By dume41
Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:52 pm
MPC Wars
MPC1000 vs MPC2000XL vs MPC2500
The MPC series samplers are used to create beats. With a crate of Vinyl for inspiration, an aspiring producer need look no further.
Similarities
The entire MPC family is capable of sampling sounds at CD quality fidelity (44khz 16 bit). They all have sequencers which allow you to play your samples in a recognizable pattern. The MPC1000 retails for $999, the MPC2000XL (out of production) can be found for about $800, while the MPC2500 retails at $1999. How does one chose? What are the differences?
RAM
What it Is:
Ram is the memory of your sampler. Any sound that you want to play must be located in RAM at the time you want to play it. The more RAM you have the more sounds you have access to at ay given time.
The MPC1000 and 2500 both ship with 16 megs of ram. The MPC2000 ships with 2 megs. The MPC1000 and 2500 can be expanded to 128 megs of RAM while the MPC2000XL can only be expanded to 32 megs.
Does it matter?
Absolutely. My own personal collection of drum samples alone is more than 32 megs. I could not audition all of my drums at once on the MPC2000XL. Keep in mind that the street price to max out the MPC2000's RAM is about $20 in a used PC store, the MPC1000 and 2500 will run you at least twice that. Significantly more if you purchase the factory Akai memory module ($150).
Storage
What it is:
Ram is erased every time you turn your MPC off so you need a place to permanently store your samples and sequences. This is called storage. The MPC1000 and 2500 store to compact flash. You can store up to 2 gigabytes (2000 megabytes) on each card. The MPC2000XL stores to... floppy disks!!?? Yes.. to floppy disks.. it would take about 1,388 floppy disks to equal the storage a single 2G compact flash card. In addition, floppy disks are very slow. MOst MPC2000XL users have then decided to add a ZIP drive to their system. These ZIP drives hold 100 megs of data, which is not bad. they are still much much slower than compact flash cards and it would still take 200 zip disks to hold the data in a single 2 gig compact flash card.
Does it matter?
Absolutely. In a beat battle it can be frustrating to have to change disks and wait for the access time. In showing clients your wares, it is advantageous to be able to load beats swiftly, which although is a simple technological feat of your machine, does give you the appearance of mastery.
Chopping
What it is:
Chopping is splitting a sample into several different pieces which can then be replayed, resequenced time stretched, etc. The MPC1000 can chop samples into pieces from 2 to 64, evenly divided by time. Then after the sample is split, you can easily adjust the start and end point of each new sample. Once the new 'regions' are established you can easily assign them automatically across the MPC's pads in a new 'program'. The MPC2000XL can do the exact same thing except it can only split a sample into 16 parts. The MPC2500 adds new functionality to chopping on a hardware sampler. The 2500 is able to detect the transients in a sample and automatically chop the sample based on where it actually changes to a different sound. The effect is to split the sample into musical parts without having to adjust the start and end points. This is a time saver.
Does it matter?
In this case the functionality is very close. The 2500 can save you a few minutes.
Time Stretching
Time stretching is the ability to take a sample and stretch it out or shrink it down in length while maintaining the original pitch. All of the compared MPC can perform this function with varying degrees of speed.
Does it matter?
This really depends. For me personally, I like the detuning that occurs when time stretching does not occur, but instead the sample is raised and lowered in octaves. For some people who make their beats from pre-existing musical phrases (loops) this is very important.
Outputs
What it is:
After crafting your masterpiece, there must be a way to transfer it to a recording environment (usually a Digital Audio Workstation of some sort). The number and quality of inputs varies greatly on the three models. The MPC1000 has 6 analog outputs and two digital (s/pdif) outputs. The digital outputs automatically transmit the same signal as the main stereo pair of outputs. The MPC2000XL has a single stereo pair of outputs. For only $250, you can increase this by eight outputs plus a digital stereo pair. The MPC2500 comes with ten analog and a single stereo digital pair.
Does it matter?
It is semi important. Professionally mixed music has each sound recorded on a separate track so that effects may be applied individually o each sound. If your sampler only has two outputs you are going to replay the part of the song you want record once for each stereo sound or once for each pair of mono sounds. This can make the recording of your beat go from 5 minutes to an hour, easily. If you are paying buy the hour this is a major difference.
