For transparency, I also posted this on Elektronauts forum Scaler 3 that I created before it launched. Be sure to scroll down and check out the connection/routing guide for controlling your MPC with scaler 3!
Scaler devs are really crushing it. Really, much kudos, gratitude and flowers to the whole team @Scaler.
S3 has become the main reason I use my iPad Pro now. It’s an absolute cheatcode for writing and arranging full songs, musical compositions, controlling my MPC or Logic session players while also making and organizing progression files for Logic and MPC. It’s been transformational for my business and personal expression. I am shocked nobody is making Scaler 3 video tutorials for how to use it with MPC HW. Something I’m thinking about undertaking if I can find the time. It’s seriously game changing.
So much value. Scaler EQ is also an amazing companion for those that missed its launch. It can Auto-EQ based on scale/chords making specific song parts stick or back out of the mix. I also use it to quickly detect key and chords in my samples. Excellent tool.
I’ve read several people sticking to Scaler 2 vs 3. I get it. It’s a huge upgrade and difference so the learning curve may be frustrating but please make no mistake—it’s world better and worth the relatively small amount of time it’ll take to learn.
I recently began learning to play guitar and it is a phenomenal learning aid. You learn why and how to use certain chords that are useful to the type of songs you want to write and play.
I can already write the guitar parts it would take me 5 years of daily practice to write—today. Switch chord view to Fret and learn how to play the song I just wrote—today. So now, I’m practicing just songs I’ve written and will perform. Nuts. The result is after 3 months of practice, even my friends that have been playing for years can’t explain how I’ve learned so quickly.
Scaler 3: Be a masterful songwriter while you learn theory, instruments and how to express what you’re feeling through music from day won.
To connect your iPad running Scaler 3 to your MPC Live III and control multiple plugin instances, follow these steps:
Physical Connection: Connect your iPad to the MPC Live III using a USB-C to USB-C cable (or a USB-C to USB-A cable using the MPC’s rear USB-A ports). The MPC is class-compliant and should be recognized as a MIDI device immediately
Enable MIDI Input on MPC: On your MPC, go to Preferences > MIDI / Sync. Ensure the iPad’s USB MIDI port is enabled so the MPC can receive data.
Set Up Scaler 3 Multi-Channel Out:
Open Scaler 3 on your iPad and go to the Arrange Page
Tap the three-dot menu on each track header (e.g., Main Track, Bass, etc.).
Under MIDI Output Device, select your MPC Live III
Under MIDI Output Channel, assign each Scaler track a unique channel (e.g., Track 1 to Ch 1, Track 2 to Ch 2)
Configure MPC Plugin Tracks:
In the MPC’s Main Mode, create multiple Plugin Tracks (one for each instrument you want Scaler to control)
Tap the pencil icon on each track to open Track Settings.
In the MIDI Routing section, set the MIDI Input Port to the iPad/USB port and set the MIDI Input Channel to match the specific Scaler track (e.g., MPC Track 1 = Ch 1)
Monitoring: Set the MIDI Monitor field for each MPC track to Auto. This ensures the MPC triggers the plugin whenever Scaler sends MIDI notes.
Visual Routing Guide
Scaler 3 (iPad) Source
MIDI Channel
MPC Live III Destination
Track 1 (Main)
- → Ch 1 —>
Plugin Track 1 (Input Ch 1)
Track 2 (Arpeggio)
—>Ch 2 —>
Plugin Track 2 (Input Ch 2)
Track 3 (Bass)
- → Ch 3 —>
Plugin Track 3 (Input Ch 3)
Tip: If notes seem stuck, you can use the MIDI Panic button in Scaler’s Header section.
Currently creating story/sound boards for a client’s automotive brand.
With MPC I’m able to instantly capture ambient and other sounds intimately relevant to the brand and the story we’ll build around it. Turn some of the sounds into keygroup instruments and soundscapes. Scaler allows me to quickly craft progressions transforming them into the environment where the story and overall campaign will live.
Or wordy way of saying I currently use it mostly for sampling, creating multisampled instruments and organizing them into bite sized inspiration clips.
That’s brilliant feedback and great to hear thank you @KingMidas - We’ve listened, we’ve improved, we’ve integrated and we have some really significant features and improvements coming soon in Scaler 3.3!
Great to hear how you are using in with your MPC. We are currently chatting with the Akai team about better integration between the two. @Tristan Could this info be integrated into our DAW MMO docs or resources page here please it seems incredible useful!
Aw man this is music to my ears! Would love to be a fly on the wall in those chats. I have a lot of ideas and feedback in this area specifically I think could add value to both teams but I also explicitly trust both shops to keep delivering wordclass hit after hit. So, I’ll patiently wait on the goodies and provide feedback as necessary or requested.
Considering Akai’s new partnerships with 3rd party devs to bring plugins on standalone…I’m dreaming on the day you guys take more money from me for Scaler 3 MPC edition. Yes…PLEASE. I would also buy Scaler EQ MPC Edition dayWon!!!
Sidebar: can you guys make it easier to save presets? Unless I’m missing something, i can’t simply save my project/session/preset without retyping its name over and over every time. This is killing me as I now write full songs in scaler 3 arranger. There needs to be auto save and quick save preferably.
Also, imo Copy/Paste needs refinement on iPad as does zoom bar. Both are a bit janky and cumbersome on folks with big hands like myself.
Id prefer to be able to tap and hold a chord or scene with my right hand, tap the screen with two fingers on my left hand, slide selected chord/scene whereever I want leaving the OG where it was.
Similarly, adjusting the length of chords and notes could be made easier on iPad with different gestures. Tap/Hold to activate movable handles on chords isn’t consistent. I would prefer to tap chord/note to select it then three fingers to stretch/shorten.
I’d also love a scene link/lock function that when activated, would allow changes we make to one scene populate all instances. Deactivated retains scene independence.
@davide and @Tristan if not already on Elektronauts; may be worth keeping an eye on or dropping in from time to time with teasers/trailers. Budding community of scaler lovers growing over yonder. I did the same years ago on another really popular music production forum formerly known as Audiobus. Coined the phrase that Scaler 2 was game changie which became a thing within the iOS production community for awhile. That thread was huge and very engaged but I accidentally deleted it while serving as a temp mod as a favor for Tasty Pixels (Loopy Pro/Audiobus) founder/dev Michael Tyson.
At any rate, I’ve been and continue to be an unofficial Scaler evangelist because it is great kit and was transformational for my music/business. I travel frequently am always asked about it on the road or in studio as it’s always open and apart of my process. I like to think on how it’s been valuable to me and am happy to say I’ve brought a lot of new users Pro and otherwise into the fold, paying it forward.
Sidebar: can you guys make it easier to save presets? Unless I’m missing something, i can’t simply save my project/session/preset without retyping its name over and over every time. This is killing me as I now write full songs in scaler 3 arranger. There needs to be auto save and quick save preferably.
