Do I need my MPC 4000 anymore?

Now that I have a Kurzweil K2600r? I bought a kurzweil k2600 rack about 1.5 - 2 weeks ago. Originally I had planned on only using it as a sound module/snyth, Im planning on getting all the extra Rom boards also.

I was going to continue to use my MPC 4000 to sample and sequence on and of course to do drum sequencing on the 16 mpc pads.

But now, after about 2 weeks of using the K2600r Im finding out how versitle and flexible it is... and how easy it is to use. I mean It can do absolutly everything that the MPC 4000 can do (and easier) PLUS about a Thousand other things.

I love the k2600 sequencer, it gives me the option to use it as a Linear or a Pattern sequencer. I never really liked pattern sequencing in the 1st place except for drum sequencing. But with the K2600 I can actually use it as both a Pattern and a Linear sequencer AT THE SAME TIME.

For example, Ive been reading on these boards for awhile now that people would like to be able to have 2 or more Tracks within the same Sequence set for different bar lengths. Like say you have a 2 Bar DRUM loop going, but you want to have a 4 bar BASS part and a 8 bar melody line. What I used to do was repeatedly copy the 2 bar drum loop and paste it over and over untill it was 8bars and do the same thing for the 4 bar bass loop, So that I could have everything equal for the loop.

Well on the K2600 I can create the 2 bar drum loop, but then when I go to record the Melody line, all I have to do is set the PLAYBACK TRACK of the already recorded drum loop to LOOP MODE.... BUT have the RECORD TRACK of the soon to be created melody line set to LINEAR MODE. While recording the melody line, the k2600 will continue to playback the drum loop as a loop untill I stope recording my LINEAR melody line. IT automaticly converts my DRUM LOOP TRACK to Whatever the bar length is of my LINEAR-LY recorded melody line.

Now thats just one thing thats cool, On top of that It has a really cool DSP engine (KDFX), and something called LIVE MODE in which I can use the sampling input in conjunction with the DSP engine to Process any incoming signal in REAL TIME. I can plug a guitar into the sampling input and have the DSP engine process the incoming signal, I can even use the Mod Wheel to pitch bend the incoming analog signal. So I can basicly use it as a Effects Module for reverb, delays etc... for my other gear if I want.

I only have the R model not the RS with the sampling option, I wasnt even planning on buying the sampling option because I was going to use the MPC 4000 to sample with, But now..... What the hell do I need the MPC 4000 for.

Can someone out there give me some good reason why I need to Keep the MPC 4000 with my Keyboard Module can do everything it can and a thousand other things a hell of a lot easier. Im thinking about just selling the 4000 and get some other outboard effects gear.

Thanks

4000is1monster wrote:Now that I have a Kurzweil K2600r? I bought a kurzweil k2600 rack about 1.5 - 2 weeks ago. Originally I had planned on only using it as a sound module/snyth, Im planning on getting all the extra Rom boards also.

I was going to continue to use my MPC 4000 to sample and sequence on and of course to do drum sequencing on the 16 mpc pads.

But now, after about 2 weeks of using the K2600r Im finding out how versitle and flexible it is... and how easy it is to use. I mean It can do absolutly everything that the MPC 4000 can do (and easier) PLUS about a Thousand other things.

I love the k2600 sequencer, it gives me the option to use it as a Linear or a Pattern sequencer. I never really liked pattern sequencing in the 1st place except for drum sequencing. But with the K2600 I can actually use it as both a Pattern and a Linear sequencer AT THE SAME TIME.

For example, Ive been reading on these boards for awhile now that people would like to be able to have 2 or more Tracks within the same Sequence set for different bar lengths. Like say you have a 2 Bar DRUM loop going, but you want to have a 4 bar BASS part and a 8 bar melody line. What I used to do was repeatedly copy the 2 bar drum loop and past it untill it was 8bars and do the same thing for the 4 bar bass loop, So that I could have everything equal for the loop.

Well on the K2600 I can create the 2 bar drum loop, but then when I go to record the Melody line, all I have to do is set the PLAYBACK TRACK of the already recorded drum loop to LOOP MODE.... BUT have the RECORD TRACK of the soon to be created melody line set to LINEAR MODE. While recording the melody line, the k2600 will continue to playback the drum loop as a loop untill I stope recording my LINEAR melody line. IT automaticly streaches my DRUM LOOP TRACK to Whatever the length is of my LINEAR-LY recorded melody line.

