The MPC 4000 vs. 5000

moyphee wrote:
If a person has a 4000 why buy a 5000 at all?

Forget about the 5000 altogether.

That's what I've always thought too.

Ok. What if you have neither and money is no object? Which do you buy?

primebeatz wrote:Ok. What if you have neither and money is no object? Which do you buy?

A MV-8800.

Or you could just wait for the next incarnation of the Fusion.

Seriously, the key is to look inside our needs and goals and stop letting marketing and this wonderful Internet affect our choices.

Most company's now look like they put more $$$ into promoting and marketing a product than the actual building and design.
Lots of good ideas out there but most end up being poorly implemented or have a lesser level of construction.

Just wait until the 5000 is available then check it out for yourself, but remember the price of the 4000 will go up after they arrive.
When the 2500 was announced the price of used 4000 bottomed out, but months later once the 2500 had gotten to real users the used 4000's were selling for the price of a new 4000.
Paper and specs are one thing, but hands on it what's real.

primebeatz wrote:Ok. What if you have neither and money is no object? Which do you buy?

Fantom G or 4000+ a synth that you actually like.

primebeatz wrote:Ok. What if you have neither and money is no object? Which do you buy?

4k

how does the speed of the 4k compare to that of the 2000xl?

primebeatz wrote:Ok. What if you have neither and money is no object? Which do you buy?

If you're just starting out on MPCs/MVs, and you don't have anything invested in them already, in terms of learning curve or libraries of sounds built up or songs that were produced using them, then I'd have to say you'd be better off forgetting them altogether and focusing on a computer with a good DAW and soft samplers. Macbook Pro + Logic 8 + Bias Peak (some editor) + software sampler of your choice. I don't say that because there is something wrong with MPCs per se, but they are kind of a blind alley at this point. Akai is dumbing them down instead of making them more advanced, so the gap between them and the computer in terms of sheer power is getting worse instead of better. The MPC4K isn't supported any more, and it's just guesswork how long ak.sys will still work with modern operating systems (Vista/Leopard and future ones). The computer has a bunch of headaches of its own, but so does everything, and it would be better to spend the energy ironing out a good computer-based system rather than spending the time and money on MPCs/MVs, IMO.

I have an MPC4K and I love it and use it a lot, but if I didn't have one already and I was looking around, and I would pass on both MPCs and MVs.

-illiac

Nym wrote:how does the speed of the 4k compare to that of the 2000xl?

You mean in terms of processing?

yeah - NOT in terms of navigation, etc

Nym wrote:yeah - NOT in terms of navigation, etc

well... in terms of what then?

The only processing I can think of is offline editing (such as timestretch). In that case, the 4k is much quicker, but not as quick as the newer MPCs. Same goes for disk I/O. I was really happy at how fast my XL programs loaded up on the 4k... but keep in mind you have 16x the memory. If you load up a full 512MB, it will probably take around the same time as 32MB on the XL.

Yes, it is nicer to have a faster machine, but the 4Ks main features (sample engine, sequencer, screen, etc) are the real reason to upgrade if you have the need.

If I had the money, I'd buy the MPC-4000 Plus. It would be the next step and beyond above my Akai S-2000. I just recently traded a 60II for a MPC1000 because certain features the 1K had simplified what I was doing with my 60II, though I miss the way my 808 and similar vintage drum samples sounded when I hit the pads. Heck, when I sampled CDs they sounded like records in the 60II. But, because I also write and play, the multis, keyboard groups, and multisamples across a keygroup would be very compatible with what I'm still doing with my S-2000. Since I use Cubase with my S, many people thought I had an MPC-2000 for many years. I also used Recycle to chop up breakbeats or similar to create my own drum kits with my S. Since I also like to sample and edit my instruments to my choice, the S makes much sense. Now since the advent of the MPC-5000, I probably can afford to get a true all-in-one keyboard, drum, and phrase sample with the ability to save and burn all of your tracks to CD-R for your demo. Getting the MPC-1000 gets me closer to that because of the inner hard-drive option. Yet, I think that Akai's next step should be the MPC-6000 which would include all of the features of the 4K & 5K. Then we could have the best keyboard / drum / breakbeat / phrase sampler on the planet.

In my mind, the best feature the 5K has is the built in RIAA preamp. This can really keep the analog-sound for vinyl. Yet, dig-alog has been sounding better these days. To bad they don't use 192K sampling. That could really make your 808-kick thump or your Double Bass bounce with unheard of backyard-boogie!!!

Mad Cherokee

madcherokee wrote:In my mind, the best feature the 5K has is the built in RIAA preamp. This can really keep the analog-sound for vinyl.

Mad Cherokee

I assume you meant this is one of the best features taken from the 4k.

moyphee wrote:

OJ Reem wrote:Let's get the facts out there......

