Akai Mpc or a laptop?

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Kastaway

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Actually my friend recommended on getting an Mpc instead of a laptop. Not really shure which one to get. You can hook your equipment on both, but not really shure if an Mpc is harder to handle. Anyone have experience on Mpc's? Any idea which is more versatile? I do like to make music with my hands though, the Mpc probably has a better sampler,(drum machine) and midi sequencer than my Magix music maker 2003 deluxe (dont laugh). the plus about the lap top is a big screen and you can use (and download) different music making and other software (most Mpc's dont have a cd-drive? , actually you dont need any software, oh yes). Any suggestions?

-Thanks
 
depends what software you'd be using on the laptop. I'd say the closest to an mpc would be Ableton Live.
 
a computer is more versatile then a MPC and you can always get a trigger finger or the MPD16 so you have the hands piece. there is software that can do everything a mpc does so i think it comes down to you deciding if you want that simpler interface of the mpc or to jump in the computer realm and start dealing with learning multiple software applications.
 
THis is a very hard question as i have both. Now with the MPC 1000 soon being able to time strech, zone having new filter options automation and a 80gig hardrive and a bunch of other features it will deff hold its value for a long time. If you are a sample based producer I think that is your best bet. If you are a hybird or keys player I would look inot the laptop and midi controler because you will have way more sounds avail to you in a laptop and a decent midi controller, but like I said above I think the 1k with the new os will be the best for the sampler.
 
True, my friend just got his Mpc , havent dealt with those yet, so better go check that out so I get some feel to it. If it feels more comfortable than a laptop I probably should stick to it. But thanks for the feedback!
 
Thats also an option, getting both! But that will be a bit tight on the budget.. Yes, i like to play the guitar and piano and I also am much more familiar with computers (but i dont have a synth yet, been doing the piano in the midi studio, hopefully getting one soon). Im mostly into composing music myself, the only thing ive been sampling is just drum loops. Hard choise to make.. Mayby ill stick to the laptop first, then mayby later on get an Mpc (Atleast ive heard that it's worth having from my friends and you!)
 
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Depends on the kind of producer you want to be. If you want to compose as well as sample, a Laptop with a midi controller (keyboard/pads) will help you a lot more as you have access to tons of sounds. If you are mainly sample based and dont plan on doing much moving around, the mpc may be the better choice. A laptop with a program like Logic or Reason will accomplish more than an mpc can due to its flexibility, large storage, compactness, and features. but again, a software sequencer isnt for everybody, hardware sometimes inspires folk more and thats something you can only find out by trying the mpc out at a store and by playing the demos of software programs (except logic). hope that helps.
 
I know that you mention Mpc 1k,but you could get a boss sp-505 or a 606,plus your laptop,so this way,you get the best of both worlds.
Anyways,It was just my 2 cents
 
depends on which mpc u get. Id get a 2kxl over a cheap laptop but id get a laptop over a 1k
 
nice views, better go do some more research! My budgets running 1000 to over 2000 us $, i think i can work something out. Getting both would be probably the best alternative, but ill probably stick on buying a laptop first since im more familiar with those. but why not an mpc as well? hmm... man im tired, 5:30 am, i need some sleep..., well anyway, thanks for the replies!
 
Kastaway said:
nice views, better go do some more research! My budgets running 1000 to over 2000 us $, i think i can work something out. Getting both would be probably the best alternative, but ill probably stick on buying a laptop first since im more familiar with those. but why not an mpc as well? hmm... man im tired, 5:30 am, i need some sleep..., well anyway, thanks for the replies!
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most people here are computer fanatics so they will always favor the computer its really all preference tho. i like things that are dedicated to one thing which is why I say the mpc over a laptop if ur only lookin for one thing but for 2 gs id get a Fantom instead of an Mpc.
 
MPC vs. Laptop? Nah, I think your major comparison on deciding between the two should be the MPC vs. Laptop/Sequencer/SoftSampler. Any MPC will murder a laptop with crap software. Now, if you were to get good multitrack sequencer software, a usable sound recording device, a midi controller (pads or keys), and potentially even a great softsampler with the laptop, then the computer route becomes a viable option. MPCs, hell all hardware samplers and workstations for that matter, are nothing but specialty computers homie. That said, if you can't build or buy a computer that does evenly or more than the MPC, reconsider your outlook.

Well equipped, the computer option is usually indeed the most versatile currently (for sampling)...since software allows for quicker updates, thus faster advances in technology, without some of the limits of the "box". However, as much as people love hoarding their software on this forum, realistically compare, and make sure you make the choice that fits you. Also note, getting a computer that is truely as good and as versatile as the MPC, may actually cost much more than any MPC.

I use both, and I have no preference.
 
hel said:
MPC vs. Laptop? Nah, I think your major comparison on deciding between the two should be the MPC vs. Laptop/Sequencer/SoftSampler. Any MPC will murder a laptop with crap software. Now, if you were to get good multitrack sequencer software, a usable sound recording device, a midi controller (pads or keys), and potentially even a great softsampler with the laptop, then the computer route becomes a viable option. MPCs, hell all hardware samplers and workstations for that matter, are nothing but specialty computers homie. That said, if you can't build or buy a computer that does evenly or more than the MPC, reconsider your outlook.

Well equipped, the computer option is usually indeed the most versatile currently (for sampling)...since software allows for quicker updates, thus faster advances in technology, without some of the limits of the "box". However, as much as people love hoarding their software on this forum, realistically compare, and make sure you make the choice that fits you. Also note, getting a computer that is truely as good and as versatile as the MPC, may actually cost much more than any MPC.

I use both, and I have no preference.
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The first thing you said is actually true, this was a badly formed question, my bad! Now that youve got me even more cofused on which to get, I decided to get both! since christmas is coming up i negotiated that my familys going to buy the laptop and im
sticking on buying an mpc (probably mpc 1000) along with a keyboard (probably a MAudio Key MIDI Controller). Now to the software. The bad thing is, im not really shure on what software to get, probably going for cubase or kontact ( maybe reason?).
Ill still be looking on what laptop to get, probably going for apple or rain (Pentium M, heard it was good!) hoping to get my guitar&amp and stanton setup hooked up.

But thanks for your time and help!
 
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mpc's are great...but can you watch porn on them?...i rest my case
 
get a laptop, reason 3.0, and an Akai MPD-16. you'll thank me later!
 
Kastaway said:

The first thing you said is actually true, this was a badly formed question, my bad! Now that youve got me even more cofused on which to get, I decided to get both! since christmas is coming up i negotiated that my familys going to buy the laptop and im
sticking on buying an mpc (probably mpc 1000) along with a keyboard (probably a MAudio Key MIDI Controller).
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Nice start. The 1000 will likely work seamlessly with a laptop.

The good thing is, I have access to Cubase sx v. 3.0 + other steinberg software, Kontact 2 + other native instruments software,FL 5/xxl, ableton live and Reason v. 3.0 - all for free ( I have my sources lol)!
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There's no such thing as free professional retail software, legally. So, I have to pass on giving my advices -- software trade and/or warez doesn't always hurt companies much, but it does hurt the buyers. I'm a buyer.

Not to be offensive, or a prick, but maybe others will fill in, with advice, for all it's "worth".

edit
If you meant using software elsewhere (another studio) as opposed to getting a copy, then maybe word it slightly differently, to avoid pressure from FP...in the future.
 
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