Now thats just one thing thats cool, On top of that It has a really cool DSP engine (KDFX), and something called LIVE MODE in which I can use the sampling input in conjunction with the DSP engine to Process any incoming signal in REAL TIME. I can plug a guitar into the sampling input and have the DSP engine process the incoming signal, I can even use the Mod Wheel to pitch bend the incoming analog signal.

I only have the R model not the RS with the sampling option, I wasnt even planning on buying the sampling option because I was going to use the MPC 4000 to sample with, But now..... What the hell do I need the MPC 4000 for.

Can someone out there give me some good reason why I need to Keep the MPC 4000 with my Keyboard Module can do everything it can and a thousand other things a hell of a lot easier. Im thinking about just selling the 4000 and get some other outboard effects gear.

Thanks

Be a man and make your own decision get rid of it.!!! Two years from now whatever lesson you learn will be on you ha ha!!! From a former Triton Studio owner that had too much gear. Peace out.

P.S Change your name to Kurzwellmonster as well.

Less is more!!!

If you need the money, sell it. There is no reson you could not use both together

To the people commenting that I have "too much gear" or that "less is more". Am I the only one on this board that has more then just a MPC 4000? Surely some of you have multiple keybards, outboard effects boxes, computer software etc... in addition to your MPC 4000. And at some point felt that maybe one of your older pieces of gear is now obsolete.

Thank you for ur response LT, I do not need the money, I dont want multiple pieces of gear that do just about the same thing. I paid a lil over 2k for the MPC 4000 and a lot less for the K2600 and the k2600 sequencer is really begining to grow on me. The only reason I can think of right now to have an mpc is to bang out drum tracks with the pads. But Im not having a 2 thousand dollar piece sit around just for tapping out drums.

I could sell the 4000, get a 1000 for under a grand and still have a hell of a lot left over for some other things.

sounds to me, like you have answered your own question.

Lord Toranaga wrote:sounds to me, like you have answered your own question.

I would have to agree, it sounds like the decision is already made.

For myself, it would need to have Real Time Track Mute and Real Time
Next Sequence functions to be even considered, but that's a requirement
that I require.

If you know every component of the MPC 4000 and have used every feature and feel that EVERY feature is reproduced completely on the Kurzweil and you'll never use it in the future, then go for it.

Some things that I can NOT live with on the Kurzweil is:

* 4MB sample memory upgradable to 128MB (units sold in the US come with 64MB)

* 32 track sequencer with full editing

* 16 MIDI channels, each can be a 32 layer program

* With a maximum internal resolution of 768 ppq

* 1 x MIDI In, Out and Thru (Thru switchable to a copy of Out)

* 16 bit / 44.1 khz



With that said, I would LOVE a Kurzweil 2000/2500/2600/2661 to compliment my MPC 4000

GO A WEEK WITH OUT USEING THE 4K

I THOUGHT I COULD AFTER GITTING DEEP INTO NUENDO AND I HAVE NATIVE INSTRUMENTS - KONTAKT 2.5, BATTERY1 , VOKATOR ,B4 ORGAN 1, ABSYNTH 2, PRO 53&52, REACTOR 3, FM7, SPECTRAL DELAY AND GUITAR RIG 1.1 NOT TO MENTION ALL THE SHYT I GOT FROM EDIROL , THE KORG LEGACY....... I MEAN I COULD GO ON FOR EVER ABOUT ALL THE VSTIs AND VST EFFECTS I GOT BUT I STILL FIND USE FOR MY PROTEUS 2000 AND tRYING TO GET MY FLOW WITH OUT THE 4K WAS HELL SO i PUT IT BACK IN AFTER A HALF DAY OF NOT USING IT. IT JUST MAKES THING EASIER

4000is1monster wrote:To the people commenting that I have "too much gear" or that "less is more". Am I the only one on this board that has more then just a MPC 4000? Surely some of you have multiple keybards, outboard effects boxes, computer software etc... in addition to your MPC 4000. And at some point felt that maybe one of your older pieces of gear is now obsolete.

Thank you for ur response LT, I do not need the money, I dont want multiple pieces of gear that do just about the same thing. I paid a lil over 2k for the MPC 4000 and a lot less for the K2600 and the k2600 sequencer is really begining to grow on me. The only reason I can think of right now to have an mpc is to bang out drum tracks with the pads. But Im not having a 2 thousand dollar piece sit around just for tapping out drums.

I could sell the 4000, get a 1000 for under a grand and still have a hell of a lot left over for some other things.

