MPC 4000 is the shit

Man I got a 4k last night, downloaded the latest OS 1.71, the Aksys and all computer stuff. Then I went to sleep. Today I took a beat/program that I began in guru over to the 4k via aksys. I'm still working on it, but DAMN this is what I needed. I'm glad I waited for the OS bugs to get corrected, but when you combine a 4k,peak and Guru it's the ultimate in Drum programming/midi sequencing/editing system.

I'm still getting it all to flow together, but THE 4k is not intimidating at all. All those who preferred the 2500/3000/2000xl etc must not have been power users. The catch to the 4k seems to be that every section, pads,sampler,sequencer etc .. is separate and you have to make them talk to one another. But making programs with aksys is THE SHIT.

I can see I will still be using Guru to preview sounds (its easy to press the down key and have the sound play for finding a drum sound) {NOTE: I wish the mac OS did this instead of having to hit the play icon)

But man I'm back in MPC land (think I"m gonna sell my 2kxl)

I got an older white 4k with a 60gig drive and CD burner Once I added the newest OS, Is there any difference between mine and the Blue ones (besides color)?

I'm assuming I can add boththe 8 out analog and digital card. Am I correct? (I know in the z8 its one or the other)

Gotta go build library and make BEATTTTZZZ

[gizeh12]

i played with it a couple of months ago at the studio of a friend. I remember the machine sounded VERY good, nice round think and full, cuts tru the mix like a chainsaw.

[halfguard]

hey ssl, congrats on the mpc. i should be getting my 1000 today (waiting for fed ex) i think the blue is the same as the white and blue.................

[Charlie-O]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

I got an older white 4k with a 60gig drive and CD burner Once I added the newest OS, Is there any difference between mine and the Blue ones (besides color)?

I'm assuming I can add boththe 8 out analog and digital card. Am I correct? (I know in the z8 its one or the other)

Gotta go build library and make BEATTTTZZZ

no diffrence at all.

Yes the 4000 is the shit!

To really rock this machine, look at all the info on mpc-forums.com

Originally Posted by Charlie-O

no diffrence at all.

Yes the 4000 is the shit!

To really rock this machine, look at all the info on mpc-forums.com

Man I was there all week when I was deciding if I should get one. I'm loving the akai sys software with my G4

[C Heat]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

I can see I will still be using Guru to preview sounds (its easy to press the down key and have the sound play for finding a drum sound) {NOTE: I wish the mac OS did this instead of having to hit the play icon)

A'-fricken-men to that. That really sux with the Mac. Anyone know a quick way round this?

[streetbeats]

Originally Posted by C Heat

A'-fricken-men to that. That really sux with the Mac. Anyone know a quick way round this?

check out audiofinder.

free for sound browing only..

$70, for the full version but damn useful...

http://www.icedaudio.com/

[C Heat]

Originally Posted by streetbeats

check out audiofinder.

free for sound browing only..

$70, for the full version but damn useful...

http://www.icedaudio.com/

Shite! That looks mad ME gonna giv that a try!

Nice find streetbeats. Mad props.

[Dor]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

Man I was there all week when I was deciding if I should get one. I'm loving the akai sys software with my G4

no ssl,

Are you using it with Peak or any other editing app? How's the transfer rate? I'm using the mpc1000 and and thinking of grabbing the 4k after the holidays for the ak sys and many of the other features.

I saw a factory reseal special from zzsounds.com going for $2100 with the optional 8 outs already installed. Apparently they have that deal ever so often. The special was was gone the second time i checked for it. Oh well.


D

I've been working with Peak (well for only 2 days) Since I've used mainly single hits the transfer rate has been like maybe 2 seconds for a kik drum back and forth between the computer/peak and the MPC

Man I'm loving aksys right now. It's soooooo much easier to program an MPC than worrying about the next ptools upgrade/midi or Rtas plugin etc...

[grouphome]

@no SSL, get the 8 output board
you can install the 8 out + adat board but you can only use one at the time
I've got 3 mpc's now and the 4000 is the most used now
its so easy to work on that one now

[Dor]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

I've been working with Peak (well for only 2 days) Since I've used mainly single hits the transfer rate has been like maybe 2 seconds for a kik drum back and forth between the computer/peak and the MPC

Man I'm loving aksys right now. It's soooooo much easier to program an MPC than worrying about the next ptools upgrade/midi or Rtas plugin etc...

no ssl, how's the 4k been treating you? Still loving it? How do you find the workflow vs other mpc's?

D

Man I'm just getting back in from New Orleans. So I havent used the MPC much more than before.

