MPC Comparison/Compatibility... Please help!

Okay, first post here. Basically, I wanted to start music production, so I messed around with my friend's Cubase 5 & the FL Studio (8?) demo. However, I couldn't stand doing it. I love the process of making beats, but the whole software/online thing was frustrating the shit out of me. I'm sort of a caveman when it comes to computers anyways. SO...

I decided to look into hardware. Not really into piano MIDI keyboard production or the Maschine shit. I like the whole MPC system. So, days of researching later, I've came to a conclusion.

I have enough money to get either:

MPC 2000 (used)
MPC 2kXL (used w/ Zip Drive)
MPC 500 (used, not really interested in this one)
MPC 1000 Black or Blue/Red (used)
MPC 2500 (used)

NOTE -- I'm unaware of the following (Stores far away, can't check):

-Whether or not the 1000/2500 have JJ OS or New Pads
-What the hell a "Zip Drive" is
-What accessories come with them

The 500 is just too small for me, the 1000/2500 are cool but I can't afford the JJ OS upgrades (yet). 2000/XL are my choices but I'm unsure of what else I'd need in accord to them. I have an Akai LPK25 Mini keyboard, if that's any help.

I want to produce entirely on the MPC if I can help it. The only thing I'd prefer doing on the computer is mixing. I'm going to be getting a turntable for sampling as well. Sampling's going to be a key part of my production style.

So basically, can any of you guys tell me which is best for MY scenario, what I'd need with each of those MPC systems, and anything else useful?

Thanks!

You don't need JJOS to get started on a 2500. In fact, I recommend a 2500. **** paying an extra $200 because JJ's cool, unless you're compelled to do so. Use it for what it is and ftw. 2500 is more up to date and more memory than a 2000XL. An MPC2500SE is all you'll need if you can find one.

Okay thanx man I'll search around for one right now. The JJ shit did seem overpriced, but I heard it's righteous. **** I guess. Anything I'll need with the 2500 or is it all there in one?

BasquiatDeLaMPC wrote:Okay thanx man I'll search around for one right now. The JJ shit did seem overpriced, but I heard it's righteous. **** I guess. Anything I'll need with the 2500 or is it all there in one?

I agree with Ill-Green.

Forget about JJOS for now, its not essential for beginners. Having said that the MPC1000 and MPC2500 work pretty much the same way, all you will really need is a compact flash card to save your work on, a pair of headphones and something to sample from (CD player, turntable/mixer, computer etc).

The MPC1000 is more suited to travelling with, but the screen doesn't tilt like on the MPC2500. If you go for the MPC1000 try to avoid the red/blue ones. Plenty of choice on ebay if you cant get to the shops, but only buy from sellers with good product descriptions, good photos and most importantly, good feedback ratings.

Also have a look in our hardware for sale section for good deals from fellow members.

viewforum.php?f=12

I think I might try a 1000 if I can find one with the nice pads.

The 2500 is pricey, I could get the 1000/2000 with upgrades for it's price.

The 2000/XL is still in competition only because I like simplicity. I feel like I'd do nice with this one.

One more question: Which has the easiest cutting and BPM locating system?

Clint wrote:

BasquiatDeLaMPC wrote:Okay thanx man I'll search around for one right now. The JJ **** did seem overpriced, but I heard it's righteous. **** I guess. Anything I'll need with the 2500 or is it all there in one?

I agree with Ill-Green.

Forget about JJOS for now, its not essential for beginners. Having said that the MPC1000 and MPC2500 work pretty much the same way, all you will really need is a compact flash card to save your work on, a pair of headphones and something to sample from (CD player, turntable/mixer, computer etc).

The MPC1000 is more suited to travelling with, but the screen doesn't tilt like on the MPC2500. If you go for the MPC1000 try to avoid the red/blue ones. Plenty of choice on ebay if you cant get to the shops, but only buy from sellers with good product descriptions, good photos and most importantly, good feedback ratings.

Also have a look in our hardware for sale section for good deals from fellow members.

viewforum.php?f=12

Alright I'll look in there. Any knowledge on how sampling from the 2k works? Thank you bruh.

I think you need to spend some time doing your homework. We have forums for each specific model where every question imaginable has already been asked. There are also hundreds of videos on YouTube which show exactly how each machine functions and what they are capable of.

