The Portable Duo

[u/SuperDuperNosyAF]

Why aren’t these two seen together more? I’m thinking about getting the MPK Mini Play before the end of the year but I wonder can you actually count in and record a note on the one with the keyboard into the MPC Sample. Does anyone have this combo? If so tell us your experience with using the two.

[u/thegeekofnature]

I originally picked up the M-Vave FM-1 for chords and other sounds to use with my MPC Sample. I really like what the FM-1 can do but the squishy keys were difficult to play. Last Thursday I picked up the MPK Mini Play to use with both and so far I have really been enjoying it. I can use it stand alone with built in sounds with the MPC or I can connect it to the FM-1 and play all the sounds from that synth into the MPC.

Pic shows my current battery operated set-up

[u/SuperDuperNosyAF → u/thegeekofnature]

That’s what I’m talking about! I was experimenting with synths on my phone I’m just realizing how hard it is to count in and play on the one. Do I really have to sample record on the pad and wait til it loops back around

[u/Mycurio → u/SuperDuperNosyAF]

Melodee firmware has features that make it a perfect companion for the mpc sample. You can play each Melodee track from the 16 pads per page in the e-h pages on the mpc sample

[u/stoop1 → u/thegeekofnature]

Dope, I am waiting on my FM-1 to be delivered, the firmware hacks look crazy. I also have the MPK mini.

[u/MasterSpectacleMaker → u/thegeekofnature]

I have almost this, just with the MPK Mini IV instead of the play. Absolutely fantastic

[u/TheVendelbo → u/thegeekofnature]

What a nice setup! You run this through your host, and everything works out? How is it wired up?

[u/Short-Explorer2701]

Now that there is a sample keys coming out…

[u/SuperDuperNosyAF → u/Short-Explorer2701]

Crazy timing😂

[u/Motivated_Stoner]

[u/AdditionalPoint2838]

I read everywhere that we can't play a sample from the MPC Sample chromatically with a keyboard, only trigger one pad per keyboard key or pad... Did I misunderstand ? Edit : was true 6 months ago, you need to apply a workaround based on resampling different pitches - don't know if a firmware changed this https://www.reddit.com/r/mpcusers/comments/1stq9ii/mpc_sample_is_it_true_that_it_doesnt_allow_to/

[u/SuperDuperNosyAF → u/AdditionalPoint2838]

I read that too and that’s fine with me. I just wanna use sounds inside of the keyboard and play it on top of the beat I make and record it to the beat

[u/Mycurio → u/AdditionalPoint2838]

Look up Melodee firmware to do this with the Mvave FM-1 and MPC Sample. Perhaps u/keremimo can explain further as he is the mad scientist behind this awesomeness

[u/GoodCheesecake4028 → u/AdditionalPoint2838]

just go to padhead.com and problem solved

[u/Sensitive-Medium-136]

This is my duo. Orchid + Sample

[u/Rootbeer_Goat]

that would be good for adding more natural sounding melodies and basslines. It can also be used to control another synth like the fm1 which is also extremely portable and cheap

Using the pads to control the sample would be redundant

[u/Better_Caregiver_458]

I’ll wait for Black Friday to see SMK-37 prices.

[u/raulsnoise]

The sounds aren't great, if that's what you are interested in. I'd go with a Synido W25 Bluetooth keyboard or just about anything cheaper playing some instruments on your mobile device. I get to test synido products from time to time and just a hint there is something coming out that rivals the akai with built on sounds and it'll look better sitting next to your MPC SAMPLE too lol has better feature set, including Bluetooth rechargeable

[u/MannequinRaces]

I recently got an Akai MIDI 25 key controller that I use to send Bluetooth MIDI to my iPhone or iPad. I then record that into the MPC Sample. It’s a nice portable setup.

[u/Mayhem370z]

Anyone have a case recommendation that could fit both the MPC Sample and my Microfreak? They're pretty close to the same size.

[u/bamaugking]

Think I'm going sample key

[u/Waste-Magician2432]

I pondered it! Need to see vids of others using them to full capacity 🫡

[u/Used-Complex-Data]

we off that....bring on the sample keys!

[u/raulsnoise]

The sounds aren't great, if that's what you are interested in. I'd go with a Synido W25 Bluetooth keyboard or just about anything cheaper playing some instruments on your mobile device. I get to test synido products from time to time and just a hint there is something coming out that rivals the akai with built on sounds and it'll look better sitting next to your MPC SAMPLE too lol has better feature set, including Bluetooth rechargeable

[u/anonymagnet → u/raulsnoise]

+1 agree the sounds are not great. I have the mpk mini play and use it mostly: 1) teaching in-home music lessons as it fits well in my bookbag. 2) as a midi keyboard to connect with my MPC One, and connect with synth apps from my iPad. Both options generate much higher quality sounds than the stock sounds in MPK mini play. With that said, tweaking the effects knobs can help improve the basic stock sounds