Understanding what I need? - Maschine/MPC? - Please entertai

So I finally have the money to buy only 1 device, the maschine or a used MPC2500, or MPC 1000 with JJOS which I hear makes it similar to a 2500 in performance. I could save up for a 2500 if needed.

Firstly I want to make beats like Premiere, Krush, Shadow and then I love my dark dubstep like 16 Bit etc.


As for the MPC workflow how slow is it when loading samples?. is a MPC 1000 with JJOS equal a 2500?.


Thanks for your help, I would try these out but I have nowhere near me for miles that has both these devices to try out.

I would get the 2500 and control the Maschine software with it.

for dubstep youre prolly better off going maschine route....cos of integration with vsts...much easier to do dubstep using softsynths etc

monsterism wrote:So I finally have the money to buy only 1 device, the maschine or a used MPC2500, or MPC 1000 with JJOS which I hear makes it similar to a 2500 in performance. I could save up for a 2500 if needed.

Firstly I want to make beats like Premiere, Krush, Shadow and then I love my dark dubstep like 16 Bit etc.


As for the MPC workflow how slow is it when loading samples?. is a MPC 1000 with JJOS equal a 2500?.


Thanks for your help, I would try these out but I have nowhere near me for miles that has both these devices to try out.

Whether you go software or hardware is 100% up to you man. I know where you're coming from listing your influences, but any gear can make any music, but of course you look at what 's been done previously on units you might be buying.

I use Maschine every single day and I think it's an excellent package. But I also have 4 MPC's and some keyboards, so I don't have to worry about regretting what I'm missing by using software. I think if you're even here asking about MPC's, something about their simplicity and track record appeals to you. Sometimes people go software and in the back of their minds still want some hardware, that's what happened to me.

Research everything you can before you spend your money. Watch a lot of videos and hopefully get an idea for how you'll want to work. If you go the MPC route sampling, chopping etc. , will be more labor than the computer, but perhaps liberating to just sit with the MPC and a turntable. On the other hand the computer is faster for just about everything.

Here's some videos you can watch - viewtopic.php?f=11&t=108846

http://akaimpcblog.com/

http://www.mpchunter.com/

For Maschine just go on You Tube. SaintJoe and Knock Squared have the best and most videos.

I have both a 1000 and a 2500. With JJOS they are indeed about equal. 2550 is superior in the obvious places, full size pads, tilt screen, 2 extra Q-link controllers. With the MPCStuff Fat Pads the worst shortcoming of the 1000 has been addressed . (I always bring them up, but they are that good).

If you get an MPC and have no dough left, there is Reaper (DAW sequencer) for $60, and plenty of freeware VST's that are quality, so you can track out your MPC productions.

Ill Green, he said he can only get one. +1 on Maschine excelling at dubstep, especially if you have Razor or Massive.

Thank you I really appreciate the replies and I understand how frustrating to see yet another topic like this. However, I have no ready access to actually trying these devices out and can only watch videos on youtube.

The main attraction to the MPC is that I'm not tied down to a laptop and screen, I been using Reason as my main tool for over a year now and while I'm a hobbyist with no illusions that is all I'm going to be. I do enjoy making beats for myself and just chilling doing that.

Maschine I'm worried about due to being tied down to software, its one of the reasons why I'm asking if I should invest one or the other. However, I guess I can sample the synths from Reason to make dub if needed but Krush, Coldcut, Shadow - introducing and not his recent rubbish is typically the type of music I make.

Can I ask however, how slow is sampling and loading in a mpc is?

also a MPC 1000 JJOS is equal to a 2500, however, if you had a choice I guess the 2500 is better?.

Thank you again guys.

NI Maschine hands down

monsterism wrote:Thank you I really appreciate the replies and I understand how frustrating to see yet another topic like this. However, I have no ready access to actually trying these devices out and can only watch videos on youtube.

The main attraction to the MPC is that I'm not tied down to a laptop and screen, I been using Reason as my main tool for over a year now and while I'm a hobbyist with no illusions that is all I'm going to be. I do enjoy making beats for myself and just chilling doing that.

Maschine I'm worried about due to being tied down to software, its one of the reasons why I'm asking if I should invest one or the other. However, I guess I can sample the synths from Reason to make dub if needed but Krush, Coldcut, Shadow - introducing and not his recent rubbish is typically the type of music I make.

Can I ask however, how slow is sampling and loading in a mpc is?

also a MPC 1000 JJOS is equal to a 2500, however, if you had a choice I guess the 2500 is better?.

