MPC 1000 is a great machine, but.........

after using one for the last couple of weeks I am struggling to find why I should use this over Reason's modules and a pad controller such as Korg's padKontrol and using Recycle to chop
The MPC has limited memory, average storage as standard, all pitching, time stretching can be done in software too (yes I'm using the jj os)
Don't get me wrong I love the machine, but after directly A/B ing the MPC and Reason using the Redrum with the same samples, tempo, tuning etc I'm struggling to justify owning this machine.
Also the famed quick workflow turns out to be a bit of a myth for me personally as well. Having all my samples there on my computer and not having to transfer them onto a memory card, then into Ram seems much easier.
Also with Reason you can add shuffle/ swing, correct timing as you record as you can with the MPC. Then it's easier to save your beat as a wav to use with recording software.
Like I say I do love the MPC but I'm just wondering if anyone else is in a similar dilemma (and if I'm honest want someone to talk me into not selling it!)
all the best
peace
C

sell it

if you have doubts of not needing it cause its not serving a purpose sell it.....

honestly, these things are limited compared to software programs, but combined theirs so much more flexability....

i personally use a keystation, either my 2000xl or 1000, ableton, and reason... i usually do my drums on my mpc, not "mp", and sync them into ableton and build off of that using VSTi's or whatever instruments... or if im doing sample tracks, i do a lot of my work on the mpc and add finishing touches on the track with software, ie abletons effects, the bit reducer is **** ILL.....

but if you don't feeel you need it

sell it.....

if you dont mind not touching your equipment then theres no reason to own any.

for me the biggest reason to use an MPC was it's integrated into one unit. with software you have to get the program to play nice with your PC setup, purchase an audio interface, purchase a controller. tons of choices as far as what is "best" to get. instead of researching for an interface, controller, and software, i just researched hardware samplers and decided an MPC would do the job. one choice to make instead of three....

i mean don't get me wrong, you can do just about anything with computers these days. certainly you can create a nice sampling setup that easily overcomes the limitations of an MPC. it just depends on how comfortable you are with the hardware or the software way of doing things.

there is no right or wrong answer here, just go with what allows you to do what you gotta do!

ya if u leave softweare for hardware.. i know for fact hardware will make u feel like u dont know music at all. lol but its the same if u left ur software workstation for another peice of software workstation. takes time and lots of reading.. but ya if it dont work out go sell ur mpc to a samplist. atleast itll be in the right hands

i chose the mpc cause it has no internet and no games plus it looks cool and makes you feel you belong to some kind of elite

lol... wait wait heres a good one..if u buy an mpc ull be an instant producer/bread winner for the family of 12.. lol

i like mine simply because it is free without my computer. i can map out a scetch of my songs in the mpc and then take it into the daw. sometimes i sample from reason into the mpc,
but i dont really like using reason alone it feels cheap, just like when i had to depend on fruity loops before i got the mpc.
when i sit at the computer im tempted to do other things other then music, like search the web for hours on end.

my setup:
mpc 1000
reason
Rane Scratch live
Microkorg
and adobe audition

they are all comlimented in my sound!

Im not sure it is faster in reason & recycle

Im in the same position - Im trying to find ways of getting a sample into reason fast - choppin it up / timestretch etc & playing along with all the beats i got in dr rex. In fact you cannot do that in reason easily - you have to use other software like logic or ableton & recycle - which can be time consuming - when all you wanna do is jam with a sample you like & chop it up then jam a beat with it. - the mpc is all under one roof.
The mpc is faster as - I would just load a sample into one of the pads & press 16 tunings & Im ready to jam a riff.
Now with reason - say if I wanted to load in the same sound - I would have to create a sampler like the nnxt or nn19 & spend ages trying to trim it then map across.
I know i could trim in some other program but that takes even longer.
By this time I've already got my groove on & ready to record outs into my daw with the mpc.
This works for certain fucntions such as sample based music - reason serves as a great tool for synth / electro stuff - it just oozes electro in its sleep - the mpc just makes sampling a breeze - so if im feelin a track based around a hooky sample - then mpc all the way - if its house / electro synth type shit then reason works.

I don't think its a matter of which is better - they serve different functions better.

to each his own, all i used my mpc for is to sequence (i love it) and to bang the pads for the drums which i keep sampled in my triton becuase i like the way its tube makes them sound

What if you use sampling for a gig. Do you want to bring 5 pieces of equipment and a laptop to a gig or use an MPC. What about footswitching options with the reason setup? Which is more practical in that application?

Steve

blue grass wrote:What if you use sampling for a gig. Do you want to bring 5 pieces of equipment and a laptop to a gig or use an MPC. What about footswitching options with the reason setup? Which is more practical in that application?

Steve

That's what made me decide what I wanted to do. I don't own a laptop and I never plan on owning one either. Lugging out my desktop computer ain't happenng either. I'd rather just bring out the MPC and a couple of table-top synths.

i actually stopped using my computer other than recording and mixing. the mpc has something about it that can make me really want to work on a track. even though its not as easy as point and click.

i think the hard work it takes to tweak the sample with the limited capabilities is a lot more satisfying. at least to me.

and i agree with everyone who said, if you dont need it, sell it. no point in having something your not going to use, especially if you can get some dough for it.

just dont do what i did. i pawned mine, before i really knew how to use it. after it was gone i was missing it just sitting there. so i went back to get it the next week. for 80 bucks more than they gave me. so make sure you really dont want it before you give it up.

im just curious, how old are you. dj conrad?