MERC MIXX Productions is a music production/remix company geared towards the making of music specifically designed for the Dance Music Scene. We Specialize in House, Deep House, Tribal and EDM tracks that incorporate our own UNIQUE style of sound that's tailored to stick out and most importantly sound different than anything else out there. This is something we here at MERC MiXX pride ourselves on so when we release a track or a artists' remix to the world, we know it sounds ORIGINAL & UNIQUE to keep the dance floors moving all night long.
I've been using Ableton but I've always wondered about the tactile feel and control of sampling on an MPC, especially for House music. How do you think sampling within Ableton compares to using an MPC? It seems an Ableton/MPC combo would be more stressful than simply using a controller for Ableton.. Yet the allure of a classic sampling/drum machine always gets me thinking.
Yes, I see the appeal and I know what you mean but it doesn’t matter if you’re sampling from old records for House or hip-hop they can both accomplish the same thing. Ableton live might be a little faster when it comes to assigning the chops, but the latest MPC Software may have taken a page from the Ableton book to make it just as fast idk. Now, to be honest for me and in my opinion, the difference between the two would NOT be sampling and chopping, it would be what happens after sampling, chopping and creating a drum pattern. MPC‘s again in my opinion are very limited in completing a song from start to finish, where with Ableton you can continue all the way from production to recording vocals and instruments to Mixing to Mastering without skipping a beat… it’s a full-fledged beast of a DAW.
Thanks for the response!🫡 Hey with the fader writes, I think they sound more natural by hand, try it. They don’t look pretty but they sound musical as all hell.✌🏾
Gotcha, I misunderstood what you wrote the first time.👍🏾 The way it started with me was I hated using the keyboard and I wanted to use two hands so it started off that I wanted the Faders then dedicated… -Scroll Wheel -Transport controls -Speaker Volume knob -Channel Strip Controls (using two hands) -Metering (saved $400 from buying the TC Electronic Clarity unit) and before you know it, you’re there….and all the other features is icing on the cake. I personally think stuff like this should’ve been out when the first Mackie controllers came out. This type of tech isn’t that hard or expensive. I think designing and building an analog compressor is more complicated than building controllers you know what I mean?
Great video - thank you :) I have the full SSL suite too, but I learned lots of little tips from your video, even though I've been using mine for a few months now (and yes - reading manuals...!) One in particular that hadn't occurred to me was to use the Flip function to zero the level fader. Brilliant. Obvious in hindsight, but it hadn't struck me before. I love the SSL stuff, and I'm using it with Logic Pro and Studio One. Keep up the good work Brotha :)
I use it with Ableton every day and it’s just as useful as ever. 🦾 FYI….Check the feature compatibility list with your current DAW to make sure you get all or most of the features I mentioned.👍🏾
I think I’ll start with a uf1 and control most plugins with the push for now , and then eventually consider getting a uc1 ~~ and when I’m ready to mix the whole album I might get the uf8 if I feel like I need the extra motor faders 😊
Hard to criticise a misleading title when it hides content this good. Thx. Loved the first purchase story 😂, the kit chronology, then the clearest demo of chopping on Push. I started w Abl 3 - intuitive, fun, made lots, albeit often in the tangents it lures you down - then 10yrs of Logic - no fun, felt like homework - then last year with MPC Key 61, a fantastic one-box solution. But it’s like a great house that’s had many extensions over the years: good ones, but you’d never design a house that way from scratch. Excited to return to Ableton w P3.
Welcome back my friend. I’ve tried all the DAWs (except Reaper which looks too “Windows 95” for me) and once I locked in to Ableton, it was a rap. It just clicked and made sense. Anything I hear in my head I can create without thinking about it….and the stuff you create by accident is like “I would’ve never thought of that” if I was working in a strictly linear type DAW. For me, starting a project/ideas in “Session View” then putting them together in “Arrangement View” is what works for me. So congrats on your return, especially with that Push 3…Enjoy amigo.🫡🦾
When you buy the UC1 it comes with (2) Channel Strips and the Bus Compressor. The SSL 4k B Channel Strip, the Channel Strip 2 (9000K) and also the SSL Bus Compressor 2 plug-in. It also comes with the 360 link plug-in so you could map any 3rd party Plug-ins to the UC1 controls. You also get 6 six months react access to all their plug-ins too plus a bunch of 3rd party software. The SSL 4K E channel strip you can get more discount for $129 (60% off the regular price). Hope that helps!