As long as you think of the 4k as 3 separate components that have to speak to one another you will be fine (seq, pads, sampler)

The workflow is VERY much like all the other MPCs for me.

I'm still loving it. (I'm glad I waited for the working OS to drop before buying in)

I'm copying some sounds from my computer to my MPC4k so I got a bit of time on my hands. Dor man I have to say next to the move from adats/mackie 24x8 to protools and outboard gear, the MPC 4k is the most significant addition to my setup. This thing along with aksys and Bias Peak is like a "DRUM BRAIN/sequencer" of my entire set up. As a standalone machine, it's cool, but when you tie it to a mac/aksys and PEAK man it's Amazing. IF akai makes Aksys include a sequence editor so I can see it on my mac I will be in heaven (of course they won't) But man programming this thing is a BReeze. No more figuring how to get midi right in Ptools.

Then I can read Akai, and Roland CD roms Maaaaan This is coool, (though I may still use soft samplers for my libraries and dedicate the MPC to drums)

Notice my MPC2kxl is in the gearslutz classifieds. I think the 4k is my last drum machine in life I CAN link up to aksys edit a sound in peak/process with Waves transient designer plug and send it right back to the MPC when I save. Man this reminds me I never downloaded the URS AU eqs man all I need now is a AU version of compressor bank and my drums will be right and layered straight from the MPC

[Dor]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

Notice my MPC2kxl is in the gearslutz classifieds. I think the 4k is my last drum machine in life I CAN link up to aksys edit a sound in peak/process with Waves transient designer plug and send it right back to the MPC when I save. Man this reminds me I never downloaded the URS AU eqs man all I need now is a AU version of compressor bank and my drums will be right and layered straight from the MPC

Yeah man, I noticed your 2kxl was in the classified section. haha. I figure i'm going to grab a 4k after the new year. I'm still paying off some gear & my girl will definitely trip if I get another piece of gear before grabbing her a present for xmas.

Are there 3rd party apps for makign 4k progs or is everything done dragging samples to the pads via ak sys?

D

Gotta make the programs in Aksys (but hell its free).

But it links to your 2trk editor (peak in my case)
When you double click a sound to edit it opens in peak

[streetbeats]

opinion well and truly changed then no ssl bro?

http://gearslutz.com/board/showpost....1&postcount=12

http://gearslutz.com/board/showpost....73&postcount=3

Yeah I definately changed my mind

But honestly part of the change was Akai finally making an OS version that WORKED after a couple of years. (If I bought in early I'd be pissed)

Plus I was trying to finish a song in software and it was getting on my nerves.

I'm hooked on an integrated way of working with the computer. I'd use software before using a MPC 2k or 3k alone again, but the 4000 is the answer to everything I needed. (couldnt see it before because everytime I used someone else's unit they NEVER ran the Aksys program with it)

This thing honestly solves my problems TODAY instead of waiting for software to get there tomorrow.

LOL I dont think they will ever drop to $600 (now that I know how well they work)

[streetbeats]

. Im glad youve got that workflow nailed...I just got a 2500 in the end, but then I already have a z8, so im happy too
Still using GURU tho thumbsup

I used to want a z8 but the prices never dropped enough on used ones. Also, for what I could purchase one for, I could put that amount with the money from selling my 2kxl and get a 4000.

I didnt even think in terms of the 2500 because a 4k could be purchased used for $1600-$1700


I just found the first flaw of the 4k I think it's fine for drums/stabs but not meant to be a power sampler. I tried converting the scarbee wurly to akai s5000 format and loading but the 4k can only hold 500 something samples and only 4 velocity/layers

So I'll still be streaming from disc with mach5

Another problem i"m haveing is whenever I convert something to S5000 and send the patch to the 4k, the PGM seems to lose track of the link to the samples

[gizeh12]

Those problems are more because of the converting problems then internal in the mpc4k, a friend of mine has the same problem with the z8

[xaos]

How is the clock compared to the 3k? Any noticeable difference?

