, clipping. Additionally, it can restart itself during the import of an MP3 sample or after using the PURGE option and selecting Track mix or track mute, resulting in a black screen and restart. I've had this happen several times. But fortunately, this hasn't happened during live performances. Akai definitely needs to improve the stability of MPC its system.

[@boomboombaby9140]

And that’s why I use mpc 2 software paired with the alesis keyboard with 16 mpc style pads lol

[@DopamineOverload]

Another perfect video, bro. That said, I absolutely love my MPC One, and I'm not even an Akai guy. No issues after using it a lot for a solid week. Btw, why would you ever get rid of your 3k? You wanted one forever! :)

[@RickyTinez]

haha i knoooww.. Imposter Syndrome probably

[@DopamineOverload]

@@RickyTinez Dude you are anything but an impostor, but I totally know what you mean (with every piece of gear I pick up). Haha.

[@chriscarson6050]

The sound comparison shows that the 3000 adds harmonics to the each sound. You can hear it in the highs with the snare and you can hear it in the lows with the bass

[@TheNathtube]

Great watch bro, yeah sticking to my, 3000LE never malfunctioned once

[@Smoothhh_One]

Ricky have you seen the s2400? It’s supposed to the a “re imagined/ spiritual successor ” of the SP 1200. I would love to see your review on it

[@dianevrules]

Ive owned my 2000 since 1997. Never had a malfunction. Not even with floppy disks. That Live malfunctioning s^^%$ wouldve driven me crazy.

[@jorgenveltropClubwatchers]

Still using a MPC2Kxl with S3Kxl , Z8 ,... made lots of vinyl releases with Them...Like The Groovaholics Wake up the Funk . Limitations kan be a good thing. Jorgen Veltrop. The Netherlands.

[@jordanzish]

Sold my 2k and have regretted ever since. Thinking of picking up another one. Nothing matches that workflow.

[@bonafidebeatz20]

I Love my mpc live...but no matter what, I always find myself glued to my mpc 1000. It never fails

[@gregskibeat]

Adjusting sensitivity of pads help with locking problem. Had the same issue.

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

honesty - thats why i love you, Tricky 😘

[@RickyTinez]

Thanks Mikkel, happy to see you around and enjoy your saturday!

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

@@RickyTinez Thanx, and likewise!

[@alecsbuga]

PS you can add the effect on all the program instead of each pad 😄

[@RickyTinez]

yea i think it might be a bit more fair to do it per pad? rather than it rendering as a whole. Since the samples get processed that way on the 3k? Maybe im overthinking it hahah

[@ILLUDIUM_Q_36]

@@RickyTinez well, that's why you were getting the clipping.

[@thepatzer]

Any thoughts on Machine+? And yes, do get an MPC One to check out if you can. I’m excited to see what Elektron might have up its mad beat-scientist sleeves in the next year or two. (Such an amazing sequencer/workflow, and rock solid.)

[@fallprecauxionsmusic]

we love you, ricky!! thanks always.

[@davidvochocjr1005]

The 3000 looks SO COOL!

[@MediaMusik777]

mpc x owner here and I confidently report the screens are easier to work on and my workflow is superfast now .. no more shift button and way less menu divin,no glitches on boot or any errors.

[@altdel8006]

C'mon, man. You have a faulty unit, that can happen with any piece of equipment ever made, and that's a reason people shouldn't buy it? And yes, we get it, you prefer the MPC 3000 that you have been using and love for years. I'm not surprised. But that's no reason to diminish these new MPCs.

[@Roomer645]

Alt Del Exactly ! Besides, the majority doesn’t care anymore as the 3000 is by no means a device that people can still buy. Yeah, at a major premium because of it’s collectors value. It’s NOT about gear but what you do with it. And 99% is not spending 3000 dollars on an used MPC 3000. These days at less than 700 bucks you can have a standalone MPC One and do pretty much everything with it. Use it as a controller if you like and hook it up to a computer and it is pretty limitless. Oldskool MPC’s are great, everybody knows that but they are not portable, they are expensive, and very VERY limited when you want to go beyond regular Boombap.