To me it sounds like you want convenience, simplicity and features ready to go out of the box. The MPC1000 meets that criteria admirably, albeit with slightly smaller pads. If you want to journey inside a time-machine and go back 12-13 years, and have to concern yourself with floppy-discs, upgrades (card-readers, RAM, FX, outputs) and suspect LCD screens, the MPC2000XL *could* meet your needs.

One of these machines is capable of a lot more than the other, although you could make the exact same track on both. Out of the box in factory specification, the MPC1000 wins. Fully maxed out, I'd say the MPC2000XL is what I'd rather have.

Clint wrote:I think you need to spend some time doing your homework. We have forums for each specific model where every question imaginable has already been asked. There are also hundreds of videos on YouTube which show exactly how each machine functions and what they are capable of.

To me it sounds like you want convenience, simplicity and features ready to go out of the box. The MPC1000 meets that criteria admirably, albeit with slightly smaller pads. If you want to journey inside a time-machine and go back 12-13 years, and have to concern yourself with floppy-discs, upgrades (card-readers, RAM, FX, outputs) and suspect LCD screens, the MPC2000XL *could* meet your needs.

One of these machines is capable of a lot more than the other, although you could make the exact same track on both. Out of the box in factory specification, the MPC1000 wins. Fully maxed out, I'd say the MPC2000XL is what I'd rather have.

Yeah I'm only on my first week of researching sorry if these questions are simple lol. If I can figure out how the 2000 or 2kXL connects to the computer I'll buy it. I'm assuming you just connect the MPC to the Floppy Disc converter, then into the PC but I'm still researching lol. I'm considering the 1000 for sure though. Thank you!

Yes I concur, a 1000 is a good bet. If you get a dirt cheap blue one s/h you can upgrade the pads

http://www.mpcstuff.com/akai--mpc-1000- ... x-upg.html

Otherwise, welcome to hell trying find an ebay seller who can confirm if their black MPC1000 has new or old pads. There are ways to tell though, as long as the seller is prepared to check it out for you (50/50 chance they will be bothered in my experience).

As for JJOS, use the free one and see how you get on. It's basically the Akai OS with improvements.

MPC-Tutor wrote:Yes I concur, a 1000 is a good bet. If you get a dirt cheap blue one s/h you can upgrade the pads

http://www.mpcstuff.com/akai--mpc-1000- ... x-upg.html

Otherwise, welcome to hell trying find an ebay seller who can confirm if their black MPC1000 has new or old pads. There are ways to tell though, as long as the seller is prepared to check it out for you (50/50 chance they will be bothered in my experience).

As for JJOS, use the free one and see how you get on. It's basically the Akai OS with improvements.

Alright I'll start searching for one of those. This link says I can get a free pad upgrade kit if I purchase something? Yeah so far the Ebay sellers haven't cooperated with that sort of stuff lol. In terms of simplicity, is the 1000 w/ JJOS better than the 2k or 2kXL w/ the MPC Editor or the 2kXL editor I found on this site?

BasquiatDeLaMPC wrote:
If I can figure out how the 2000 or 2kXL connects to the computer I'll buy it. I'm assuming you just connect the MPC to the Floppy Disc converter, then into the PC but I'm still researching

The MPC2000/XL will not connect directly to a computer. Best you can hope for is to upgrade the floppy drive to a CF card-reader instead of using floppy discs to save your sounds, sequences and songs. Also the MIDI data (note information) can be sent to a computer through a MIDI INTERFACE, and the audio (sound) can be sent to a computer through an AUDIO INTERFACE.

There are differences between the MPC2000 and MPC2000XL which you should be aware of, they are not the same. I still suggest you're barking up the wrong tree here, the MPC1000 is modern and beginner friendly.

MPC1000 v MPC2000XL

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=156017&hilit=MPC2000

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=125070&hilit=MPC2000

MPC2000 v MPC2000XL

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=126036&hilit=MPC2000

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=106356&hilit=MPC2000

No point asking which is better; one machine is old while the other is new. Any editor software does not improve the machine, they are convenience tools for creating programs on a computer, nothing more. Good luck with your procrastinating...

