MPC 2500 vs. MPC 3000

WideawakE · 28th March 2006, 12:24 AM

So I was thinking today that I've decided to send my MPC 60 to Forat to get the output boost done on it...and that leaves me with an MPC 3000 LE for a while. I was thinking that I should sell/trade the MPC 3000 for a 2500 and that would give me the best of both worlds...

USB, effects, blah blah blah in an all in one portable box that I can take with me this summer to the beach and make beats easier than taking the 3000 which is why I originally bought it.

My questions are these...

would you sell your 3000 for a 2500?
how much would the sound differ in your opinion?
good move, bad move?

I'll never sell my 60, it's my baby in perfect condition and I learned on it...I know about Linn's designs and I know the 3000 is ill.

BUT, if you were cooped up in a beach house (I work for a parasail company) and all you had was an MPC and a portable record player and vinyls you bought there...with the only access to a computer being a coffee shop or a friends house with no apparent tracking tools, wouldn't the 2500 be the better choice?

last question, what's the best price for a 2500 you've seen?

if you've read all that, thanks! lemme know what you thinnk

rolo · 28th March 2006, 12:37 AM

Jeeze, i don't know, man. The 2500 just sounds horrible. it is so weak compared to the 3000. I get sick just seeing the akai stuff nowadays. clearly not the company they used to be. the features on the 2500 are good, but for me, the sound is where it's at. good luck.

grouphome · 28th March 2006, 01:12 AM

I think the 2500 sounds pretty good
played with it in my studio a couple of times
still prefer the 4K
but as far as instead of a 3000, one part of me says Yes, other part says no.
The Yes part: You can save on memcards, hook it up to a computer, more sample memory, easier chopping editting etc.
the No part: Its a 3000, another baby (next to your 60)

As of sound, The 3000 sounds a bit darker, that is because the converters arent that good versus the ones on the 2500. Love the sound though.

msolay · 30th March 2006, 06:19 PM

i have an akai s950 and i was thinking of getting a mpc 2500 and incorporating them together. Just sample everything into the s950 and then into the 2500. So you get the 12 bit of the mpc 60 into your 2500 and have all the features.

30th March 2006, 07:09 PM

If you got rid of a 3k to get a 4000 I could understand it a bit better. But DEFINATELY not to get a 2500. The 2500 is just akai's cash cow till they put out there next "real" upgrade.

Actually I'd keep the 3k and wait or get a 4k

WideawakE · 30th March 2006, 08:01 PM

cool, thanks for the advice...

how is the transition from MPC 60/3000 style programming the MPC 4000? I heard that ish was crazy different from all other models with the aksis stuff or whatever...

ehh, I'm about to just trade the 3K for an SP1200 and not worry about making beats at the beach

illbeats · 1st April 2006, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WideawakE

So I was thinking today that I've decided to send my MPC 60 to Forat to get the output boost done on it...and that leaves me with an MPC 3000 LE for a while. I was thinking that I should sell/trade the MPC 3000 for a 2500 and that would give me the best of both worlds...

USB, effects, blah blah blah in an all in one portable box that I can take with me this summer to the beach and make beats easier than taking the 3000 which is why I originally bought it.

My questions are these...

would you sell your 3000 for a 2500?
how much would the sound differ in your opinion?
good move, bad move?

I'll never sell my 60, it's my baby in perfect condition and I learned on it...I know about Linn's designs and I know the 3000 is ill.

BUT, if you were cooped up in a beach house (I work for a parasail company) and all you had was an MPC and a portable record player and vinyls you bought there...with the only access to a computer being a coffee shop or a friends house with no apparent tracking tools, wouldn't the 2500 be the better choice?

last question, what's the best price for a 2500 you've seen?

if you've read all that, thanks! lemme know what you thinnk

Good idea,if you have a 60 you dont need a 3000 too.
The mpc2500 is a beast,so many features,I would trade a 3000 for one ANY DAY!!

