McSmooth, great posts!
Man..you hit on so many valid points I am speechless (for once). I think people need to really pay attention to what you just wrote.
5k owners want all the 4k features implemented to shut up the 4k owners saying it is missing key features, even though I would bet most of them wouldn't make much use of them (or they wouldn't have moved on in the first place). 4k owners hate on the 5k because they rely on features that don't exist on the 5k and feel the new "flagship" does not earn the title of "flagship". Keep in mind that there are probably only about 100 of those 4k people left in the world that know what they are talking about though!
100% accurate. For the most part, I am satisfied with my MPC 5000. I mainly want just some global editing parameters, enhancements to chop shop, and anything that would enhanced the way external modules work alongside the MPC (like import patch scripts). Everything else is a bonus. While the 4K users (and cats that don't use either MPC) have been hating on the 5K as well as insulting its users...I/We have been working overtime creating thread after thread..post after post..so Akai/Numark/Alesis (and even Jesus) would be aware of what these dudes want in an MPC. If they really wanted an MPC 4000 type flag-ship (remember that thread), they would have invested time giving positive feedback instead of all this negative BS and doing everything to try to discredit other forum members and Akai. You guys missed a great opportunity....some of you dummies ran off the beta testers and the moderators didn't do anything. In spite of this, an OS update with bug fixes is coming.
When Akai decides to add some of these user requested features, I bet catz will still say "it should have shipped this way to begin with" or "Its great it has this feature now, but it doesn't do this." In the words of Sho Nuff and XXL Magazine "Negro please."
I don't see any reason why the 5k couldn't add some 4k-like features such as keygroup programs. What might be holding them back is the actual user desire and doing it in a less confusing way. They can't just copy the code over from the 4k, because those MPCs are structured completely different. Once you throw the multi concept and program differences from the S/Z samplers in there, it would screw up the way the machine works and piss all of the owners off.
This is the bottom line....to implement new features without messing up the work flow. For example...similar machines assigns a program to a part, and then assign a part to a sequencer track for recording. Maybe there is a good reason for this. But why not just assign the program straight to the sequencer track? Cut out the darn middle man. The 5K and future highend MPCs must retain the same MPC workflow.
Sure the S6000 was a beast of its time, but the amount of libraries developed for it pale in comparison to the older format and few really made use of its unique features. There must be some, but I honestly do not know of a single commercial Z/mpc4k specific library out there.
If you find a commercial library that supports the unique features of the S6000, please let me know. The MPC Z series/4K samplers still pretty much use this format. I have found numerous S1000/3000 libraries. These are not that impressive and I can create programs in any of these latest MPCs and make it sound exactly like an MPC 4000 or any other keymap sampler.
So the importance of the 4k's sampler clearly is only appreciated by a select few doing their own programming and/or wanting an Akai rack sampler packed into the same box. I think it would be safe to say that the majority of people that use some form of sampler never use it to sample libraries/kits themselves, only load existing ones and use it like a ROMpler (just like presets on a synth). If that is true and there are no libraries to show any advantage to the features, it is no surprise that the features did not carry on.
Well said indeed. I would like to add...the importance of the 4k's sampler clearly is only appreciated by a select few
claiming they do their own programming. I have been hearing so much about Muliti's. These hardware keymap samplers only have 512 MB of memory. Some of the decent commerical keymap programs I found are 128 MB in size. That only gives you 4 programs in your multi and maxing out the memory in an MPC is never a good thing. This is one of the reason why people have a rack full of samplers or now using software samplers/instruments. If you are just going to load and play, use a Rompler that samples or software. At least with the Rompler, you get more synth type parameters than any MPC has to offer. A highend MPC should still focus on what made the MPC a legend. Its straight forward sampling and MIDI sequencing. MPC 5K should focus more on using the Q-links to modulate internal sample/synth programs was well as external sound modules. A modulation matrix (if we really need such a thing) should be built into the Q-links.
The MPC 5000 has been in development for a few years I suspect so its core features will probably not change drastically. But the next MPC should have something like a Fusion type OS and even have a Rompler on-board. I have a feeling Roland might beat Akai to the punch on this one. If Roland puts a Fantom inside the MV (Rompler not just samples stored in RAM)..even I will be speechless.
.
