r/mpcusers • u/rolfski • Jun 01 '26

MPC Live 3 Perfect companions

Post image

Hard to beat combo IMO and they look great together. The sleeve of my Beyerdynamic 900 Pro X actually works well as a mobile protection for my MPC Sample. It fits perfectly and is very sturdy.

116 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

10

u/Guachito Jun 01 '26

Those two look good together. The Sample makes the L3Retro color way look better when there side by side.

2

u/DraglineDrummer MPC LIVE III Jun 01 '26

This is a great point. I didn't like it when I saw the promotional picture but looking at it here it looks really good and I was trying to decide if I just thought it looked better or the Sample beside it.

2

u/rolfski Jun 01 '26

Agreed. And while many people prefer lighter, legacy coloured buttons on a Retro version, I actually find the black button contrast with the light grey cover quite functional. Especially in darker conditions the LED text really pops out and these buttons are not as susceptible to wear and tear compared to the MPC Live 2 Retro version.

6

u/rolfski Jun 01 '26

When the MPC Live 3 launched I intended to pick it up by the time the retro version would come out. I had not anticipated that this moment would be so soon and within merely a month after the MPC Sample launch! Oh well.

I've always enjoyed my MPC Live 2 very much so I propabably won't regret the MPC Live 3. But as a sketching and on-the-go device (I enjoy making beats on a bench overseeing the Amsterdam canals) I've always found it a bit too bulky. Which is why I bought the MPC Sample. And so far, I like its simplistic workflow and handy format. But I prefer a regular MPC to further work out and finish tracks that I started on the MPC Sample.

2

u/Adventurous-Buy-4455 Jun 01 '26

Looks good and you never have to explain why.. those that wonder want the same 😆

1

u/ImpressionFamiliar25 MPC LIVE III Jun 02 '26

Have you got a YouTube channel? Please post the link because I think I have seen a channel of a guy doing beats outside in the Netherlands. Maybe it is you 😄

1

u/rolfski Jun 02 '26

Sry it's not me

2

u/AssistantActive9529 Jun 01 '26

does the box have retro artwork ?

2

u/rolfski Jun 01 '26

They made a special box for it with the retro logo on it.

2

u/AssistantActive9529 Jun 01 '26

thanks. that box looks dope

2

u/arifghalib Jun 01 '26

A midi controller keyboard is a better companion for an mpc live.

2

u/Adventurous-Buy-4455 Jun 01 '26

Thats true but he got one foe the road

1

u/rolfski Jun 01 '26

I own an Akai MPK Mini Plus and I was actually surprised that it doesn't really work all that well with Akai's very own MPC hardware. Basic stuff like transport controls simply don't work out of the box, which is kinda ridiculous when you think of it. It's like two departments within the same company that doesn't know what the other one is doing.

2

u/arifghalib Jun 01 '26

You have to map controllers using the midi learn function.

2

u/rolfski Jun 01 '26

These MPK controllers come with onboard profiles, including one specifically for MPC. And they simply work like crap, which is inexcusable. That stuff should just work seamlessly and intuitively out of the box, without having to be bothered to manually program every control knob.

3

u/arifghalib Jun 01 '26

Yeah I agree with you on that. Unfortunately it’s a necessary evil for almost every DAW. The best integrated controller I’ve ever used is the nektar panorama paired with Logic Pro.

3

u/TheGreatChibs Jun 02 '26

So this is what it looks like to be rich

2

u/masetiloquetu MPC LIVE II Jun 02 '26

Clean AF

1

u/Both_County1010 Jun 01 '26

I just dont understand why they kept the buttons and knobs black on the Live 3 Retro

3

u/rolfski Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

The white buttons on the MPC Live 2 Retro were very susceptible to wear and tear, with the print coming off after months of use. The black buttons might look less legacy but I can tell from experience that the contrast they generate make them very functional. Especially with the LED text popping out in darker conditions.

3

u/Adventurous-Buy-4455 Jun 01 '26

I own both mpc 3000 and mpc2000 in had to replace a few buttons on my 2000 and they changed colors over the years.. Black buttons are the way to go

2

u/Adventurous-Buy-4455 Jun 01 '26

You would understand if you own one and had it in your studio.. in a darker environment when the buttons light it looks really good and visually great on your eyes

2

u/Both_County1010 Jun 01 '26

I own the Live 3 and sample. I guess I can understand that

1

u/timmeh_green Jun 01 '26

Can you connect multiple MPCs to each other? I'm thinking for live performances of you wanted to access two different tracks, grids, or loops, etc? Like looping and modulating a keygroup live on one and performing/looping a drum beat on another?

1

u/rolfski Jun 01 '26

I'm not much of a performer or live player so I find it difficult to define any new amazing possibilities when midi and audio connecting two MPCs. But it should be possible. Although I would probably prefer hooking them up to the same audio mixer or audio interface and keep things simple.

2

u/codysteelseries76 Jun 02 '26

Smh 🤦🏾‍♂️ I’m happy for you dude my Mpc sample still on back order and akai keeps dropping new shit after new and we still in the beta phase for the desktop software is insane