[@iwillnevergetone5]

right. this felt like saying all Telecasters are garbage because you played one that had tuning problems haha. the MPC Live is a beautiful instrument when you don't hate them bc it's different than the 60/3000

[@SUPACONSCIOUS]

Akai has had major quality issues and constant bugs in most of their products since they were purchased by InMusic. They are deserving of the scrutiny. They also notoriously delete posts about bugs from their own forums to hide their problems and issues.

[@espermoves5409]

Hes not saying no one should ever buy or use the live and thats final. Hes saying hes had bad experiences with several units, and that so far in his experience the live doesnt function as well as the 3k. How many times does he say "if you have had a different experience please let me know in the comments" at least 4 or 5 times from what I saw. If you see a problem with new mpcs you SHOULD point it out because it forces companies to respond. The whole video, like all of ricky's videos, is calm/measured/honest. Sometimes its like im watching an entirely different video than people in the comments. if someone wants to put this to rest they should send him a fully functioning live. Obviously not an option for many or most people but you know theres someone with the extra kit laying around that could lend it for a review people would deem more "balanced" or whatever. Companies need people like ricky and also super fans of the new products to keep them on their toes on one hand and spread the love and knowledge on the other.

[@Roomer645]

@@espermoves5409 the whole thing is that companies are, and can be, a lot more sloppy as they can fix things with updates ... Back in the day there was a lot of time and they took their time to make it fault proof or as close as they could. These days they have deadlines and are pushed to release new hardware and most of the time the software is still an advanced beta. We see this all the time with electronic equipment. Also keep in mind that modern kit does a LOT more than 20 years ago, so programming it is a LOT more complex.

[@Guyforkz]

I too have started with a MPC 60 mk2 then went through most of them, but have kept my 60, 3000 LE and 5K. I’ve owned a MPC Live since launch and a part from a few software glitches that have been patched, I must say that the MPC Live is by far my most favourite MPC of all time followed by the 3000 and 60 (for sound). The feature set and versatility is incredible. As the machine is portable and so powerful regarding chopping and editing features, my other MPC’s collect dust. I’ve got fun memories of the 3K and 60 as most of my old records in the 90’s were maxed on them, but I’ve now developed a faster software hardware workflow that I’m now to accustomed to. I refuse to go back to Zip disks and such when I can simply drag and drop sounds on to the MPC hardware or run the software on my laptop.

[@trevormalcolm4328]

I had a MPC live, got rid after a year! I really miss my old MPC 1000.

[@Towly263]

U are not alone Miss my 1k :,(

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

Wow I would suggest that there is definitely a hardware issue or seven happening with that particular unit. I haven't taken mine out on gigs yet but I have several friends that use them and none of us have had any technical issues like what you're experiencing. I bet there might be a ribbon cable or something that needs to be re-seated inside. I believe there's also a global reset in the Settings menu. I dig if you dig the workflow on the OG more, especially with the dedicated controls and the simplified work environment. One thing I have found handy is when you press and hold the Menu button and press one of the 16 pads, it will take you directly to the corresponding function as they appear on the screen. I find sample editing easy with the screen, but specific note editing a bit of a pain so far, though TBH that side of things is still new to me. Sound quality wise, I like the Live but I look forward to getting a 2000xl once gigs and money are a thing again haha...

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

I also wonder if there was a 2nd drive added and if the drive is either wack or not connected 100% properly inside which is causing a freak out.

[@bumsibar6163]

I really like how you are sharing how you question your inner struggle about identifying with the MPC. I can say from experience, being a Jazz drummer, DO NOT sell stuff that you somehow gel with. Who knows why that shit works for you and how - trust your belly instincts.Example: Look at how studios abandoned their analog gear in a heartbeat when (then subpar) digital came around. Now, 40 years later, people still trying to figure out whats missing on current mixes and companies have been selling solutions to compensate that. And to varying success - considering people gladly paying for updates of 1076 plugins to this day. TL:DR if gear works - celebrate and make music!

