MPC4K vs. MPC2K

Hi all, big ups to everyone in here....I'm trying to "be like Mike" as well. I guess I'm just looking for some encouragement here. I'm deciding between the 2000xl and the 4000 Production station, with Cd drive . Not that I need the burner, but I would rather have Cd's instead of floppy's or zips, and the internal memory seems like it would be a big help. Anything else I should take into consideration?? I have dabbled with the 2000....should I stick with that or spend a few extra for the 4000?? Is it worth it?? Any words of wisdom are truly appreciated.[/b]

It depends on how far you want to go into producing (owing a studio). I owned a MPC 2000 for about 3 years, and now own a 4K. It seems to me that the 4K is better all arround, but still in the development process when it comes to the Operating System. This means that it is not as stable as the 2k that I am used to. But, the extra features of 4K (512meg ram vs. 32megs on the 2K, multiple program use, Q link, and lots more) makes it worth the sacrifice of stablilty. Dont wory, the stability and bugs (minor) will be worked out as the OS is updated. This will be a very stable machine. This is the only hardware sampler that can compete with soft samplers. It IS the most powerfull and versitile hardware sampler on the market. PERIOD. The 2K is good enough if you are a DJ/producer who is really into sampling and using loops. The 4k is what you want to get if you are more of a Producer/musician because the 4K can be used as a conventional sampler and controlled by an external keyboard. It will load sample programs from the S series and many other brands. Other than memory, this is THE biggest difference between the two, and is what really sold me on the 4K. Spend the extra $$!!!

Actually, THE biggest difference between the 2k(xl) and 4k is 16 bit vs. 24 bit conversion. The 4k also has the capability to run at a sampling rate of 96khz. Because of those factors, the 4k sounds infinitely better than previous incarnations of the MPC. If you don't understand the theory behind conversion and sample rate, do yourself a big favor and research it. The 16 bit MPC's will become relics - classic relics, soon. Kinda like the SP1200. 16 bit gear is becoming less valuable everyday. Black ADAT's suck don't they? They sound like crap. All ADATS suck, really. They only got up to 20/48k. Look at it like this, would you buy a black and white TV, or a color one?[/i]

Actually, THE biggest difference between the 2k(xl) and 4k is 16 bit vs. 24 bit conversion.

Yes this is a huge difference between the two, but I did not mention it because this is standard on most new digital audio machines on the market now. But for me, even if it was still 16bit, it would still be the sickest hard sampler out because of its user features, not its sample rate or bit conversion. Thats just the cherry on top. We are on the same page bro. Peace.

Also, unless you have been recording/sampling in 24bit/96K while building up your sample library, most of the sounds you import to the 4K will have a 16bit/48K origin, so they will not have the 24/96k quality to begin with. The 24/96k aspect only comes in if you are sampling directly to the 4k or importing 24/96k files. Better days ahead!

The cherry on top is the user features. Akai had to make this machine 24/96 just to keep up with the times. So conversion/sample rate makes it the biggest difference between the old and the new. Go to the website and you'll notice that it's the first thing they mention about the 4k. Marketing. Also, most producers do sample directly into the MP. You still have converters on the outputs, and 24 bit converters will ALWAYS sound better than 16 bit converters. I think that HJL is looking to get started with sampling, so he can build his library on a 24/96 platform. Maximize your input level and use up all those bits!

I JUST WENT THREW ALL OF THIS OVER THE LAST 4 OR 5 MONTHS TRYING TO DECIDE....

THE 2KXL IS ROCK SOLID..... YOU DEFINETLY GET YOUR MONEYS WORTH AND I HAVE SEEN A FRIEND DO SOME AMAZING SHIT WITH THE 2KXL.....ON THE OTHER HAND....
THE 4000( CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG) CAN DO ALL THE THINGS OF THE 2KXL AND MUCH MORE. (WHEN ITS FINALLY DONE) THE MANUEL FOR THE 4000 SUCKS......

THE MAIN FACTOR IN ALL OF THIS IS WHAT DO YOU PLAN ON USING THE MPC FOR AND WHAT KIND OF BUDGE DO YOU HAVE... IF LETTING GO OF 3 GRAND IS NO BIG DEAL FOR YOU. DEFINITLY GO WITH THE 4000.
NO MATTER WHAT THEY COME OUT WITH IN THE FUTURE. THE 4000 IS STILL 24 BIT AND PLENTY OF ROOM FOR JUST ABOUT ANY IDEA YOU WOULD HAVE. THERE ARE ALOT OF SMART PEOPLE ON THE FORUM THAT CAN HELP WITH ANY CHOICE.

IF YOU ARE A BROKE ASS PERSON LIKE MYSELF, THEN COMES THE BIG DECISION OF WHAT MUSIC MEANS TO YOU. AND IF IT IS WORTH IT.... I LOVE MUSIC AND ALWAYS WILL.... I HOPE TO HAVE MY 4000 FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
I AM VERY NEW TO THE MACHINE, SO THE FIRST 3 OR 4 DAYS I WAS CONFUSED WITH ITS FUNCTIONS. ONLY TILL LAST NIGHT DID I CRACK INTO SOME OF ITS BASIC FUNCTIONS. BUT, I CAN SEE THE POWER IT HAS.

I GUESS I FIGURED THAT IF I'M GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY ON SOMETHING... I WOULD RATHER GET THE 4000 AND A GOOD WARRENTY AND GO FROM THERE....

NOW IF YOU ARE A VERY SMART PERSON WITH A LOT OF COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE, THEN YOU MAY CONSIDER A 2KXL AND SOME GOOD MUSIC SOFTWARE.

BOTTOM LINE WHEN YOU GET RIGHT TO IT IS . HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO SPEND WITHOUT KICKING YOUR SELF.... AND HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE MUSIC AND SEE YOURSELF WORKING WITH IT IN THE FUTURE....

BY THE WAY, ANY OF THE MPC'S ARE DOPE AS HELL AND AFTER A MONTH OR SO, THEY ARE PRETTY EASY TO USE..... THAT IS WHY I LIKE THEM, THEY DON'T TAKE THE FUN OUT OF BEING CREATIVE.

MPC3000/Triton LE/ProTools....the top 20 sound right there.


2KXL vs. 4000....4000 wins if you got the money.

Thank you all for the feedback. Still havn't made up my mind but I'm more leaning towards the 4000. As far as sounds, do both systems require same discs? Or are there new discks made specifically for the 4000? I know, another lame question, but I had to ask.

Get the 4000 or you will kick yourself in the ass down the road. Sh*ts mad advanced. 2000 is like the jeans you outgrow and kick down to your little brother.

This is the feed back i get from everyone who has a mpc 4000? I feel most of yall use the 4000 alot for samples. If that is your style then i think what the 4000 will give a person from ram to sound then the 4000 is a must have. Me i own a 2000 xl and Motif and my style is more on the keybooard side so i get my sounds more from a keyboard so i will use the xl 90% of the time with out samples other than the drums and if that is the case then i dont think drums alone is worth 3000 dollars or more. But if i was a big sampler beat maker the 4000 would give me a hard on but not for what i do right now with the price. At the end of the day its all about the flip.....get what you need to make the moeny you spend back and then some.......i know with xl and good keyboard i will make some gee's this year so each is own.

I sampled,and got rid of my keyboards,because of the 4000. I also purchased a shit load of cd's,and that's all I've been using. I like the fact that the 4000 can be an all in one unit,and not just emulate one. I've actually began sampling my virtual synths from Logic because my mp is easier to use.