By
kashief
Tue Sep 01, 2015 8:35 am
Be warned...This is a novel...
I had a chance to fondle a Renaissance...it was beautiful....BUT...in my opinion, it isn't an MPC...it is an incomplete MPC 5000 in an MPC 2500 style casing that is on life support (the computer) and has pretty lights... Don't get me wrong...it has some great feature. Flagship qualities. But...why be tethered? For all that, I could just drop the money on something else that isn't an MPC...like the Maschine MK2 but, let me explain why I feel this way...
Now...I don't know you (OP = Chynk), but for me...I grew up dealing with ADD and ADHD... I couldn't keep still in school but I love music and was always thinking of melodies and remixing and flipping samples in my head. What good is that if you had no drums with it? So yes.. I was that kid in class who always made beats on the desk.
If you've ever seen Araab Music on the 2500, apply that to me with two pens/pencils, my wrists and knuckles on the little desk at school. Aside from that, I always used my fingers to tap out beats on my leg when I would chill and listen to the radio or watch videos......fast forward....I got into production because most of the people I grew up with all rap, some attempt... So like most, I started making beats with a cracked version of FL and eventually got a paid copy...but that "click click copy and paste" crap kills me...ADD...I needed to get the ideas out before they were off in oblivion...
So I ran to George's Music and grabbed a KeyRig 49...but after a while I realized it still didn't feel "natural"...I mean, sure I could play drums with the keys, but no...so then I tried to find an MPC to use as a controller, but at 17 I didn't have extra cash so I looked into the MPD series and decided on the MPD24 because the MPD32 was like 100 more, and I didn't have all that.
For 3 years that was my setup. But as time went on, again, I came to realize that, although it felt a bit more comfortable, it still wasn't that "natural" feeling I yearned for. So at this time I had a nice little job at Target so I had some good money. One day I woke up and said "eff it. I need that MPC". So I sold my MPD24 and gave my homie the KeyRig49. I found an MPC2000 on ebay for like $170 because it had two lil punk ass lines on the screen. Psshhhh. Run that in, fam!
When it came, I instantly felt like Link opening a chest on Zelda. Finally...the feeling I've been looking for. I rocked out with that for a bout 3 months before I got annoyed at the fact that I could be organized with folders on the MPC2000, so I sold it on Craigslist.
Took that money right to the bank. Then I found an MPC 1000. It was that feeling all over again. And even though I wanted a 2500, I was happy to not be able to afford it because I had it's lil bro. Soon after, I ordered a Roland Juno G and it was a match made in heaven. From then on, I said "eff all that computer BS"...HARDWARE ONLY!...and believe it or not, Ive only sampled like 3 or 4 tracks on my 1000. I ended up getting a 2000XL because I missed my 2000 so much and now I have folders.
I just recently had to get rid of my 1000, but I just came into 3 of them, so I'm going to sell the lesser condition ones and keep tbe pretty one, using the money I get to buy a 2500 and/or layaway a 5000.
Now....I say all of that to say...go with what feels natural to you. If you feel most comfortable being tied to a computer, go with the Renaissance or Studio. If you like to move around and only have to worry about what sample and what kit you want to load up, go with the 2500. It's a beast. Very capable. I mean if it comes down to it, you can still use the 2500 with software if you use midi to sync with whatever software...it won't be MPC Software, but there is a plethora of software available that you could use from free, to cheap, to "damn! Which arm do you want?"