I'm wanting to learn ableton live after years of being on fl. I plan on playing live at some point because I've gotten experience with rekord box dj as well. I record as a singer and hip hop artist. I also make beats and produce. It sounds like i need the push since the mpc doesnt give phantom power either
I have them connected straight to the computer but they can be daisy chained like it says in the manual . I was told that you need to set them up connected straight to the computer at first (I’m assuming one at a time) and then once they’re connected to the computer, then you can go ahead and Daisy chain them instead. I never tried this because I have the open ports but that’s what another user told me in the comments.
Nice… and I’m pretty sure you went with the SSL 12 (because it’s the only SSL interface that’ll work with the 360 software)👍🏾. … Also, I’d recommend (2) UF8 at first since you already have the UF1 & UC1 because adding 3 or 4 UF8’S to YOUR EXISTING, SET UP may make the whole thing too long, unless you’re working with other people sitting right next to you. I’m a person that would buy (4) UF8’s but then my UC1 and UF1 wouldn’t be the center of my console and I’d have to slide my chair left and right to adjust my furthest UF8’s which isn’t ideal in my case. I think (3) 😔would be my limit for what I do.
@@mercmixx true that. 2 is enough for now plus fits my argosy desk perfectly and yes I had to buy the ssl 12. Wish they had a rackmount version though.
I currently own a UF8 and really trying to make it muscle memory to use all the features as much as possible as I am so used to mouse & keyboard. However, I really enjoy being hands on mixing with the faders and wondering if there is an advantage to having the UF1 paired alongside? I don’t want to be too overwhelmed if you get me but if there is added benefit I’m all in.
When Mixing and doing Automation I like the quick access to the transport controls and meters…and I ain’t gonna lie, the UC1 thrown into the mix just lets you pretty much put the mouse away and listen. Now to be clear everything I’m saying is for dedicated “Mixing“ and “Automation”. During Production you’ll basically be using the UF1. I use the soft keys on the UF8 for quickly creating audio and midi tracks plus a bunch of other stuff I program them for during production.
A really useful video for me bruv as I’ve spent the past couple days trying to decide whether to go for the SSL family you’re working with here, or the Avid S1/Dock which although it ain’t necessary, looks weird without an iPad which I don’t currently own. I like the modularity with these and I understand the 360 link is a game-changer now that it can control any VST3 plugin. I also want a controller(s) that can work with other DAWs for a future-proofing perspective - sounds like SSL has that covered too…
I think you pretty much got it. The software & controls rock solid, made out of metal, future proofed, perfect interface between you and your DAW and they just work. Hey thanks for the comment and let me ask you a question….What DAW are your running?
@@mercmixx I’m running Pro Tools at the moment cos it’s ‘industry’, but I plan to give Reaper a go at some point and maybe Logic which I can get on student discount. I also hear really good things about Ableton too which I’ve tinkered with a little… What’s your weapon of choice? You may have mentioned that somewhere before, but then I’m new here. 😁 BTW, I had to go do some bits so I don’t know whether you’ll mention this later on, but I’ve just found out that the 360 link can work with a just touchscreen and the UF1 can work with it too! Still gonna get me a setup like yours, but I thought that was good to know….
Gotcha…just be aware and check the “UC1/Plug-in Mixer” compatibility chart ( solidstatelogic.com/products/ssl-360 ) because by the way Protools and Logic are designed, those two DAWs don’t offer all the bells and whistles like all the other DAWs do including Reaper (the chart only applies to the UC1/Plug-in Mixer). Also If you do Electronic Music I’d seriously recommend Ableton Live…my weapon of choice.