The_Phoenix · 2nd April 2006, 07:54 AM

Best price!

http://cgi.ebay.com/AKAI-MPC2500-MPC...QQcmdZViewItem

illbeats · 3rd April 2006, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I.N.s

Best price!

http://cgi.ebay.com/AKAI-MPC2500-MPC...QQcmdZViewItem

Yes I have talked to armen1959 before,he seems like a cool cat,and he gives you money for trade ins.

WideawakE · 3rd April 2006, 04:15 AM

yeah, I bought some ram for my S950 from him

Checkmate Muzik · 15th April 2006, 04:32 PM

good topic!

mars · 17th April 2006, 05:20 PM

BTW, has anyone ever did proper (blind) tests on the 60, 3000 vs 2000, 1000, 2500 etc as far as converters, "Feel" etc? All I've ever come across is speculation that this one "sounds" better than that one when tested in a music store or the "feel" is tighter on that one vs this one.

shikawkee · 17th April 2006, 07:10 PM

How does everyone feel about the 2000?
Am I a dinosaur? It sounds pretty okay to me.
(Of course, I send it to a custom EQ/DI channel)

TWC · 17th April 2006, 09:41 PM

for anyone who has a 3000, but is getting pissed off with Zips and Floppies:
this is what I did, and Im quite happy with the setup now.
I bought a combined SCSI CD-Rom/1 GB HD unit from SCSI for samplers.
Get a SCSI PCI card. Hook the SCSI cables up from sampler>SCSI HD>pci card. Format the disk using the 3000 disk format utility
Once you get the SCSI chain set up, you can use Translator from Chicken Systems to access the Akai formatted hard disk from your PC/Mac. From there its as easy as dragging and dropping sample files onto the drive, then loading them up through the sampler.
If you cant get that working, theres still the CD drive to load samples in through. Its kind of a pain in the ass because you have to make Akai format CDs, but you can just save all the good sounds and your sequences to the hard disk, so you dont really have go back to the CDs very often. I hope this helps some of the 3000 enthusiasts out there that are considering parting with their machines.

soultrane · 18th April 2006, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shikawkee

How does everyone feel about the 2000?
Am I a dinosaur? It sounds pretty okay to me.
(Of course, I send it to a custom EQ/DI channel)

i still think its a beast...

i use mpc editor, which makes things lightning fast

WideawakE · 18th April 2006, 02:40 AM

3000 for sale in the classifieds...I can't let my 60 go!

Dor · 18th April 2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mars

BTW, has anyone ever did proper (blind) tests on the 60, 3000 vs 2000, 1000, 2500 etc as far as converters, "Feel" etc? All I've ever come across is speculation that this one "sounds" better than that one when tested in a music store or the "feel" is tighter on that one vs this one.

MPC 60 vs MPC 2500 (sound clips inside)

Peter Project · 21st June 2006, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shikawkee

How does everyone feel about the 2000?
Am I a dinosaur? It sounds pretty okay to me.
(Of course, I send it to a custom EQ/DI channel)

I've got the 2000 non XL, and I love it. It's got a crazy mid boost in there somewhere, that make snares, rims, snaps and claps cut through anything. Honestly it's the only MPC I've ever owned though so I can't compare. I've got got an SU-700 and an Ensoniq EPS. it cuts better than both. tacks transients way better than the EPS, and seems cleaner than the su-700. You can pick them up fully loaded these days for 6-7 bills which is about as cheap as you'll find an MPC.

illynoise · 22nd June 2006, 12:02 AM

the 2000 is the best machine overall when it comes to reliability, sound, price. the 3000 is second, because it's a linn, the older ones are cherished but features and sound quality to me aren't good enough, the timing is just a tad better on mpc60's to my ear.

I'd still get a 2000 if I had to start over.

I got a friend who gave up his mpc for mv8000, I'm very curious about that machine.

BaseJase
Illynoise

RadioBox · 22nd June 2006, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illbeats

Yes I have talked to armen1959 before,he seems like a cool cat,and he gives you money for trade ins.

