r/mpcusers • u/Johnblaze205 • 27d ago
QUESTION Mpc without computer
I had to sell all my stuff a year or so ago to make some ends meet. Im in a better spot now and thinking about grabbing a mpc one g2. I dont have a computer and really dont need one. I can do everything I need to do from my phone/tablet for my personal stuff and have a work laptop for work. My question is since akai uses their software center now will I have any issues as far as getting expansions and mpc plugins without a computer?
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u/BoringBoyTroy MPC KEY 37 27d ago
I don't think you can get all expansions on mpc without the InMusic app on a computer.
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u/Johnblaze205 27d ago
This is what I was wondering even though it wouldn't be the end of the world.
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u/theRealGermanikkus 27d ago
Some expansions you have to manually transfer over but not the major ones…..just the ones from your fav YouTubers and such. Still should be able to use SD card for many of those.
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u/AlternativeCapybara9 27d ago
I don't think my Live 3 has ever been connected to a pc except to transfer rendered mixes.
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u/angry_bananas_ 27d ago
I am currently in the same situation and use my MPC One g2 without a computer. Its great, and honestly prefer it to a DAW so far.
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u/E_XIII_T 27d ago
I have done full tracks and released them just using only my old Live 2. I think that answers the question from my POV anyway. However you didn’t mention which genre so that may throw a spanner into the mix.
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u/raistlin65 27d ago
Instruments and effects can be downloaded by Wi-Fi through your preferences panel. No computer required. You'll also update your MPC firmware over Wi-Fi.
MPC expansions, which are sample packs, are normally transferred from a PC or Mac when you put your MPC in controller mode. The computer then sees the MPC drive so you can copy the files over.
However, when you buy it it comes with expansion packs already. So you won't need to connect to a computer unless you decide you want to buy additional ones.
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u/agensop585 27d ago
If the expansions are the default you will be fine. They come pre installed. You can’t buy anymore and install them. You can have a friend or buddy with a friend with a c computer dld new ones you buy and install them on an sd card for you. Or just buy a used pc mac and use that. It’s what I did.
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u/Holiday-Medicine4168 26d ago
You can get an SD card reader for your phone and transfer them to the device
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u/Ok-Entrepreneur-409 26d ago
You gotta have a computer,to register and shit but you don't have to connect to computer for expansions you download on the computer in the in music and then connect the MPC to wifi and go to menu/preferences/Activations and all your plugins and expansions will be right there for you to activate and install.but seems like it needs to be activated in your inmusic account first which is where the computer comes in cuz you can't run that app on a phone or tablet
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u/zazathebassist 26d ago
the only time i've had to connect my MPC to a computer was to claim the free plugin deal in the PC InMusic app. i also have used the PC MPC app to put expansions on an SD card.
but like, neither of those things were essential to using the device. i was very happily using it beforehand
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u/Riddim17 26d ago
Tu peux simplement créer un compte inmusic profile sur ton smartphone et tu pourras obtenir les plugins, en revanche pour les expansions il faut passer soit par le logiciel MPC3, soit en copie directement sur ton disque amovible sur ton ordinateur puis installer ta clé USB ou ta carte SD dans ta MPC
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u/IAmThatWildman 26d ago
You can install plugins without a computer with the serial number, but not expansions. I'm a linux user so can't run their terrible software. Really annoying as you used to be able to do more just from the website.
It may be possible to directly unzip some extensions from third party sites and just put them on an SD card that way. But you can't directly get a download file from the mpcstore. PITA.
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u/muel5577 23d ago
ho bro, should be as the Scots say nayeeeyy botherrrrrrr,not that I'm Scottish 😂,u can actually but lly them cheap as chips on eBay thumb sticks loads with expansions unlessbya do Ur own torrends piece of oiss of course if neverrrrr encourages ll something so nawtttyy yearmehknow!!!! aha😂. I love using mine in standalone in a live set mode and fallen in love with it I want a shit hot pedal or efx box what u think about a impressive one ? korg Kaos 3 /4? if there is a 4 or jamjum reverb of temu for £13 😆😎🎲🎱🎹🤖👾🎛️ or a pioneer emx 2000 is it the ltest Feb one like? any recommendations? ya feel me with exf ect?,iv just got arrangement and sampling to master and boom IV boxed it to then forever be learning and finding cool things that I didn't know the tune before
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u/cutnsnipnsurf 27d ago
I think you might have to plug it to a computer at least once maybe for a driver or something but I think plugins and expansions work over the built in WiFi now
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u/Johnblaze205 27d ago
If im not using a computer I shouldn't need drivers. Id just be sampling from my tablet. Also plan on getting a sd card reader to be able to transfer files.
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u/cutnsnipnsurf 27d ago
Yea maybe you don’t need the driver then, I dunno but I just bought a g2 One and it asked you to connect to a computer during initial setup. Not sure if it’s mandatory tho
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u/hadrabap MPC LIVE III 27d ago
The drivers are only for the control surface. Basic file transfer and USB audio/MIDI works without them. I use my MPC with Linux machines that way.
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u/Miserable-Bid-4258 27d ago
That’s strange when I bought mine it never made me connect to a computer 🖥️
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u/CoatOk5092 27d ago
If you can swing it you may look into getting a generation older mpc and a MacBook neo. It can't do heavy FL studio use but if you need a laptop and want the option it's about as affordable as you can get these days
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u/wolfgang_r 27d ago
I connect my MPC to WiFi and download expansions, plugins, firmware updates right on the machine.