novice goes from xr20 to the 1k

hey guys
i bought a xr20 a couple months ago and used it successfully to record all the drum parts on my latest EP, however i found most the drum kits uninspiring and it lacks the ability to sample obviously.

my question is how similar is beatmaking on the xr20 to the mpc1k? i understand the buttons on the mpc dont light up like the xr20 which is helpfull when recording or editing to remember what button makes which sound.

overall how is it going to be having a general working knowledge of the xr to step up to the mpc1k ?

is it similar enough with just the addition of sampling abilities, and a real OS etc?

the xr is a drum machine with presets... the 1000 doesn't do that. it requires you to either sample or load up audio clips, trim and cut them into shape, and then once you assign those clips to the pads you record patterns in real time or in step edit mode but most likely real time.

narquatics, what's really good family,

if you upgrade from to the MPC, your making a giant step in the right direction. It barely has any sounds boxfresh though. You're going to want to prepare by making your own sample library on your PC with audacity. http://audioz.info/samples/audio-loops/ ... ormat.html
Here are some sick drums (one-shots) to get you started then load your sample library via USB.

9 things MPC does the XR 20 doesn't

- move events (you can actually nudge stuff you've recorded in which is impossible on the XR (well it's very fiddly to say the least))
- more effects (delay is a very important effect to have and the reverb is much better quality as is the master compressor)
- ability to upgrade (I personally don't recommend JJOS, you lose your warrenty and half the features are useless, but a high and low shelf EQ on each sound is a big big bonus)
- 16 tracks (they can be midi track for controlling sound modules or normal ones to control programs in your MPC)
- q slider (good for automatiing stuff AND for performing)
- 6 outs (essential for if you're in a studio mixing in pro tools)
- erase feature (you can be way more sepcific about what you want to lose and do again
- manual set tempo (and don't have to be whole numbers they can be 1 decimal eg 142.5)
- sampling (obviously)

You should be pretty fluent in about 5 weeks. Don't forget to put enough reverb on everything. AUTOLOAD is a good way to save your stuff. Make sure you learn how to make your sequences 8 bars long and how to copy the first 2 bars and make it 8 from their by doing a bit of editing. Just make sure your using it profeciently quite quickly and then amazingly a couple months after.

I know this dude who has a 2500 for 8 years I had a 1000 for 6 months I new more than him about his 2500.

Enough REVERB AND DELAY!

They're my tips good luck.

first of all, JJOS wont ruin your warranty as you can simply reload the original akai OS if there is a problem.

second of all the 2500 hasn't been out for 8 years...

third of all, besides that I agree with all above mentioned things pretty much and even you can download on the internet all the sounds from the xr-20 so it's like you never even lost anything by selling it.

haltwelve wrote:narquatics, what's really good family,


(I personally don't recommend JJOS, you lose your warrenty and half the features are useless, but a high and low shelf EQ on each sound is a big big bonus)


I know this dude who has a 2500 for 8 years I had a 1000 for 6 months I new more than him about his 2500.

Definately some poor information here (in regards to JJOS)..... JJOS turns the MPC into another machine. The workflow enhancements are ridiculous..... And it doesnt void any warranties.....

Useless features.... You mean like 1)global program edit 2)non destructive chopping 3)quantising strength 4)audio channels 5)simult layering 6)MTC sync 7)ADSR!!!!....I could go on much longer.