My 17 Year Leap Forward // Upgrading from MPC 1000 to Live 2 

Keystep and an MPC Live 2 gives a totally portable killer performance tool. Even better if you plug in an MC-101 (Roland pads / strings still are hard to beat even with 2.10 upping the Akai's sonic palette.)

MPC is the cult I've been looking for all my life

The MPC 1k and 25k is the last of the real MPC’s I think they will go up in value.

Now the video has finished, I must say I love your chill vibe with a relatable personal approach to gear, conveying a feeling rather than technical or a "THIS IS A FACT ABOUT WORKFLOW" etc.. Was a very smoothing approach to talking about gear which I greatly appreciated :) Here's a sub :P

lol about time my dude!!!!

I was already planning on jumping into the MPC world, but your video just confirms that decision. Also, love the way you record your voice, has the best warm comfy quality like chatting with a friend.

This was such a nice video! Your voice is wonderful, and I loved hearing about your workflow between two very similar samplers!

Love your version of the Behringer Swing.

You’re a real one man we appreciate it

Okay, that Behringer swing looks great ! Made my day :D

Wish I would have seen this video sooner.... As a old MPC fan and user from the 60 mk1 to the 2500. I have been curious about the live 2 and the mpc x. Taking pictures of mpc 1000's and 2500 to list them for sale or trade ASAP the live 2 seems like a easy transition. Gracias for the indepth breakdowns.

Always loved Hip Hop. Wu Tang, Jay Z, Nas, Outkast etc. But it was Champion Sound and Madvillainy that forced me to buy my first MPC. Them shits changed my life.

Amazing video and loved hearing about your journey. Just picked up a MPC One with no experience but excited to get started. Just wish I picked one up 20 years ago when I first wanted one :)

Top notch video! I enjoyed listening to your thoughts, very informative. Might have put me one step closer to pulling the trigger on a modern MPC.

Thank you for doing this 🔥🇨🇦👊🏿

You make an excellent point with the convenience of portability Underrated feature

it's not silly, it's all about playability. massively impressed with this machine.

Great vid, and love your choir sounds!

Glad to hear I'm not alone in being frustrated in editing MIDI with the 1000 - even with JJOS, great as it is.

My buddy and I had a 2-piece band back in 2006 or so that used an MPC-1000 that I bought for $350 at my local music store. After struggling with it we managed to get a single 808 pre-made kit loaded on. We never once sequenced a single keyboard part, instead using it only to arrange drum parts and play entire songs automatically live. These days I’m using a One to sequence two external synths, have tons of fun with the built-in instruments, arrange songs and record vocals. Still miss that MPC-1000 sometimes though.

thumbs up 4 ur subtle behringer diss love it!

Sold the Deluge? HERESY! The retro colors on that Live 2 look so cool. I've heard the new MPCs are really powerful as the brains of a DAWless studio. Nice choice!

This just showed me how capable the 1000 was and I picked up one of those

I had the MPC 1000 and transitioned to the OG MPC Live. Moving projects, sequences and programs over was a breeze. Akai did a great job, making it easy for people to switch. But I never gelled with the MPC Live, and I can't explain exactly what it is. But I have to admit, it feels to me like there's some kind of _mojo_ with the old MPCs that you just don't get out of the new generation. Even the MPC 1000, which is often frowned upon, has that _vibe_. And also, the gazillions of options on the MPC Live, with all those effects, additional synths, and sounds did no good to my songwriting and creativity. Oh, and I found the touch screen on the OG MPC Live absolutely not as responsive as I would expect it to be. 🤷‍♂

Yup just bought the live 2 , I went 20 year leap from my MPC 2000XL , love it !

another dope video :]

No shit tried buying a maschine from someone on Craigslist for 300 and they said stop and pick up a mpc. I’m glad I took the time to listen. Drove 3 hours the next day (today) to a guitar center where they had the last golden special edition mpc live 2 due to shortages in stocking. Super hyped. So dope it has a little speaker so I can make jams anywhere

The mpc Live is just amazing!

When I first seen your channel I knew you needed a live great choice.