[@raulhenriquez9412]

you are right my friend.

[@256k_]

would be great to have an update on this Ricky, now that you regularly use Live 2.

[@_boof]

Get the One. Have had it since release and havent had any issues. If you work at home mostly, you probably dont need the external battery. Also the price point is fair enough compared to the Live. Seeing all the gear you have, im sure the One will be cheaper than most other things you have.

[@sebastianserpell]

By the way love your videos and reviews... I use an MPC Live since 2 years and a half (and an MPC1000 before) love them both. I used it almost everyday, created complete productions, mastered track (maybe not the best but usable), etc, so I know it like you know your beautiful MPC3000. Your clipping problem happens cause the way the mixer is designed in the MPC Live, internally if your tracks have to much volume in total that clips the master (or the master of the pad program), so I always low my individual track volumes and I don't have any problems. I know these sounds like a normal thing in most machines but coming from a MPC1000, theres internal differences how the MPC Live deals with volumes internally, I don't think is bad its just that we need to use the MPC Live as it is, and after learning it I never had problems with it, cause its a way much deeper and complicated machine than the other MPC's so theres many things that might be strange and quirky from someone coming from the other MPC's. Just my 2cents....

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

I think ableton does the same thing. If I have two tracks that are both not clipping, but are quite loud and play them both the master can start clipping.

[@MrZkitZ]

damn love illa j's music what a legend

[@alxs2k]

I own a MPC Live for almost two years now and I've been gigging live and traveling with it and never had any issues, however once I had some issues after updating and it turned out that it was recommended to me by one of the AKAI developers that you should do a system reset one (or three times in a row) - the system reset from the preference menu initial page - in case you bump into random bugs, which a lot of times happens after a firmware update. But it might be as well a faulty hardware, unfortunately. Hope you sort this out. Oh, just a reminder, when you system reset you lost your preferences as well as the fast links for the latest projects on the initial page. You can of course just manually select and open them... but it's def a PITA.

[@DidierBampiliMusicProduction]

I have the best music contents check me out

[@BeatsbyLonza]

I’ve had my live for almost 2 years now and I’ve not had any issue. And from my EarPods the MPCs sound the same. On the 3k and the 60. The live you have sounds like a software issue. I would also say Stick with what you know. I have a 2000xl and it’s driving me nuts that i can’t work it like i do my X and the live. But I’m kinda new to MPC producing

[@marizuokereke7347]

So, you borrowed an MPC Live that was already knackered and then tested it against an MPC that works correctly? C'mon, man, that's not cool.

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

I dig it but to be fair, it's hard to know that it was janky ahead of time because it looks to be in good physical shape. Doesn't look like it was beaten up in any way.

[@CaidicusProductions]

I've had my MPC Live for 3 years and have had none of the issues Ricky's having. Personally, I think it's an excellent machine.

[@marizuokereke7347]

It will take time to get a feel for whether the current generation of MPC's are as reliable as some of the older ones. This particular device is clearly knackered. Many of the older MPC's need tact switches replacing. I have a 500, with a load of switches to replace. I wouldn't do a video with that against my MPC Live (which has worked fine for years, btw) and say that the MPC500 has a janky button feel, and you never know whether it's going to do anything. On his previous video (MPC60?) he said that it had just come back from repair. He didn't do the comparison before it want to repair. That would have made no sense. Many of the older MPC's had crap pads that needed to be replaced or modified. The new gen feels great out of the box.

[@amoxdnb]

Getting on really well with my live, (had it a year and updated firmware a couple times I think) been a solid workhorse so far man! Looks like the one you had there is simply broken.

[@epicon6]

Keep the classic MPC and buy a Maschine MK3 for everything else. I promise you it will work perfect every time and the workflow is amazing.

