What to do?

High;

I'm an MPC2000xl owner considering an upgrade. I really would like an MPC4000 but the os still seems to be very unstable. In a lot of ways, it looks like i'd be better of sticking with the 2000 and buying another sampler. Does anyone here have any views on this and if so what sampler would be a good choice? 24/96 isn't so important. My main objective is to get as close to the "everything in one box" (sequencing, sampling, production, etc) that the 4000 offers.


Thanks;

JPW

The 4000 is the #$%&. I've used every mpc, and you can't really compare it to the others cause it's a totally different monster. If you really take time to learn it, you'll see...

Try yammie's a series samplers, they are dirt cheap on ebay. The only complaint I hear is that it is very slow on converting akai samples.
The s3000xl is a good buy also. The studio I go to has three and I wanna buy one after christmas. Emu E5000 is a good buy if you look around.

There are minor OS nuisances but not major issues that cause crashes like in the early days of the MPC4000. I would not expect the problems to be fixed in any version of the OS. AKAI isn't making any progress. After a series of delays the latest OS release was to be released in November. Then we were told it would be released in December. Half the month is over. It is beginning to look doubtful that OS 1.5 will be released this month.

Working with a GUI is much easier than using a small display with mainly text-based input. You will like the MPC4000 improved interface and ease of doing things compared to the MPC2000XL. It is easier to get work done fast and navigate through settings with the larger display on the MPC4000.

As an alternate you might want to look into the Roland MV-8000. I almost got to try one yesterday, and I will be getting one in a couple days. It should be bug-free. The MV-8000 has built-in mastering. The MPC4000 doesn’t have it. Over the next year this product is going to be a serious match. AKAI will lose sales to Roland but it will take at least a few months for the change to be seen.

If you are thinking about adding software samplers, then do it. SampleTank XL, Halion, and Mach 5 are excellent samplers. One of these would be a good choice while you are trying to make up your mind about the MPC4000 or MV-8000. The only problem is you will not have an all-in-one solution.

Thanks for the responses. I'm lightning fast with the MPC2000xl. I'm very comfortable with the os and it's interface. For that reason i'm thiknking why should i get involved with learning a whole new sequencing/editing interface with the 4000. Additionally, isn't it true that the 4000 is basically a 2000xl and Akai Z8 without some of the features of the 2000xl? Might it be a better (and cheaper) idea to pick up a Z8?

Thanks;

JPW

No. The 4000 is not just a 2000xl connected to a z8.
I had a 2000xl. You just can't compare the two machines.
The led sceen alone is worth the price of admission.
Man the freakin Piano Roll is worth the price of admission.
If you have never used Piano Roll in a PC sequencer you are missing out.

I was a big user of FL before I purchased the 2000xl.

People will hate me for saying this but the only thing the 2000xl does better than FL is the sequencer. That's it that's all.
The 2000 can not do 25% of what you can do in FL. Sorry but the truth hurts.


So when I purchased the 2000xl I felt like I took a step down because I lost all the features that were included with FL. Including being able to see what the hell I was doing. (Piano Roll)

I would create in FL and then transfer to the 2000xl.
The timing I got from the 2000xl made this worht it.
But now I'm doing Double Production.

The 4000 takes the main features from computer sequencers and integrates them with the rock solid timing of the MPC series.

It's called the future.

I'm sure you can ride a horse and carriage to get your groceries. I'd rather drive.

This 4000 included with aksys is a @$@#$ beast.
Now the 4000 won't make a terrible producer better. It might.
But it will make a good producer better by giving him more tools to experiment with.

I haven't had one problem with my 4000 in regards to the OS.
The reason the price is going up is because 1.45 is more solid than previous OS.

You had people bailing out on the machine earlier this year.
I took advantage of this and got a 4000 with an 80gb hd and cdr for 1399.

Yeah Damn. I sold my 2000xl and Triton Rack.Cha Ching $400 profit.
Get this. Before I sold the triton I recorded the sounds I wanted and they now reside in my 4000.

My 4000 doubles as a Triton Rack. I just got my friend's Motif. I 've got it for a week and I am currently loading the sounds I want off the motif and placing them in my 4000. Soon as I get my hands on a Roland Fantom those sounds are going in too.


Can you do that with your 2000xl?

Nope.

So to sum it up you're looking at a machine that has the essential tools
of PC sequencers, a Hard drive that can turn your 4000 into a Motif, Fantom, or Triton along with the timing everyone expects with an MPC product.
Seamless integration with a PC (Aksys).
This allows you to use what ever Software programs (VST's DXI, Sound generators)you have, manipulate the sound and send it to your 4000 within seconds.

To do this with a 2000 xl you would have to save it to a zipdisk in your machine and then load it into the 2000xl via ZIp disk.


I'll give you three months and you will look at the 2000xl as though you were banging out tracks with a bag of rocks.





Welcome to the future