MPC's for Dummies. Help!

[Tibbon]

I've been hoping to get an MPC in the studio, probably for all the wrong reasons. Well, the main reason being is that I know if I have your average hip-hop artist come over, they could care less about an Arp Oddsey or a Machinedrum, or Apogee convertors, but if they see an MPC, they will go nuts. I'm not trying to make a generalization, but I'd say the three most recognizable things in a studio for a hip-hop artist are a huge console, a nice vocal booth, and an MPC. They flip out over the sound on an MPC4000, but yet ignore the Akai S-5000's, S-900's, etc... I realize that the S series don't have sequencers, but with Logic I can sequence any groove.

I haven't been able to find a good place to demo everything from a Linndrum to an MPC4000, so i'm gonna need some advice. I want it to have the best 'character' of sound possible, and the best groove. I don't care about much memory, or a ton of I/O options. What should I get? An MPC1000? MPC60? MPC2000?

Also, one thing I don't understand at all. All of the rackmounted samplers cost well under $400 now it seems, no matter what they do. The MPC's I see going from 400-3500 USD. People are asking HUGE amounts for an MPC2000XL, and yet at other times I see them for 300 bucks. Why the range? A 1073 is always worth about the same, why the MPC's vary so much?

BTW: I don't do hip-hop often, so I'll probably be lost on the references for grooves in certain songs. I already have quite a few synths, including a Machinedrum that does almost all of my drum-machine needs, but people want an mpc for some reason.

[dshay]

The varying range in the MPC2000XL has a lot to do with the options and condition.

If you got a studio and you're serious about producing hip hop there, and you're buying the XL, you'll want the eight output option. You send kick down channel one, snare down channel two...ect.

(You could, actually, get by without this option if you use MIDI by recording each individual sound with the others muted, but it takes so much more time)

You want that isolation so you can individually process and filter each sound. Compression on kick, plate 'verb on snare, ect.

And you are correct, there is some very big brand recognition going on with the MPC line. Not all of it is unfounded. Nobody wants to thump out their drum line on a keyboard. The machine is built like a tank. It's got an easy to use sequencing interface. The 2000 came out at a time when all the competition had was plastic junk.

It's basically the protools cult but for hip hop. I happen to be a member of that cult. And my eyes would perk up if I saw it, or I knew you had one so I didn't have to lug my gear down to the studio.

[con?one]

the reason you see alot of different prices for mp's is because used gear is a percieved market.... and the mpc has alot more people shopping for it and alot more people selling thiers off than the 1073... and in very different demographics.
in n, the average for a 2000xl with 8 outs, used, is about 600. you can pay more, or less, but that's the average. alot of people who sell their gear tend to want damn near what they paid for it (guitar players are the worst when it comes to this) so that's why you'll sometimes see a used mp going for almost the price of a new one. if you shop around, you'll get a deal.
as far as rackmount samplers being ceap, it's because nobody's making them anymore, and soft samplers took that market over. i paid almost $4000 for my e-mu e4 platinum when it came out and couln't even get it direct at e-mu because policy states that they have to fill all retail orders first... and demand was high. now, i can grab a used one on the street for less than a g. that's technology for ya i guess.

[MIDIchlorian]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

I've been hoping to get an MPC in the studio, probably for all the wrong reasons. Well, the main reason being is that I know if I have your average hip-hop artist come over, they could care less about an Arp Oddsey or a Machinedrum, or Apogee convertors, but if they see an MPC, they will go nuts. I'm not trying to make a generalization, but I'd say the three most recognizable things in a studio for a hip-hop artist are a huge console, a nice vocal booth, and an MPC. They flip out over the sound on an MPC4000, but yet ignore the Akai S-5000's, S-900's, etc... I realize that the S series don't have sequencers, but with Logic I can sequence any groove.

I haven't been able to find a good place to demo everything from a Linndrum to an MPC4000, so i'm gonna need some advice. I want it to have the best 'character' of sound possible, and the best groove. I don't care about much memory, or a ton of I/O options. What should I get? An MPC1000? MPC60? MPC2000?