[@czorakownik]

Ricky, something is wrong with your unit, i have my mov live almist from begining and always outdoor and so on... bad condition with my baby... and never even one issue.... no luck man, thats all

[@deadmoonscriptures1556]

I think they're both incredible machines, honestly. I like how on the live you can choose what type of output sound you want. I wish I had a 3000 LE.. I'd love to get lost in it

[@gorillafoxi]

I'm stumped by the issue with the pads. I bought one as soon as it came out, and I've never had that problem. The clipping, though? Yea. That's been driving me insane. I just thought I was doing something wrong for a minute. Engineered a bit to get some of the clipping out, but then the music doesn't hit right.

[@labandlegacy]

So people shouldn't buy a Live because you have a 3 year-old (minimum) borrowed machine that is broken? Sounds legit 🤣🤣🤣 Look, I am clearly a fan of the new units but even if I wasn't this is one of the most misleading gear "reviews" I've seen in a long time. Every drum machine ever made has pad sensors that go bad. Every drum machine ever made has the propensity to malfunction and acting like a used, broken unit is a fair representation of an entire product is trash bro.

[@RickyTinez]

The review wasn't solely based on just this unit. I've seen a few Forces crash during gigs and 2 lives i've played with have locked up on me. From my perspective i wouldn't buy the live as much as i would love to have all those features, i worry too much what i might lose while creating which isn't what i want to think about while making music haha. But i agree with you that most drum machines sensors go bad. someone also mentioned a ribbon cable might have gotten loose. My 3k and 60ii haven't had messed up pads yet thankfully. But i'll look into this one and see what can be done. I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment and view iamsight, dope channel btw!

[@labandlegacy]

@@RickyTinez that's fair. That background info would have gone a long way in this video. A lot of guys in the community respect your opinion so I honestly think the title is a bit harsh without it. We all have our preferences though and yes the more computing power, the more glitches and crashes so as a performing musician that makes a lot of sense. Thanks for stopping thru the channel, and for the feedback as well. 💯🤜💥🤛

[@AveMcree]

I feel the same way.. Homie totally disrespected the machine that was borrowed, modified, & 3 years old. All of that for a drop of clout..... Yike

[@8dioproductions]

Wonderful video. It is interesting how we get sucked into the rabbit hole of certain workflows or specific technology. Its good to break to the mold - as you are!

[@purrsoundsystem]

Totally agree. MPC Heads want reliability, For me , after trying the old mpc5000 i felt like was fighting it , weird random stuff that completely changed the creative vibe , an amazing machine crippled. Sad to see its still going on with the live . I thought , do i really want to be Troubleshooting and fighting random BUGS or finding workarounds , when i want to be creative. With the older units you turn them on and then Go. Hope Akai finds a solution.

[@eman0828]

The 5000 was the worst MPC ever made full of both hardware issues and software bugs. I just trashed mine two months ago after owning it for 10 years tha only lasted me 8 years. The damn power supply went out on in two and half years ago. Turns out it's a known issue given it shares the same power supply as the Alesis Fusion keyboard. The power supplies were poorly made that overheats. No replacement power supplies exist on the market for me to actually take a huge loss through mine in the garbage can. Never again will buy another akai product nor its even the same company anymore. The original Akai company was sold off and Numark bought the assests now thy build junk. All the MPCs under the original AKAI were better made that were made in Japan. The Japanese have nothing to do with the modern MPCs.

[@ScotBontrager]

Self-identity is a wonderful thing, it is how we know ourselves. But it can also be a cage. If you want to be an old-school MPC user, be that. If not, don't. It's only a cage if it is holding you back.

[@int3533]

Akai should just start remaking 3000’s at this point. Like literally just 3000’s no new modern quirky stuff.

[@OdinOfficialEmcee]

I agree. Just a few updates for the modern world would be nice though. Keep the same guts and just update the screen to the larger colour touch screen for easier navigation. Also, I like USB connectivity so it can easily work within a DAW and transfer files into a session for mixing. Then just replace the floppy drives with USB drive ports for storing sessions, samples, etc. and you would have a 3000 with modern conveniences and the sound that everybody wants in a sampler.