'Program Edit' shortcut is - hold down menu and tap pad 14. All the icons on the Menu screen can be accessed by Menu+ the pad that corresponds with their position in the menu screen

Sweet video man. 👍

My Live 2 arrives soon! I can’t wait! I’m only familiar with the PolyEnd Tracker, so fingers crossed!

Enjoy it man, it's awesome! I made the big upgrade too last year sold my 60ii and s950 finally and got Live2, Force (used; awesome deal) and a new laptop. Akai knocked it out of the park last year, especially all the updates and more coming. The rumored 61 key sampler (w mpe roli keys). You can dj with these things when we get disk streaming.

I chose the Squarp Pyramid because it does one thing and one thing incredibly well --- sequencing.

Great video, thanks! I am an mpc 1000 user since many years and I am about to purchase a Live 2. I feel a kind of sad and excited at the same time.

An A-B comparison of the same beat made with both machines would be interesting! To hear if they sound different!

LOL @ the tape with Behringer Swing written on it. I hope you’re gonna have more MPC Live II content. I’m buying mine tomorrow

Good video. I am also an mpc person, but started when the first live came out. I’ve been a guitarist and drummer for quite a while and the last decade or so been trying this stuff out. Now I own more synths and drum machines than guitars and drums! Also, don’t be afraid of trying out elektron boxes. I recently sold my retro live 2 for an octatrack just to switch my brain patterns up for a while and while I can’t say that it is as in depth of a midi sequencer, it’s absolutely exciting and fun as a fx / mixer / transition box for live performance. Their boxes continue playback after recording and the octatrack has some seriously crazy capabilities with live quantized looping.

Top tip hold menu and press the pad that corrisponds with where you want to go, so program edit is top row second from left, shortcuts😉

I started with reason. Moved to Roland Mv- 8000 . Then Fl studio. Just ordered the live 2. The journey continues

Nice vid bro. You seem like a cool guy (Y)

good for you. been looking at the mpc one. have a 1000 and 2500. but I'm an old geezer, may not be necessary for moi

That keystep is actually hilarious 😂

Wen I wuz @ SAE in 04' That MPC1000 wuz poppin everybody was trying to get it

great vid subscribed !

Muy buena reseña!

Really enjoyed the video. It’s interesting to see your experience going to a more modern mpc. I’ve been contemplating adding something like the 1000 to my setup, but I’m trying to justify that addition. I started with the more modern equipment about 5 or 6 years ago. So in my music making journey I was wondering if adding something like an MPC 1000 or 2500 etc. would add anything to my music. 👍🏾🔥🔥🔥

"I like it left and right....." next shot: left hand holding the damn machine, right hand crossing over to left controls. That was cute!!!

I bought an MPC One and now that I'm finally figuring it out I love it. After watching this video, I realized i should have got a Live 2. I didn't even think of it as a sequencer. I currently use korg sq 64 and a korg sq1 to sequence my euro rack, my East Beast and moog werkstatt, TD3, and POs. You really shook up my perspective on it. I mostly got it to make drum beats because I miss having a drum set, just started watching videos on actually sampling with it, but shiiizzz I might need to learn the sequencer first. I just got a midi splitter box and realized I could control 3 devices with my sq64 off one midi port by assigning different midi channels, so I assume you can do the same with the Live 2 but can probably can control even more Instruments.😮

I hate working on music with a laptop after working on it for 8 hours a day. I did not gel with iPad - I prefer the hardware buttons. When faced with a choice between live 2 and one, I decided to go with the One due to the additional buttons and slicker form factor. Got it earlier this week and I love it! Soo easy to sketch ideas! I got a sandisk extreme Pro 128 gb SD card so I won't miss the storage. The only thing I missed in One was the internal battery for jams away from the power outlets... Thankfully, there were a couple videos on YT on this already so I got a compatible powerbank and it works like a charm. I was quite surprised at how effortless the MPC workflow feels compared to Cubasis.

thank you JOrb for your Wonderful upload . - Pipe r mont

Great video to hear all your thoughts on changing to the Live. I have a 1000 and i go through all the same steps as you when choosing new gear. Do i need it, is it going to add good sounds to my setup, how much is it. etc. Im not changing from the mpc 1000 for a bit until i figure everything out and use it enough to warrant getting something new. Im having issues with midi at the moment trying to record in from a synth (Se02) im getting a midi loop the sounds just keep playing still trying to figure out a setting i may have missed. watched your videos many times still cant get it to work haha.

