MPC 2000,2000XL,3000,4000,2500. Whats the best one?

[Checkmate Muzik]

MPC 2000,2000XL,3000,4000,2500. Whats the best one?

I never owned a MPC before. Do you guys recommend it if i already got MOTIF sampler? I dont sample music. I just need it for creating drum patterns. It do look convenient and easy to work with but shit is 2grand which i think is ridiculous for programmin drums.

But there is so many mpc samplers to select from. Which one is the best? Since 2500 is new, is that the one with the best features so far?

Also i noticed 4000 is the only one with 24bit sampling. Rest is 16bit. Does that make a big difference? I am surprised the new one is not 24

[C Heat]

1000

[JonJon]

Why not go with the new MPD or trigger finger if you are used to programming drums on the computer? The whole point of an MPC is the feel, the most important sequencer and the timing. I would say if you are not after any of these, go with the above.
That said, if you are after a hardware sequencer (no computer used), 4000 all the way. If you are after a sketchpad, just get the 1000. The 3000 and 60/2 is nice and vintage, but you can get alot more bang for your buck with the newer models. Thats my $.02!

If you think $2Gs fo programming drums is ridiculous, then an MPC is probably not for you. What do you think your drums are mising at the moment?

[The_Phoenix]

I heard the 3000 and the 60 have the best sound and groove.. The 1000 is the bang for the buck.. 2000XL is the second bang for the buck now.. The 4000 is akai's power horse and the 2500 is the most advance of all the mpc generation.

The 2500 has a shaky OS. Although the 4000 did in the beginning, the problem may be fixed-hopefully-in a year or so. I like the 4000, althought I didn't use all the features it had to offer. After three years of using the 4000, I became more comfortable with the 2000XL and the 2500. I am not a fan of the 1000, i like the 2000XL better, but that's my oppinion. Truthfully, an advantage listener won't tell the different.

The less you have the more creative you can get.. Talent has no limit!

I think roland is coming up on there drum machines.. Check out the MC-808 for $1100-900

[Checkmate Muzik]

Originally Posted by I.N.s

The less you have the more creative you can get.. Talent has no limit!

i feel you on that. i like to work with shit thats straight to the point. some of the features are not even needed sometimes.

you think mpc 2500 is worth the money? i never owned or used a mpc before. like i said, i only need it to program drums. when you load the sounds in the motif sampler, there is no memory left to upload drums at the same time. so thats why i am lookin into it.

[deuc647]

I got 2 2000xl and they handle everything in my studio, honestly the 2500 pads feel way too hard, 1000 feels a lil cheap and looks cheap also, never messed with the 3000 and 4000 is missing a lil low end. the 2XL is the easiest and most comfortable of all in my opinion and they are dirt cheap on ebay homie. Peace

[The_Phoenix]

The 2500 is nice, but if you just want to sequence. The 2000XL will be a good pick. If you need a hard drive, more memory or more midi outs, the 2500 is cool. I work with the 2500 because it has 4 midi outs, usb connection and its lighter.

[bigwillz24]

I bought a MPC 1000 and used to use it strickly for making drum loops then I started playing with royalty free samples and came up with some pretty dope sh*t using the unit in sync with a Triton LE. It's a worthwhile tool in the arsenal IMO...

[cynic]

if you're just gonna be knocking out drums and you're not sequencing on the cpu on it get the 1000.

if you're sequencing on the cpu grab battery and any one of those pad controllers, or a copy of FL studio...

my $0.02

[Big 3rd]

Haven't worked with the others, but I can vouch for the 2000xl. It's extremely user friendly and it does all the essentials well. I've had mine for about 5 yrs now. Don't know what I'd do without it. I have a motif and other programs that I could seq off of ....but I still do everything thru my XL.

[AdamJay]

once the black MPC-1000's are available... i'm on it.

i wrote all my beats on a 2000XL a few years ago. i miss it.
the flow of that sequencer just makes it a joy to write with.
and every time i see an MPC of any kind in a shop, i take 5 to program a couple beats. its like riding a bike.

[The_Phoenix]

i like the 1000 but, there have been a lot of issues with the pads not working..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ01uTDZBpk&search=quik

[FULL-DUPLEX]

The Queen of MPC is...




The MPC-60, because it gives your drums that punch... Lightly after the 60 comes the MPC-3000 which is very powerfull and more usefull for sampling stuff...

The sequenzing of this machines is amazing... Ok the new MPCs deliver you more options like filters, wave visualisation-cutting, more RAM and so sampling time...

Greetings,

F.D.

[cynic]

I don't understand the whole pads not working thing on the 1k...what are you fools doing, jumping up and down on the things?

I've had mine for like a year now and it's just as solid as when I bought it off EBAY

[the Merch]

3000 and 2000XL NO SONIC DIFFERENCE OR GROOVE DIFFERENCE AT ALL

[AdamJay]

is there any sonic difference in the 1000 ?

