MPC1000 what else?

Hi everyone,

I have just brought my 1000, to go from software I was previosly using to hardware.

The question is what should be my next buy? I have a laptop with reason, cool edit pro and Acid 4. I also have decks, and speakers.
(my laptop only has one audio input/output)

Would a midi keyboard such as Oxygen 8 to play bass lines and melodies or a hardware mixer be a good buy next? I want to keep as portable as possible!

any suggestions would be helpful.

thanks

you got all to make good beats, more than that. but of course you can always buy more, if you got the money.

You should buy a violin... In fact it depends in what kind of music production you're involve... R'n B, Hip-Hop, Techno, Minimal, Tech-house, Dub, Ambiant?

A G2 should be a nice compromise...

I did consider a violin but then I realised it may not plug into the Akai's Line In, and the compatability maybe questionable.

I am into producing hip hop more than anything else and wanted to know if i could mix down beats from the akai onto a laptop with only one line in. Also this might effect the quality as the soundcard on most laptops are pretty weak.

Would a mixer such as a Zoom MRS-4 work well?
How well would a standard midi controller keyboard work, would it be suitable for playing basslines and melodies?

by this motherpucker:

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=pro ... 907053a313

It will sound 100 times better than your internal sound card. If you don't have a firewire port, you may want to consider something a little less expensive. I have an m-audio audiophile 24/96 in my tower and it sounds the shiz. I highly recommend.

I recommend a synthesizer keyboard to get all the sounds that don't sample so well. One with a keyboard will do double duty as a MIDI controller too. I have a Kawai K5000S, but for portability you might be looking at a MicroKorg. In a few months there will also be the Alesis Micron (a mini Ion) to compete with that.

As for FX, a great box to go on the output is an Alesis AirFX (http://www.alesis.com/products/airfx/about.html): works for me because it has no effect on your sound unless you wave your hand in the sensor zone, then strange things happen depending on the preset you chose. It even emulates a turntable slowing down and stopping - still wondering how they do that...

What's next?

Vinyl, a turntable, and whole lot of inspiration

a nice computer with something like Logic on it, plus a good beat choppin' program like recycle wouldn't hurt

Thanks for the help everyone,
I might go for a keyboard next, maybe just a midi controller, or a synth keyboard if I can afford it.

Until then il be franticly gathering records to sample.... charity shops here I come!!