MPC 2500 VS. MPC 3000

Well 3001...the MPC 60 hasn't been relevant since the early 90s and is not worth buying today. I know that the MPC 3000 is a great MPC. Not because I borrowed one from a friend..because it was the MPC that I used more than anyother for years...until the best MPC ever created was released...the 2500. Sorry...nothing dope or dreamy coming out of it unless you put something dope and dreamy into it...the same can be said for any MPC. No puchy drums and unless you put punchy drums into it.

We can contiine to talk about the sound of MPCs but nothing will change the fact that much of the music you hear today created with MPCs..were done with 2000/XLs. And we are probably mostly talking about drums...because today...most people are creating sample-free music (w/o phrase loops). When they are sampling..there are plenty of tools available from which to choose from other than an MPC.

As far as the 2500 VS 3000/60. Its a 91 second knock out with the 2500 coming out on top. The 2500 does much more than resample.

And since you are now talking about specs...what are the specs of the 3000 that make it superior over anyother MPC?

Jahrome, why is the MPC60 not relevant?

12 bit sound, MPC3000 sequencer, SCSI, 4 midi outs, is something that is still valued by a lot of people making music and certainly not unusable.

Combined with a modern DAW, the MPC60 could make a decent sampling drum-machine/sequencer, and not even needing it to be your main sampler.

Many peoples have setups allready that don't utilize an MPC and an MPC60 is an excellent addition to a an established setup, particularly if that someone wanted and would benefit from such a character piece that the 60 and/or even the 3000 are reputed to be.

If someone didn't have anything and asked me advice on which MPC to get. I would say "it depends on your setup and what you are after." All MPC's are decent at what they do. All appear to have their quirks and irks.

You own the MPC2500. It looks like a lot of fun. How is the OS functionallity?

One more question.

Could you please offer your opinion on the DA conversion quality of the 8/10 outs on the 2500?

most people are creating sample-free music (w/o phrase loops).

huh? people are using samplers for sample free music?

i don't know of basically anyone doing sample free music at all. no one really uses analog drum machines too much anymore...

how is the 2500 the best mpc? why because it has more specs?

the 3000's sequencer is more proffessional, as is the 60's

It doesn't matter if n sync uses an mpc2kxl, it still sucks. sounds like shit, shitty d/a and a/d converters.


who the **** uses in a pro studio only 1 sampler? most studios i knowwill use multiple samplers.


and how has the 60 not been relevent? lol. hell even the forat9000 is still being used by pro producers. and that's even older and less specs...

3001 wrote:
huh? people are using samplers for sample free music?

i don't know of basically anyone doing sample free music at all. no one really uses analog drum machines too much anymore...

how is the 2500 the best mpc? why because it has more specs?

the 3000's sequencer is more proffessional, as is the 60's

It doesn't matter if n sync uses an mpc2kxl, it still sucks. sounds like ****, **** d/a and a/d converters.


who the **** uses in a pro studio only 1 sampler? most studios i knowwill use multiple samplers.


and how has the 60 not been relevent? lol. hell even the forat9000 is still being used by pro producers. and that's even older and less specs...

If you don't know anyone that does sample-free music..than you don't know any musicians. When I mean sample free (as I already indicated above)...I am talking about less commercial artists are sampling phrase loops off of records and instead are composing their own music or replaying old grooves themselves to advoid certain fees. If you are still in disagreement..throw on just about any Down South track.

How is the MPC 3000 more professional? I am curious to hear the specs you are willing to throw up to back up your claim. Actually...that is a silly comment and don't really expect an answer.

The 2500 is the best because the amount of power packed into it. It is light years beyond the MPC 60 and 3000 and I am just talking about the MIDI functions. Just read the manual if you don't have access to one.

Do I really need to post names of producers that use MPC 2000XLs? Do I really need to post producers that use nothing but an MPC and sound modules/keyboards. The most famous/Grammy award winning Hip-hop producer doesn't even use samplers besides an MPC.

The MPC 60 is not relevant. Very few people are hanging onto them..and even less people are in the market of buying one when there are plenty of better options available. The same can be said for the Forat9000.

So it seems you care alot about quality AD/DA converters. I am curious to know what quality AD/DA converters you are using in your own set-up?

And if you still caught up in believing the XL sounds like shit..than turn off your radio.

radio toons sound like shit.


who is using no samples? using loops is different than no samples. i would like to see somone who isn't using samples. whose using a 909 and an 808? heh..that's it?

So by your logic "more power packed in"

a PC destroys your mpc2500...hahah:-D it's true.

mpc3000 higher quality build, that's for one. completed os, that's for 2. still being proffesionally used. probably more so than a 2500 now.

60s are still being used. so are forats, brittney spears tracks a lot of em were forat.

there's a few others using forats too.

