Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Difference in sound between the MPC60 and MPC4000?

dtheone · 4th February 2006

There is a huge misconception about the sequencer; it is not different. The mpc 4000 sequencer is the same; if you tweak the swing setting 55-65 percent (this is a real good setting at normal tempos 90bpm - 125bpm) you will get an even more amazing swing than the mpc 60 and 3000.

The MPC 60, 60II and the 3000 were designed in conjunction with Roger Linn (akai is the other half) Because they abandoned putting his signature on the machine (all it is is a signature) for the 2000 and on; people swear something happened to the sequencer; What actually happened is the programming and how close the sequencer shifted the notes to perfection when quantizing. This is what people consider to be the change but can't put their finger on what it is (so in essence it did change because they perfected the quantization) If you don't quantize your drum patterns the issue is moot; no quantize is no quantize; it's live playing; your notes don't get shifted to 16ths or triplets etc....

So what happened is that the sequencers perfected the quantized notes to the grid; if you take a track you did on the mpc 60 or 3000 and sample the whole sequence as a wav file in your computer; truncate it to a loop in recycle and save the midi data; then re-programm (play) the same on your 4000; record it as wav into pc and also truncate to loop in recycle and save the midi data; you will see a difference in midi/drum edit mode (in any sequencer) and how the notes were shifted. (even if both were played with 16th note quantize setting) The 4000 will be dead on the grid and the 60 or 3000 will be close but not dead on the grid.
This is why programs like recycle became so popular because you can steal the groove from any loop - sequence and save it; use it for a template. I have the mpc 60 groove templates for cubase; honestly I don't use them. I know how to work the cubase sequencer (and now pro tools 7) to get the same swing as I got on my mpc. Reason 3 is especially good with this as well.

If you're only in love with the sequencer and must have it; then get the Akai ASQ10 (this was the spin-off sequencer only section of the mpc with no pads) The ASQ10 is very hard to find used.

My advice is to just sit and get acquainted with any sequencer you work with; look at the swing settings; mess around with the percentages; I found the 55 - 65 percent setting on all akai sequencers after the mpc 3000 to be 100 percent identical and even exceed the mpc 60 and 3000. The swing setting on Reason gives you the same result. I love toyng with the grooves and experimenting with rex files.

Also you gotta make sure your rex files are rexed properly; sometimes you have to draw or re-draw certain attack points that recycle doesn't catch. If you miss one of those points or get lazy just to have a complete loop; u will definitley notice a poorly rexed file when you try to sequence it in another program.
Recycle or Beat Detective (pro tools) are a must!
Peace Dave

4th February 2006	#7
dtheone Gear nut Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Brooklyn New York Posts: 135	There is a huge misconception about the sequencer; it is not different. The mpc 4000 sequencer is the same; if you tweak the swing setting 55-65 percent (this is a real good setting at normal tempos 90bpm - 125bpm) you will get an even more amazing swing than the mpc 60 and 3000. The MPC 60, 60II and the 3000 were designed in conjunction with Roger Linn (akai is the other half) Because they abandoned putting his signature on the machine (all it is is a signature) for the 2000 and on; people swear something happened to the sequencer; What actually happened is the programming and how close the sequencer shifted the notes to perfection when quantizing. This is what people consider to be the change but can't put their finger on what it is (so in essence it did change because they perfected the quantization) If you don't quantize your drum patterns the issue is moot; no quantize is no quantize; it's live playing; your notes don't get shifted to 16ths or triplets etc.... So what happened is that the sequencers perfected the quantized notes to the grid; if you take a track you did on the mpc 60 or 3000 and sample the whole sequence as a wav file in your computer; truncate it to a loop in recycle and save the midi data; then re-programm (play) the same on your 4000; record it as wav into pc and also truncate to loop in recycle and save the midi data; you will see a difference in midi/drum edit mode (in any sequencer) and how the notes were shifted. (even if both were played with 16th note quantize setting) The 4000 will be dead on the grid and the 60 or 3000 will be close but not dead on the grid. This is why programs like recycle became so popular because you can steal the groove from any loop - sequence and save it; use it for a template. I have the mpc 60 groove templates for cubase; honestly I don't use them. I know how to work the cubase sequencer (and now pro tools 7) to get the same swing as I got on my mpc. Reason 3 is especially good with this as well. If you're only in love with the sequencer and must have it; then get the Akai ASQ10 (this was the spin-off sequencer only section of the mpc with no pads) The ASQ10 is very hard to find used. My advice is to just sit and get acquainted with any sequencer you work with; look at the swing settings; mess around with the percentages; I found the 55 - 65 percent setting on all akai sequencers after the mpc 3000 to be 100 percent identical and even exceed the mpc 60 and 3000. The swing setting on Reason gives you the same result. I love toyng with the grooves and experimenting with rex files. Also you gotta make sure your rex files are rexed properly; sometimes you have to draw or re-draw certain attack points that recycle doesn't catch. If you miss one of those points or get lazy just to have a complete loop; u will definitley notice a poorly rexed file when you try to sequence it in another program. Recycle or Beat Detective (pro tools) are a must! Peace Dave