[@op8995]

@@OdinOfficialEmcee no.

[@OdinOfficialEmcee]

I couldn't agree more. We seriously need to petition Akai to make this happen

[@op8995]

@@OdinOfficialEmcee if you want a 3000 original for 2k I'll be letting mine go soon on ebay.

[@theprofilelost]

They can’t. Roger linn holds the license to the design and the new CEO of Numark which owns Akai cut him off from royalties from the Mpc designs.

[@Marrcello]

I really liked my Mpc live, but I sold it and got the One instead..and those dedicated buttons are way better...I don't like the touchscreen either, but its alright. I try to use it as little as possible..My Mpc live /one never crashed and it never made any problems.. . I still love my Mpc 500 and I'm never gonna sell that..^^

[@AveMcree]

Hi Ricky I'm a big fan of your channel! There's a few thing you should know about some of your issues: 1. Pad issue - Something that every MPC has over time. The pad sensors usual go out and need to be replace. My MPC 2500 had that issue and once I replaced the sensors. It went away for good. 2. OS - Which version of the OS are you running? Also, there are a few bugs Apple users encounter that Windows OS don't. This is very unfortunate for the Apple gang. I'm a Windows head thankfully lol.. However, I recommend you update the firmware to get rid of the bugs. 3. Touch Screen - Yeah, it's not the best & I'd love for them to allow "drag n drop" for song mode like on the desktop/laptop software. However, I'm glad it's there since it speeds up sound design & sample chopping. 4. Distortion of the AD/DA - All the MPC's can output the same analog signal. Not many people know that but on the live. You can change the output from -24, -12, & 0DB in the options. Also, you can change your DAC to the MPC 60 algorithm (though it's nuance, it's still a viable option). You can change the sample rate via Air Lofi or in the cog wheel settings. 5. Sound comparison - At 24 bit, the new MPC sounds a tiny bit "cleaner" than the MPC 3000 (though the charm of the 3000 is 16 bit 44.1Khz). You can change the settings to meet that requirement. Sample rate isn't much of a difference if any at all. Also, in your sound comparison, IDK you noticed the pad curve of the MPC 3000 is set differently than the Live. That's why the MPC 3000 seems to have more "thud". There are few other things I want to touch up on but those stuck out the most.. I'll save those opinions for discussion. I personally wouldn't buy the original MPC Live. I'd recommend someone to buy an MPC One or the Live ii (definitely the MPC ONE for the price point, build quality, & extra buttons if you're a new guy).

[@elijah7525]

Hey Ave, Would like some more info on points 4&5, there’s gotta be a way to get closer to the 3K sound

[@RickyTinez]

I am really curious about the 1. Appreciate you not only for taking the time to write this out but for being one of the OGs on the channel! I always look out for your comment haha. The live II and I think on the force they fix the touchscreen as well didn’t they? 1. Yea I’ve replaced the pads on a few MPCs but this seemed software related since it went onto banks that weren’t even active! 2.latest OS

[@AveMcree]

@@RickyTinez Thanks!!! Well, my guess is since it has the custom skin. The externals might be messed up.. I saw some people modifying the motherboard (AKAI bought out a company for all their 2GB ram & 16gig HD boards kind of like what NI did with the 4GB ram & 32GB motherboards for the plus).. Also, I'm guessing the OS update was done via Apple computer.. All my producer friends that are Apple based are having issues with the new update. Meanwhile, I haven't had an issue yet.. IDK, I hoping AKAI will fix it soon (and add hype synth, drum synth, etc.). Either way, I'll let them know about it since people keep telling me lol.

