RECORD AND SAMPLE

In terms of recording inputs, the Live features a stereo pair of 1/4" jacks and a stereo RCA input, switchable between line and phono, complete with ground peg. The latter of these is obviously aimed specifically at sampling directly from a vinyl turntable. While this might not seem like the optimum choice of input to some users – particularly given the fairly modest overall range of input options – it certainly remains faithful to the MPC’s heritage as a beat-maker beloved by the vinyl-chopping producers of early hip-hop, jungle and breakbeat. I’d argue that it’s a nice touch and – although some extra jacks or XLRs might have been more useful in many modern studios – if the inclusion of that phono connection encourages a few younger generation producers to pick up a cheap turntable and experiment with the ‘crate digging’ approach to sampling, that can only be a good thing. The one thing that would have been a nice addition is a front panel instrument input, allowing a guitar or bass to be recorded without the need for some kind of external amplification. Overall, the balance of I/O flexibility and portability feels pretty solid though.