It seems there may have been a change in one of the updates that allows (i’m only referring to Ableton) the UF1 to follow a “Track selection” only if the track is in the current “Bank selection”. Let me try to explain, if you have a UF8 and it’s showing tracks 1 through 8 then the UF1 will follow any track selected between 1 through 8. But if the UF8 bank selection is tracks 1 through 8 and then you click on track 16 with the mouse, the UF1 will not jump to track 16. It will only jump to track 16 if the UF8 bank selection is showing tracks 9 through 16. I don’t remember this ever happening in Ableton before so this might be something new. I will put in a bug report to see if this is truly a bug or I’m just buggin’. …I’ll keep you posted.
Nothing beats MPC for sketching out ideas for beats, getting the first demo. Nothing. Ableton is too distracting especially attached to a PC with message notifications. But not just that, the hardware is perfectly designed for sample chopping. I can't go without a jog wheel when finely cutting up samples and the workflow where you find a chop on pad 1, keep hitting play while the drums play, then when get a good chop copy it to a pad 2, then repeat on 1, copy to pad 3. Etc Nothing beats it for sample based production. The only annoying part is stemming out to Ableton. It has built it export to Ableton project which is great but going back to tweak the sounds is annoying. So I need to figure out that mixing workflow better
👍🏾True, yeah I remember chopping samples in the MPC…it was fun and it actually felt like you were getting work done so I get it. I too hated the going back to edit or tweak something so I just eliminated that part altogether and just got super efficient at doing it on the Push inside Ableton (using the Ableton sampler, no stems). Now I can go back and tweak or edit a sample 19 years later at any given time during Production, Mixing or Mastering without skipping a beat or wasting time which I hate. Also the Push does have knobs that you’d use as the scroll wheel…the new Push 3 even has a larger knob for the scroll wheel. Again there’s really no right or wrong here just preference. After doing this for a long time I get rid of anything that’s stops or slows me down from getting what’s in my head down and out the speakers. Thanks 🙏🏾 for the comment, my friend.✌🏾
Yeah, and that’s the only reason why I’m thinking about getting the standalone Push 3 (seriously to use in the bed), otherwise unfortunately I don’t “need-need” it…but would love to have it (Ableton if you’re listening 😉).
Oh yeah! No issues what so ever. What’s great about these controllers is that you can buy one piece at a time…you could even go up to (4) UF8’s if you wanted.
Without having used either of them, I had the impression that sampling from any source would be easier, faster and more 'intuitive' on an MPC, but maybe not? The only thing from stopping me from ordering an MPC right now is the fact that using 3rd party plugins with MPC projects could be problematic from what I understand. Good video.
This is brilliant, I love how you mapped busses to one UF8 - it's how I plan on doing it myself because I use a summing mixer! Thanks for taking the time to explain your workflow :)
LOL I didn’t realize I never answered you here, my apologies. First you need to have Group Channels in Ableton with SSL Channel Strips on them. Then on your UF8 press: -Layer 2 -Quick Key 2 …and you’ll see your groups. And sorry for the delayed response.
I dont give a shit what anyone says is have macshine and i got the push 3. Push 3 is awesome. I have very little complaints except for some issues when unplugging say a usb cable and it wont link back up with ableton without power cycling. Other than that its solid as shit. Screw the naysayers
We almost have the same setup; except I produce on an 85" OLED on the wall and I use a pair of JTR Triple 8's and a pair of Focal Trio11's monitors. I simply cannot work very well without my UF8s and my UC1. I'm not knocking the UF1 but I find myself basically using it for metering and 2 Bus volume control. I use Push 2, Maschine Mk3, Roland Fantom 8 and Integra 7 for actual production, but other than that essentially the same setup. Great video to see how other people use their SSL controllers.
That’s what’s up. 👍🏾👍🏾😎 …but for me, the UF1 is the final piece and if you took it away, it’ll always be missing that something. Also now we got that “360 link” for the UC1 which makes the setup even more of a beast.