I bought my 2500 from Armen, and he was a total dick! He ignored two emails asking for a tracking number, then finally told me that it takes up to 7 days to get a tracking number....which as we all know is b.s. since the tracking number is generated as soon as the shipping label is printed. If he can't be honest about something that simple, I wonder what else he has to hide....

on armen1959

Dor · 22nd June 2006, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadioBox

I bought my 2500 from Armen, and he was a total dick! He ignored two emails asking for a tracking number, then finally told me that it takes up to 7 days to get a tracking number....which as we all know is b.s. since the tracking number is generated as soon as the shipping label is printed. If he can't be honest about something that simple, I wonder what else he has to hide....

on armen1959

Did you get the 2500?

Jeffason · 22nd June 2006, 08:50 PM

i sold armen a mpc4k! lol hes a pretty popular dude

666 · 25th June 2006, 11:41 AM

I find that most debates of old hardware vs new hardware's sound is normally blown out of context. It's workflow & familiarity that gets the job done, you can make an amazing sounding record on ANY MPC if you've got the ideas there.

If you're buying a new MPC, i'd say go for workflow, options & reliability over the idea of their sounds. Or just good old sentimentality. If you work better with a machine knowing Dre uses it, then more power to you.

Drugs · 26th June 2006, 02:44 PM

I think the 3k might be the best sounding of all the mpc's but i also feel that when people think about the sound of the mpc they like to use dre as there reference of what the machine can sound like. There are so many people using 3k's and none of there drums sound as good as his because he is also mixing with a ssl board.

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28th March 2006, 12:24 AM	#1
WideawakE Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 632	MPC 2500 vs. MPC 3000 So I was thinking today that I've decided to send my MPC 60 to Forat to get the output boost done on it...and that leaves me with an MPC 3000 LE for a while. I was thinking that I should sell/trade the MPC 3000 for a 2500 and that would give me the best of both worlds... USB, effects, blah blah blah in an all in one portable box that I can take with me this summer to the beach and make beats easier than taking the 3000 which is why I originally bought it. My questions are these... would you sell your 3000 for a 2500? how much would the sound differ in your opinion? good move, bad move? I'll never sell my 60, it's my baby in perfect condition and I learned on it...I know about Linn's designs and I know the 3000 is ill. BUT, if you were cooped up in a beach house (I work for a parasail company) and all you had was an MPC and a portable record player and vinyls you bought there...with the only access to a computer being a coffee shop or a friends house with no apparent tracking tools, wouldn't the 2500 be the better choice? last question, what's the best price for a 2500 you've seen? if you've read all that, thanks! lemme know what you thinnk

28th March 2006, 12:37 AM	#2
rolo Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas by way of Neptune Posts: 973	Jeeze, i don't know, man. The 2500 just sounds horrible. it is so weak compared to the 3000. I get sick just seeing the akai stuff nowadays. clearly not the company they used to be. the features on the 2500 are good, but for me, the sound is where it's at. good luck. __________________ i ate a whole stick of butter

28th March 2006, 01:12 AM	#3
grouphome Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands Posts: 107	I think the 2500 sounds pretty good played with it in my studio a couple of times still prefer the 4K but as far as instead of a 3000, one part of me says Yes, other part says no. The Yes part: You can save on memcards, hook it up to a computer, more sample memory, easier chopping editting etc. the No part: Its a 3000, another baby (next to your 60) As of sound, The 3000 sounds a bit darker, that is because the converters arent that good versus the ones on the 2500. Love the sound though. __________________ www.guezzwho.com Just got another MPC! Gettin' ready for a SLAM!

15th April 2006, 04:32 PM	#11
Checkmate Muzik Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: 415 San Francisco BayArea Posts: 269	good topic! __________________ www.checkmatemuzik.net myspace.com/checkmatemuzik SLO-O 2nd album 'Devil On My Back' coming Aug 18th! Album Features: Styles-P, Allen Anthony, Brian Casey of Jagged Edge, Freeway of Rocafella! Checkmate's producer credits: Nas, Styles-P, Freeway

30th March 2006, 06:19 PM	#4
msolay Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 36	i have an akai s950 and i was thinking of getting a mpc 2500 and incorporating them together. Just sample everything into the s950 and then into the 2500. So you get the 12 bit of the mpc 60 into your 2500 and have all the features.