Thank you again guys.

The 2500 is better ergonomically, but the function with JJOS is 99% the same. So a 1000 is like a save a few hundred, less space deal, the 2500 is just a bigger, somewhat better built work surface. 2500's are getter cheaper so it may not cost that much more than the 1000.

USB loading on 1000/2500 is 1.1 standard and slow. It works well though, you just have to set aside time to do it. CF cards hold a fair amount of data, and HD's are cheap. Sampling on an MPC when you're accustomed to it, is pretty quick. But a lot of people are faster with Recycle. Personal preference mostly.

I used Reason for years, and with a good pad controller you can do a fair amount of MPC style techniques, especially with the newer Kong. So I think you can still do what Krush and Shadow did/do with software. The MPC60's distinct sound is the only thing you have to find a way to get in software. The sampling style and chopping techniques will work on HW or software. Coldcut has been using Ableton exclusively for years.

I absolutely love Maschine, but I want to avoid any direct recommendations and just tell you as much as I can for your decision. Maschine has a MIDI mode, you could use that for Reason devices. And there's a $20 VST from Energy XT that allows Maschine to accept ReWire. You can only use one Reason device at a time though. Still cool to use a Combinator like a VST in Maschine.

monsterism wrote:Can I ask however, how slow is sampling and loading in a mpc is?

I think you may be overly concerned about this.

Premier, DJ Shadow et al didn't have a problem with using floppies on older machines (60/ 3000).

With a 1000 or 2500 saving and loading samples takes seconds, it isn't an issue.

We have a number of MPC v Maschine threads if you want detailed user comparisons.

This link is the most current MASCHINE thread whith comparisons to the latest MPC's.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=127534

And here is the main comparison thread MASCHINE v MPC4000.

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=129024

My advice to you would be to try a standard MPC1000 to see if you can adjust to the MPC workflow. If it grabs you then consider copping the JJOS or the 2500 at that stage. If it doesn't sell it and try out the Maschine on the same basis.

Sometimes you simply have to try stuff out for yourself to really appreciate them, other peoples opinions really don't matter including mine.

DJ shadow did nt touch his 60 after entroducing.Too old fashioned for him as he had hundreds of hits.But his music sounded best then.imo.Mashine is unstoppable now tho with its plug in use.Now doubt you wont get that instant kick tho.The 4ooo and 50000 will mash it down for loudness/character.But the maschine is more tactikle.You can quickly make many bars of different stuff.Im not sure if its got its own personalty.Havent used it enough.For me its all about my respect for the samples.Sometime the groove box sound better than software (puter)sequencers.old fashioned......

^Thanks for the replies, I'm leaning towards a MPC 1000 JJOS, since I have Reason and VST instruments I could link the 1000 to it if needed and control it like that?.

monsterism wrote:^Thanks for the replies, I'm leaning towards a MPC 1000 JJOS, since I have Reason and VST instruments I could link the 1000 to it if needed and control it like that?.

Absolutely. It makes for a great setup. Do you have MIDI plugs on your audio interface (if you have one)? You'll need those ports, but there are $30 MIDI to USB cables out there. You could have one program in the MPC send MIDI to Reason and use the 1000 as a controller, even while you're doing stuff in the MPC.

Should work out great for you.

dryad-66 wrote:Now doubt you wont get that instant kick tho.The 4ooo and 50000 will mash it down for loudness/character.

Nonsense.

emptysea wrote:

dryad-66 wrote:Now doubt you wont get that instant kick tho.The 4ooo and 50000 will mash it down for loudness/character.

Nonsense.

Agreed.

Even tho it's kinda OT, with the OP getting a 1000 JJOS. But still, other people may read this thread if they are comparing the different units.

It's not like audio interfaces can't do 24bit/96khz (4000 spec), and the 5000 to my ears, sounds no different than any mid priced PC/Mac audio interface.

Metatron72 wrote:

emptysea wrote:

dryad-66 wrote:Now doubt you wont get that instant kick tho.The 4ooo and 50000 will mash it down for loudness/character.

Nonsense.

Agreed.

Even tho it's kinda OT, with the OP getting a 1000 JJOS.

Actually the OP ended up getting Maschine:
http://www.native-instruments.com/forum ... p?p=920706

That just tells me that the OP is a little attention whore and he'd just yes'd his way into your hearts just so he can look cool saying " I'm getting the 1000 with JJ" Pretty boy is now at NI forums dangling his ass like fish bait!