Roland MX-1 mixer as audio interface for MPC Live 2 - yep, it works real good!

The feature-packed Roland MX-1 Performance Mixer shouldn't really work as an audio interface for the MPC Live 2, because it's not class-compliant .... but while experimenting with various set-ups, to my surprise I found that it does in fact work a treat!
And together they make a superb pairing for DAW-less / live music production.
In this video we look at how to get them connected, and how to route audio in/out, record and sample into the MPC via the MX-1 mixer channels - all over a single USB connection. Mind-blowing!

[@JohnnyTakeAll]

THIS IS EXACTLY THE VIDEO I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR! Never seen your channel before but instant sub. Thanks for sharing mate!

[@synthshed]

Welcome aboard!

[@PosableActionFigure101]

This is perfect

[@synthshed]

Glad you found it useful thanks for watching.

[@ACCOUNTANTB]

Hello - its unbelievable this works with other brands gear !! - its now a thing !!! have you tried individual outputs from MPC to the MX-1 i mean....a single channel for the BD, other one for SD...etc ...????

[@synthshed]

There are a lot of routing possibilities to try - this sounds totally possible, I actually don’t remember if I tried it out myself, and since I no longer have these pieces of gear in my studio I can’t test it out anytime soon- but please give it a try and report back here for other users who might well have similar questions! Thanks for watching

[@seven7sseven7s83]

Great find I was NOT expecting that - Question - when you use MX-1 Mastering button does that affect the incoming sound or the output to last slot ie MX-1 PC channel? Looks like your MPCL2 Firmware Code is 2.11.5 ? @2:14 - So I'm thinking MPCL1 uses the same FW family & should work too. But MPC Force? I wonder bc while 'similar' they use a different FW family.

[@synthshed]

Yep surprised me too but works great! As it happens I no longer have the MX-1 so can’t try the mastering button trick on the PC output but if you give it a try let me know!

[@kiujay]

Cool stuff. I wonder what else can be done.

[@synthshed]

yes indeed keep exploring you never know!

[@marcogatto9742]

tks! It's great video! So you don't set MX-1 as "External Mixer" (usb class compliant) but you use Mx-1 as "normal use" (intenal mixer) and route MPC output to last Out-port of MX-1! right? Now... if you dont't use USB4 input, can you use it as another output line from MPC?

[@synthshed]

hey sorry for slow reply, but glad you found it useful! I'll have to check on that Q and get back to you, but let me know if you already tried it and it worked for you, will be great to know

[@edtraylen8581]

Hi, thanks for sharing your discovery. Instead of the MPC live. Could you plug the USB from the Mx1 to PC and use the same settings with the MPC2 DAW software?

[@synthshed]

Great question - i assume you mean multitrack audio via usb into your DAW? I don’t see any reason why not, I think that’s pretty much how MX-1 is designed to be used as a multichannel audio interface, and that’s how I used to run it into Ableton Live (but I have to say I’ve never tried it with the MPC software as I don’t use that myself!). Anyway, worth a shot if you have an MX-1 or can borrow one to try it out!

[@synthshed]

I can’t quite remember the specifics of the routing or if you lose any of the mx-1 special features using that way - eg it might be that you don’t hear the performance FX coming through individual channels etc depending how you set it up with your DAW - pretty sure there are a lot of tutorials out there for that though.

[@edtraylen8581]

Quick update. I got Mx1 to record into Ableton audio tracks ok. But even though the MPC 2 DAW appears to work. When I armed an audio track, it kept disarming and not recording anything. Such a pain!

[@synthshed]

@@edtraylen8581 nice work - I really don't use the MPC software so not come across the issue you mention, but at least you've got it running in Ableton, right?! 🙌

[@ACCOUNTANTB]

Did you hoocked MPC Live usb out into one of those Aira dedicated USB into MX-1 and worked ?

[@synthshed]

Don’t recall if I tested this, was a while ago I made the video!

[@iancain6647]

So can you record multiple tracks simultaneously?

[@synthshed]

Been a while since I was experimenting with this setup, but yes if I recall you just need to record arm multiple tracks in MPC Live 2 (think you hold shift + record, but please check manual!) then providing you have the incoming channels assigned correctly from the MX-1 as shown on the video, you should be golden. NB I don’t know how robust multitrack recording is over USB - i.e. when the MPC might start stressing out over processing too much incoming audio, but have a play and you’ll soon find out what it can cope with!

[@haciendaUS]

are MPC users still able to run this setup with 2.13.0. picked up an MX-1 and trying to set it up with these settings but my MPC One isn't recognizing the MX-1 as an audio source.

[@synthshed]

interesting - I haven't had MPC for a while so not tried it with more recent updates. keen to hear how people are getting on with this.

[@ChurBoBaggins]

Input seems very low, do u use it for recording? I have the mx-1 into my force but the record volume is always so low and when I amp/normalize I end up with noisy samples

[@synthshed]

Personally, I never had any issues like that (only tested with MPC live 2 tho). different set ups will yield different results. Hard to diagnose what will be causing your low volume as it could be numerous factors at different points in the signal chain, sorry can’t be more help but keep experimenting and please report back here with any findings that could be useful to other producers. Thank you!

[@djsoo]

can you assign MPC tracks to the MX-1? or is it just inputs?

[@synthshed]

I’ll need to check and get back to you on that I don’t have the MPC with me

[@ChurBoBaggins]

you can assign the Akai force channels to the MX-1 as an output so assume same here

[@djsoo]

@@ChurBoBaggins how many channels does it support? I wish I had known this - I passed on the Mx-1 because I assumed it wasn’t class compliant and you couldn’t multi-track out to the mixer via isb

[@ChurBoBaggins]

@@djsoo all the channels with faders can ben assigned as outputs from the host device when in extenral mode, so 9 i think,

[@ahmadsyah4651]

Its work with akai force?

[@synthshed]

Never had the Force so can’t say for sure. But in theory all the MPCs have the same OS inside, and audio/midi over USB I think so … worth a try. Anyone else got experience of this please let us know!

[@allancarter3930]

Is there a way to plug a Mic into it

[@synthshed]

Hi there. For sure you can record via a mic straight into MPC (see here for setup: support.akaipro.com/en/support/solutions/articles/69000822758-can-i-connect-a-microphone-into-a-standalone-mpc-)

[@synthshed]

But the MX1 on the other hand is only really designed as a line level mixer - there may be workarounds with external preamps / signal converters but not something I’ve explored tbh!

[@markwar6353]

Mx1+ vt3 via AIRA usb port and you can plug microphone

[@synthshed]

Nice. Not tried this myself. Thanks for the tip!

[@Avesta.]

Ho. Lee. Chit.

[@synthshed]

haha!

[@Avesta.]

I dug up my MX-1 out of the closet the second I saw your video, can’t believe this actually works lol. Roland isn’t exactly known for being class complaint in any major way, the fact that external mode is this compatible with my MPC Key37 is mind blowing.

[@pulgas21]

Man infall asleep thinking about this... I just saw your video, mind blowing. Can't wait to arrive home and try it ... Thank you

[@synthshed]

@@pulgas21 hahaha - thanks for the message that's cool. I always fall asleep thinking bout routing problems lol. Have fun experimenting!

[@pulgas21]

@@synthshed I tried but without good results, do you remember the more do you used on the mx-1 mid? ext? Sur? Because I want the MPc as a master clock and master sequencer for all my gear using the audio external mx-1. If you remember Will be great a just saw you don't have any more the mx-1. Thank you in advance Cheers