Old Motifator threads are available in the Archive.
SuperM.A.N.
Total Posts: 106
Joined 09-04-2010 status: Pro |
Can anyone help me compare the “Beat Creation” capabilities of the Motif XF to the MPC, and Native Instrument’s Maschine, beat machines? I already know one of the answers and that is, “Well, if you just want to make beats, you’re better off just buying an MPC or Maschine beat machine. Why waste your time and money on a workstation?” So then that leads me to the title “Workstation”. Being that the Motif XF is a “workstation”, does it have the same capabilities of an MPC or Maschine (i.e. beat repeats, warping, glitching, etc,...)? I’m still in the process of putting together my home studio, so information on equipment is important. I have already done my homework on Akai’s MPC, and Native Instrument’s Maschine, or their own forums, and have scene all the video demo’s, so now I’d like to see if I can get a helpful comparison of the new Motif XF. If the Motif XF can do what these particular beat machines can do, then I’m hooked for life! Haha. BTW, @Matticulous - I was able to get the XF6 at the same price as you! Woot Woot!!! Thanks a billion!!! P.S. you guys...I’m not just for beat making, as I definitely will be writing, creating, and producing full compositions. It would definitely be nice to have a beat machine, and if the Motif XF can do what the afformentioned does, then we’re celebrating! Water is on me! =P Image Attachments
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kday
Total Posts: 401
Joined 02-17-2004 status: Enthusiast |
The MPC is a dedicated sampler and beat machine. They sorta compliment each other more that compete against each other. It’s synth keyboard wizardry vs drum & loop sampling wizardry, it all depends on which one you need most. You’re not gonna get all the great XF keyboard sounds out of the MPC. Nor will you get dedicated drum sampling editing & flexibility, and the rock solid midi controller and sequencing ability of the MPC out of the XF. |
jxsbebop
Total Posts: 191
Joined 08-06-2010 status: Pro |
I hate to say it, but they’re different beasts. |
TraneOfThought
Total Posts: 63
Joined 09-22-2002 status: Experienced |
The sequencer on the XF is just as good as the MPC. The “swing” most people talk about is mainly how you play the pads and where you assign those sounds on the pads. Glitches are sample editing techniques so you gotta dig into the editor. i find editing samples on the Mo is easier than the MPC because we can only edit one sound at a time and it’s too much time going between different pages to see how your sample fits in a particular program. Mashcine I don’t know about but if you’re looking at drum machine samplers if you don’t mind the size the roland MV8800 would be an excellent piece easy to read screen and fairly straight forward sequencer. Hope that helps |
jxsbebop
Total Posts: 191
Joined 08-06-2010 status: Pro |
Maschine is really good. Maschine & MPC are all about workflow making drum beats. Motif sequencer is very good too. |
meatballfulton
Total Posts: 3022
Joined 01-25-2005 status: Guru |
The Motif sequencer can do most of what the MPC sequencer does. Where it is lesser: only 16 tracks, only one MIDI port (MPC is 32 tracks over 2 ports). The Motif sequencer has higher resolution than the MPC (480ppqn vs. 96ppqn) and is just as “rock steady”. The Motif sampler can do most of what the MPC sampler can: slicing, pitch shift, etc. There is no need to expand sample memory since the Motif has 128MB stock. The biggest difference: the workflow on an MPC is a lot different than the flow on a Motif. The user interfaces are different, so some things are easier on one than the other. Obviously there are no pads on a Motif so one alternative is to buy a MIDI pad controller, another is playing the keys to record your beats. As far as Maschine, it is software with a dedicated hardware interface. It’s designed to appeal to those who like the MPC interface but want considerably more functionality. |
SuperM.A.N.
Total Posts: 106
Joined 09-04-2010 status: Pro |
WOW!!!!! THANKS SO MUCH YOU GUYS!!!! I WAS EXPECTING “SO WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU GETTING A MOTIF FOR?” AND ALL OTHER TYPES OF RESPONSES! JUST KNOWING MORE ABOUT THE MOTIF’S CAPABILITIES ASSURES ME THAT MY PURCHASE OF THE MOTIF WAS WELL WORTH ALL THOSE HOURS OF OVERTIME TO GET ONE. SO NOW KNOWING THAT THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES, YET COMPARABILITIES, IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO PREFERENCE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT I’D RATHER 1) HIT THE KEYS ON THE KEYBOARD, OR HIT THE PADS ON A DRUM PAD. 2) USE MORE SOFTWARE IN ADDITION TO WHAT I NOW HAVE. 3) AND IF I WERE TO GET A DESIGNATED DRUM MACHINE, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE (WHICH YOU ALL HAVE ALSO HELPED). I can’t wait to finally get my very first and new MOTIF Baby when it gets delivered next week! Thanks a million guys!!! |
jxsbebop
Total Posts: 191
Joined 08-06-2010 status: Pro |
Congrats...have fun with the XF… |
SuperM.A.N.
