By
MalaKai
Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:48 pm
Having used both, my own personal opinion leans more toward 1000 w/ JJOS over 2000XL.
While the 2000XL is a classic and a good learning machine and has a better build and slightly punchier sound, it suffers from several drawbacks:
- Storage options are more limited. If you go the CF route you're limited to 2GB so if you work on a lot of projects with lots of sounds you'll need to constantly backup to a PC, other storage space.
- It is SLOW. To preview sounds the machine needs to load them first, and this can make your workflow suffer primarily if you're in the zone and have multiple ideas for song structure/melody in your head and you're looking for the right sounding drums, etc.
- Did I mention that it's slow? Resampling anything longer than a half second drum hit can literally take an hour or two.
- No global program edit. If you want all your sounds within a program tuned the same way you have to manually (one by one) change them to match.
- The screens tend to die. Luckily MPC-STUFF has new screens, but if you're buying a used old 2000XL prepare to make that extra investment. Somewhere down the line the original screen will give out.
- Cutting off pad sounds/muting is more difficult. You need to change the type of sound play on each pad, one pad is limited to muting 2 other pads, or you can set sounds to NOTE ON and you have to hold each pad down and time it with holding down other pads. In other words it's different from 1000/2500 where you can just set the sounds to play how you want and rock the pads without having to hold down pads. It's a different workflow in this regard.
- Older technology, no USB. SCSI drives...
I hate to knock the 2000XL because IT IS A DOPE MACHINE. It's rock solid, MIDI is on point. But I do have to mention that it is prone to crashing, much more so than 1000/2500. And I suspect more than people are willing to acknowledge. It's an easy machine to get attached to for various reasons. And honestly you would in all liklihood be happy with one. It's like an old trusty slot machine that still works after 20 some odd years, it does what it does and for the most part does it extremely well.
BUT...
Taking into account JJOS and expanded feature set, massive speed and storage capacity increase and easier file transfer options (USB), I would suspect you would have less headaches overall with a 1000/2500.
Take my opinions with a grain of salt, search "2000XL vs 1000" and read what other people are saying before making a decision.