DomexBEATS wrote:well, i only have Fl studio honestly, also cooledit & im currently in the process of getting things to help my work flow... im getting some speakers and if need be , i won't hesitate to get a new DAW.. im thinking maybe an akai mpk49...
basically what i've learned from the difference in mpcs.. are the speeds of the workflows.. and the sound quality? to me you have to kind of expreience it to know what all that **** means so i can't just go based on that.
Monitors are a great thing to save up for, and my advice is to learn the way yours sound. Listen to as many of your favourite tunes as possible on them so you get used to the nuances.
IMO there's barely any difference between any of the DAWs in essence, particularly when you're just starting out. They all come with useable plug-ins, so I'd keep your money unless you really think it'll make a massive difference.
If you get an MPC you won't need the MPK for the pads at least but the keys will obviously come in handy.
Sound quality amongst the MPCs has been well discussed on the boards, if you do a search you'll find out lots of information. I've only ever owned one MPC, so my knowledge is pretty basic, but from what I gather the general consensus is that the newer models, i.e 500, 1000, 2500, 5000 sound quite clinical. You get out what you put in.
Whereas with the older models, there can be colouration to the sound due to the converters used during the sampling process, and also due to the bit-rates that they sample.
Workflow is a personal thing. I think the balance for you to decide is between portability and compatibility. The newer models I listed above are quite easy to use because they use CF cards, USB connections etc... Whereas if you picked up a 2000 XL you might be stuck on floppy disks, or a JAZ drive or something along those lines. It's also worth noting the different sizes of RAM that are available for each model as that will impact on your workflow. Some people find the limitations of certain models inspiring, others restrictive.
EDIT: There are other options for older samplers though should you choose one. Check out this website
http://www.scsicardreaders.comIMO a good starter option is the 1000. It's a good size, I found it easy to learn and integrate due to it being a more modern option, and coupled with the JJOS (an aftermarket operating system that improves the functionality) it makes for a very solid basis to any studio. One thing to note on the newer models is that people sometimes have trouble with the responsiveness of the pads. I think I read in another thread on here recently that Clint said he favours his 2000XL because of the way the pads feel, and I'm pretty sure he owns/has owned quite a few models. There are of course the new FAT PADS available from mpcstuff.com though, and a few people on here say there's a huge difference once these have been added.
Like I said though I've actually not got that much experience with any of the other MPC series, so you're better off asking the other blokes. Good luck with whatever you choose though, and stick with it.
