2500 Vs. 2000xl

I'm completely brand new to this forum and MPC's. I have a friend I met in college that wants me to make beats for him and will pay. I also have been looking to make beats forever. My parent and I have been scouring ebay forever, I found an affordable mpc 2000xl but I really figured I should get the MPC 2500 instead, but its harder to grab. I was wondering which is better? Also how would I sample or get the drum kit sounds on each and how do you record them onto a computer to be rapped over?

I decided I'd go ahead and get a Stanton T-80 and a phono preamp.

Anyways I'm new to the forum, sorry if this has already been discussed, I just figured I would ask the pro's this. Thanks so much for the help.

im no pro,,but its all personal prefrence,,dont let anyone tell you what to get,,go find someone who has a 2000xl and a 2500 i.e gc might have the 2500 not sure and try to do a hands on test and watch a lot of videos on both and check out the manual to both to get familliar they are free on the akai site),,i have the 2000xl and can do more than i imagined and i still dont understand half of it,,so it isnt like the 2500 is going to make better beats,only u are!!!

i have my mpc hooked directly to comp so after i make a complete song on the mpc i just record through soundforge,,u can use audacity,its free..

and to get the samples on them is fairly easy depending on what u are using ..floppy,zip,cf,cd,dvd..
this is a question better off asking after you get the machine..i use cf(compact flash)(its an external scsi for samplers) and i also have a card reader hooked to my computer so i just take the card put it in the card reader then drag and drop(i create folders and all that jazz but you get the jist)

well hope this helps and happy huntin homie!!

Thanks very much!

So with a 2000xl you use a phono preamp for the turntable? Also where do you find the samples with a 2000xl for the drums and all. I was wondering if there was an easier way to sample using the 2000xl. Like I heard on the 2500 you can sample from cds and such, but I haven't heard that with the 2000xl? And basically you can use a flash drive (compact flash) with the MPC using an external drive?

Thanks again!

i sample from everywhere,my turntables,vcr,tv,computer,mic,,anything u hook into it you can sample from,,,,i might even take an mp3 and chop it up with a program and then put them on my card and off to work i go,,,what ever you hook into the "line in" is what you can sample from...or anything you can get on your card,,,endless possibilities,,

and yes you can use a flash drive (external) but it has to be for samplers..

and for the 2000xl the samples have to be 22,050hz mono wavs,you can find a free program to convert anything also..

sonseelye wrote:and for the 2000xl the samples have to be 22,050hz mono wavs,you can find a free program to convert anything also..

What program is it that you use to convert samples to be the correct size for the 2000XL? Is this something done in an MPC Editor program or does MPC Editor just allow you to format disks from PC for the MPC?

I am trying to get some samples off my computer to 2000XL but as I see it, I guess there are 2 problems; size or type of sample and then the format of the disk.

i use a program called acoustica audio mixer,,it was 19 bux but i think audacity can do it also and that is free..ur samples can be as long as u want them but just make sure there in that format i listed....when u save in audacity,go to save as,then ,wav,and u should be able to adjust the size in there...if this dont work or even does let me know and i'll go find out how myself and let you know!!

I'll agree with sonseelye, it's more about preference... I've used both... I actually own the 2500 and it's an awesome machine, but the 2000xl is also a very awesome machine too. I don't know if you're looking to buy used or new... if you're buying new the 2500 might be the easier of the two to find (music store), if you're going used... then I would think the 2000xl maybe easier (craigslist, ebay, etc). what I will say is from personal experience...

my boy has a 2000xl (collecting dust) so when I got curious about the MPC I was taken through the basics by a novice cause he hadn't become familiar with the machine... made me not want one... a year later I bought the 2500 and told myself I'd just teach myself... the machine is very straight forward if you pick up stuff like that easily... I've had mine for a month or so and am pretty comfortable on it (am still learning some things of course... but RTM and you should be good).

happy hunting...

oh and the 2500 can be plugged directly to a turntable, computer through usb, audio interface would be the best way to sample sounds from the computer... same method as recording vinyl from a table. I have some drums, etc to get you started but like sons said... you can sample them from anything.... bang some pots and pans together... EQ, filter, etc. You end up with your own stuff...

Does the 2500 come with some drums already prefigured or do you still sample to get all the drums with it? Im trying to buy a 2500 brand new off of a site actually. Later I may get the 2000 xl, the 2500 just seems more modern day. I may be wrong

They come with a small set of sounds but there are websites and what not where you can download sounds to get you started. Theres a link in the banner on this page where you can get samples. True satisfaction comes from building your own sample library.

I own both but would recommend the 2500 if you have a choice. Check youtube vids, you'll get alot of useful info from there.

I have both. The advantages the 2500 has over the 2000xl for me are four MIDI outs instead of two, Grid Edit, and JJ OS.

That said, the 2000xl is a great machine. There's a lot to be said for a simple, mature OS.

^^^^^ very true bout all of that ^^^^^^
good insight for thee manz ( coltholt )

coltholt2000 wrote: I have a friend I met in college that wants me to make beats for him and will pay.

think you should get familiar with the basics, than thinkin about the money. you haven´t touched any pad, and and a friend of yours want to buy beats.... absurd

I honestly agree. It's more the excitement more than anything. I have wanted to do this since I was young though. I definetely want at least a half of year before I start getting any sort of mindet im okay. Its been 8 to 9 years playing bass and I still consider myself okay. Thanks for all the help too everyone.