30th March 2006, 07:09 PM	#5
no ssl yet Guest Posts: n/a	If you got rid of a 3k to get a 4000 I could understand it a bit better. But DEFINATELY not to get a 2500. The 2500 is just akai's cash cow till they put out there next "real" upgrade. Actually I'd keep the 3k and wait or get a 4k

30th March 2006, 08:01 PM	#6
WideawakE Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 632	cool, thanks for the advice... how is the transition from MPC 60/3000 style programming the MPC 4000? I heard that ish was crazy different from all other models with the aksis stuff or whatever... ehh, I'm about to just trade the 3K for an SP1200 and not worry about making beats at the beach

2nd April 2006, 07:54 AM	#8
The_Phoenix Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 531	Best price! http://cgi.ebay.com/AKAI-MPC2500-MPC...QQcmdZViewItem

3rd April 2006, 04:15 AM	#10
WideawakE Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 632	yeah, I bought some ram for my S950 from him

17th April 2006, 05:20 PM	#12
mars Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 176	BTW, has anyone ever did proper (blind) tests on the 60, 3000 vs 2000, 1000, 2500 etc as far as converters, "Feel" etc? All I've ever come across is speculation that this one "sounds" better than that one when tested in a music store or the "feel" is tighter on that one vs this one.

17th April 2006, 07:10 PM	#13
shikawkee Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,015	How does everyone feel about the 2000? Am I a dinosaur? It sounds pretty okay to me. (Of course, I send it to a custom EQ/DI channel) __________________ "Lend me some sugar, I am your neighbor"- Andre 3000

17th April 2006, 09:41 PM	#14
TWC Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 189	for anyone who has a 3000, but is getting pissed off with Zips and Floppies: this is what I did, and Im quite happy with the setup now. I bought a combined SCSI CD-Rom/1 GB HD unit from SCSI for samplers. Get a SCSI PCI card. Hook the SCSI cables up from sampler>SCSI HD>pci card. Format the disk using the 3000 disk format utility Once you get the SCSI chain set up, you can use Translator from Chicken Systems to access the Akai formatted hard disk from your PC/Mac. From there its as easy as dragging and dropping sample files onto the drive, then loading them up through the sampler. If you cant get that working, theres still the CD drive to load samples in through. Its kind of a pain in the ass because you have to make Akai format CDs, but you can just save all the good sounds and your sequences to the hard disk, so you dont really have go back to the CDs very often. I hope this helps some of the 3000 enthusiasts out there that are considering parting with their machines.

18th April 2006, 02:40 AM	#16
WideawakE Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 632	3000 for sale in the classifieds...I can't let my 60 go!

22nd June 2006, 12:02 AM	#19
illynoise Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,622	the 2000 is the best machine overall when it comes to reliability, sound, price. the 3000 is second, because it's a linn, the older ones are cherished but features and sound quality to me aren't good enough, the timing is just a tad better on mpc60's to my ear. I'd still get a 2000 if I had to start over. I got a friend who gave up his mpc for mv8000, I'm very curious about that machine. BaseJase Illynoise

22nd June 2006, 08:50 PM	#22
Jeffason Gear nut Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 99	i sold armen a mpc4k! lol hes a pretty popular dude

25th June 2006, 11:41 AM	#23
666 Gear Head Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 72	I find that most debates of old hardware vs new hardware's sound is normally blown out of context. It's workflow & familiarity that gets the job done, you can make an amazing sounding record on ANY MPC if you've got the ideas there. If you're buying a new MPC, i'd say go for workflow, options & reliability over the idea of their sounds. Or just good old sentimentality. If you work better with a machine knowing Dre uses it, then more power to you.

26th June 2006, 02:44 PM	#24
Drugs Gear interested Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 24	I think the 3k might be the best sounding of all the mpc's but i also feel that when people think about the sound of the mpc they like to use dre as there reference of what the machine can sound like. There are so many people using 3k's and none of there drums sound as good as his because he is also mixing with a ssl board.

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