Also, one thing I don't understand at all. All of the rackmounted samplers cost well under $400 now it seems, no matter what they do. The MPC's I see going from 400-3500 USD. People are asking HUGE amounts for an MPC2000XL, and yet at other times I see them for 300 bucks. Why the range? A 1073 is always worth about the same, why the MPC's vary so much?

BTW: I don't do hip-hop often, so I'll probably be lost on the references for grooves in certain songs. I already have quite a few synths, including a Machinedrum that does almost all of my drum-machine needs, but people want an mpc for some reason.

The mpc1000 and or 2500 is worth EVERY penny.
Featres like patch phrase and realtime modulation with Q links is helping the mpc family keep up with software..

[Tibbon]

Is getting a fully expanded MPC60 a poor idea?

[dshay]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

Is getting a fully expanded MPC60 a poor idea?

I would say yes.

[tomdarude]

so if this mainly for client-bling-factor and a DAW-programming alternative for hiphop-beats I´d get a used MPC4000 (around 1500,-) !!!

BIG fat looks, sound & feel!
great interfacing with a DAW/audioeditor, no ram/scsi/disk-BS



btw. I mainly work in Logic, but my MPC 60 (drums & few samples) and Machinedrum also get much use

[Justice]

I find it odd no one has said get a MPC-3000. There kinda pricey but your clients will see. They will know what your have!!!!!

and pay for it!

[Bishbashbosh]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

Is getting a fully expanded MPC60 a poor idea?

Love mine. It gets more use than my 2000XL....

Personally for bling factor I reckon it's the 60, 3000, or a 4000.

BTW a fully expanded 60 IS exactly the same as a 3000, but without stereo input (though there is a workaround).

I got my 2000XL just to be more compatible (it's so much easier running at 44.1kHz!!), but the 60 is so much dirtier/ballsier/cooler/bigger/noisier....!!

The 4000 looks cool.... but to be honest if you're gonna have super clean sampling you might as well use Giga.... Just my opinion......

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by Bishbashbosh

The 4000 looks cool.... but to be honest if you're gonna have super clean sampling you might as well use Giga.... Just my opinion......

I have EXS24 and I'm getting the sampling option on my Machinedrum and I have an Akai S-5000 already... I'm good for the clean sounds.

what is the difference between the 3000, 2000 and 2500?

[Bishbashbosh]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

what is the difference between the 3000, 2000 and 2500?

The 3000 was the Roger Linn designed replacement for the 60. It had stereo sampling, and a larger memory. It is also 16 bit 44.1k sampling, rather than the 12bit 40k sampling of the 60. Build quality is great, and it came with ALL the bells and whistles- SMPTE, multi-outputs etc....

The 2000, and later the 2000XL were budget models in comparison (though still great...!). Roger Linn was not involved in their creation.
Build quality is nowhere near as good, but the stock model could be upgraded to most of the spec of the 3000. In terms of sound it's close to the sound of the 3000, and in use they're pretty similar. It's mostly just a cheaper box and cheaper parts.

I haven't used a 2500, but I'm guessing it's a slimmed down version of the 4000? Probably the same deal between the 2500XL and the 3000- similar OS, cheaper parts, smaller memory.

Personally for someone like me, the 60 rules..... sounds like an MPC...!
As I say though, if you're mostly getting it to impress clients then maybe it's not the best.

[pan]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

I've been hoping to get an MPC in the studio, probably for all the wrong reasons.
...
BTW: I don't do hip-hop often, so I'll probably be lost on the references for grooves in certain songs. I already have quite a few synths, including a Machinedrum that does almost all of my drum-machine needs, but people want an mpc for some reason.

Are you familiar sequencing with the MPC?

Will YOU use the MPC, or does the artist bring his own beats?

Will the "average HipHop artist" use it to sequence and make beats?

There is more involved than just getting the MPC - you will need sounds and train yourself on it, unless it's used as a playback device.

[Tibbon]

I've used an MPC for about 20 minutes. The sequencing doesn't seem that hard. I'll probably do drums only on it. I was able to figure out 808's and 909's and my S-5000 without much use of the manual, i'm sure that an MPC can't be much worse.