Akai MPC4000 vs. Roland MV-8000

The thing i like about the MV (and the MPCs too for that matter) is that it has the workflow boxed into one machine. With a daw you want a good soundcard and some sort of midicontroller, and you use shortcuts on your keyboard to control the programs.

Why not have it all in one box and all in reach with the dedicated buttons and designed software without the possibilities of gettin viruses and keeping your pc in shape?
I use my 1k more or less as a stand alone unit except from mixdown and recording live instruments, and with the mv i could use it as a standalone without a doubt (if i like the feel of it, havent tried it yet).

No need to attempt to sell me an idea of a self-contained workstation.

Yes, it is all about workflow. If an MV is what you think you need, that is what you should purchase. But for the price of an MV or highend MPC, you can put together a kick azz music production studio and have more power at your fingertip thans any of these current workstations.

The MV as a standalone workstation is a novelty. Professionals that use these type of devices still end up tracking them into a computer vs doing everything onboard. The same is true for any MPC. These products are best used for preproduction. For editing, mixing, and mastering....a computer is best used for these functions.

I use both a customized PC and an MPC 2500.

But for the price of an MV or highend MPC, you can put together a kick azz music production studio and have more power at your fingertip thans any of these current workstations.

No doubt about that. If you compare the power of a pc and workstation the pc wins hands down, and you can get it alot cheaper.

But for me i'd like to have some basic mixing possibilities (more than a 1k) and integration with live instruments during preproduction, but i dont need the extra power you have on your daw since i get there when im tracking my beats eventually. But i'm not that inspired working with cubase during preproduction.

Even though it's not cheap, i dont really care about the price of the gear im using when producing. It's my main hobby and i have fun doing it. And if i get get my workflow as fun and smooth as possible the pricetag can be quite big, i'll just have to work harder to earn the cash but for me it's worth it.

By the way jahrome, you've tried the MV right? I'm looking for a new unit that suits my need as you might have guess. Right now i'm leaning towards a 2500 since i have a 1000, but the direct record on the 2500 would speed up my workflow alot, i can record some basic percussion and stuff with that fast as hell.

What do you think of the feel and sound of the mv? I dont think i can try it out here in sweden, so i think ill buy the 2500 since i've tried that. But the mv might be even better for my kind of workflow.

soulscientist wrote:

But for the price of an MV or highend MPC, you can put together a kick azz music production studio and have more power at your fingertip thans any of these current workstations.

No doubt about that. If you compare the power of a pc and workstation the pc wins hands down, and you can get it alot cheaper.

But for me i'd like to have some basic mixing possibilities (more than a 1k) and integration with live instruments during preproduction, but i dont need the extra power you have on your daw since i get there when im tracking my beats eventually. But i'm not that inspired working with cubase during preproduction.

Even though it's not cheap, i dont really care about the price of the gear im using when producing. It's my main hobby and i have fun doing it. And if i get get my workflow as fun and smooth as possible the pricetag can be quite big, i'll just have to work harder to earn the cash but for me it's worth it.

yea its all about being comfortable

oops dbl post

What do you think of the feel and sound of the mv? I dont think i can try it out here in sweden, so i think ill buy the 2500 since i've tried that. But the mv might be even better for my kind of workflow.

I am biased as all hell....so I am the last person to comment on that.

But honestlly...the MV is a hot machine and sounds great. Anyone that has limited experience or has never used an MPC will do just fine. If you have used an MPC for sometime..it will take some getting use to. Its like using a PC all your life and then using a Mac....not saying that a Mac is better than a PC or vice versa..the same goes for the MV and an MPC. However, the MV is more of a self-contained workstation than any MPC.

I think i've decided to switch my 1k for a 2500, even though i'd really like a mv8800 (although i havent tried it). But for now i have to be mobile with my drummachine since i have a studio and homebased procution, and the MV seems a bit to big and heavy to carry around. The 2500 is heavy enough for that i think...?

I don't know the specs of the MV...but if memory serves me right, the original MV was just a little heavier than the MPC 2500.

I read that the original mv is about 10kg heavy and the new one almost 11kg i think. The 2500 weighs about 6.1kg (but thats without harddrive and cd). Dont know how to translate into pounds for you but you can see the difference.
If i'll use it without hd it will be alot lighter. And since i need to take the bus its quite important (its hard to find a parking space at home and at the studio).
Otherwise i'll just have to work harder at the gym...

