General questions on MPC1000

Hello there,

I am considering to buy a sampler. Initially I was in love with Roland SP-555. I also researched Korg ESX-1, Roland MC-909 and AKAI MPC-1000.

Of course everything depends on what I am planning to do. But I had to understand what every of these can do, in order to figure out what can I do with it. In general my goal was performance (live).

So here is what I came up with. But do have some questions about MPC-1000.

- SP-555 looks wonderful and I felt in love with the FX, especially the d-beam control.
- ...until I saw what MPC-1000 can do. Meanwhile researched MC-909 and ESX-1. These two are lovely, I learned they are not just samplers but called groove boxes. Forgot to mention I am totally new to music toys. So the step-sequencer on both of these looks very easy to use, but I felt almost in love when...
- ...I saw youtube video with the screen of MPC-1000 showing JJOS with visual sample editing and how the sequencer looks.
- ...so I decided I can live without the step-sequencers of MC-909 and ESX-1 and the effects of SP-555 because MPC-1000 not just looks so easy to use, but it makes using my laptop completely useless, which is great advantage for me, since 10 years ago I didn't had any music hardware and I was using only software to make music, got sick of it and now want to go on hardware only. As for the missing effects - I loved that only MPC-1000 have 2 decicated lines for stereo out and another 4 dedicated mono outs which I can plug into a mixer and get the job done - have effects from the mixer, plus I could do live control that way.

In case you wonder why I share all this - I'm curious to ask for your experiences with MPC-1000 and why you decided to buy it over the other ones I mentioned. Also please correct me, if I got something wrong.

Now the questions -

1. As far as I got it, with JJOS onboard of MPC-1000, programs as Cubase are useless, as I can sequence everything on MPC-1000 alone, do sample editing (cut-copy-blah, volume editing and maybe some more). Correct me, if wrong here - I can sequence not only short instrument samples into patterns, but also apply whole vocal parts, loops on samples as well.

2. I saw the JJOS site, but understood nothing there. Saw JJOS have different versions. Version 1 was stated as paid, others - not. So if I got it - I must buy first version, then start to upgrade to all newest versions to the last one? Or I can install only the last one?

There are also some XL-titled versions. I got confused. I was looking on this forum for details, but didn't got it.

Help please.
Thanks

For JJOS, there's a free version, there's OS1 which you have to pay for, there's OS2 which you have to pay for, and there's OS2XL which you have to pay for.

(What part of "JJ OS2XL is pay version" and "JJ OS2 is pay version" made you think you don't have to pay for them?)

You can install any version without paying for it, but you can't save your work in OS1, OS2 or OS2XL unless you've bought a password

OS1 is the cheapest. You don't have to install OS1, you can go straight to OS2XL if you want. If you do buy OS1 first, getting OS2 or OS2XL is cheaper

Honestly it's hard to badmouth any of the gear you picked... Since you seem to pretty much know the way you might want to go I'll try and list pro's/con's.

SP-555, solid build and great FX. No visual editing though which can make chopping very tiresome.
MC-909, Great screen and lots of nice onboard sounds and can be expanded. Fills that hybrid Synth/Sampler quite nicely. Been a while since I used it but pretty sure it is locked to a 1/16th note grid.
ESX-1, okay sampler, but very limited sampling memory. FX are nice, but kind of limited selection. Grid Editing is nice, but 1/16th note grid only for editing...
MPC 1000 solid sampler, expanded has plenty of sampling time. Visual chopping is excellent. Sequencer is top notch. Easilly sequences a lot of external gear. Extra cost to upgrade to HDD/JJOSXL/RAM. Must sample/buy libraries to get content. FX set is utilitarian, so you'll probably want at least one offboard multi purpose FX box like a Kaoss pad or something.

Personally, and I think plenty of others would say go MPC. But you're on the MPC forums. I'd tell you it is a solid replacement for computer based music but it won't obsolete your computer either. Just don't be afraid to bring the two together when it makes sense, like when you want to sample some synth sounds or extend your fx. Anybody could certainly produce a hit from start to finish inside the box, but that'd probably be a bit more painful than necessary since some things are just so much easier to do on a dedicated piece of gear.

Also... don't stop thinking about the other gear, any of the other pieces can very nicely compliment the MPC 1000... or you can always get something different. Heck you could use another sequencer for your grid step editing and use the MPC 1000 for all other sequencing... just depends on your imagination and will to learn the gear to get things hooked up in that manner.

If you step all the way up to JJOS2XL (and it is worth it), expect to pay about $120+ USD. I think JJOS1 is around $64 if you just wanted to go to that first.

Good luck!

Thanks everybody. Today I was at a music store here and saw MPCs and ESX1.

I tried personally the ESX1 and MPC500, as MPC1000 was not working for some reason.

The guy there told me he has experience with MPC1000 but he's recommending the Maschine. I will look now videos about this one.

Anyone with experience on that one?

PS: Just saw about 20 videos on Youtube about this Maschine. Why noone seems to use it as standalone device? I understand it's probably more convenient for most people to use a computer along, but what about people who want to go completely on hardware? I get impression that this Maschine is not intended to be used as standalone device.

RaverWild wrote:Thanks everybody. Today I was at a music store here and saw MPCs and ESX1.

I tried personally the ESX1 and MPC500, as MPC1000 was not working for some reason.

The guy there told me he has experience with MPC1000 but he's recommending the Maschine. I will look now videos about this one.

Anyone with experience on that one?

PS: Just saw about 20 videos on Youtube about this Maschine. Why noone seems to use it as standalone device? I understand it's probably more convenient for most people to use a computer along, but what about people who want to go completely on hardware? I get impression that this Maschine is not intended to be used as standalone device.

it is simply a midi controller and can't be used as a standalone device... that's why. fvck that piece of sh!t if you wanna go hardware... it's the complete opposite.

Well I researched NI's website, they claim the Maschine could be used as standalone device. But after further investigation I decided for now not to get MPC.

This guy Jeremy Ellis seems pretty good at performing at such samplers, but I needed more a system which will leave me more free, for which I will first get ESX-1, as I need a groove box first. Today just ordered it. As MPC1000 definitely got me interested, would get one later, probably in a year.

Thanks for your help!
Regards

wow... i just looked at the website... those misleading sons of b!tches titled a segment of the maschine's description "Stand-alone Groove Production" implying that it's standalone hardware when it isn't at all... that's some bullsh!t right there.

standalone as in u dont need to host it in a daw

i now use machine before that i had the mpc1k and b4 that i had the korg esx1

u made a good choice esx is a fun unit.

maschine is dope if u mostly make beats in close proximity to ur pc i had the mpc for almost 2 years quality but not fast enough compared to maschine.

esx got the best filters only thing i was not feeling was the mute groups implementation