[tomdarude]

hey, no ssl yet

I´d like to second the question about the clock or "swing" of the sequencer compared to the MPC3000 as I was having so much fun playing around with this one a few weeks ago!

and second how is your complete setup now??
MPC4k for drums and then midi-slaved (MTC ??) to PT/Logic/Cubase for additional VI´s and audio tracks ??? (who´s the master clock?)
do you trigger additional hardware-synths etc. from the mpc ??

or do you just finish your drums on the MPC, record the audio into the DAW and go on from there (....as does my friend, where I used the MPC3k...) ??


anyone else..how do integrate your MPC 3k/4k into your DAW (more set-up & workflow wise)

really curious, thx a ton everyone.......and hope all of you had a nice christmas

It's been years since I used a MPC3k but I will say that I love the 4000. From what I can remember the 4k is as good. In terms of my entire set up I have the following pieces linked:
MPC 4k
Korg z1
Emu Mophatt
Yamaha motiff
Roland fantom
Mac G4-running ptools HD and several soft synths/samplers

Protools is the master sending midi beat clock to the MPC 4k for sync
The MPC is set up
midi out A >>> Roland Fantom
midi out B >>> Yamaha motiff
midi out C >>> Mac G4 (soft synths)
midi out D >>> Emu Mophatt(only 4 channels turned on) through to Korg Z1 (other channels turned on but the 4 used on the mophatt turned off


I'm gonna run the 1/8" out on my mac to 2 channels in ptools on an aux so that I can hear other programs through the monitors while protools is open. This is for Audiofinder/AKsys/Recycle/Peak etc..

I have all of the above programs (Aksys/recycle/peak and protools) linked to Audiofinder so once I find say a loop that I like on my computer I can open it from the Audiofinder screen in any of the editors and send it to my MPC via USB

ONE thing lacking on the MPC is Groove quantize, but since it has a 960ppq resolution (for the first time in an MPC) I can split a loop in Recycle then send it and its sequence (as a midi file) to my MPC via Akai sys. ONce I have the loop playing in my MPC, I can go in Seq edit mode and write a kick everywhere the kick happens in the loop along with a snare everywhere the snare happens in the loop.

Then I have the groove supplemented by my drums and I can remove the sample and my drums have the feel of the loop (It's faster in a computer, but I prefer this way of working for putting a kick behind a loop etc..)


The 4k is THE link between software and hardware.

[Charlie-O]

A program called plogue bidule will alow you to rewire programs (that do not do this out of the box already) into pro tools. Allowing you to seqeunce with the 4000, and use other apps for sound modules.

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

It's been years since I used a MPC3k but I will say that I love the 4000. From what I can remember the 4k is as good. In terms of my entire set up I have the following pieces linked:
MPC 4k
Korg z1
Emu Mophatt
Yamaha motiff
Roland fantom
Mac G4-running ptools HD and several soft synths/samplers

Protools is the master sending midi beat clock to the MPC 4k for sync
The MPC is set up
midi out A >>> Roland Fantom
midi out B >>> Yamaha motiff
midi out C >>> Mac G4 (soft synths)
midi out D >>> Emu Mophatt(only 4 channels turned on) through to Korg Z1 (other channels turned on but the 4 used on the mophatt turned off


I'm gonna run the 1/8" out on my mac to 2 channels in ptools on an aux so that I can hear other programs through the monitors while protools is open. This is for Audiofinder/AKsys/Recycle/Peak etc..

I have all of the above programs (Aksys/recycle/peak and protools) linked to Audiofinder so once I find say a loop that I like on my computer I can open it from the Audiofinder screen in any of the editors and send it to my MPC via USB

ONE thing lacking on the MPC is Groove quantize, but since it has a 960ppq resolution (for the first time in an MPC) I can split a loop in Recycle then send it and its sequence (as a midi file) to my MPC via Akai sys. ONce I have the loop playing in my MPC, I can go in Seq edit mode and write a kick everywhere the kick happens in the loop along with a snare everywhere the snare happens in the loop.

Then I have the groove supplemented by my drums and I can remove the sample and my drums have the feel of the loop (It's faster in a computer, but I prefer this way of working for putting a kick behind a loop etc..)


The 4k is THE link between software and hardware.

[tomdarude]

okay....thx very much.......it´s getting late over here..
so I´m gonna read your post couple more times tomorrow, take pencil&paper and try to draw that down...


only worked with plugins in Logic so far, but have to get my head around this stuff......never tried syncing my machinedrum yet....just sample it into logic

so all your sequencing is done entirely in the MPC and protools only provides the midi beat clock ???........aarrrgh....really too late,need some sleep


thx again for sharing your knowledge.......much appreciated


ps: I was initially looking for something oldschool/hardware to take care of my drums ...MPC60/3000 ....or n ASR or SP1200.......but your comments about the 4000 really got me thinking......might try it instead. ........aahhh screw it, we need them all .....it´s gearslutz

[bigbaby987]

dude.. please let me know how things are working out for you guys... about to do the same thing myself tonite..

[bigbaby987]

aight i got it.. now i gotta get into it..

yeah

[MACHINE]

Peak is only for MAC right ? Can I do the same Guru Peak MPC connection, with a MPC 2000xl?