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Now that I think about it, hip-hop (or rap) music hasn't changed that much since the very beginning. I love new gear, but people tend to spend more money on the older, more classic equipment, more than the newer stuff, unless the newer gear can do everything that the old gear can do. Example the MPC60 and the mpc3000. From that, the 2000 to the 2000XL. All great machines. The MPC-1000 came out and although it had some additional features, some of the functions were removed. I doubt the 1000 will ever be a classic like any of the others. I think the MPC2500 is a good upgrade from the XL, but I don't see why anyone that already owns an MPC should upgrade. A few pieces of additional gear (ASR/roland SP*0*etc)can make a world of difference. Ohh well, that's just my opinion. I'm el-cheapo when it comes to buying gear. I tend to use anything that isn't expensive and over used. Anything new will be on ebay withing a few months, so I'll wait to see how much the used prices will be!

Now that I think about it, hip-hop (or rap) music hasn't changed that much since the very beginning. I love new gear, but people tend to spend more money on the older, more classic equipment, more than the newer stuff, unless the newer gear can do everything that the old gear can do. Example the MPC60 and the mpc3000. From that, the 2000 to the 2000XL. All great machines. The MPC-1000 came out and although it had some additional features, some of the functions were removed. I doubt the 1000 will ever be a classic like any of the others. I think the MPC2500 is a good upgrade from the XL, but I don't see why anyone that already owns an MPC should upgrade. A few pieces of additional gear (ASR/roland SP*0*etc)can make a world of difference. Ohh well, that's just my opinion. I'm el-cheapo when it comes to buying gear. I tend to use anything that isn't expensive and over used. Anything new will be on ebay withing a few months, so I'll wait to see how much the used prices will be!

I can think of a few reasons why an MPC 3000 or 2000XL user should upgrade to the MPC 2500

1. More memory
2. Enhanced MIDI functions
3. Improved effects (but can be better though)
4. Standard digital I/O, Balanced I/Os
5. Enhanced sample editing features
6. Variety of storage mediums (USB, CDRW, Hard Drive, Flash Card)
7. Mixer automation
8. Q-link sliders/knobs
9. If you owned an MPC 3000, 2000/2000XL..there is virtually zero learning curve with the basic operations.


I wouldn't expect used units on eBay for quite some time. I wouldn't expect many new units for a little while

There are several new features on the 2500 that aren't on the 1000. After the 2500 is officially released in the U.S. you will see a lot more 1000 owners upgrading. It is too early right now for many people to understand just how significant the change will be, especially with the holiday season ahead.

The 1000 may in fact become a classic. But for that to happen you have to give it a lot of time. Several years, not just a couple years. When you look at other equipment that eventually became a classic the change into that category usually took this long. There was no way to forecast the change in perception of that gear.

In the case of the MPC 3000, the MPC2000 had more functionality than the 3000 so the price of used 3000's dropped quite a lot. The low price of used 3000's allowed them to be bought by Hip Hop musicians, who typically were on a very low budget. Then the price of the 3000 reversed as demand for them grew. Far fewer 3000's were made than the 1000, so don't expect history to repeat itself. Also, the 3000 had the influence of Hip Hop as a catalyst. Even Hip Hop will fade into history some day, probably later in the decade but it is anyone's guess right now.

As for eBay, when new gear is released there are just a few units resold on eBay immediately. Don't expect a significant price drop. A used MPC 2500 will sell for perhaps $100 less than a factory new one. After the introduction there are usually very few used units for a while as the new owners begin to understand the new equipment and excitement builds over it.

well said hurricane, the 3000 has gone up and now sells for more than all the others except for the 4000 and most times the 3000 le goes for more that a used 4000, which doesnt make sence. some can hear a difference, some cant, but because of how easy and well made the 3000 and 60 are, they will be popular for a while. I had many 1000s because i had to keep returning because of weird crashes. my 3000 can prolly fall out of my car while driving and would still work as long as its not ran over

When the MPC 2000/2000Xl dropped, there was no real market for used MPC 3000s or any MPC on eBay. I single-handedly (with a partner of mine) sparked the used MPC business on eBay back in 2000/2001 from seeing that this was a huge business in Japan. At that time, MPC 3000s were still going for $2000-$3000. The price of the MPC 3000 has dropped a little over the past 1.5 years. Up until this past spring, used MPC 2000s were going for $750-$800 and used XLs were going for $1050.

I predict the following used prices:

MPC 60/60II $600-$700
MPC 3000 $1200-$1400
MPC 3000LE $1800
MPC 2000 $600-$700
MPC 2000XL $800-$900
MPC 4000 $2100
MPC 1000 $600

I don't believe that MPC 1000 users will jump to the 2500. Especially since that could have easily purchased a mint condition MPC 2000XL for the same price. I see MPC 2000XL users (at least the ones that make a living producing) jumping all over the MPC 2500. I see the MPC 3000 users being tempted. The ones that use the 3000 for sequencing and drum samples, may not go for the 2500. But if they are using the MPC 3000 to sample heavily, I think they will jump on the 2500 because it gives them everything that the 3000 has and more. No other MPC can make that claim. There is the MPC 4000 but that model is unlike any other MPC. The MPC 4000 doesn't even feel like an MPC to me.

Hurricane Producer wrote:
Even Hip Hop will fade into history some day, probably later in the decade but it is anyone's guess right now.

As long as there are black youth on the planet..hip-hop is not going anywhere. Hip-hop is more than music. It is a culture. The most influential culture on the planet

6 of 10 top 10 albums are hip-hop or have hip-hop inlfuence. The biggest selling albums of the past several years has been hip-hop. Every other hit single in the bilboards charts are hip-hop. Hip-hop has had a 20 year reign.

