Any JJ 1K / MPC4000 users?

le rat wrote:Hello,

Anyone using this combo?

Recently I ve been using my MPC1K live, freestyling, mainly doing finger drumming. I didn't record or sequence anything for a while.

For future recording needs I was looking at the MPC models with better sequencer resolution. The renaissance is not for me unfortunately. I like to stay away from my computer as much as possible until mixing/mastering. The MPC5000 looks nice but I read too many complaints about it. It would be dope if it could have a JJ OS. It would be my weapon of choice So the MPC4000 remains.

-I wish the MPC 4000 had JJOS....They are VERY similar but JJOS takes everything that is great about the 4000 OS (which is by far the best Akai OS ever) and makes it even better.

Seems to be a very powerful MPC with its 960 ppqn resolution, its sampling engine, its 6 pad banks and so on. I like the phono INs too. I looked at the manual and obviously JJ got a lot of his inspiration from the MPC4000 OS. Nevertheless, he put the 1K and the 2K5 to another level and that's why I'm afraid to lose the JJ grid edit, program edit worflow...etc

-You will loose a couple of things in the transition between JJOS and the 4000. Not so much that it will completely ruin your workflow but there are some very nice things in JJOS that the 4000 doesn't have. The 4000 has grid edit and program edit by the way. JJOS grid edit is better. The 4000s program edit is more robust because it's a more robust sampler.

If I bought a MPC with better technical specs, I would keep my others MPCs. Back to this topic question, does anyone use the MPC4000 as his main sequencer with the 1K as a multitimbral module for instance?

-Completely unnecessary. The MPC 4000 has the most advanced Akai multitimbral module ever inside of it already.

At the beginning is it overkill to use the MPC4000 only for no quantize?

-Yes. If you are going to buy the 4000, make sure you are really going to use all of it's advanced features. If not, the 1K is PERFECTLY fine. When I use my 4K, I turn the 960 off. For my purposes, 96 is more than enough.

I read that the pads were not so good. Should not be a problem with fat pads no? Compared to a 2k5 with JJ OS pad sensitivity settings, is it OK?

-Yes. People over exaggerate this across all MPCs. Just learn how to use your pads.

Last question for the moment, is this possible to plug the MPC1K USB in the MPC4000 front panel.

-I've never tried but I don't see the reason to. The 4000 has ak.sys and you can plug USB HDs, real HDs, etc.

Any kind of feedback would be appreciated.
PEAce

le rat wrote:Last question for the moment, is this possible to plug the MPC1K USB in the MPC4000 front panel.

Lampdog wrote:

le rat wrote:Last question for the moment, is this possible to plug the MPC1K USB in the MPC4000 front panel.

And do what?

MeSoHordey wrote:an MPC 4500 baby?

MaZe wrote:I have the 2500 with JJOS and the MPC 4000. Answers below.

-I wish the MPC 4000 had JJOS....They are VERY similar but JJOS takes everything that is great about the 4000 OS (which is by far the best Akai OS ever) and makes it even better.

-You will loose a couple of things in the transition between JJOS and the 4000. Not so much that it will completely ruin your workflow but there are some very nice things in JJOS that the 4000 doesn't have. The 4000 has grid edit and program edit by the way. JJOS grid edit is better. The 4000s program edit is more robust because it's a more robust sampler.

At the beginning is it overkill to use the MPC4000 only for no quantize?

-Yes. If you are going to buy the 4000, make sure you are really going to use all of it's advanced features. If not, the 1K is PERFECTLY fine. When I use my 4K, I turn the 960 off. For my purposes, 96 is more than enough.

Last question for the moment, is this possible to plug the MPC1K USB in the MPC4000 front panel.

-I've never tried but I don't see the reason to. The 4000 has ak.sys and you can plug USB HDs, real HDs, etc.

If you have a 1K and love it and it does everything you need, stick with it. If you aren't going to use the 4Ks extra features, don't mess up what you have going.

EDIT: I will say this though, with the criminally low prices that 4000s are going for lately, if you have the extra couple hundred, it's almost crazy to NOT buy one. I'll throw that out there.

Lampdog wrote:

le rat wrote:Last question for the moment, is this possible to plug the MPC1K USB in the MPC4000 front panel.

And do what?

I don't think the 4K and JJOS machines are a marriage made in heaven... at all. If you like the idea of having different MPCs with contrasting capabilities and strengths, where you stitch everything together in the computer, then go for it. If you want them to work seamlessly together where you're interchanging files, you might as well forget it. Too much pissing around IMO.

Like Maze said, if you plan on using the additional functions of the 4K, no other Akai sampler can touch it. It really does put the Nukai machines in the shade, even those with a superfly OS like JJOS.

I actually disagree about Grid Edit though. I prefer the one on the 4K compared to the 2500 with XL on the small screen. I just find it easier to work with.

MaZe wrote:^I guess I should have said marginally better. I love me some 4K grid edit but there are a couple of nice shortcuts in the JJOS grid edit. Either way, we both agree that if you aren't going to use the advanced capabilities of the 4K and you already have an MPC with JJOS, you're more than fine. JJOS is so close to the 4Ks OS that if its more of a workflow thing, you won't gain much. If its more of a I want a full blown out sampler/synth/workstation in a box, then yes, get a 4K. Getting a 4K for the 960 ppq is not necessary. If you want more resolution in a 96 box, double the BPM.

Metatron72 wrote:I've got 4 MPC models, 1k and 4k among them, and I've never really found any real reason to pair any of them. Mostly for reasons that have been mentioned in others' posts. It's always a "gain this but lose that" proposition no matter what scheme I try to come up with regarding which is the main sampler and which is the main sequencer.


If JJXL is your weapon of choice I couldn't see much use for pairing it with a 4k unless you want a hardware sampler that can load 512MB of samples and run at 24/96.

le rat, I assume you wouldn't really want to only use the 1k+JJ as a MIDI sequencer when the sample/PGM functions are probably a major part of why you use JJXL.

I do however second what Lamp said. If you want a second MPC the 4k absolutely will not disappoint.

ntalec wrote:No matter what JJ does the biggest advantage the 4k offer is better hardware software integration.
Look at how many variations JJ has given us and I still say it feels forced.
Felt that way a couple of years ago and I still feel that on both the 2500 or 1k the shoehorn is ever present.

The 4k just feels smoother to navigate and interact with.

le rat wrote:Is it time consuming to nudge one event or better a group of events with the 4K?

le rat wrote:Among other features I absolutely need there is JJ NDC and audiotracks. That's why I was more interested in the 5K at first for direct recording, continous sample, HDD streaming and so on.

MaZe wrote:

ntalec wrote:No matter what JJ does the biggest advantage the 4k offer is better hardware software integration.
Look at how many variations JJ has given us and I still say it feels forced.
Felt that way a couple of years ago and I still feel that on both the 2500 or 1k the shoehorn is ever present.

The 4k just feels smoother to navigate and interact with.

Interesting, I don't feel this way at all. I have a 4K and I've been using my JJOS 2500 exclusively lately.