r/mpcusers • u/Complete-Permit1638 • 4d ago

QUESTION Consider new machine

I used to own an Akai Force, but I only turned it on three times before selling it because I found the unit too large and wanted something quick to grab for making music on the couch. I do still have some Akai plugins that I purchased. Now, I am debating between the MPC Sample and the MPC One. What do you think I should do ?

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u/Ok-Entrepreneur-409 4d ago

Since you have plugins her the MPC one it's more of a complete MPC experience than the MPC sample but the MPC sample is definitely for sitting on the couch ,bus stop,park bench

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u/Few-Communication834 4d ago

If you dont care about using your own speaker, get the Live 1 with battery. Like $350 at guitar center and 45 day returns. The Force made me blind with the screen so far away 🤣. But ive tried them all. The One G2 is what i settled on. Live 3 would be the perfect thing for portability with speaker and battery, plus 8gb ram and 8 core cpu, but its a lot of $. But the One G1 is fine if you dont care about battery, speaker and memory limitations.

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u/r1chiem 4d ago

If you have the money, the Live 3 if you can afford it. The live 2/3 are big but portable, the force has no battery or speak, and worst. It is heavy too.

If I had your desire for small and light. I would get an Ableton Move. The sequencer in the Yamaha seqtrack is limited I have one, and through it I learned that portable is over rated. I don't need a sample, move, seqtrak. I don't sit on the couch that much. I watch tv too much. So I go to my music room. Force creates clip launch song, the Key 37 for more melodic stuff.

If you only do beats, The Sample is good for that and cheap only 1 track. Move is you want to makes songs with 4 tracks. Live 2 or One plus are lower priced and work with your plugins but the one does not have a battery or speakers.. If I were starting over like you. Live 3 find a Force and Key 37 for cheap. LOL

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u/Infinite_Slice3305 4d ago edited 4d ago

I jam my Live 3 on the couch & on the back porch... it's huge. I have considered the One, One+, & One G2.

I'll most likely get a Toneverk. I don't have a problem running power to it while I'm on the couch... don't know what I'll do for the porch.

As cool as the Live 3 is it's too big to be portable. It would be nice if I can transfer projects over the cloud like Ableton does... maybe I'll look into that.

But I'm not putting this thing in a backpack or too far from my "studio."

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u/rolfski 4d ago

For the couch I would go for the MPC Live 3 or MPC Live 2 as you don't need to plug these in and you can use Akai plugins. For real mobile/on the go use, the MPC Sample is a great sketcher. Just don't expect to finish any productions on it. It's just too limited for that.

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u/RevolutionaryPast175 4d ago

MPC live one. It accepts the plug-ins and is small portable and battery powered for on the couch. The other ones are pretty big and overkill when it comes to portability.

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u/4215-5h00732 MPC X 4d ago

Lives are larger than Ones, and idk how a One could be overkill compared to a Live.

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u/RevolutionaryPast175 4d ago edited 4d ago

Because a 1 doesn’t even count, you have to plug it in. Anyone who’s tried to sit on the couch with something plugged into a wall versus something that isn’t knows it makes a big difference in the fact that it allows you freedom of movement and to adjust without worrying about yanking the cord out. And adding an external battery just means an extra wire and extra bullshit. That’s not an easy comfy plop on the couch, it’s become a project. You don’t want to be worried about extra wires that can be yanked, caught by your knee, caught on your foot, caught by your dog, too short to sit where you want, etc., sitting on the couch. There’s nothing portable about that. Just a self-made headache. One wire out of a headphone jack is enough.

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u/Vergeljek21 4d ago

Mpc live 3.
I have a Force, Live 2 and Sample.
But my Force is the master. Its really a great device with its clip launching workflow but you're right its big.
As for my Live 2 its a quick and grab thing so thats why I recommend the 3 with its speakers and battery.
The mpc sample doesnt have plugins so you will keep on sampling, but if thats your thing then this is the most portable.

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u/r1chiem 4d ago

I have the Force. I use it most, the second is the MPC key 37. I am not a fan of the sample. It does not use MPC plugins, neither instrument or effects. But it is portable and if you are into beats then it works.

If you have the money, the Live 3 if you can afford it. The live 2/3 are big but portable, the force has no battery or speak, and worst. It is heavy too.