[@lundsweden]

Having MPC envy, this makes me appreciate my Korg Electribe 2 Sampler more. Solid build, SIMPLE, mostly text based OS (probably even simpler than the MPC3000). Ok, so you can't turn quantise off, although there are two ways around this, best way I think is use the excellent groove templates to add some groove back into the sequence (can be applied individually to each pad). Most importantly, its rock solid and has never crashed on me! I've even solved the note stealing issue, so I'm pretty happy! The way around the note stealing issue, for anyone who has a 'Tribe, set all pads to Mono (unless you need poly) trim factory samples (man they have a lot of silence on the end of many!) and be careful with FX, or resample with FX.

[@CaidicusProductions]

The MPC Live is the center of my dawless studio and is an absolute joy to use. Ricky, you have a faulty Live. Not sure if you mentioned it in your video but, do you have the latest firmware running on your live?

[@gakdaniels76]

Like some of the other commenters I have not had any problems with mine.That is after 2 years of heavy use.I love it.It fixed every problem I had with all the other ones.

[@Kickdrum00]

He said illa J like he was a regular 😂 big flex

[@cjk-28-JockeK]

Hi Ricky, did you check your audio out cables from MPC Live, or replace them, when this problem occurred? Oxide at the jack is very common. I regularly need to push&pull XLR-cables in our conference rooms at my work. That fixes the problem most of the time, unless the cable or the microphone is faulty. Perhaps you've already tried it, since it's quick to test ;-)

[@TannerByTheSea]

It could be a Demon, Ricky! I mean look at that little demon face you got laying next to the MPC live! That shit is more real than you think, bro! I’ve had MPC’s go haywire on me… I’ve also had demons! Real talk I cannot decipher 😝 Stay blessed brother

[@lebronsinclair8012]

MPC needs to rerelease vintage MPC for old school workflow. I couldn't get down with mpc one myself.

[@f.nf.n7689]

I feel youre inner love for mpc 60/3000! I sell my gold before i sell my samplers off! And I really love my gold!😁

[@OrionGarcia]

i've never had any issue with my mpc live. i love it. in all fairness never used the original mpc's, still mess with my akai s20 and my asr-x pro on the side but for my money the live is boss and with the 2 midi outs, im in 'sequencing external gear' heaven.

[@rahzikashiharris9539]

How hard is it to make beats

[@OrionGarcia]

@@rahzikashiharris9539 not hard at all

[@rahzikashiharris9539]

@@OrionGarcia REALLY? FROM THE OUT SIDE LOOKING IT LOOKS REALLY HARD! I HAVE ALOT GREAT IDEAS IN MY HEAD

[@Digiphex]

Appreciate your honesty. Would like you to to try the Maschine+ and see what you think.

[@RickyTinez]

Same here! it looks awesome, especially with all the button per function capabilities.

[@justdope1963]

I'd love to hear some more side by side comparisons with Maschine. There is one online where the SP1200 emulation is actually pretty close on the aliasing.

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

Yes. This.

[@DavidPeck]

You do have to watch your headroom on the Live to avoid clipping. Just bring things down a little and you're fine.

[@paulburkhart2619]

Lol "so how the hell d'yah turn this thing off??!!" Not what you want to be saying about a machine you create stuff on, right? I tried the MPC One and Live, but ended up with a 1000. Something about doing everything with a touch screen bummed me out.

[@raistaparta]

I upgraded to an MPC Live from a 1000 and so far no regrets. Still have the 1000 and I'll probably keep it but the more I work on the Live the more i get used to the new features. That's actually my main issue with the Live, I try not to rely too heavily in the new features and memory, just in case I really need to go old school. The touch screen is kind of addicting but in reality you don't have to use it more than you used the screen on the old ones, it just wasn't a large touch screen. The sound, to my ears, is better than the 1000. Can't speak for the older ones. IMO, the biggest selling points on the new MPCs are: loads of memory, processing power (effects, plugins, routing) and the way projects work. The battery is a bonus but I wouldn’t advise relying on it for a live show.

[@T.H.W.O.T.H]

This is what Saturdays are all about! 🎧

[@monsirto]

May be a timestretch issue re clipping? Sorry to hear about this, Ricky. I've enjoyed mine. Stay safe!