For me I'm Keeping the MPC and the Deluge. They're both samplers and sequencers but with very different approaches. The Live is my first MPC, and I had already warmed up to the Deluge's Arranger Mode and Sequencer prior to wanting to branch out... the MPC;s user interface still seems a bit compartmentalized given it's screen real estate... still the MPC has a feel and sound that is like the missing glue from most setups. I finally understand the dedication and commitment the MPC inspires now that I own one. Pretty sure I could just limit everything down to a KeyStep, MPC, and maybe a good portable analog monosynth... but I'd still miss the Deluge... must be the 4 digit red LED display, battery life, and those wood cheeks. I just want the Deluge to have Note Repeat, 16 Levels, and for the MPC to play Doom... I wonder which will happen first.

Please set up a Patreon :) I know it probably doesn't feel right, but I'd support you in an instant!

Your voice is definitely NPR ready. You should do podcasts!

I like that my MPC2500 doesn't have a touchscreen. Just knobs, buttons, faders, pads, and a data wheel. I feel like a mouse or a touchscreen slow down my workflow. I do feel you about having more effects though. MPC X is kind of best of both worlds for me if I ever upgrade, but may just try to rock an effects loop on the MPC2500. Having actually tried it yet, mostly just play chopped jungle breaks. Works great for that!

I owned a 2500 for a while with JJOSXL but i sold it last year, recently bought the MPC one hesitantly because i couldn't find any 2500 models available but i was very pleasantly surprised at how great the modern MPC workflow is, coming from the simplified UI of those LCD screens on the old machines it take a while to get used to the bright colors and shapes and menus and there's definitely a lot of information on display on that big screen, but once you start using it you realize that it's more or less the same as the old ones but with way more added features. i still have yet to explore all those added features, for the time being i'm using it mainly how i used to old machines and it's great! having said that, I do miss the old screen and limitations, there was something nice about the older machines, it was a good mix of limitation but flexibility. for example i doubt i could stand using a 2000xl even if i think it's the best looking MPC. so i found and bought a busted 1000 that i will restore so i can have both modern and old and use whichever one i feel like using more. but the more time i invest into the ONE and the more i get used to it, the more i feel going back to JJOS is going to hurt. we'll see who wins in the war between nostalgia and practicality. between the ONE and the LIVE 2, to be honest, i feel like if you're to own only 1 MPC, the live 2 would be the one. it's the "flagship" more or less (if we forget about the X) the form factor is great, the built in battery and speaker is great, full sized pads, and that retro edition design is :chefkiss:

Have been extremely tempted over an MPC one. A couple of months of saving and will be there

I ALSO SAW THAT TWO DOOR CINEMA listing!!! And also couldn't afford it loll

I did a lot of research between the MPC models and narrowed it down to the 1000, Live 1 , or 2. I got the Live 1 and haven’t regretted it for half a second. It’s been an incredible upgrade to my studio (was using Arturia sequencers) and I find the built in battery essential to my workflow. I got it for about half the price of a Live II, as I don’t need built in speakers or CV outs. The value in a used Live I or MPC One is absolutely incredible. I will say though, that retro skin is the onlyyyy thing that gave me pause in deciding between the V1 or 2. Just wasn’t worth another 650$, IMO.

I am hella new to making music and currently only working from a used MPK mini and MPC Beats. Introduction to the MPC workflow for a grand total of 40€. Dream is to get one one day and go standlalone, but for now I will gratefully download your keygroups! 😁

Good video 🕸👍🕸

Dude I love your videos! You and I have the exact same philosophy towards navigating the used synth market, and my hardware setup is very reminiscent of yours. Really curious to hear a bit more about Deluge vs MPC to get an idea why you went that route?? I’m currently using an OG MPC Live as my hardware brain (came from a Digitakt. I regret trading it for my Live due to the immediacy, but I appreciate the versatility and power of the Live) but I have been eyeballing the Deluge lately.

