2000XL Starting Point Help

I don't mean to re-post something that's been beaten to death or annoy anybody but I'm not sure where else to start and the amount of information on this forum is a lot to wrap my head around right now.

I just got my FIRST mpc last night, 2000xl, and I'm totally stumped on where to even begin. These are my thoughts and if you have any help please let me know.

-I want to set this thing back to factory default settings and start fresh - how do I do that? I read turning it on and holding ERASE but i wanted to make sure before trying.
-This thing came loaded with ZERO sounds. Is that normal? I would at least think there might be one program of drum sounds on here just to get started with..is there a way to take the stock sounds off another MP, like the 1000 and load then on here so I at least have something to play with while I learn the machine or do I need to figure out sampling before I even know how to use the machine?
-the note variation slider is loose and there is some dirt/grime in between the buttons. I'd like to remove the housing and tidy things up. Is there a walk through on removing the case?
-What types of 1/4" plugs are used in the back to go to and from the mp? I thought I read something about specific connections and only certain ones would work, shielded or maybe it had an acronym, like TDS or something? Just need to know exactly how to get sounds to and from this thing.
-How do I test the Note Variation slider? I read there's a menu where you can test the sliders (I went into shift+5, shift+f1 but didn't see anything for the note variation). I don't even know what it does but it's loose and I want to make sure it works otherwise replace it.

Sorry for the noob questions, once I get some sounds in and sounds coming out then I should be ok with teaching myself how to use it, it's just there's so much at once right now so it's difficult to get my head around it. I've downloaded a PDF of the manual so I will be reading that and purchasing the xltutorial from this site as well once I have something I can work with.

That's right, MPC2000XL has no sounds built in. You have to sample them in or load them from a disk.
You'll also need to know that this machine does not hold the sounds etc when you turn it off. You need to save your work to a disk of some kind (floppy, zip, hard drive Compact flash etc) and reload them in when you want them.

I'd recommend connecting the inputs to a sound source (if you don't have a TT use a CD player or a radio etc. to start you off) and read the section of the manual on Sampling.
Make some samples , read about adding them to a Program and assigning sounds to the pads, and when you have done that read about how to save and load from a disk.
If you have the flopppy drive you could start with saving to that (but keep your samples fairly short cos a floppy doesn't hold much).
Then you will be equipped to start creating.
Select the Program you made in the Main window and bash the pads.



Read and learn the manual.

Have fun!

Yo thanks for the input. I just hooked the record in to my interfaces OUTS so I just tried sampling something from the computer and that seems to work and I have sound out of my monitors so that's all good. This zip disk isn't going to work though so I'm going to get a cf ide adapter and install that, after I figure out how to load the 1.2 os.. Question though, is there anyway I can download the sounds/programs from another mpc and load that in here so I have at least some sounds to start off with. I NEED some drums in here before I start leanring to sample my own..that's like learning to ride a bicycle before learning to walk.. but if what I understand, even if i had sounds to put on here, I'd need to have them on a disk to load off of, right? This thing has no internal type of memory to save sounds too? Also, what software would you recommend to create the programs on the computer. I feel like this might be the fastest way to get started (let me know if I'm wrong though).

Thanks. I'm trying to tackle the manual now, lots of pages to go through and no drums to play

ok bottom line it's a sampler. get to sampling.
that is step one.
yes, there are ways to put other people's sounds on it, but since you are so new, and since you are basically working with a machine that is a decade behind all the other technology in some aspects, you will be better off just sampling first. putting some sounds from the internet or something basically involves putting the sounds on some medium that you can then put in the mpc...zip/floppy/cf card...whatever you can access both from the pc and the mpc.

no there's no way to 'download sounds/programs' from another mpc, other than just sampling it as if it were any other sampling source. again, just use your interface and play a kick drum. sample it. now play a snare drum. sample it. you now have some sounds to work with, and you need to learn about 'trimming' them in the machine so they hit at the correct time.

it has internal memory but that memory is wiped clean whenever you turn the machine off/on.

there is some software to create programs on the computer but i wouldn't recommend it at this point.

that mpc was made before gear -> computer integration was a big deal...i mean we were just happy it read wav files. if you want tighter computer integration you need to look into the newer mpcs. the xl is a professional machine and is definitely not idiot proof - you have to put the time in to learn it.

but i promise, it's worth it. get off the internet for a while and put a couple drum sounds in there and just start playing around...sample the sounds, trim them, put them on pads, then play those pads, hit record, then add a track ...repeat. you'll understand once you start doing it.

Sounds like you bought the wrong MPC.

Judging from your expectations the 1000 or 500 would have been better for you.

For a completely new user, learning to walk (MPC1000/ 500) is relatively easy to work with whereas learning to ride a bike (MPC60/ 3000/ 2000/ 2000XL) is fraught with danger like floppies, zip drives, dying screens and sample compatability issues.

Buying a machine you don't know, planning to upgrade drives and asking where to get sounds is a recipe for disaster.

The time you will waste dealing with legacy MPC issues really will be wasted if you later decide to jump ship and try another angle.

I hope you didn't buy it because Kanye uses one.