Man, a piece of hardware with Abelton useability really would be a revolution Something that good could afford to be expensive!

I'm not quite sure what would be the definition of Ableton usability, but the MV-8800 is capable of doing things all "Pro Tools"-style. It has a huge amount of tweakable things all DAW style, it's like a near perfect mix of software and hardware (at least this is my first impression after having spend about 3 hours on it now).

I agree for the most part that the LD2 might not really be bringing anything really new to the world of samplers. Still, Akai and Roland could use some extra competition to get a renewed hardware battle going on. Usually consumers profit from that a lot.

I've probably said it before somewhere, but a lot of samplers tend to be filled with relatively old hardware. Take the SP-555's memory or even the MV's memory.

Are you using it with an additional display? or just the onboard one? and a mouse? or all self-contained?

I do use it with an extra monitor and mouse the most. You get the mouse included with it by the way.

I had bought a new monitor about 6 months ago already and had been using sort of two monitors for my desktop PC, but never really took advantage of having two monitors... so yeah, I had one I could use with the MV. It's a good thing I decided not to sell it back then.

Using it without monitor and mouse can be a lot faster in some situations by the way, so I'm not quite sure what I prefer. I'm not quite used to controlling it yet.

It's definitely very nice to be able to see everything on a bigger screen though as if you're working with a software DAW.

I should probably take some pictures of it and show it, I'll probably do this tomorrow or so.

A definition of 'abelton useability', to me, would be the ability to handle loops properly. This problem has been the thorn in the side of (sampling) techno-heads since the year dot.

Software like Abelton Live, Acid Pro and Garage Band (and most of the others now, too) allows the user to drop loops in on the fly and they stretch to fit. I know you already know this but I'm getting to my point..

Hardware, thus far, has fallen WAY short of this kind of functionality, simply by being too clunky. The 606 makes one of the better stabs at this, but to load in a loop and get it to work takes a minimum of 5 minutes. Not really that good for improvistional stage work. Especially as you only get an effective range of +/- 10bpm! I dunno about the MV. It's not advertised as a 'loopstation' though; so I assume it's somewhat similar.

Either way, all this means that the user is stuck in a 'loop' (sorry) of setting up crap to create the illusion of improvisation. I want real improv! I want a machine that is conducive to freeform multilayer looping craziness!

I like loops

Well, according to the website, the MV can handle loops like I want. However, there's no way I'm paying nearly 4 grand for a box to use only one feature. And it doesn't really look like it's meant to be used in a filthy, dark, sweaty club

So, we always end up back in the middle of the market, that huge grey area that fills the market between the SP and the MV. MPCs have that market sewn-up to some extent; but they really suck at handling loops! MC-x0x have the middle market covered too, for live midi synth sequencing. Nothing in the middle for loophorses though.

A unit for 2 grand that was either an SP with (some) MV features or even just a cut-down MV (MV-880?) would be ideal. I really believe that Roland don't want to get into that middle market though becuase Numark have such a hold on it.

606man, have you seen the Yamaha SU 700?
http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/Con ... CT,00.html
http://remixmag.com/mag/remix_yamaha_su_powerful/

a bit dated now, but i'd love this sort of thing for live performance/remixing of my studio tracks

I totally agree. They should make a MV-4400 (or MV-880), that would be like something of a SP-555 / MV-8800 hybrid with expanded loop capture orientated features. With the right design it could easily be pretty much a unique device that has little or no competition in the mid-section because of it's highlight features (think: SP-555, but bigger/better/more complete).

I probably won't bring my MV to gigs, it's to heavy to even bother and I don't want to risk that it might get damaged or stolen.

that's what I want - a SuperSP lol.

Drewzle - I have heard about the SU700, but never seen one in action. Will investigate

If you build it, They will come.

I got a mental picture of a bloke with a wheelbarrow trying to steal an MV...

'Hey, where do you think you're going?'

[panting] 'ummm, nowhere fast..'

Hahahah, true! It wouldn't be easy.

Are you kidding, I'll slide through with a crane and cherry pick it when you turn around to grab a record.

Yeah, or you could use the trap-door on the stage if you'd really want to get away unnoticed, lol!

Anyways, here's a picture (hope it's not too big) ;

(edit: removed)

Very nice so far, but I really need a monitor (screen) stand, the wooden thingy it's standing on now can't really support the weight.

By the way, I think I broke my camera or something as it displays a weird reddish glow on the top of the photograph no matter what I change or so it seems...

Photoshop will handle that. Layer mask probably.