MPC's and Maschine are kewl and all but it's the Polyend Tracker for me.

I’m the same about couch jamming, then taking it into studio. But!… I’ve found that an iPad Pro running beatmaker 3 satisfies me more than enough on the couch. Once in studio it’s hooked up to the rest of the gear and I’m away!

BB JORB

Funny. I'm going the other way; instead of building distractions, I reduce them to minimum with the devices that only do what they need to do. "instead of doing my 45 second take again, I can fiddle with it for 5 minutes" . . yeah. That's my biggest issue with these new devices. Distractions.

I love my mpc live 2. I switched over from maschine, and I still love my maschine, but I think the workflow and over all capability is better. Little tip about the whole lack of buttons situation. The pads correspond to the menu options, so if you hold down menu and hit pad 16, it’ll bring you to the browser, pad 14 would bring you to program edit and so on

This is where I'm at too - to upgrade from 1000 JJOS or not? The new 2.10 external interface support for Live/One is what's really pushing me to consider it though. It's also pretty sick you can just use the 1000 as an external drive and connect via usb. This would make me more confident to get continued use from 1000, and have it setup at a little 'sample station' apart from my main setup. Then just bring the Live over every few weeks and transfer over the samples. What has me real interested in the Live/One though is if DC coupled interfaces like the ES-8/9 can be connected, that opens the door for sampling CV. Opens up tons of doors, especially that you could record and mangle 2 simultaneous CV sources in a stereo sample.

thanks for this video! I'm new to the MPC using! haven't bought one yet. been wanting one for years. i found one for 200 online a 1000. your thoughts? I know your thoughts on the newer from this video. but what about a newcomer like myself? i mean 200$ is cheap.

Want to get a Live 2. Have an older MPC Touch tethered to an old Mac mini running mojave. At first it was difficult creating a mental map of the song but now I can’t go back to a daw. MPC is best workflow ever imo. I think hitting shift-menu goes straight to program edit, might be wrong but think there’s a shortcut.

had the mpc live 1 just really did not like it. Touch screens a rarly good for music production, they are often used to cheap out on functions and have bad unrespnsice ui. I eventually sold it. Just a few weeks back I got the 1000 for really cheap, had to fix a few things and upgrade it but I alredy love it. dispite its age it feels more thought out and purpiousfull.

I think you will enjoy the looper function.

Waiting for an MPC 2500 to arrive which i have just bought. Will be my first experience with an MPC or a 'drum sampler'. Been a lifelong user of the roland mc line (mc500, mc50 and mc80) and DAW's for midi sequencing. I really wanted to get one of the new MPC's but in my research was dismayed and surprised to learn that they don't support midi sysex data. Also surprised by how few people this is an issue for, judging from the lack of comments about it online. But for me anyway this is a must have as i use midi sysex data a lot to control my hardware synths. Looking forward to using the 2500 and to see whether it can replace my mc80 as my primary hardware midi sequencer. i have a feeling it will...

I got a Deluge yesterday over an MPC simply because I'm not massive on sample slicing et al. and I am a self-taught guitarist who still has to count my way up the black and whites on a keyboard to find the right note I'm after. That isomorphic keyboard on the Deluge is just too damn handy for an anachronism like me :D

I should have watched your video on gear to good be to true! My deepmind12d was a scam but my mpc1000 was real. I have an mpc one but the 1000 fits my brain better right now

Yeah man MPC experience is good for me. First experience is the X and I still use it daily. Mpc is good for making techno and house I'm discovering. I like that it has no diskettes

Would love to see what you could do with an akai force, the only product of its kind that isn’t ableton+push2 and even has some workflow upgrades over that combo imo

great video! do you ever run your synths through the 1000 for its mastering EQ and compression?