If an MPC 4000 user switches to an MPC 5000, what functions/features will that person lose?

If an MPC 4000 user switches to an MPC 5000, what functions/features will that person gain?

If a person has a 4000 why buy a 5000 at all?

Grab the Fantom G6 to knock with the 4K for less money fully blown and forget about the 5000 altogether.

Now YOU know what you're talking about! That would be a dope combo no doubt!

MPC 4K VS MPC 5K

ROUND 1 Sequencer

MPC 4K Sequencer
Maximum events: 300,000 notes (equivalent)
Resolution: 960 pulses per 1/4-note (ppq)
Sequences: 128
Tracks per sequence: 128
MIDI output channels: 64 (16 channels x 4 output ports)
Song mode: 128 songs, 250 steps per song
Drum pads: 16 (velocity and pressure sensitive)
Drum pads banks: 6
Sync modes: MTC, MIDI clock, SMPTE

MPC 5K Sequencer
Maximum events: 100,000 notes
Resolution: 960 parts per 1/4-note
Sequences: 99
Tracks per sequence: 64
MIDI output channels: 64 (16 channels x 4 outputs)
Song mode: 20 songs, 250 steps per song
Drum pad: 16 (velocity and pressure sensitive)
Drum pad banks: 4
Sync mode: MIDI clock, MIDI Time Code
Transport Controls: MIDI Machine Control

MPC 4K best sequencer hands down

Round 2 Sampling

MPC 4K
Sound Generator
Sampling rates: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz
Data format: 16/24-bit linear
Sampling time (unexpanded memory)
44.1kHz Mono: 180/120 (16/24 bit) seconds
48kHz Mono: 166/110 (16/24 bit) seconds
96kHz Mono: 90/55 (16/24 bit) seconds
44.1kHz Stereo: 90/60 (16/24 bit) seconds
48kHz Stereo: 83/55 (16/24 bit) seconds
96kHz Stereo: 41/27 (16/24 bit) seconds
Memory: 16MB standard, expandable to 512MB 168-pin DIMM (PC133/PC100, CL2) slot x 2
Polyphony: 64 voices
Filter Types: 36 resonant filter types (2/4/6-pole LP, BP, HP, notch, etc.)
Triple Filter: 2-pole multi-mode filters x 3 with resonance
Envelope Generators: 3 x Envelope generators (2 multi-stage)
LFO: 2 x Multi-wave with MIDI clock sync
Effects: 4-channel 24-bit/96kHz processor offering over 50 effects types including reverb, delay, chorus, flanging, phaser, pitch shift, rotary speaker, touch and autowah, compressor, noise gate and more.

MPC 5K
Sound Generator
Sampling rate: 44.1kHz
Memory capacity: 64MB standard, expandable to 192MB
Recording time: 12m 48sec. (64MB, MONO), 38m24sec. (192MB, MONO)
Memory expansion slot: 1 x for optional EXM-E3
Data format: 16-bit linear
Polyphony: 64
Dynamic filtering: 1 State Variable Filter per voice (up to 8 pole, depending on type)
Filter types: LOW PASS, BAND PASS, HIGH PASS, BAND BOOST, BAND STOP, ANALOG MODELING, VOCAL FORMANT
Preset sound memory: 16 MB
Number of programs: 128

Round 2 MPC 4k KO’s the 5K

My analysis the 5k isn’t even comparable to the 4King to be honest the thought of even comparing this watered down piece of shit to the legendary 4k is insulting. Lets face it AKAI has taken a turn for the worse we can see now there more about raping the market than making quality products. I would have been 100,000 times more content with a re-release of the 2000xl instead of this piece of shit excuse for a workstation IMHO this is the worst MPC to date it sucks beyond comparable means. Hang on to those vintage MPC 60 3000 2000xl especially and 4K’s ect.. There’s a certain ambiance in the vintage MPC’s like the 3000 and the 60 the 4000 and my personal favorite the 2000xl that the newer models don’t have such as the 1000 and 2500 but neither 1 of these as bad as the 5000. With different era’s you have different design teams and different technology so you get a sound that is unique to that era and for me the vintage MPC’s reflect that sound that embodies the raw element of hip hop for me. When I use the 1k 2500 or 5000 I don’t get that same feel the sound is different it’s more cold and stale if you own old and new then a lot of you know what I’m talking about. The bottom line is the new technology sucks save your self $1,000 and cop the 4000 way better features by a long shot IMO the 2500 even kicks the 5K’s ass like who really needs that weak ass synth we got **** motif racks and fantom racks and all kind of keyboards and programs and shit who needs that shit really it’s just overkill basically and another reason for them to throw up the price man the hottest new shit out is the MV-8800 and that’s coming from a MPC loyalist whatever you do you can’t go wrong by going vintage better quality products and you save money check me out at Myspace.com/t3knolog3 for more reviews on equipment