Clint wrote:

BasquiatDeLaMPC wrote:
If I can figure out how the 2000 or 2kXL connects to the computer I'll buy it. I'm assuming you just connect the MPC to the Floppy Disc converter, then into the PC but I'm still researching

The MPC2000/XL will not connect directly to a computer. Best you can hope for is to upgrade the floppy drive to a CF card-reader instead of using floppy discs to save your sounds, sequences and songs. Also the MIDI data (note information) can be sent to a computer through a MIDI INTERFACE, and the audio (sound) can be sent to a computer through an AUDIO INTERFACE.

There are differences between the MPC2000 and MPC2000XL which you should be aware of, they are not the same. I still suggest you're barking up the wrong tree here, the MPC1000 is modern and beginner friendly.

MPC1000 v MPC2000XL

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=156017&hilit=MPC2000

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=125070&hilit=MPC2000

MPC2000 v MPC2000XL

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=126036&hilit=MPC2000

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=106356&hilit=MPC2000

No point asking which is better; one machine is old while the other is new. Any editor software does not improve the machine, they are convenience tools for creating programs on a computer, nothing more. Good luck with your procrastinating...

Not really procrastinating man, just researching before I buy a product. You told me to research too. Not to come off as rude or anything, I just thought that word was unnecessary. As for those comparisons, I don't care about the "sound" one has over the other, or the features either. Just which one would best suit a *complete* beginner that hates computer use. I'm not biased towards any system in general, just wondering what you more-experienced users can tell me. From what you just said I'm assuming with an audio interface I can transfer any beats/samples/sounds to and from the MPC to the computer? Any recommended ones or do they all work fine?

Thank you again for replying everyone

BasquiatDeLaMPC wrote:

Clint wrote:

BasquiatDeLaMPC wrote:
If I can figure out how the 2000 or 2kXL connects to the computer I'll buy it. I'm assuming you just connect the MPC to the Floppy Disc converter, then into the PC but I'm still researching

The MPC2000/XL will not connect directly to a computer. Best you can hope for is to upgrade the floppy drive to a CF card-reader instead of using floppy discs to save your sounds, sequences and songs. Also the MIDI data (note information) can be sent to a computer through a MIDI INTERFACE, and the audio (sound) can be sent to a computer through an AUDIO INTERFACE.

There are differences between the MPC2000 and MPC2000XL which you should be aware of, they are not the same. I still suggest you're barking up the wrong tree here, the MPC1000 is modern and beginner friendly.

MPC1000 v MPC2000XL

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=156017&hilit=MPC2000

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=125070&hilit=MPC2000

MPC2000 v MPC2000XL

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=126036&hilit=MPC2000

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=106356&hilit=MPC2000

No point asking which is better; one machine is old while the other is new. Any editor software does not improve the machine, they are convenience tools for creating programs on a computer, nothing more. Good luck with your procrastinating...

Not really procrastinating man, just researching before I buy a product. You told me to research too. Not to come off as rude or anything, I just thought that word was unnecessary. As for those comparisons, I don't care about the "sound" one has over the other, or the features either. Just which one would best suit a *complete* beginner that hates computer use. I'm not biased towards any system in general, just wondering what you more-experienced users can tell me. From what you just said I'm assuming with an audio interface I can transfer any beats/samples/sounds to and from the MPC to the computer? Any recommended ones or do they all work fine?

Thank you again for replying everyone

An audio interface is between your equipment. You cannot transfer "files" through an audio interface but you can transfer MIDI commands, digital and analog sound in real-time (each interface has it's own specifications). Don't get this confused with transferring files though.

In theory, you could have a computer going out to an audio interface, then the audio interface going into your MPC to record samples.

If you have questions about audio interfaces and working with a computer/equipment in that regard I suggest you look or post on the Studio or DAW sub-forum.

Newer machines have USB connections to transfer files but older machines require floppy, compact disk or zip disk.

Hierophant/Fool wrote:An audio interface is between your equipment. You cannot transfer "files" through an audio interface but you can transfer MIDI commands, digital and analog sound in real-time (each interface has it's own specifications). Don't get this confused with transferring files though.

In theory, you could have a computer going out to an audio interface, then the audio interface going into your MPC to record samples.

If you have questions about audio interfaces and working with a computer/equipment in that regard I suggest you look or post on the Studio or DAW sub-forum.

Newer machines have USB connections to transfer files but older machines require floppy, compact disk or zip disk.

I got the 2000 w/ a usb floppy drive. So until I start sampling thru a turntable I don't think I need the audio interface. I'll ask a question on there now though, thanks.