Unsure about Z4 or Z8...then read? MPC4000 similarities

Hi All,
I have been asked the same question a few times about the Z4. So I made a video explaining some things about the MPC4000 and the Z4.
Sound on Sound magazine has a great write up about the Z series if you need more info.
BTW I make a mistake saying that the MPC doesn't play Standard Midi Files (SMF)....I meant to say that I don't see a quick button for it like in the Z4.



Please if you know of any tricks regarding the usage of the two machines please add it to the video's page. When I was first looking into Akai gear I tried to find basic info, such as this, and very little was out there.

Cheers,
Ian

more info on Z and MPC 4000:

http://en.audiofanzine.com/sampler/akai/Z-8/user_reviews/

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/509090-akai-z8-mpc4000-tricks-tips-7.html

Good stuff Ian. You should do some more youtube vids for beginners. I know they dont get much views but over the years they will a valuable resource for people interested in picking up an MPC4k or one of the Z range. How many slice and dice MPC videos do we need...
I dont have anything to add to the differences between the Zs and the 4ks.

I had read that gearslutz thread before. There is some interesting stuff but I felt the thread starter was over-hyping the complexity of the Z4. Enough to put any newcomer off.

I read some of the views from other link you provided. Almost immediately someone blurts out "Its a little thin sounding". Its not a little thin sounding at all. I have tested this. Its a very accurate representation of what you put in to it. I bet I could trace the thin sound hype back to MPC60 owners when the 4k was released. In saying that there are good user reviews there. Hadnt seen that site before - thanks.

My current favourite EQ plugin which loads of other people adore has an automatic built in low cut off - just as a lot of expensive hardware EQs have. Even if the 4k did drop the very low end a little theres nothing wrong with that.

thanks for this, the 4000 & Z4 manuals are mammoth so I never bothered to figure out the exact details. It speaks leagues for the 4000 though! I was expecting it to fit the usual pattern of the earlier MPC models and their corresponding S series samplers.

Can you post a simple "how-to" for connecting a MIDI key controller? I have the Alesis Q49, followed the instructions in both manuals, yet get a "delay" from the Alesis even when I have the ADSR for a quick response, like a piano setting. I trouble checked everything I was supposed to, yet the delay is still there. It would be nice if it could be a "general" set-up and a MPK set up, I have a MPK-25 too. Thank you Ian!

Mad Cherokee