Bolo Da Producer’s MPC XL & Live 3 Showdown: Do You Really Need External Synths?

Bolo Da Producer doesn’t mince words: with the new MPC XL and MPC Live 3, external synths and workstations are starting to look like optional extras, not essentials. He lines up his own heavyweight setup—MPC XL, Yamaha ModX M6, Roland Phantom 7EX—then admits the new MPCs are so stacked with sounds and features, he can barely believe he’s saying you might not need all that extra hardware anymore.

The MPC’s internal arsenal has levelled up, packing in so many fresh sounds and capabilities that even a die-hard synth collector has to pause. Bolo’s honesty is refreshing—he’s the guy who’s been selling synths for years, but now he’s calling it straight: the MPCs are powerful enough to stand alone. If you’re still clinging to racks of gear, you might want to check if you’re doing it for the sound, the workflow, or just the bragging rights.

Let’s talk about clutter. Bolo points out that using just the MPC (and maybe a MIDI controller if you’re feeling fancy) can keep your setup lean and mean. No more cable jungles or endless troubleshooting—just pure, focused beatmaking.

He’s not saying you should burn your synths, but if you want a clean, confusion-free workspace, the MPC’s got you covered. It’s a one-box street weapon that lets you stay in the zone, not in the weeds. For those who like their studios more bunker than spaghetti junction, this is music to the ears.

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and MPC rainbows. Bolo breaks down the pros and cons of both worlds. Using external synths means you’re barely touching the MPC’s CPU or RAM—those boards do the heavy lifting, leaving your MPC free for drums and samples. That’s a win for resource management, especially if you’re running big, complex projects.

But there’s a catch: wiring, syncing, and saving across multiple devices can be a right pain. You’ll need to keep track of sequences on every bit of kit, and sometimes MIDI just doesn’t play nice. Saving three different sequences on three different boxes? That’s a toaster-fight waiting to happen. Still, the payoff is that classic hardware sound—especially when you run things through chunky quarter-inch cables and a decent preamp. It’s a trade-off between hassle and that elusive analog vibe.

Bolo lays it out: the MPC’s internal sounds mean you can finish a beat, save it once, and you’re done. No more juggling saves across boards and boxes. The new VSTs inside the MPC, like Fabric XL and the latest Native Instruments presets, sound seriously good—good enough that even hardware heads might raise an eyebrow.

But it’s not all roses. Load up too many VSTs and effects, and you’ll start to feel the strain on RAM and CPU. Bolo’s workaround? Keep it simple, use the best sounds, and lean on effects built into the VSTs themselves. It’s a workflow that keeps you moving fast, not bogged down by technical headaches. If you want to see just how slick (or messy) this can get, the video’s the place to watch the real-time action.