[@craigdaubbeats-rapinstrume9185]

That's what I was thinking. I can't deal with problems like that. It'll drive me nuts til I figure out why it's doing it. Usually after a little digging I figure it out. Most likely because he doesn't own or use a newer standalone MPC regularly, it's probably something he just hasn't thought of checking yet. Kind of happens every time you try to use a new piece of gear or software. Different ways of doing things and different terminologies is a mofo in music production. Lol

[@CJtheCynic]

Thumbs up for the illa j loaner.

[@KibweBrathwaite]

So lemme get this straight. You have one borrowed unit with a problem that could be a unique defect/malf or something and made a video titled "Why you SHOULDN'T buy an MPC Live"?? That's extra click-bait-esque. I genuinely wouldn't expect this from this chan. I would have thought twice about this TBH (also considering you work for Novation which I'm a massive fan of too). C'mon bro. I'm not a big fan of the Live series but this is a wild blanket video/title.

[@apoclypse]

I've had my MPC for two years only time I've had crashes was with early firmware and even then sparingly. The issue was my fault I had an old faulty harddrive in the machine that was starting to fail the MPC did not like that. Once I replaced the drive with an SSD it's been rock solid. As for the whole clipping thing. Are you sure you are not clipping on the Master? What you are seeing is the program channel bu you don't have it expanded so you can't actually see if it's clipping. It may actually be clipping on the master channel for some reason. If you want the MPC3K or 60 sound on the program you should be putting the effect on the Program channel not on each pad in the drum group, you are compounding the effect. If you want a more MPC3k workflow put the effect on the Master Channel.

[@djspair]

I just purchased an MPC One. From years of using multiple retro MPC's it slowed down my workflow because i'm so accustomed to using the cursor which the One doesn't have! As you know this is also true with the Live. I guess Akai just wants us to rely solely on touch screen navigation. Would be nicer to have the best of both worlds don't ya think?

[@joshuagardner894]

I might have missed the beginning, but regarding the distortion you are hearing, pull the bass and the piano levels down about half to a full db each and see if it distorts less or at all. I also didn't notice whether you sampled those yourself or whether you used samples from some sort of collection. If you used samples from a collection, make sure the effects are turned off for those pads and see if you still experience distortion. In the main screen, click the tiny eyeball in the upper left corner, then tap the per pad view (the solid square icon), then toggle the piano pad. In the big black box, are there any effects showing? If so, tap the box and disable them (the box on the far right of each effect toggles the effect on and off). Do the same for the bass pad. You might also check if you have any global effects on (the screen with the eyeball, one of the icons at the top next to the solid square icon will show global effects). As to buggyness, factory reset. Go into the settings and in the about screen, there is a factory reset button. I would also recommend obtaining the factory content image from Akai, I had to actually call them on the phone to get the file, you put it on an sdcard and it will automatically reinstall the internal content. The content on the MPC Live is the same as the MPC Live II FYI. The one and the X are uniquely different. Make sure the external drive you are using is a good drive. Lots of great utilities for verifying the integrity of a hard drive, I use something called Spinrite ($90) by Steve Gibson. It is a bit of a pain to use as you have to boot into a dos environment, but it is one of the best out there for maintenance and recovery (just a word of caution, run it on level 2 for SSD's, run it on level 5 for spinning HDD's. Do NOT use anything higher than level 2 for SSD's).

