New gear purchase - suggestions.

[PHeMoX]

the mv is just not something i would throw in a bag and do a show at a local bar with. the 404 is not as pc oriented as i would like and the mpc500 doesn't seem stable enough to fit the bill. in all honesty the mpc1k is probably the closest thing but i don't enjoy the workflow and it's still not programmable from a pc.

I agree with you, but at the same time I think that for live purposes you could really use anything you would like as long as it's able to play back your entire songs and perhaps has some effects or has some 'live' functionality for triggering sampled stuff.

The SP-555 is great in this context and I'm thinking it's also why people like Vivi have a SP-404 or SP-555 (for live) next to their MV-8000 ((for in studio).

I think a smart thing for Roland to do now is make the MV-8800 a lot smaller without dumping too much of the features and it could be the near perfect all-in-one solution.

[Hot Sauce]

i agree with JBL about an MPC1k. they (with the pad upgrade) do have a great feel. MPC1k and 404 combo would be great as you get the heavy editing of the 1k (which can still be super quick if you learn the machine inside out) and the ease of use of the 404. plus for live shows route the MPC into the 404 and you have the pads of the MPC for some live drumming and you can also add some FX to the MPC from there.
only problem with a live setting is that this method would be kind of stop start.

it would be more suitable to "beat-showcases" so to speak.
but if you got a 2 channel mixer MPC, 404 and 303 then that would be a dope set-up and would be usable for live shows (obviously a lot of pre-set planning would have to happen).

im feeling what phemox is saying about a more reduced MV.
that could kill the middle market.

right now (IMO) roland have the sampler pad thing locked down in the upper market and lower market (both SPs and MVs) but the middle ground (eg. MPC 1000) is dominated by akai.

if roland released a kind of smaller stripped down MV, then i would have to try really hard not to get it.

Hey all,
I've been going through a bit of gear lately - most recently an SP-505 and MC-909. I seem to purchase things then get over them in a couple of months - but make me learn a lot more abou what I want as a next purchase..

Anyway, a couple of things I don't like about the MC909: it's too big, and I just can't get into the feel of the pads (I'm a drummer, so this is super important to me when bangin in drum loops). I was thinking a small (possibly portable) sampler/sequencer would be a good choice - maybe the MPC500 even.. Not sure about the smaller SPs, as really like having a bit of an LCD display onboard.

So.. any suggestions?.. I'm looking to have a bit of fun laying tracks down, mainly bass and drum riffs for RnB and house style music.. Also really interested in getting into some remixing - I love pulling my collection of 80s music out and laying down some nice riffs over the top.. Portable would be good, but at least smallish in size..

Any ideas? Maybe I'm better off stickin to the laptop and maybe getting an MPC style pad controller... At least that way I can still mess around while travelling on business which I'm doing a lot these days...

Thanks!

are you going to be using your setup for live shows?

i think the korg EMX series are really dope for more electronic orientated types of music. the 404 is more for hip-hop.

but for what you want to do the best bet would be a good laptop, ableton and a pad controller (eg. trigger finger). LIVE is just dope like that. ive seen people use it crazy in a live enviroment but i don't have it because im more of a hardware guy.

[raphsta]

Cool, thanks for all your responses guys, and the interested side conversations too.

Hot Sauce - Doubt I'll ever use it live.. More for stuffing around with at home, remixing tracks and laying down some very simple tunes.. The laptop idea might be good so I can stuff around when travelling, as I can't really lug the MC909 around to play with..

I've been anti-software for a while, as I don't wanna sit in front of the PC any longer than I have to.. But maybe Ableton will give me what I want...

[raphsta]

Sssoo.. I've been doing some more looking around..
I'm now looking for a good midi controller -
Trying to decide on which one - choosing from the new Akai MPD32, Korg PadKontrol or M-Audio Trigger Finger..

Swaying to the PadKontrol, especially after seeing a vid of a REAL drummer (I'm a real drummer too ) using it for some great grooves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjYnJmxY2n4

Probably more to do with the person behind the unit than the actual unit, but I've played around with different controllers and they've always been hard to get a real feelin' down.

What you guys think?

[drewzle]

padKontrol all the way!
it's great
i 'drum' with it in a jazz band every week (controlling my QY-70), the pads are super responsive and register a tap from every angle

[raphsta]

Cool, thanks Drewzle..
They are quite reasonably priced too - the MPD32 looks like a sweet piece of hardware though, but a bit overkill..

How funny - I started this whole thought pattern looking for a unit that works standalone (thats why I went through the SP-505 and MC-909), but now I've turned around completely.. NI Battery will be sweet with the PadKontrol I reckon..
Although I'm still abit scared about buying a "dumb" piece of gear (padKontrol), which won't even make a peep when it's on it's own

[drewzle]

Battery is amazing with the padKontrol!
you'll love it

[Hot Sauce]

ive totally swithced over the past 2 days in regards to the LinnDrum II.

now i think it's going to be the greatest thing ever. everything i said still stands in regards to no specs being released but this shit is gonna be so dope i have a feeling. my hesitation in going "linndrum is going to own the scene" is totally related to the lack of info available for the product but now im hoping and have a nice feeling that this is going to be super dope. i will def get one. im so excited about it now and have quit making beats until i have it.

this is a bit irrational i know.

[PHeMoX]

Cool, thanks Drewzle..
They are quite reasonably priced too - the MPD32 looks like a sweet piece of hardware though, but a bit overkill..

Whatever you do, don't buy an AkaiMPD24 (or 32 for that matter, as I think they have the same pads). The MPD24 pads suck ohh so bad, they hardly work...

[Natalen]

I don't think the problem is with the gear. Maybe you need better software for such purposes? I know this website and these guys must be true specialists at the questions concerning the software. You can find all the needed information there.

[Headphones]

Some of us just don’t vibe with software. DAWS are great tools, and make it easier to cook up ideas, but they can almost be too much at times. Gear usually has its limits since the manufacturers put in what they could make it do in the year it came out. Eventually they become obsolete to something better out there, but they usually have their own quirks or sounds that software can’t quite replicate.

Nothing wrong with just keeping your setup simple, but it’s also fun to include a new synth/sequencer/sampler/FX unit, etc, and just see if you enjoy using it. If you don’t care for it, trade it in for something else.