Effects
What it is:
Effects are digital processing algorithms that change so modify the sound of your music. The MPC1000 and 2500 ship with the akai effects suite. The MPC2000XL can have the effects board added for $349. Ouch!
Does it matter?
Probably not. In a professional environment, the effects, other than the resonant filters, on the MPC will probably not be used, as nearly every DAW is equipped with far superior effects.
Screen
The MPC2000XL and 2500 come with tilting screens, while the 1000's screen does not tilt (it should be noted that thought he 2000XL has the tilt screen, the original 2000 does not).
Does it matter?
Maybe. I personally have got a bad crimp in my neck from being bent over the 1000's screen for a couple hours. Usually adjusting your height or distance from the sampler fixes this problem, but there are some situations, like being in a dark club, where it just might not happen.
Sequencing
What it is:
Sequencing is the structuring of a pattern of measures or of an entire song in a specific order. This is the mode used to actually create your song. You record the samples you play in a "sequence" of events. The sequencing on all three machines is a 64 track sequencer. The MPC2500 adds something the others do not have though..drum grid editing. This is the ability to place symbols on a grid which symbolizes the passage of time. This is very advantageous for programming drum patterns and was used on a lot of famous roland drum machines of yore.
Connectivity
What it is:
The ability to exchange data directly with a PC (without the need to record the sound through the outputs in real time). The MPC1000 and 2500 have USB ports which allow your PC or Mac to view your MPC as an external hard drive, on which sounds may be dragged and dropped freely back and forth. The MPC2000XL has no such connectivity, but does offer SCSI disk storage, which can then be read and written by a PC or Mac.
Which is Best?
For a beginning producer I believe the MPC1000 is a better choice with a great entry price and full set of features. For the experienced producer who is making money off of his craft, I would recommend the MPC2500. I would no longer recommend the MPC2000XL as storage and memory capacity have just advanced too far to recommend buying one. Even if equipped with the maximum possible options it is not as powerful, cost effective or as useful as the MPC1000.
Dume41 is the producer for the crew Several Active Minds. Their new album "Shogun Craftsman" will be made available for FREE download on September 1st from their site, http://www.samsquad.com.
MPC1000 vs MPC2000XL vs MPC2500
The MPC series samplers are used to create beats. With a crate of Vinyl for inspiration, an aspiring producer need look no further.
Similarities
The entire MPC family is capable of sampling sounds at CD quality fidelity (44khz 16 bit). They all have sequencers which allow you to play your samples in a recognizable pattern. The MPC1000 retails for $999, the MPC2000XL (out of production) can be found for about $800, while the MPC2500 retails at $1999. How does one chose? What are the differences?
RAM
What it Is:
Ram is the memory of your sampler. Any sound that you want to play must be located in RAM at the time you want to play it. The more RAM you have the more sounds you have access to at ay given time.
The MPC1000 and 2500 both ship with 16 megs of ram. The MPC2000 ships with 2 megs. The MPC1000 and 2500 can be expanded to 128 megs of RAM while the MPC2000XL can only be expanded to 32 megs.
Does it matter?
Absolutely. My own personal collection of drum samples alone is more than 32 megs. I could not audition all of my drums at once on the MPC2000XL. Keep in mind that the street price to max out the MPC2000's RAM is about $20 in a used PC store, the MPC1000 and 2500 will run you at least twice that. Significantly more if you purchase the factory Akai memory module ($150).
Storage
What it is:
Ram is erased every time you turn your MPC off so you need a place to permanently store your samples and sequences. This is called storage. The MPC1000 and 2500 store to compact flash. You can store up to 2 gigabytes (2000 megabytes) on each card. The MPC2000XL stores to... floppy disks!!?? Yes.. to floppy disks.. it would take about 1,388 floppy disks to equal the storage a single 2G compact flash card. In addition, floppy disks are very slow. MOst MPC2000XL users have then decided to add a ZIP drive to their system. These ZIP drives hold 100 megs of data, which is not bad. they are still much much slower than compact flash cards and it would still take 200 zip disks to hold the data in a single 2 gig compact flash card.
Does it matter?
Absolutely. In a beat battle it can be frustrating to have to change disks and wait for the access time. In showing clients your wares, it is advantageous to be able to load beats swiftly, which although is a simple technological feat of your machine, does give you the appearance of mastery.