Bonjour merci pour cette vidéo !!! je souhaite acheter la UF1, j'ai une carte son ssl2. elle sera compatible ? on pourras gérer le volume de cette carte depuis la UF1 ? je découvre cette surface et je l'apprécie bcp
No sorry my friend. The 360 Software only works with the SSL 12 audio interface. (To be clear you’ll be able to control the volume with the SSL 2 but it will not talk to the 360 software) Surprisingly, it’s not that expensive to purchase the SSL 12 so you won’t be disappointed by upgrading. The SSL 12 also works better with low impedance headphones Audeze Lcd-x’s which are great for mixing.
Fun to attempt to understand the Setup, I use logic and the ssl instructions for 360 are perhaps straightforward but not easy for us fumble heads!! The Mackie Control 1 and 5 thing. I walked away and the sleep mode kind of self destructed everything. I am running a ts4 dock, anybody who has a logical step by step to separate the UF8 and UF1 on a LOGIC Preference Mackie Control 1 and 2 at port 1 and port 5 that would help a laymen 5 year old understand this it might help many of future frustrations for others!
I've owned both. The MPC is the worst, most stinky f***ing miserable music making machine on the planet. The Ableton Push is close to heaven. I cant believe this is a serious video.
Lol…Yeah I hear ya man. Some people just like the simplicity/straight forward approach (especially if you grew up at a time where there were no Abelton Pushes) to make music. I personally grew up in an era of drum machines, Protools and Cudase, but my brain works and thinks like Ableton, so the Push was a natural fit for me. Speed, flexibility and efficiency of a computer with knobs, pads and faders for the interface is my Sh!t…but that’s just me. Thanks for the comment my friend.🙏🏾
Dude you are not compressing anything since you have not moved the threshold of each band to the left to compress each band, the SSL is basically doing nothing.
There was plenty of compression already added to this mix before testing out this plug-in, so I only wanted to tickle the meters since it I was using it on my Master Bus. Too much “Multiband” compression can give undesirable outcomes on a track that doesn’t need a lot of it…that’s why some people look down on multiband compression on the Master Bus (I was using it like I would the SSL Bus Compressor, 1 to 2 db of compression). I was looking for that SSL “Like a record sound”. In the future I’ll choose a track that needs more compression so I can dig into the Threshold a little more.👍🏾 Thanks for the comment!🙏🏾
Thanks for sharing your setup. I'm a hobbyist and don't really need all of these. But I find myself wanting to twist a knob than adjust it with my mouse quite often. I was considering getting one of those custom 16 knob MIDI controllers online for about 1/5 of the price of a UF1. If you had to choose between the UF1 or a used UF8 for the same price as UF1, which one would you go for? Or would you recommend other controllers half the price of a UF1?
Ooo good question. 🤔 If I had to pick one I’d probably go with the UF8. If I had to pick what to get 2nd and 3rd, it would be the UC1 next then the UF1. My reasoning is if you’re going to be placing an SSL Channel Strip on every channel, then the UC1 should be next and then the UF1 in my opinion. I know you said you’re a hobbyist but as a hobbyist, you’ll get more use out of a UF8 as your first piece. Remember in the end, the reason for buying these controllers are to help with speed and workflow. Hope this helps…Let me know what you decided on.🫡
@@mercmixxThanks for the prompt reply. I'll look at the UF8 in more detail then. After a bit more reading I'm also considering the Behringer X-Touch as a budget option as I read it has good integration with Logic.
I really like your set up! This is such a useful video! Thank you for sharing! BTW Your desk is massive. Can you post the link to where you purchased the desk?