3001 wrote:
radio toons sound like ****.


who is using no samples? using loops is different than no samples. i would like to see somone who isn't using samples. whose using a 909 and an 808? heh..that's it?

So by your logic "more power packed in"

a PC destroys your mpc2500...hahah:-D it's true.

mpc3000 higher quality build, that's for one. completed os, that's for 2. still being proffesionally used. probably more so than a 2500 now.

60s are still being used. so are forats, brittney spears tracks a lot of em were forat.

there's a few others using forats too.

Can you read? I already wrote twice that I mean sampled loops and not merely samples.....I know what I sample is. If you are not hearing a real instrument on a track..it is most likely a multi-sampled instrument or a synth R.I.F.

By my logic? I know exactly what you get with a PC vs any MPC? But that is a different topic (I use both by the way)....we are talking about the MPC 2500 and the 3000. Catz that have been using MPC mainly for drums and sequencing may not upgrade just yet...but there is no need for a professional in the market to look on eBay for a second hand MPC 3000 (you do know that they are no longer made) when they can pick up a 2500. Yes..the 3000 has a solid OS..the last update was in 1996. The 2500 will receive more OS upgrades adding additional functions. Even without the upgrades...I am doing much more on the 2500 that I was doing with the 3000.

I won't sit here and post a thread on what professionals use which MPC because it was already done here. Do a search for the findings. MPC 2000/XL came out on top. Again...very few are using the 60 and less are using Forats.

As far as build quality...although the 2500 is not as big/heavy as the 60/3000...it is a solid machine. Buying a secong hand, 12 year old drum machine, that has a reported special sound..is unappealing these days when you can purchase a new/improved product.


I still want to know what you are using to make your music sound so much better than whats on the radio. What do you have behing closed doors? Mackie, Behringer, Apogee, Digidesign, Yamaha, Roland, Sony, SSL, RME, Motu, Allen/Heath, M Audio, E-Mu, Tascam...really, I want to know...


I sold the Funktwons two MPC 2500s last year.......I will have to hit them up to see if they used them on any of the tracks that have released or have coming out.....


.....those B. Spears tracks were done with several drum machines and different producers..you can not possibly tell which is done with which....and the AD/DA converters is far better than what we are using...for sure..

ha radio shit is garbage. for **** sheep.

Get over it...its not 1993-1996 anymore......or for me 1985-1988...

Since you have obviously passed on talking about AD/DA converters...I have to assume that........

yea music's so much better now..hahaha...hip hop's dead. died well what, early 90s? lol...

Hip-hop as we know it back then is dead. Not because the artists today are better/worst. Its because the people that buy the CDs prefer something else..the people who want that classic shitz are not buying CDs...Hip-hop was placed on life support in the late 90s...

jahrome, again: the sound of the 2000 is less 'thick' then the sound from the 4000, 3000 or 60. It aint a big discussion. You think it sounds the same as the other mpc, i believe that the sound is not as good as the other mpc's.

Your right a lot of producers use a mpc2000, but they dont make complete songs with it... If they do i can hear it. Listen to the latest Soul Position and you'll hear. All the producers i know that use the 2000 only for complete sample based tracks; Pete Rock, Rjd2, Kev Brown, Marco Polo...all very good and creative producers but there sound aint as good as it could be with a 3000, 4000 or 60

I agree that you can make complete professional tracks (like 9th wonder) on a pc only and that what your using aint making a big difference. But thats wasnt the point of this discussion.

FHL wrote:
jahrome, again: the sound of the 2000 is less 'thick' then the sound from the 4000, 3000 or 60. It aint a big discussion. You think it sounds the same as the other mpc, i believe that the sound is not as good as the other mpc's.

Your right a lot of producers use a mpc2000, but they dont make complete songs with it... If they do i can hear it. Listen to the latest Soul Position and you'll hear. All the producers i know that use the 2000 only for complete sample based tracks; Pete Rock, Rjd2, Kev Brown, Marco Polo...all very good and creative producers but there sound aint as good as it could be with a 3000, 4000 or 60

I agree that you can make complete professional tracks (like 9th wonder) on a pc only and that what your using aint making a big difference. But thats wasnt the point of this discussion.

First of all...the sound of the 4000 is not that impressive. I don't care what you create your music with...once everything is recorded...you can not tell which MPC was used..... since I don't have any more 2000s to compare with other MPCs...its a mute point to continue to debate (but I will...). Yup....its shear BS saying that any those artists music will sound better with a 3000, 4000 or 60. The sound is in the mix, and engineering.

And you honestly don't know what those MPC 2000 producers are doing to their tracks.....go listen to 50 Cents latest work. Most of those tracks were done on MPC 3000s and 2000/XL...you cannot tell which is which....

50 cent sucks

3001 wrote:50 cent sucks

a great point very well argued