Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
User avatar
By Ian Canefire Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:28 pm
Hi, I just purchased a 4000. I am very happy to be an owner of a machine with such potential. My unit had one previous owner and he hardly used it. It looks brand new, no soil, scraps or anything. You can see that the faders most have never been touched.
I plan on maxxing out the RAM to 512 and possibly adding the digital interface. I already own a Z4 that has the extra outputs and the digital i/o.
My goal is to use this live. I make DnB, Dub reggae, and house music. I have never owned this type of drum machine. My goal is to find ways to cut up and break up the "Amen Break" and other break beat drums. Hopefully I will get the hang of this unit soon.
So are there any House and DnB heads in this MPC4000 forum? Anyone in here stationed in Washington DC, Philly, NY, London, Montreal, JoBurg, Cape Town or Jamaica? I tend to travel to these places and would enjoy meeting other dance DJ's. Obviously there are lots of hip-hop heads (I love underground stuff). I've been looking for threads from the dance music folk.
I will be in London in May(Batchwood) and in July(venue unknown). Not sure if I will be ready with the MPC yet. Maybe I can check out your shows...or you mine. Gotta network with each other.
Cheers,
Ian CaneFire
DC
User avatar
By JUKE 179r Tue Apr 10, 2012 1:48 am
I don't have a 4000 but a 2000XL and use it for everything from Dubstep & Grime to Dancehall to Hip Hop to House to DnB. It's all up to you what you want your 4000 to do for you.
Good choice and good luck!!!
User avatar
By Ian Canefire Tue Apr 10, 2012 2:03 pm
Glad to meet you all,

@ SZR, I'm sure your "house" head looked better than some "Industrial" heads I have known. lol

@everyone else, I should be in Montreal in the late August. I enjoy Montreal in the summer, nice city, plus they have festivals.
This being my first MPC I am still reading the manual. I already understand the sampling section because I have other sampling boxes...I want to read everything I can and then get an idea in my mind before I start using the sequencer. If you have any tips please share. I saw some videos made by ProfessorQuack on Youtube and they were great usages of the synth in the 4000.
Cheers,

Ian
Mixchpelted records LLC
By szr Tue Apr 10, 2012 6:58 pm
:lol:
My only tip is not to read the manual, dig in, do alot of experimentation, and try to make a lot of songs with it.. If you're tripping up on certain things, google them then try the manual.
You won't have any problems figuring out the 4k, it's intuitive... use the open windows key on everything! you'll know it like the back of your ass in no time.