KARLBY Countertop for kitchen island, walnut/veneer, 74x42x1 1/2 " www.ikea.com/us/en/p/karlby-countertop-for-kitchen-island-walnut-veneer-30297641/#content I was going to get the slightly smaller one but I'm so glad I didn't...I'm using every inch of this thing. I doesn't come with legs so you'll have to get yourself some nice metal sturdy ones from Etsy similar to this: www.etsy.com/listing/1060408830/metal-table-legs-with-double-central-bar?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=table+legs&ref=sr_gallery-1-21&organic_search_click=1
With all that gear on the desk it doesn’t even bend in the middle but I’d recommend getting a third leg for the middle (if you’re getting a long one like mine) so you don’t have to check it every few months like I do. I just turn the third leg sideways and push it some what further to the back so your feet can fit comfortably or buy legs with a supporting beam in the middle (spanning from one leg to the other)…but when I check that one would’ve cost $700+ and it would’ve come from over seas.
Had mine 2 days now im Speechless, this item was thought out perfectly👌🏽. What cant you do This truly speeds up and changes. The way you approach composing for me as a TV and film composer. The UF1 is a Desert island take Well done SSL💯 I already own the TC Clarity M I Run out of my Apollo SPDIF Out to the unit but its still Good to also have it on the UF1 you can dail up a lot more on the TC but at that point its just pick your Luxury.
Hi, thank you for your respond but I connected from one to another one (chain ) but the first time you have to hook up each one separate until the system give them update and showing on 360 after that you hook up from one to another one, but very important last one UF8 and first one you UC1 because UC1 give all the equipment for example UC1 give UF1 then UF1 give UF8 and UF8 give the computer clear
Yeah I used 3 Thunderbolt cables but you could also use USB. I’d love to make a video on how I have them hooked up but I recently moved and I’m not setup yet.
Yeah, I could daisychain all four devices together using one thunderbolt port directly from my computer… but it was nice having a USB port open on the back of one of the device devices so I could charge my cell phone to it while working… now I can’t do that. I have to run an extra long charging cable to one of my hubs now to charge my phone.
Funny, i started with ableton, but the akai force got me focused, and now i feel im doing a 360 to ableton again because i can not really find a good fluid workflow between the two.
Hey thanks for making these. Idk if I missed it, but if you adjust the levels of faders and sends in the 360 mixer plug-in layer, does it also update Ableton’s mixer layer once you switch back?
Hey thanks for the comment. 👍🏾 I think I understand the question, if I don’t just let me know. The 360 software can control faders for both Ableton and 360 itself, so it’s like you have 2 sets of faders. I use 1 set for Ableton (automation and general levels) and another set in the 360 (for mixing). One button press and you can easily switch between the two…and yes the 360 “Ableton” faders do mimic the Ableton faders themselves. Dope sh!t👍🏾👍🏾
I started using Maschine when it came out, still do, had probably every model . Mk1 Was cheap compared to a Full spec mpc, always wanted a 3000, but too expensive. I learned Maschine inside out, and know it like the back of my hand. So 3 years ago I got an mpc one to see what I missed. I constantly compared it to Maschine, and everything was simpler, faster, better workflow on the Maschine. It went into the closet for a year or 2, got it back out when my Maschine plus was in for repair and suddenly it clicked with the mpc, because I put in the time. Now I still use the plus most, but sometimes I use em both with ableton link, and use the mpc as a sound module, sequenced by Maschine. The biggest lesson I learned? The most important value isn’t the gear, but the time you invest in learning it from a to z. Btw I have push 2 and ableton, but my workflow is make as much as I can on Maschine, export or record in ableton, wich is basically an audio tracker for maschine, because ableton is better for song building, fx, and automation. With this combo, I’m faster than ever. Made my best stuff in half an hour, excluding (advanced) mixing and mastering. For me it’s the deserted island setup, and everyone should look for THEIR way to get everything from your head to sound as fast as possible, you don’t want to push 100 buttons and dive in menus, you want to get that idea down fast. Good vid, enjoyed it 👍
Thank you Amigo for the kind words!👍🏾 I also agree with getting the idea from your head down as fast as possible too. I also still own a Maschine myself but did’t bring it up cause the video would’ve been even longer, lol. ✌🏾