Total Posts: 106
Joined 09-04-2010 status: Pro |
Thanks jxsbebop! |
edubs
Total Posts: 35
Joined 03-16-2011 status: Regular |
whats up to all my fellow music comrads, just wanted to add that I own my third mpc(2500)sold 1000 still have my old 3k, have owned motif es ,now own a motif xf(61) and have been recently considering maschine for sequenceing all my vsti’s with out using a daw untill I came across this cool program called bioxpander which is sort of a multimbral vst rack that enables me to sync everything i own, problem solved, so my point is it all depends on what you already own and whats your budget like. If you own nothing at all and are starting out I would say maschine with a mac or pc and small midi key controller for playing keys unless your fine with hitting chords on pads. you might still want a good synth rack at least because you will find out real soon why hardware synth’s are still in busniess, one word “latency” its about workflow, if workflow is fast then you will be more productive. All three products mentioned have a pretty quick workflow once they are learned. Motif xf is the most complete but im not sure if it will do drum sampling and editing and quick output routing as well as the mpc, I would compare maschines sampling but it really has none, its your computer that is sampling and besides you wont even have to sample, its more like transfering and loading files on maschine. actually same with mpc(cf and usb port) I cant rememeber the last time I even used my quarter inch inputs for sampling on mpc. thumbs up for akai mpc 2500, the only thing is you have no sounds or synth, you must import or sample your own drums and have something else for keys, synths etc sounds. maschine will get you everything but you have to either own a computer or get one then purchase some plug ins and also get a midi key controller, you get all that with motif xf but synth sounds are not going to sound as realistic as vst because of lack of memory. |
edubs
Total Posts: 35
Joined 03-16-2011 status: Regular |
Heck, if money permits, get all three like me then sell which ever is getting the least usage |
colonyrecords
Total Posts: 39
Joined 10-23-2008 status: Regular |
The motif XF has wonderful sounds, the best of any workstation currently out and even most VSTs. The problem is the SEQUENCER is absolutely horrible. Yes it can do basic midi sequencing but the workflow is a pain, this is coming from someone who has a MPC, NI Maschine and other sequencers.. E.G - You almost always have to stop the sequencer after Recording to a midi track, an annoying msg pops up if you try to do any other tasks after recording, big workflow killer for me. - There isn’t a dedicated UNDO button (really??), to undo you have to go into some deep menu.. - You cant change settings things like quantize on/off while recording or while to sequencer is playing. - You cant switch Overdub/Replace mode while the sequencer is playing. - When editing notes after recording, you cant filter specific notes/keys, you have to go through this long list off notes. I can go on and on about the sequencer but trust me, it just not as fun as using an MPC.. |
Bad_Mister
Total Posts: 36620
Joined 07-30-2002 status: Moderator |
Just FYI
No, you do not have to stop the sequencer after Recording to a MIDI track - only if you have not discovered how to work the sequencer. For me, I do not have to stop the sequencer, maybe because I spent the time to learn how to use it so I do not have to. Really… you can do the same. Since you are working with MIDI you can always change your mind - but I recommend that you select several instruments prior to going into record, (and even if you don’t) you can certainly move from track to track without having to hit stop. If you ever get a chance to see any of the in store Motif XF events, please do, you can learn a lot about how to work the XF (especially these kinds of workflow things). If you cannot figure them out on your own, that is the value of these in store workshops!
Really? Deep menu?
Method 1: (Deep menu?)
Method 2: (no menu)
Method 3: (for Pattern mode only)
If you have more fun using the MPC sequencer, please do - just make sure you plug that MIDI OUT into the Motif XF !!! :-) |
lekanout
Total Posts: 82
Joined 07-19-2007 status: Experienced |
hey...just my point of view but: I’ve worked with all the workstations since 20 years,and the motif xs-xf sequencer is by far the best i’ve found....(rolands are great too...but i hate korg sequencers...)
I don’t understand why some people complain about the motif sequencer:
It is so efficient!
The only problem is:
It’s so easy to say bads things…
The motif sequencer is wonderful…
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Shanelle Morgan
Total Posts: 1
Joined 05-12-2011 status: Newcomer |
Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.- J. Welch Image Attachments
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colonyrecords
Total Posts: 39
Joined 10-23-2008 status: Regular |
You almost always have to stop the sequencer after Recording to a midi track, an annoying msg pops up if you try to do any other tasks after recording, big workflow killer for me. No, you do not have to stop the sequencer after Recording to a MIDI track - only if you have not discovered how to work the sequencer. For me, I do not have to stop the sequencer, maybe because I spent the time to learn how to use it so I do not have to. Really… you can do the same. Since you are working with MIDI you can always change your mind - but I recommend that you select several instruments prior to going into record, (and even if you don’t) you can certainly move from track to track without having to hit stop. If you ever get a chance to see any of the in store Motif XF events, please do, you can learn a lot about how to work the XF (especially these kinds of workflow things). If you cannot figure them out on your own, that is the value of these in store workshops!
--- So you always know all the exact instruments you are going to use in your songs prior to recording anything, you sir are a gifted musician. I know you can change tracks while in record mode but come on, how about getting category search working without having to stop the sequencer. You almost always have to stop the sequencer to find another sound you like another track.
Really? Deep menu?
Method 1: (Deep menu?)
-- Actually its, press Stop, press Job, Press F key for UNDO menu, Press Enter, Press Exit, Press Rec to get back into record mode, and Finally Press Play again to start recording. YES DEEP Time killing menu, if you cant admit that something is wrong.. They could easily put an UNDO button within Record Mode screen similar to ERASE.
Method 2: (no menu)
--- Yeah and lose the perfect notes that were already on the track that I wanted to keep, I just wanted to add additional notes, no thanks..
Method 3: (for Pattern mode only)
---- This is great for Drums/ Single Keys, but Erase is not so good for chords or melodic lines you want to remove on a track with notes you also want to keep. If you have more fun using the MPC sequencer, please do - just make sure you plug that MIDI OUT into the Motif XF !!! Yup I already gave up on the Motif Sequencer, actually I use Logic for sequencing. Which brings me to my next complaint, screw VST3, how many hosts actually support it. They just want you to buy Cubase which is a shame.. |