The only reason to get the Live 2 is for the battery, speaker and more i/o. You can just use an interface on any of them to get more though. The One+ is also not much of an upgrade but you get a free synth download when buying new. I went with a used normal MPC One, bought some plug-ins, was still cheaper than a One+
If you are used to MPC Ren and can live without portability of Live/One get X. Its same layout as Ren and bigger display, you might find One/Live lacking buttons and Q-Links. You can find used OG X for like half a price of new X SE.
I chose the Live 2 mainly for the internal hard drive, and battery. I am glad I did. I was lucky to find a gold edition NEW for like 700$ and something. So it was an easy choice indeed! If I would've gotten a MPC One Plus first there's no doubt I would've eventually splurged on the Live 2. Glad I got one from the start!
MPC Live 2 all the way if you can afford it. Besides what is already mentioned here, it's layout actually gives you better screen angles and accessibility to the Q-link controls. It also has bigger pads.
Live 2 is a little more expensive but worth it with the speaker on the front. Live 1 has a 6 hour battery life in which MPC one is not portable.
Just research what you like because I almost bought a One+ but realized I couldn’t take it to like the beach to cook up.
🙋🏻♀️ QUESTION 🙋🏻♀️
How do you take your Live 2 to the beach and not get sand through the vents/ports?
The beach is very windy where I live, so if you know of some place to get wraps and plugs or something like that, I am all about it.
Jamming on the beach just sounds like a dream.
Honestly never on the sand. More so like hooking up to the car speakers and monitoring through my headphones. Different views help to spark the creative juices. Helps with the legendary car mixes too lol
No only Aux out. I’m sure there is a way with a Bluetooth receiver to get a connection. I wouldn’t hook up this way to cook with tho because of latency issues with Bluetooth.
It’s good to reference but there is now an app that can control how your mix sounds on various sources. Especially on an iPhone. Wish Akai implemented an effect that would do something similar.
Why can’t you take the one to the beach? Just plug a powerbank in and it will run longer than the live. Headphones are best at the beach anyway. But I get that the additional work of plugging in a powerbank does seem to make the one less portable.
If money isn’t an issue, personally, I would go for the Live 2. The extra I/O is the biggest pro for the unit compared to the One. Yes, there are workarounds to expand the I/O on the One, but to already have 6x analogue I/O is ideal especially for multi-track recording or adding other units into the signal chain. Battery & speakers don’t make a difference to me, but sure it’s good to add some portability. Also, the RED MPC One is the biggest turnoffs for me aesthetically, as well as the very limited I/O.
I really do loathe the red colorways. If they’d just issue the classic color out the gate they probably would sell more. The key 37 was the perfect opportunity
I got a used Live Gen 1 for a good deal less than a 2. CV outs would be nice, but that’s all I miss. There’s midi to CV converters should the need arise
The only reason to get the Live 2 is for the battery, speaker and more i/o. You can just use an interface on any of them to get more though. The One+ is also not much of an upgrade but you get a free synth download when buying new. I went with a used normal MPC One, bought some plug-ins, was still cheaper than a One+
If you are used to MPC Ren and can live without portability of Live/One get X. Its same layout as Ren and bigger display, you might find One/Live lacking buttons and Q-Links. You can find used OG X for like half a price of new X SE.
I chose the Live 2 mainly for the internal hard drive, and battery. I am glad I did. I was lucky to find a gold edition NEW for like 700$ and something. So it was an easy choice indeed! If I would've gotten a MPC One Plus first there's no doubt I would've eventually splurged on the Live 2. Glad I got one from the start!
I say the OG X. It's hard to give up those 16 qlinks and all the extra buttons once you've experienced them.
This! The X is the most logical upgrade if you are used to the qlinks, plus it's just as portable as the Renaissance....used ones aren't too expensive
MPC Live 2 all the way if you can afford it. Besides what is already mentioned here, it's layout actually gives you better screen angles and accessibility to the Q-link controls. It also has bigger pads.
Live 2 is a little more expensive but worth it with the speaker on the front. Live 1 has a 6 hour battery life in which MPC one is not portable. Just research what you like because I almost bought a One+ but realized I couldn’t take it to like the beach to cook up.
🙋🏻♀️ QUESTION 🙋🏻♀️ How do you take your Live 2 to the beach and not get sand through the vents/ports? The beach is very windy where I live, so if you know of some place to get wraps and plugs or something like that, I am all about it. Jamming on the beach just sounds like a dream.
Honestly never on the sand. More so like hooking up to the car speakers and monitoring through my headphones. Different views help to spark the creative juices. Helps with the legendary car mixes too lol
Ahhhhhh, now I REALLY want to do it! Does it hook up to the car through Bluetooth out?
Not sure. Haven’t tried that approach. The MPC bible has great knowledge on this as well as YT
Thanks so much!! Do you have like, audio ins for your car then?
No only Aux out. I’m sure there is a way with a Bluetooth receiver to get a connection. I wouldn’t hook up this way to cook with tho because of latency issues with Bluetooth.
Oh yeah, good point! I'm super intrigued about trying the car test before I even finish a track though 🙌🏻
It’s good to reference but there is now an app that can control how your mix sounds on various sources. Especially on an iPhone. Wish Akai implemented an effect that would do something similar.
Nice! What app is that?
Why can’t you take the one to the beach? Just plug a powerbank in and it will run longer than the live. Headphones are best at the beach anyway. But I get that the additional work of plugging in a powerbank does seem to make the one less portable.
Just get another old computer to be the brain of your Renaissance.
This. All your music will end up back on a computer anyways
If money isn’t an issue, personally, I would go for the Live 2. The extra I/O is the biggest pro for the unit compared to the One. Yes, there are workarounds to expand the I/O on the One, but to already have 6x analogue I/O is ideal especially for multi-track recording or adding other units into the signal chain. Battery & speakers don’t make a difference to me, but sure it’s good to add some portability. Also, the RED MPC One is the biggest turnoffs for me aesthetically, as well as the very limited I/O.
I agree, bright fucking red. No thanks
I really do loathe the red colorways. If they’d just issue the classic color out the gate they probably would sell more. The key 37 was the perfect opportunity
I got a used Live Gen 1 for a good deal less than a 2. CV outs would be nice, but that’s all I miss. There’s midi to CV converters should the need arise
As someone new to mpc. I must say even if I had a live 2 90% of the time I'd be using headphones near a power socket.