just bought a used mpc2000xl. do i need a cd rom player to l

so i bought the mpc2000xl used and it didn't come with anything besides a cable to plug into the wall. upon reading the pdf version of the instruction manual i am under the assumption that my first order of business is loading samples onto my mpc. it sounds like i need to buy a cd rom player with a scsi cable (to match the input on the back of my mpc) as well as a cd with drum samples on it. that being said, i am also curious about the floppy disk drive. ive never used a floppy disk for anything in my life but it seems like a standard option within the mpc community. can i use floppy disks to load samples instead of a cd? should i purchase a cd rom player? what is the best way to buy samples? recommendations for specific products (hopefully on the less expensive side) are much appreciated. thank you so much.

spacebattle

The easiest way to get samples into your MPC is to sample from the input connection jacks on the rear.
You don't "need" a SCSI cd rom drive but getting one can help for getting samples off of a disc. SCSI products can be a bit costly though.
Get rid of the floppy drive and get a card reader ASAP. There are tutorials in the 2000XL forum on specific internal card readers to purchase and how to install it.

If you are new to the 2000XL, I'd seriously look into purchasing Tutor's "Beat Making on the MPC2000XL"... http://www.mpc-samples.com/product.php/48/beat-making-on-the-mpc2000xl/

thanks for responding. if by the input connection jacks you mean the 1/4" inputs labelled record in then my next question is how? i might be really ignorant when it comes to computers so i'm sorry if this is a dumb question... but what am i supposed to plug in to the 1/4" inputs? i have guitar cables but do i need an 1/8" adapter to plug into my computer?

i'm definitely going to buy the beatmaking instructional book and thank you for recommending it.

looking through the posts on card readers im confused about where i would install one. it doesn't look like it would fit into the place where my current disk drive is. also what kind of cards do card readers read? what kind of disk do you use to transfer files onto your mpc?

IF you are asking what cable to use, I would refrain from swapping out anything at this time. Go on ebay or office depot and get some floppys to start. Heck a yard sale may have some floppy disk but get some as soon as you can to start with.

To sample, you need to decide how you want you want to do it. I have used an ipdad with a mini hack to dual 1/4 inch (you can get this from guitar center or radio shack). If you want to sample records, you will need something to boost the signal. I recommend waiting to do that and just sample from your ipod for now just to learn.

Now I am makins some assumptions here that you are new to this. If I am wrong, please correct me. Main thing is you need to learn with spending as little as possible. You may just found out this isnt for you or at least legacy gear isnt for you. But nothing wrong with taking an ipod, sampling into your MPC and going from there. Ive sampled straight from youtube before and if I am just doing a sketch track.

spacebattle617 wrote:so i bought the mpc2000xl used and it didn't come with anything besides a cable to plug into the wall. upon reading the pdf version of the instruction manual i am under the assumption that my first order of business is loading samples onto my mpc. it sounds like i need to buy a cd rom player with a scsi cable (to match the input on the back of my mpc) as well as a cd with drum samples on it. that being said, i am also curious about the floppy disk drive. ive never used a floppy disk for anything in my life but it seems like a standard option within the mpc community. **1** can i use floppy disks to load samples instead of a cd? **2** should i purchase a cd rom player? **3**what is the best way to buy samples? recommendations for specific products (hopefully on the less expensive side) are much appreciated. thank you so much.

spacebattle

1. You can use a USB Floppy Drive (Like 20$ or less on ebay/amazon) for this. You need floppy disks first. Then you put them in the floppy drive, load sounds on them from the computer, and then when it's done, put the disc in the MPC. The manual should cover the rest of that process.

2. CD Rom player is sort of optional. Assuming your 2kXL has the floppy drive, I'd learn how to just use that first. I have like no knowledge on the CD Rom player anyways.

3. Buying samples? Specify whether you mean drum kits, vinyl records, or whatever. For drum kits, you can find them everywhere, I got some nice ones for under 5$ on Ebay. Also, producers usually sell their drums on their soundclicks. I wouldn't do that though, stick to ebay kits. If you want vinyl's you need a record player and all that other shit. You're better off sampling on a DAW then putting the .wav file on the floppy disk and then sending it to the MPC.

I think that's how it all works. If not, someone correct me.

OH. I had a huge problem with finding which cables I needed to use the MPC. Other than the power cable, you need a 1/8 to dual 1/4 to hook it up to speakers/inputs on computers:

http://origin-static.musiciansfriend.co ... 1_ends.jpg

The 1/4's go into the "Record in's" of your MPC, & the 1/8 goes into the other shit.

Again not sure if I'm right, I just got my MPC & don't even have these items in yet. Just seeing if I can help you.