[sasha222]

i've owned them all except for the 60 and 2500. currently using a 4000 and it is a monster. i'd say just for programming drums go with the 1000. the only drawback to it is the pads are small. great little machine though--unlike earlier mpcs its got usb which is a big plus.

there are differences in sound and timing between different models, the timing thing is supposedly due to earlier models (60, 60II) having slower processors (clocks) therefore less consistent timing which some would call "looser", especially when sequencing at double the desired tempo. i haven't a/b ed them so ii cant attest to that but thats what i've heard (i think roger linn was the one who said it.) theres alot of discussion about this on MPC-Forums.com, which i recommend anyone considering buying an mpc taking a look at for more info.

[Checkmate Muzik]

Does the 1000 have the same sound quality?? and good drum programming features vs the expensive mpc4000. Cause its so cheap, i was thinkin there must be a catch like if it was shitty quality or made for amatuers. I could be wrong thats what i was thinking

[WideawakE]

I would go with a 3K for what you're looking for...I have a 60 and a 3K and they are both beasts...

but the 3K is too ill, the sound is nice and for drums this and the 60 are it...the sequencer is sooo dope....there's a reason why so many still rock the 3K (quik, dre, hi tek, etc. etc.) and I heard most all of JD's latest beats are 60 sequenced fwiw

[cynic]

Originally Posted by Checkmate Muzik

Does the 1000 have the same sound quality?? and good drum programming features vs the expensive mpc4000. Cause its so cheap, i was thinkin there must be a catch like if it was shitty quality or made for amatuers. I could be wrong thats what i was thinking

no way. sound quality is fine. if you're worried about it, you can always use the spdif outs.

there's no "catch"...it's a good little machine, especially for just programming drums like you want to do. it can do that and a lot more.

plus it has a major (for me) advantage over all of the older mpcs in that you can transfer wav files right from your computer. combine that with bluebox (pc software, free) for building programs and you can't go wrong.

[cynic]

Originally Posted by Checkmate Muzik

Word. I will look into it plus the price is resonable. So why are they chargin a grand more for 2500 if 1000 is a nice little machine. whats the big difference?

I am curious, how come many of you prefer the older MPC 3000 over the newer models. Arent the newer versions are more updated vs the old ones? Some even said 3K gota better sound. Does it add more punch or can you import wav files?

more outputs, cd drive built in (sample from cd), track edit for notes, tilt screen

im tellin ya, if you just want to program drums on it the 1k is more than enough.

you'll get just as good sound if not better than the 3k or whatever by just running the thing through a decent preamp and compressor.

the old ones you've gotta deal with bullshit like zip drives and floppies. that shit is a pain in the ass.

[Checkmate Muzik]

Originally Posted by cynic

more outputs, cd drive built in (sample from cd), track edit for notes, tilt screen

im tellin ya, if you just want to program drums on it the 1k is more than enough.

you'll get just as good sound if not better than the 3k or whatever by just running the thing through a decent preamp and compressor.

the old ones you've gotta deal with bullshit like zip drives and floppies. that shit is a pain in the ass.

yea good lookin on the input. it do seems like MPC1000K would fit me better cause i only need it for drums sequencing/programming. i dont really sample music

[C Heat]

Originally Posted by Checkmate Muzik

yea good lookin on the input. it do seems like MPC1000K would fit me better cause i only need it for drums sequencing/programming. i dont really sample music

Bingo.

[Dor]

might want to consider another model that has MTC or smpte if you are going to be locking to computer to transfer a ton of tracks. Not sure how tight midi beat clock is.

[The_Phoenix]

True!

[Checkmate Muzik]

Originally Posted by Dor

might want to consider another model that has MTC or smpte if you are going to be locking to computer to transfer a ton of tracks. Not sure how tight midi beat clock is.

yup i dump everything mtc mode in protools 70

[shikawkee]

I still have my MPC 2000 from 10-12 years ago and it's one of
the best purchases I ever made. I don't sample but it's been
indespensible. Never saw a reason to upgrade (plus, I've got
a huge library of floppy's now).

The 4k is the only one that lets me use my URS plugins



I should probably edit this: The 4k does not use plugins directly Aksys the akai sample management program interfaces with the sample editor of your choice.

My editor is bias pieak (which uses the Waves and URS plugins before sendingthe sample back to my 4k)

[Checkmate Muzik]

Originally Posted by Checkmate Muzik

yea good lookin on the input. it do seems like MPC1000K would fit me better cause i only need it for drums sequencing/programming. i dont really sample music

my engineer is sayin the output sound quality is not that great on those. he recommends other ones.

i was lookin it up on few forums, seem like a lot of people favor M3000. I think 2500 sounds like it has more features and better output sound. Only thing is that the sampling is 16 bits.