1 KG is 2.2 lbs.

jahrome wrote:for the price of an MV or highend MPC, you can put together a kick azz music production studio

Bullsh1t.

For the price of an MPC, you couldn't buy a good set of SPEAKERS for your 'kick azz' studio... unless your definition of that is a Dell workstation loaded with crackz and a pair of $20 speakers.

I hate this current 'kick azz studio for $2000' mindset that some fools have... that aint a studio.

Co-sign. A "PROPER" PC/MAC + Audio/Midi interface + midi controller/ control surface + "LEGAL"/non-cracked/registered audio software + a "DECENT" set of monitors will be very expensive. The sequencer software (Nuendo, Protools, Sonar, Cubase) alone will run you hundreds of dollars, not to mention the cost of addition audio programs you may need such as wave editors (Wavelabs ,Adobe Audition, or Sound Forge), and softsynths. There is FL Studio and Reason as a cheaper alternative but the fully featured versions will still cost you at least $300. A decent audio interface will run you a pretty penny as well. So I don't particularly agree with the "Get a kick butt studio for only $2000" mindset either.

I believe quality costs money and you get what you pay for. IMHO, I'd rather use hardware for the actual music creation and use PC/DAW for sequencing, multitracking, editing, etc.....

Reading is fundamental...it will crush illiteracy....


With that said...what does studio monitors have anything to do with anything.

Quick fact...MPC user's are a minority. Most producers don't use MPCs. A Dell computers was used as an example. A cheap Dell is more than powerful enough to run a software based workstation. No..I am not talking about the Dell computers that you are using to read this..the one that is full of spyware, shareware, and whatever else crap you have installed. Building a PC workstation (that will not be used for the internet) is easy to put together under $2000.

Even if you wanted to go Mac, you can fit it under $2000. An iMac, Pro Tools LE, and MPD24 can be purchased for $1500. You still have $500 to spare...for Reason...or Bias Peak or even Ableton Live An MPC is not touching this set-up. I hope I don't need to tell you what features you get from this set-up versus an MPC.......

nik wrote:

jahrome wrote:for the price of an MV or highend MPC, you can put together a kick azz music production studio

Bullsh1t.

For the price of an MPC, you couldn't buy a good set of SPEAKERS for your 'kick azz' studio... unless your definition of that is a Dell workstation loaded with crackz and a pair of $20 speakers.

I hate this current 'kick azz studio for $2000' mindset that some fools have... that aint a studio.

i hate this mindset that ppl have that u need to spend 30 grand + for a "studio". I mean dj jazzy jeff said it himself that hes not as creative anymore with all the gear he has today, as he was back in the day when he only had like a few pieces of equipment. mpc mainly i believe

jahrome wrote:Reading is fundamental...it will crush illiteracy....

What the hell are you talking about?

jahrome wrote:With that said...what does studio monitors have anything to do with anything.

Oh, I dunno, maybe because it's the most important aspect of a studio? Or the fact that you need to spend a good chunk of that $2000 to get a good set?

jahrome wrote:A cheap Dell is more than powerful enough to run a software based workstation.

Not true, good way to fvck up your head trying to get that to work though!

jahrome wrote:No..I am not talking about the Dell computers that you are using to read this..the one that is full of spyware, shareware, and whatever else **** you have installed. Building a PC workstation (that will not be used for the internet) is easy to put together under $2000.

Wrong. About $2000 will get you a solid workstation. Without software or plugins. BTW don't presume to know anything about the computer I use, thanks.

jahrome wrote:An iMac, Pro Tools LE, and MPD24 can be purchased for $1500. You still have $500 to spare...for Reason...or Bias Peak or even Ableton Live An MPC is not touching this set-up. I hope I don't need to tell you what features you get from this set-up versus an MPC.......

I don't need to tell you what features you get from an MPC that that setup won't get you:

* Multiple professional quality analog outs
* Hardware pads
* Multiple midi outs
* Professional interface

Who gives a flying fvck about extra 'features' in software. KISS!

mindcontrol wrote:i hate this mindset that ppl have that u need to spend 30 grand + for a "studio". I mean dj jazzy jeff said it himself that hes not as creative anymore with all the gear he has today, as he was back in the day when he only had like a few pieces of equipment. mpc mainly i believe

An MPC sitting in a room with a pair of cans is NOT a studio. Don't fool yourself. It's a writing setup maybe. Sure you can do tracks. Still isn't a studio. Minimum for a studio is a desk, patchbay, quality monitors.

Anyway, it's all semantics.