If you don't need the money don't sell it. Me personally, I had alot of gear that I sold years ago, and I wish that I never had sold it I miss my juno 106, I did get my alesis quadraverb back. I told myself that I would never get rid of any equipment if I don't have to. BTW I have a korg triton and I like some features on that better than the mpc 4000, but the mpc is so much better overall and much more user friendly.

4000is1monster wrote:To the people commenting that I have "too much gear" or that "less is more". Am I the only one on this board that has more then just a MPC 4000? Surely some of you have multiple keybards, outboard effects boxes, computer software etc... in addition to your MPC 4000. And at some point felt that maybe one of your older pieces of gear is now obsolete.

Thank you for ur response LT, I do not need the money, I dont want multiple pieces of gear that do just about the same thing. I paid a lil over 2k for the MPC 4000 and a lot less for the K2600 and the k2600 sequencer is really begining to grow on me. The only reason I can think of right now to have an mpc is to bang out drum tracks with the pads. But Im not having a 2 thousand dollar piece sit around just for tapping out drums.

I could sell the 4000, get a 1000 for under a grand and still have a hell of a lot left over for some other things.

You aren`t the only one and definitively aren`t the last to have multiple gear. In the beginning we have alot of gear that takes time to learn the basics and functions. In the later years we use less gear because we have master your prime instrument for most of your needs. Then it is just a question of really learning music rhythm, chords, motifs and lastly engineering. The gear that you feel most comfortable on should be your primary you don`t need redundant gear that does essentially the same thing if you are sampling. If you want a keyboard for it`s Rom sounds buy a sample CD If you play keys pretty well get a midi keyboard and play keygroup programs. If you want to edit the sequences attach to you DAW. I can go on and on. But you still need a main, primary instrument that you the musician will have to master. That takes time, patience, effort, and sweat. The real question is which instrument would you prefer to put in work to master and perform your music on? You don`t really need a lot of gear. The best piece of gear is your brain.

Synthesis, Controller changes, loop sequencing, Live Sequencing, Multiple Midi controlling, Multiple Keygroup layering, and Massive modulation sources/destinations take time to master. But to each his own have no regrets change to the K2600 and become the K2600is1monster once you mastered it.

Jack of all trades, master of done is why less is more.

I had a 2500r for years....While it does have many many more sound design features than the 4000 (though no tempo synched lfos!), as well as the ability to assign different sequences (patterns) to keys, then record your pattern switching as a sequence (something I have been hounding akai to implement since days one), the interface of the K2--- series, and kurzweil interfaces in general, have NOTHING on any model of akai...Akai builds an infinitely superior user interface in my opinion, no questions asked....I'm making at least three times the amount of tracks as when I was using the k2500 to sequence, and I simply use computer editing w/ aksys to make up for any lack in sound design the akai has in comparison with the kurzweil. Also, cant speak for the 2600, but the timing on the 2500 was very sloppy, especially compared to the 4000s rock solid timing..My advice? Keep both, if you can afford to....Learn how to trigger kurzweil pattern sequences from the MPC4000, and juggle them that way..Very cool way to work I tell ya.
either way, best of luck...
Jeremy

I will NEVER part with my ASR10 cause we got deep history.

Thanks for the reply Wax111, but id have to disagree with you about the user interface. I think the k2600 interface is very easy to navagate, It looked intimidating at first glace because its got tons of edit pages, but this is because this keyboard is so deep and involved, much more so then the 4000.

I mean you can edit & tweak every little aspect of your sound so much more deeply on the k2600, but this is to be expected on a synth. Once I started reading the manuals and watched the video that came with it, Im navagating very easily.

It also helps that the k2600 manuals are very well written and detailed, the mpc 4000 manual is not. There are 2 manuals each about the same thickness of the entire MPC 4000 manual except that the k2600 manual isnt the same content written over and over again in 10 differnt languages like the MPC 4000 manual, Its all written with NEW CONTENT on every page!!!

4000is1monster wrote:It looked intimidating at first glace because its got tons of edit pages, but this is because this keyboard is so deep and involved, much more so then the 4000.

I mean you can edit & tweak every little aspect of your sound so much more deeply on the k2600, but this is to be expected on a synth. Once I started reading the manuals and watched the video that came with it, Im navagating very easily.

Ok with quote like this I need some examples of what you are talkin about

what particular aspect of of what I said do you need an example of?

1) the amount of edit pages?

2) the amount of sound editing parameters available on the 4000 vs. the k2600?

3) reading the manuals made it easier to navigate