HELP!!!! What MPC should I get?

I know it's a pretty stupid question, because it's mostly personal preference, but I've been thinking of getting one to start making beats. I've been listening to some Flying Lotus and wondered what he started with. But what I'm really looking for is an MPC that doesn't need to be connected to a computer. Well it can but I'd like one that still works good without it. Also maybe beginner friendly. Don't know if I should go with akai MPC or just another kind.

P.S. I'd like something affordable around the $300-$400. So I guess something not too fancy, but decent.

well in that price range, you pretty much only have the 2000, maybe the 2000xl if you get a deal... the 500.. and maybe the 1000 if you get a deal.

I would personally like the 2000xl out of those models... but for you, try and go for a 500 or a 1000... they are the newest models in that list.

when looking at the 1000, it might be tough to get one at that price because you need to make sure it has the newer pads and not the old system they originally came with on the blue and red ones. A lot of the time people have changed them and put the pad upgrade in them.

Ok, thanks I'll be sure to check it out.

1K w/ any JJOS (including the free one). I found mine for $275 before haggling... blue with the bad pads. If you went this way it would probably benefit you to wait until you found one with the new pad setup. Otherwise, eventually you'll invest an extra $175 (before shipping) on the new ones.

If you're not already familiar with the infrastructure of MPCs, you might feel completely lost on a 500. 99.7% of the functionality is there but it is laid out quite different from the rest of the family.

If you're keen on saving up a few more bones then maybe a 2500 w/ JJOS is a better route, depending. Bigger pads (that are also NOT the same ones as the 1K, which means no worry about which manufacturing run you get), more audio & MIDI I/O.

Between the MPC 1000 and 2500... outside of hardware... there are ZERO differences you put JJOS on them (depending on the OS version of course! )

Peace!