Chopping
What it is:
Chopping is splitting a sample into several different pieces which can then be replayed, resequenced time stretched, etc. The MPC1000 can chop samples into pieces from 2 to 64, evenly divided by time. Then after the sample is split, you can easily adjust the start and end point of each new sample. Once the new 'regions' are established you can easily assign them automatically across the MPC's pads in a new 'program'. The MPC2000XL can do the exact same thing except it can only split a sample into 16 parts. The MPC2500 adds new functionality to chopping on a hardware sampler. The 2500 is able to detect the transients in a sample and automatically chop the sample based on where it actually changes to a different sound. The effect is to split the sample into musical parts without having to adjust the start and end points. This is a time saver.
Does it matter?
In this case the functionality is very close. The 2500 can save you a few minutes.
Time Stretching
Time stretching is the ability to take a sample and stretch it out or shrink it down in length while maintaining the original pitch. All of the compared MPC can perform this function with varying degrees of speed.
Does it matter?
This really depends. For me personally, I like the detuning that occurs when time stretching does not occur, but instead the sample is raised and lowered in octaves. For some people who make their beats from pre-existing musical phrases (loops) this is very important.
Outputs
What it is:
After crafting your masterpiece, there must be a way to transfer it to a recording environment (usually a Digital Audio Workstation of some sort). The number and quality of inputs varies greatly on the three models. The MPC1000 has 6 analog outputs and two digital (s/pdif) outputs. The digital outputs automatically transmit the same signal as the main stereo pair of outputs. The MPC2000XL has a single stereo pair of outputs. For only $250, you can increase this by eight outputs plus a digital stereo pair. The MPC2500 comes with ten analog and a single stereo digital pair.
Does it matter?
It is semi important. Professionally mixed music has each sound recorded on a separate track so that effects may be applied individually o each sound. If your sampler only has two outputs you are going to replay the part of the song you want record once for each stereo sound or once for each pair of mono sounds. This can make the recording of your beat go from 5 minutes to an hour, easily. If you are paying buy the hour this is a major difference.
Effects
What it is:
Effects are digital processing algorithms that change so modify the sound of your music. The MPC1000 and 2500 ship with the akai effects suite. The MPC2000XL can have the effects board added for $349. Ouch!
Does it matter?
Probably not. In a professional environment, the effects, other than the resonant filters, on the MPC will probably not be used, as nearly every DAW is equipped with far superior effects.
Screen
The MPC2000XL and 2500 come with tilting screens, while the 1000's screen does not tilt (it should be noted that thought he 2000XL has the tilt screen, the original 2000 does not).
Does it matter?
Maybe. I personally have got a bad crimp in my neck from being bent over the 1000's screen for a couple hours. Usually adjusting your height or distance from the sampler fixes this problem, but there are some situations, like being in a dark club, where it just might not happen.
Sequencing
What it is:
Sequencing is the structuring of a pattern of measures or of an entire song in a specific order. This is the mode used to actually create your song. You record the samples you play in a "sequence" of events. The sequencing on all three machines is a 64 track sequencer. The MPC2500 adds something the others do not have though..drum grid editing. This is the ability to place symbols on a grid which symbolizes the passage of time. This is very advantageous for programming drum patterns and was used on a lot of famous roland drum machines of yore.
Connectivity
What it is:
The ability to exchange data directly with a PC (without the need to record the sound through the outputs in real time). The MPC1000 and 2500 have USB ports which allow your PC or Mac to view your MPC as an external hard drive, on which sounds may be dragged and dropped freely back and forth. The MPC2000XL has no such connectivity, but does offer SCSI disk storage, which can then be read and written by a PC or Mac.
Which is Best?
For a beginning producer I believe the MPC1000 is a better choice with a great entry price and full set of features. For the experienced producer who is making money off of his craft, I would recommend the MPC2500. I would no longer recommend the MPC2000XL as storage and memory capacity have just advanced too far to recommend buying one. Even if equipped with the maximum possible options it is not as powerful, cost effective or as useful as the MPC1000.
Dume41 is the producer for the crew Several Active Minds. Their new album "Shogun Craftsman" will be made available for FREE download on September 1st from their site, http://www.samsquad.com.
Last edited by dume41 on Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
