mpc sample workflow with fl studio

[u/Medical_Butterfly390]

i’ve been making music for nine years in fl studio and have been looking at getting the mpc sample since it was announced. i’m not very experienced in using pads besides very occasional finger drumming on my midi keyboard (arturia keylab mk3), but it’s always intrigued me (mostly for chopping samples).

i’d probably be using it mostly to load in a sample on my computer, chop it on the mpc, then send it back to fl studio. having a dedicated sampler sounds cool to me, but i feel like i might be just as well off with a midi controller with a bunch of pads on it if this is what i’ll mostly be using it for, but i’m not sure. the main thing is i would like the sampling experience to feel less like it’s all done in the computer and i can actually adjust things with pads and knobs to make it more fun. if a bunch of midi pads can do that and for cheaper, i feel like i might as well save my money.

any perspectives and opinions on this are appreciated

[u/r1chiem]

I don't work in the same way you do so this might not be for you. You use the MPC in controller mode. Then the MPC can be run as a vst inside of FL Studio. If you use it this the samples are stored on computer. Also when in controller mode, the drives on the mpc hardware are visable to drag, samples, expansions, projects from the MPC to the MPC software on the computer which could be used in MPC computer software or FL Studio. You don't even have to connect the MPC hardware to the computer, you can sample chop on the MPC computer software. The MPC comptuter software is an MPC hardware but it has none of the MPC hardware restrictions like 8 audio or synth tracks. You can do everything on the MPC or on the MPC computer software and run it as a VST in FL Studio so there is no dragging files.

If you don't want to deal with any of that you could get the FL Studio novation pad made specifically for FL studio

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Novation/FLpad-MIDI-Pad-Controller-1500000491082.gc

[u/Brkat_Benon → u/r1chiem]

wait so the MPC software doesnt have the same track limitations as the hardware? thats actually good to know

[u/r1chiem → u/Brkat_Benon]

Nope. The only limitations is you computer processor and ram. This computer has 8core16thread processor with 32 gb of ram 3ghz to 4 ghz. I have never been able to max it out. but I don't use more than 8 to 12 tracks anyway.

[u/Financial-Koala6995]

Your KeyLab already gives you a way to play chops in FL. In Slicex, Regions > Assign trigger notes to all lets you tap the pads in the order you want the slices assigned. You'd still be chopping on the computer, so it won't replace a standalone sampler, but it covers the pad-playing part without buying another controller.

[u/Phillycheeze13]

Im not too familiar with the MPC Sample itself but if the plan is chop on the box and send it straight back to FL, I would lean towards saving the money and getting a pad controller. Where a standalone MPC actually earns its price imo is when you stay on it and finish the beat there, that's the part that feels less like a computer. With my Live II I'd chop, sequence and rough out the arrangement on it and only bring stems into the DAW at the end. If you see yourself doing that, go for it, but if it's just a chopping station you'll probably end up wanting the cash back haha. Best of luck!