I know these are basic questions but I have high expectations coming from my background. I also have a Kemper for guitar so that will be an easy integration. Also want to keep all the files so I can pull up an old session and make changes.

But I also want to keep in mind that I will expand in the future and dont want to miss out on features. I really want to do basic things like come up w a guitar riff, record it over drums, add bass, some vox, keyboard or synth, mix and arrange, bounce out to an MP3. If I have to use a computer, I dont use Mac anymore. Once a song is together, where do I bounce it out to? Or can this be done internally? How easy is it to load samples like drums?

How much memory in in the MPC Live? I remember the old MPCs back in the 90s w discs but I assume you just use a USB harddrive now right? I assume keyboard into computer w software, then export to MPC somehow? Does the keyboard control the MPC Live? Or do I need a computer to sync it all up? Does the MPC have sounds for the keyboard? I dont know how this works. Midi Keyboard? I guess this doesnt matter but portable is nice. MPC live vs X? X obviously has more but is it worth it for what I want to do? This is probably the right setup but I have questions.

He uses the MPC Live and a small midi keyboard. I have also seen him use his MPC as a sampler and record guitar licks, vox, then add other instruments and create songs. I read a piece where John Mayer records his guitars straight to the MPC. I am getting back into wanting to create music vs just play guitar on its own and it seems the new trend is to sample everything and arrange. I still play drums and guitar but I used to own a studio, work on an SSL, have all the high end outboard gear and spend hours in the studio. I hate to admit it but I have been WAY out of the game for over 10 years.

Best keyboard for mpc live