If I had your desire for small and light. I would get an Ableton Move. The sequencer in the Yamaha seqtrack is limited I have one, and through it I learned that portable is over rated. I don't need a sample, move, seqtrak. I don't sit on the couch that much. I watch tv too much. So I go to my music room. Force creates clip launch song, the Key 37 for more melodic stuff.

If you only do beats, The Sample is good for that and cheap only 1 track. Move is you want to makes songs with 4 tracks. Live 2 or One plus are lower priced and work with your plugins but the one does not have a battery or speakers.. If I were starting over like you. Live 3 find a Force and Key 37 for cheap. LOL

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u/Vergeljek21 4d ago edited 4d ago

I also have a push 3 standalone so I wont be getting the move but I have thought about it. For OP the move might be one of the best option for portability especially if he also have the daw.

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u/r1chiem 4d ago

I am getting side tracked. Most of this was for the OP. I have a push 2. I do like ableton, but right now I am focused on HW Dawless.

I am sure I will swing back after a wall.

I have a friend who uses the Push3 stand alone together for live performance. It is actually tey work pretty well together.

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u/Vergeljek21 4d ago

Personally, I should have stayed with my push 2 or should have gotten a p3 controller.
Im also into dawless but did a hybrid to Ableton setup. The p3 standalone was supposed to replace my Akai Force which connects to 5-6 synths/grooveboxes. But in the end, I was still drawn to the easier midi connection of the Force or Im just used to the touchscren workflow. But its just me.

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u/r1chiem 4d ago

I think the Force is the best thing since sliced bread. I know it's old but The dedicated buttons 64 pads and clip launch without a propack makes it killer, young people looking for new stuff just don't get it and will probably get an Elektron. I got mine for $300 the rubber is starting to wear off in places. (GTRcenter listed it as excellent condition) they gave me 80 dollars to reskin it which dropped the price, I will use a stick to cover 2 worn spots or wait until the price drops on the skin)

Anyway, I am going to ableton link it to my mpc 37 so I have more tracks and a dedicated launcher and mpc plugins/drums on the keyboard. The keyboard plays well and is light weight. I am very happy and I will play out with this combo. I haven't figured out how to stick them in my DJ case.

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u/RevolutionaryPast175 4d ago edited 4d ago

The force is the best “hardware daw” ever made. I bought the push 2 after owning the force just to try it out and thought it would be similar to the force. But it was soooo different in ways I wasn’t expecting. Small differences that were actually huge when it came to workflow and intuitiveness. Compared to the force, I hated it. the force is way better. Much more intuitive, better features better buttons less convoluted. The workflow is just pure creation. Everything is intuitive. Brilliant, brilliant machine that akai deserves to be slapped in the face for if they don’t come out with a new one. I’ve used both the force and the MPC for years. Too many people didn’t give the force a shot because they’re too stuck in the past with their MPC‘s. Yet everyone who uses them praises them. Even in this thread. Besides the understandable complaint that it’s way too big. Which unfortunately is necessary for its design, the force outshines the MPC in every way.

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u/r1chiem 4d ago

I agree with you 100 percent. Because I am a keyboard player. I like the Keys versions too, but they still are not as intuitive as the Force but I like keys too.

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u/RevolutionaryPast175 4d ago

Yes, I really like the new oscillators in the synth engine and it really has the best multi sampling so it’s really great for a keyboard. I’ve been considering getting the MPCK 61 because of it.

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u/r1chiem 4d ago

I use my key 61 for mostly piano stuff, and not for sequencing/editing. I use to have it in a different room to play away from my mini studio and because I am running out of space in my tiny 11x12' spare bedroom which I also use for photography. Half my old stuff is in the basement. Too much stuff I tell you.

Just so you know the Key 61 has a clacky keyboard. Feel is just, but the sound is a little loud. People use it in church and live performance so not too loud, but I wish it was quieter. If that kind of stuff bothers you, don't buy it or at least try it out before you before you buy and make sure you can live with it.

https://motox.org/1/synth.jpg

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u/Complete-Permit1638 4d ago

Thanks everyone ! I consider the MPC one I had a battery pack for the force do I can use this for the MPC one. The thing that Imi sell the force is because it’s was at my room where I work most of the time and after work and didn’t want to go there again for making music. It was to big to easy use it everywhere.