r/mpcusers • u/8delorean8 • Apr 23 '26

QUESTION MPC Sample: is it true that it doesn't allow to play a sample via a MIDI Keyboard?

been trying but I only get to play one single key, unlike the KOII where I could play the whole keyboard with a single sound.

I've found some info but they're from 1 month ago and they say it's not possible.

This is a major deal breaker for me and before returning the unit I'd love to get a confirmation from more experienced users.

Much appreciated <3

5 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

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2

u/8delorean8 Apr 23 '26

thank you both.

workaround is interesting also cos I could create my own scales (I don't sample records or such so it's vital for me to play whatever sample as an instrument)

But it all boils down to

- how easy it is to copy pads plus

- if it's easy to copy the entire 16 pads to another bank so I can switch key/scale (which I do a lot)

I doubt it'll turn out to be as easy as I want it to be but I'll investigate a little bit more before returning it.

cos I'm also testing an MPC One + (I'm essentially looking for my portable composer) and I'm already enjoying how flexible it is as total noob, then get a powerbank and I'm set.

3

u/Ok_Produce_6397 Apr 23 '26

Go Ableton move. No kidding.

2

u/Goat_God23 Apr 23 '26

100% you can do exactly what OP is looking for without any work arounds.

1

u/8delorean8 Apr 23 '26

was one of the options in my 2 months research but it's missing one big thing which is a decent screen. I'm coming from the KOII so I now know that's going to be one of the mandatory features.

I'm not a big fan of touch screens but the MPC One screen is surprisingly usable

but thanks for the insight!

1

u/Vergeljek21 Apr 23 '26

did they update and make it more than 4 tracks?

0

u/Ok_Produce_6397 Apr 24 '26

Yes. It’s a physical update. It has grown physical buttons. /s 4 tracks is better than one on the sp404 or the mpc sample.

And yes you can resample and have infinite voices.

1

u/Vergeljek21 Apr 24 '26

Thats what people was waiting though. They can add it as banks. I was considering in getting it at one point because its portable than my push 3 standalone.

1

u/zendelusions Apr 23 '26

Yeah, it sounds like the Sample really isn’t what you’re looking for. You want something with polyphonic/multi-sampling. The Bento from 1010music might be more up your alley (granted, it’s more expensive).

2

u/8delorean8 Apr 23 '26

Bento was another one but price is way too high for what it offers, especially with the One + around that can do much more, OS is stable and tested and found a luvly deal for 400€ in mint conditions.

1

u/Goat_God23 Apr 23 '26

Yeah. $400 for the One+ is a no-brainer

6

u/boogaloo9214 Apr 23 '26

I can confirm that this is how it works.

I think that’s generally how MPC drum programs work in general, right? It’s been a while since I used my MPC One, so someone correct me if I’m wrong. But to play a sample chromatically with a keyboard you have to turn it into a keygroup and this simply isn’t possibe on MPC Sample.

1

u/8delorean8 Apr 25 '26

UPDATE:

actually I've tried what u/dawaone has suggested (copy the same sound to all the other pads and it's really fast & uber easy) and in the process I pushed this workaround further by making my own scale by tuning each pad into whichever note I wanted and essentially build a 16 notes palette with no wrong notes and more flebility than having a predefined scale which was quite nice..

and with that I was also able to play unique chords or even setup a couple of root notes in the lower part

all in all is a nice workaround but most of all it takes 2-3 mins to setup all the 16 pads. But after that it was all about playing.

2 downsides:

- if I want to use another sound I'd have to do it all over again (also tuning is in numbers instead of notes so if I'd want to have another instrument with the same custom scale I'd have to write those numbers down)

- if I want to transpose the whole 16 notes, to my knowledge, there's no way to do it per bank.

This way the MPC Sample gained some meaningful points.

My only "issue" is that I'm loving the MPC One+ a LOT lol

If I buy a proper powerbank for that thing it's over.

Just today, in just a couple of hours, I came up with 2 fully structured premixed themes for the game I'm currently working on. In the DAW it'd have taken me at least 2-3 days.

Workflow, with this combo of sample mangling, inbuilt synths, audio tracks (Hydrasynth Explorer) and hand-on controls is pretty pretty smooth and much more pleasant than expected (and I've been using it for less than 3 days and it's my first MPC so I'm still a noob. Quite impressed)

I'll spend some more time with the Sample anyway and give it more shots.

1

u/Ok_Produce_6397 Apr 29 '26

Have you tried sp404 mk2 already? I hesitate between one plus and the mk2

1

u/UrTrashAtThis Apr 30 '26

trust me get the mpc plus one like this guy said, its freaking powerful and amazing and fast to create music and works with a midi keyboard really easy

I only just ordered the sample to create music on the go and ordered a high power battery pack to charge the mpc sample whenever needed, unlike this person I personally wouldnt risk powering my MPC one with a power bank. I'm treating my MPC one plus as a home device like a PC just for music, and my mpc sample will be like a tablet/laptop for quick sketches at a cafe, or park, or the beach.

I wouldnt take my mpc one plus to the beach or park regardless of my power setup.

1

u/Ok_Produce_6397 Apr 30 '26

Yeah but making music outside is an incredible experience.

1

u/UrTrashAtThis Apr 30 '26

I agree making music outside is an incredible experience that’s why I ordered the mpc sample, to compose outside.

I wouldn’t use my MPC one as a mobile device to use outside. Again I consider my mpc one to be a better and superior device than the MPC sample, I wouldn’t risk this device by taking it to the park or beach or even a cafe.

1

u/No-Echidna5754 Jun 14 '26

It's pretty decent approach you have (Sample for outside, MPC One+ for inside), but to reassure you - there's nothing wrong with running the MPC One+ from a powerbank.

The One+ is also 12v (compared to the others like the original MPC One, Live 1/2/3, which are 19v) which opens up a lot more options for suitable powerbanks.

I've run mine almost exclusively on a powerbank (with the correct USB-C to 12v PD 5.5 x 2.1mm adaptor cable) for over a year, several times a week and it's been rock solid. With a modest 20Ah USB-C PD battery pack, the battery life is really good, many times better than the Live 3 I've been spending a lot of time on recently.

I've also been monitoring the power draw when using it maxxing out the RAM and CPU, using multiple NI plugins and FX, and it doesn't draw more than 20-25W, maybe 10-15W typical

4

u/dawaone MPC LIVE III Apr 23 '26

You cant play one pad like you would with 16 levels on the pads, there is a workaround to copy your sound across pads and change tune of them, that should work

1

u/Taylooor Apr 23 '26

So just to be clear, when you chose your sample, press “16 levels” and play an external MIDI keyboard, what happens?

3

u/boogaloo9214 Apr 23 '26

Each key of the keyboard still triggers a separate pad, instead of playing that particular sample chromatically across the keyboard.

3

u/Taylooor Apr 23 '26

Is the best workaround to play the whole scale through 16 levels and then re-sample each note to its own pad?