I’ve been recently watching some videos of samplers (mostly Maschine) and that just sounds nice for the type of beats I like, sample based beats

I currently use FL Studio and working with samples, chopping and putting everything together doesn’t look as easy, creating drum patterns pretty much sucks in comparison as well tbh
And it doesn’t look as fun

What do you think of samplers like Maschine or MPC, should I get one even though they tend to be expensive? Is it worth it?

Bonus questions:

Maschine or MPC? Maschine to me looks like the best looking one and the best to work with but I’m not actually sure which one is the best

Is the Maschine mk2 vs the mk1 that much different? I’m sure I can find the mk1 for a lower price but I don’t know if it would be the right choice

My opinion, as I use FL Studio and own an MPD – Yes the hardware is a lot more fun and looks much more appealing to have in your home studio, but remember that these hardware are plugged into your software (FL Studio). The Maschine and MPC are CONTROLLERS, not samplers. Note that an MPC comes with it’s own onboard software, the MPD doesn’t, and I believe Maschine’s stuff gives you a program to install on your computer. They’re all controllers, not samplers. If you have difficulty laying down your drums and samples in your software sampler (FL), then you’ll have difficulty with the controllers too.

Having the hardware is definitely more fun though. I’d suggest you go with a Maschine – Akai’s stuff is feeling very uninspired imo. I can’t comment on the different models since I haven’t used them.

Oh, my bad, I saw a picture of an MPC2000 on the wikipedia article on samplers and automatically thought that’s what they were called, after actually reading something I can see that it said sampling sequencer and not sampler, I’m guessing it ain’t the same

Yes, I was thinking of using it with FL Studio, I don’t usually have that many problems with doing it on FL Studio but it feels definitely more boring than the hardware

I’m leaning more towards Maschine but if I ended up going with Akai, due to money or something like that, would you say that the MPD is enough or would the extra bucks for an MPC be worth it? Do you know if the Akai MPC software is like the Maschine software?

@ThaEQsplanator: @Rhap is half right, The Maschine and mpD or mpK are controllers but the MPC is much more than a controller. Maschine needs to be hooked up to a computer to run but it does have its own (very nice) software. MPDs and MPKs are just midi controllers with no software. An MPC however can be used as a standalone unit and I would without question call it a sampler as it can hold samples, chop samples, sequence samples etc…

That being said MPCs are definitely the old school Necessity but Maschine has been on the rise recently. I currently use an MK2 with the first gen software and my workflow increased so much once I got it. I’ve used everything from FL, to Logic, to Pro Tools and Maschine is definitely the easiest and most fun since it’s hands on. I still mix and do more melodic arranging in pro tools but all my drums and sampling are done exclusively on maschine these days

@ChrisLaBella Thanks for the info about this!

I’m guessing that using Maschine’s software isn’t needed if you have FL Studio for example
How would you compare using Maschine with it’s own software versus Maschine + FL Studio combo?

Oh shift + enter posts the text, didn’t know that, oh well

I’m obviously still very new to this whole Maschine, MPC/MPD/MPK stuff but I want to get more in depth with it since I won’t stop producing, do you think the price tag on the Maschine is justifiable or an MPD or MPK would do pretty much the same thing for a lower price? I’ve never seen that much of the Akai products but Maschine seems to work really well with samples

@ThaEQsplanator Incorrect, the whole beauty of the machine is that the software and controller are made for each other. You could use the maschine to control FL.. but why?? Maschine software and sounds are way more advanced than FL and way easier to use once you get the workflow down.

If you just want a midi controller to control FL then there’s way cheaper options than the Maschine and or the MPC

Didn’t see the second post before I posted mine, but no, a MPD or MPK will not do anything near the same thing as a maschine… they will only trigger midi notes in whatever Daw you use (FL) there are no sounds, no effects, no sequencing, no sampler, no pitch shift etc… imo if you’re just getting a midi keyboard theres much cheaper and better options that either MPD or MPK

Mashince is a DAW and Controller in one. The actual hardware doesn’t store any sounds or info but it’s made to seamlessly control the software which is dope ass software. you can change the tempo, shift he pithc, compress, eq, audition multiple patterns, super mega easily compose and arrange tracks. Now IF you wanted to you could completely ignore the maschine software and use the hardware as a generic midi controller for whatever daw you want… but like I said, why?

Oh and if you do go with maschine i would go with the MK2, the pads are ALOT nicer than the MK1 (more responsive, less finger strain) and there are just a few other minor tweaks that make it better imo. Plus theres colors :) !!

@ChrisLaBella that’s what I wanted to know ahah

I have a midi keyboard but want something more, I’m glad you clarified that about the MPD and MPK
From the videos I’ve seen Maschine does seem to work really well with it’s own software (which makes total sense) but I wasn’t sure if it was that good since, you know, it was just youtube videos, the real deal could be completely different

Excuse me for my lack of knowledge but, I’m guessing the software is pretty much the same when doing other stuff like adding a bass line and eq/compress when in comparison with FL Studio right? I ask this because while I might not be the best at it or anything but I’m getting pretty comfortable with FL Studio and changing to something that is weaker in that aspect would hurt my sounds since, like I said, I’m still learning how to do that stuff

What about VSTs, can you add vsts like in other softwares?

Anyway, thanks for the help you’re giving me, I really don’t know much about it ahah

@ChrisLaBella The MK2 does look better and does look like it performs better, thanks! I’m guessing that if I can spend money on the MK1 I might be able to save a bit more and invest in the MK2

I haven’t used FL in years so I can’t comment on whether or not they work similarly when applying compression, eq etc… but I CAN say that Maschine has it all layer out SUPER easy and sounds better than FL (at least in my experience) , so transitioning (especially if you’re still only figuring out FL) wouldn’t be too bad. But as I said, I do most of my mixing in Pro Tools so I don’t mess with the native Maschine dynamic processors too much. You can use 3rd party VSTs with it bt again I don’t personally.
@ThaEQsplanator

@ChrisLaBella Thanks! That makes more confident about buying the Maschine

I never doubted the Maschine was powerful enough to make great songs but your confirmation just comforts me

Now I just need the money for it ahah

@ThaEQsplanator haha glad I could help, you’ll definitely be happy with the investment

btw can you give my new beat a listen? I need some feedback on it to spice it up. it’s under the thread “New Beat for Beat Battle….”

I hope so lool

@ChrisLaBella I’m already listening to it, I’ll leave my best feedback in there

@ThaEQsplanator appreciate it bro!