Why did they have to make the screen green?!?!
(Aaaargh!!)
Could I mod the 2500 with the classic white/blue screen?

jahrome, check your pm man!

"I can think of a few reasons why an MPC 3000 or 2000XL user should upgrade to the MPC 2500"

As far as being more technically advanced, there are many reasons, but musically, I don't think there is a need. Unless there is a feature that will make your production a WHOLE lot easier, then I really don't see any reason at all. If 32 megs simply isn't enough for you, then you have a good reason to upgrade. If you like grid style programming, then you have another reason. Filters & effects can be done externally, but if you only have 1 main reason to upgrade, I would have to ask myself, "is the ______ really worth $1999.00?" Now if they included track mute recording, I would probably jump ship, but almost every function that the 2500 can do, I can emulate on my SP-303, and for the $100 that I paid for it, I got 26 effects, filters, EQ, resampling and real time time-stretching.
Now, I want folks to understand that's I'm not here to bash the 2500, I think it's a GREAT machine. If you have the cash for one and you want it, by all means buy it. But I really want to say that no matter what MPC your using, you can make it do anything the 2500/4000 can do. Your just going to have to buy some external gear.

jahrome wrote:I don't believe that MPC 1000 users will jump to the 2500.

Watch what you are saying. I remember the introduction of 1000. There were a lot of potential buyers interested in an MPC that did more than the 1000. They were willing to pay more for it too. Their choices at the time were the 1000 with some improvements over the 2000XL; the 2000XL with its outdated SCSI and horror show Zip drives; or the 4000 with its high price, buggy OS, and features still to be delivered.

Many 1000 owners have had their MPC for a year or two. A lot of them are anxious to upgrade. You are just looking at the ones who have bought their 1000 over the past few months. The majority of them aren't going to upgrade. It's the others who are ready for more features and don't want drop to a few thousand dollars for the 4000. Think carefully and you'll find this is opportunity in disguise.

While you are pondering that idea read this discussion...

http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=37418

eBay is slowly turning into a dumpfest for the 1000. There is nothing wrong with the 1000 itself. Everyone has to begin somewhere. We're just seeing these owners get ready to move on to something that can offer more to them.

I can't speak for everyone but I can speak for those who have never owned an MPC. I have wanted a 2000xl for ages and on the day I was going to place my order, I learned of the 2500. I'm glad that I did'nt order it because for a couple hundred more dollars I can get the 2500. I dont know what the differences in the machines are but if I can save the rest up, hopefully I will get everything I have always wanted and then some. I can say this though I dont think I would have ever purchased the 1000 cuz I feel that it may have been a stripped down version of the xl. Anyway, hopefully I will have the 2500 soon and will let you know what a beginning MPC user thinks of the machine!!

i'm a 1000 user who just got my 2500 for a few reasons.

1. the programs/sequences/etc are compatible and i intend to use them both live with a dj mixer. i have been building sequences and programs out on my 2500 because it's faster to use and then moving some over to my 1000 and rocking them there.
2. the sample editing is better on the 2500. i'm not bad at it with the 1000 but it's a lot more work than the 2500. just having "auto left" is a *huge* help and makes chopping so much faster.
3. timestretching and chop shop - both things that you can't do with the 1000.
4. grid edit provides a nice alternative way to edit and interact with a sequence. step and sequence editing are nice but it's also nice to get a graphical representation to quickly bang out an idea (or see the idea you've banged out )

i like hardware so the more i can stay away from using my computer the more productive and creative i am. i do a lot of sampling (of stuff i make with my own hardware mainly) and sequencing of external gear and so far the 2500 is *exactly* what i needed.

i still really like my 1000, though. i won't be parting with it any time soon, that's for sure...

roxstar wrote:
almost every function that the 2500 can do, I can emulate on my SP-303, and for the $100 that I paid for it, I got 26 effects, filters, EQ, resampling and real time time-stretching.

You left out the main function. MIDI sequencing. I feel what you are trying to say. But a $300 portable sampler cannot match the power of any MPC.

Hurricane Producer wrote:
Watch what you are saying. I remember the introduction of 1000. There were a lot of potential buyers interested in an MPC that did more than the 1000. They were willing to pay more for it too. Their choices at the time were the 1000 with some improvements over the 2000XL; the 2000XL with its outdated SCSI and horror show Zip drives; or the 4000 with its high price, buggy OS, and features still to be delivered.

I remember as well. The MPC 1000 was marketed as a low cost option for people that didn't already own an MPC. Nothing more. The MPC 1000 has nothing that would convert an MPC 2000XL user to one of those. Hate it or love it, the MPC 1000 is at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to MPCs. As far as selling them and moving up...I would't pay $400-$500 for a used MPC 1000. That's still $1500 from the price of the MPC 2500.

There is nothing wrong with SCSI devices although new devices are going away from it because of the larger storage capacity of compac flash cards.

Ok Yall, obviously people have different opinions about different MPC's, we get that, we won't solve it here, so lets just stick to the fact and keep Darwinian interpretations of japanese appliances to a minimum, hmm?

How are we supposed to do that when the average person doesn't even know how to program the clock on their own microwave oven? Do you press CLOCK first? Or CLEAR? No big deal. Upgrade to the Westinghouse model -- it reads barcodes off the frozen TV dinner packages.

4000,3000,2500,1000,60 it doesn't matter which machine. what matters is what comes out of the machine.

1000 may be at the bottom of the food chain, but if the beats are dope, does it really matter? gear don't make beats, people do.