[@RitchieCaron]

I use the digital outs on my MPC 1000 with a Zoom U 44 into a Midas MR 18 to eliminate distortion caused by corrosion in volume pots and devices with low headroom electronics that clip first. The climate where I live in Canada is hard on cheep gear. I managed to solve that type of distortion by using the SP/Diff digital outs instead of the scratchy pots. It's very common still, even Apple still uses this protocol and makes the iOS instruments as loud and clear as the MPC going into the mixer. The improvements are quite dramatic, especially live. Try it out. I'm sure you have components with RCA Sp/diff I/O and a 75 ohm digital cable in your kit. While I'm on the subject, Using 32 bit converters when recording will get you plenty of headroom when importing these slamming mixes into a DAW. The cleanest tracks I've heard came from a QSC Touchmix recording direct to disk using digital outs from my MPC and DBX preamp. I expect similar results with the new ZOOM recorders that use 32 converters. Just discovered your channel. it's teaching me so many new things as I transition out of live sound and back into making music. Hopefully this helps, Thanks for putting this out.

[@mechasartre3694]

Relatable, if my house was on fire the only thing i would grab is my 2500, I'd rather forgo clothing lol.

[@raggedrec]

that wood trim refinish looks amazing

[@alexmagor7538]

The live sounds cleaner the 3000 sounds older/vintage/dirtier and perhaps a little more compressed.

[@fabiofzero]

I used t have a Live, but I sold it because it was essentially a computer pretending to be an MPC. Mind you that I used to play shows with a MPC 2000 and an S760 back in the day (~2000-2007), so I'm by no means an MPC n00b. I considered replacing it with an MPC 1000, but I ended up going with a combination of 1010 Blackbox + Novation Launchpad Pro MK3 + OP-Z, and it feels much more hands-on than the MPC Live! I also have a Polyend Tracker, but that's more of a standalone situation.

[@0ace0hitta0]

You know Illa J!? Thats so cool! Seen him sing, rap and play keyboard at jam here in germany. He's mad cool and talented. Thanks for all your vids really helps a lot! Nice sample btw!

[@thahyst]

I've seen tons of people use the Live flawlessly. Don't get me wrong the MPC3000 is legendary, but they both have pros and cons. And that's crazy, for y'all who don't know who Illa J is it's J Dilla's brother so that's dope too hopefully it's not the unit that busted.

[@sketchdashaman]

i totally agree I was a MPC zealot for over 20 yrs, but sequencing wise I needed to evolve. when i got into euclidean/polymorphic weirdness in Dance music (non Hip Hop structures) my brain was happy. I only use my MPC Live for perfect Loops & Sound Design.

[@longshotkdb]

are you 'stuck in your ways' or is the the new one just a toy version cashing in on the real ones rep?

[@Emily_M81]

to be fair, the new ones are basically bespoke MIDI controllers and audio interfaces wrapped around mid-range smartphone guts from several years ago, with a custom operating system. A very well-built MIDI controller that doesn't feel cheap, but they're basically just mini computers these days.

[@justdope1963]

@@Emily_M81 i agree with the mini computer comment. Felt like a very nicely built controller rather than an instrument when i messed with the mpc x a little bit. Maybe I'm one of those who would enjoy the mpc 60 and 3000 more than later models.

[@weisland2807]

have had two mpc lives.. it's so tedious! got rid of them and selling my maschine mk3 now to get the + to go with a few elektron boxes. gotta say I made a lot more music on my old mpc 1000 than i ever managed with my lives..

[@ssnochevy]

I ended up sending my 1st one back for a replacement. It's worked pretty well since then (although each firmware update cleans up bugs and introduces a few new ones lol). I can understand how this would frustrate you...but its the BEST sampler i've used. I previously used an Octatrack and a MV8000...mileage will vary haha

[@DidierBampiliMusicProduction]

I have the best music contents check me out

[@neptunesgold1216]

Hi Ricky I was playing my electric kit into the live today. I went output of kit to audio input 1 and 2. This is the first time I ever tried recording audio into the live. Well there is latency in the audio recording. They really need to fix it because it's very noticeable when your playing drums. I am using version 2.10.1 seriously akai needs to have near zero latency audio recording. I am disappointed in this discovery 😔

[@SuperPedalhead]

Shots fired! I have a recently acquired MPC One and luckily I wasn't able to reproduce these problems.

[@SLACKPLAN9]

As far as the current series of MPCs, this makes me feel happy I threw down and got the X.