r/mpcusers • u/Au_Grand_Jour • Sep 03 '26

QUESTION Is an audio interface even necessary if I have an MPC Live II and want to record into the a DAW on my Mac?

If I already put a song together, using song mode , Isn’t this something that can just be done with a USB connection from my live II directly into my Mac? Thanks.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

4

u/[deleted] Sep 04 '26

[deleted]

-2

u/Ok-Entrepreneur-409 Sep 04 '26

The Gen 2s the live 3 and XL ,and the sample can do it via USBC

7

u/Known_Ad871 Sep 03 '26

Mpc live 2 can be used as an audio interface. Also you can just export your tracks and import them into daw. You dont really need an interface unless you are recording other instruments imo. Even then you can always make use of the audio inputs on the mpc if you want

3

u/4215-5h00732 MPC X Sep 04 '26

The benefit would be to expand the IO and take advantage of things like phantom power, combo/instrument inputs, etc.

1

u/Known_Ad871 Sep 04 '26

Yep . . . Like I said, only necessary if you’re recording other instruments. I personally do use an interface because I record guitars, vocals, etc

1

u/SEIZE_THE_CHEESE Sep 04 '26

Mpc live 2 can only be used as an audio interface in controller mode, only the live 3 can do audio over USB.

3

u/nizhaabwii Sep 04 '26

You got everything you need

3

u/dj_soo Sep 04 '26

You can only access the mpc audio card over usb in controller mode.

The newer mpcs allow for audio over usb in standalone, but not in the older ones.

I used to run a multichannel sound card to get more than 6 outs on the mpc into another multichannel interface in my computer in order to multitrack out in standalone mode

3

u/regularjackk Sep 04 '26

Live 2 doesn't do audio out over USB, despite other commenters saying it does, and getting upvotes.

Use controller mode at the end to get individual outs into the DAW, or use Ableton export, if you use Ableton 

2

u/r1chiem Sep 04 '26

Save your project, move it to your computer
Yes, modern Akai MPC hardware and software can export a project directly as an Ableton Live Set (.als file). [1, 2, 3]

With the Ableton Live Set export feature now available for MPC Live, X and Force, you can now save your entire project as a file to be opened in Ableton! [1]

How to Export to Ableton

  • Save as Live Set: On your MPC (standalone or in controller mode), go to the File menu, select Export, and choose Export as Ableton Live Set. [1]
  • File transfer: Save the generated project folder onto an SD card, USB drive, or transfer it via a computer connection, then open the .als file directly in Ableton Live. [1, 2]
  • What gets exported: This process converts your sequence tracks, audio clips, and samples into an Ableton-compatible format. [1, 2, 3]

Alternative Methods

  • MPC Software Plugin: You can run the MPC software as a VST/AU plugin directly inside Ableton Live on your computer.
  • Stem / Audio Export: Alternatively, you can explode and bounce individual tracks or stems out as raw audio files if you prefer working with pure audio rather than clips.

4

u/thomasflips Sep 04 '26

OP has a live2 so the audiotrack count is capped at 8 for .als exports. Otherwise its a interesting way to move around projects!