This makes me feel old, my first mpc was a 1000. Jesus dude im old, i bought it when i was a junior in high school, it had just come out at the time and i nabbed it for 600$ because zzounds had an open box for sale. I use a mpc one now, the one and live 2 are literal dream machines for a person like me who doesnt want to touch a computer, ever

I haven’t used my MPC1000 in years. I’ve been thinking about bringing it back out

Thanks for doing this, I’m actually considering the same move right now, and although the 1000 isn’t as “central” and meaningful to me I do love it. I would have liked more time spent on the live looping feature, do you think it’s good enough to be used “intensely” in a live performance setting? And can you set up a “container” for the loop that also auto slices it so that you can mess with the slices in a performance?. Another question I have is about cpu/memory performance: I know you sequence external synths a lot so this is probably less of a concern. I’ve read that the main complaint on other “all-in-one” boxes is that while on paper they can do all these wonderful things, the reality is that performance becomes sluggish and unreliable relatively quickly, do you have a sense if this is the case?

I went from an mpc one to an mpc 1000. Bought me a fixer upper

i have a hapax here for testing right now and its an absolutely gorgeous piece of hardware but i think i will still stick with the mpc because it just offers so much at the same price points, the sequencing and midi/cv handling is alot cleaner, step sequencing is insanely good on the hapax but at the same price (at least right now in europe) the live 2 (for example) also samples and has nice pads and hosts usb (not to speak of the one which is about half price). (and has an audio metronome, and has a tuner, and...)

I've been using s 1000 and 2500 for a few years with my hardware synths, and love the workflow. How does the timing compare on the live vs the 1000?

“Put a 500gb and never worry about running out of space” I have the one and I’ve almost filled my 256 gb card with tracks and projects

Nice video man, is your name a reference to Homestar runner?

You can auto sample and make some dope keygroups! You'd never stop making beats!

Just double the midi tracks, so you mute the one playing and play the duplicate midi track live😉 you can change midi channels either via keystep or mpc.

Upgrading isn’t the better word… akai’s new mpc are finally getting some of the “core” features from old mpc1000 (with jjOS) e are different beasts and people lied themselves just for the “standalone shape”. Actual mpcs are embed atom rockchip machine (like M+) and that means “high level software on top a computer” meanwhile jjOS was nearest to “assembler on baremetal chips” if not directly that which means no latency, memory optimisation, etc. These were limited (and not my cup of tea about workflow) but state of the art machines due jjOS developer great job.

I'm looking into an MPC for a lot of gear sequencing purposes. My goal is to sequence a drum machine and two synths, and then have samples playing as extra when I play live, but I also want to record with it.

i think , between those two particular units , sound quality of your MPC1000 is better than of Live 2 .

I've had the X now for 2-3 years and I got a RetroLive2. I used to love JJOS. Eat breath and sleep that shit. I dived into the new mpcs and I'm happy-ish with them. I can do what I need. I wish the Midi was a bit tighter but really thats my main gripe. I do miss the 2500SE with JJOS but the X and Live2 are just as fun if not more. I wish they would allow us to use that screens potential with things like a Spectrum Analyzer, a Visual EQ or an Oscilloscope. Besides that, if they could allow all Channel be recorded as mono separately that we are golden. So instead of 8 Stereo we could have the option of 16 Mono or 4 Stereo and 8 Mono.

Hey I don't know if you will ever read this, but that track mute issue urks everyone. When the live first came out it performed just like your 1000 when muting. You could play over a muted track. However after update 2.8 they changed it to how it is now.

0:26 mine is still in service 😎🥃

Can you do a video about how you can melodically control samples... like you did with the choir? I am looking into getting an mpc one... I am really a guitar player/ singer songwriter. But I want on of these. If I could use that sampler as a sort of tone generator to control with an 88 key midi controller that would be awesome. is this possible ? Plus are the drum samples it comes with sufficient enough to get started making beats for rock music ?

great video. Can you still use your mpc 1000 PGM files or song files anywhere else? I sold my MPC and didn't think about the hundreds of PGMs I made with drums or samples. I currently use the MPK249.

You can get to Program Edit by holding the Menu button and then Pad 14

great video. I own MPC 1000 and just got the MPC one as an upgrade. I'm learning how to use it. but, I don't like how the notes are shown as drawings on the step screen instead of MIDI note numbers, note duration and note velocity like on a sythesizer sequencer.

Is that soft touch paint on the MPC or normal paint?