MPC500 is overkill! What should I do?

Hi everyone,

I play in a band and for the past few years have been using a MIDI controller linked to a laptop with an external audio interface. I am moving to another type of synth though and it doesn't have the flexibility of launching individual samples from individual keys like the software on the laptop did. My best bet is to get a sampler but it seems to me that the only products available are serious overkill for what I need.

All I want to do is be able to upload a group of samples ranging from a couple of seconds to a couple of minutes in length to a portable device with enough pads and banks to call them quickly and easily during the performance. The Akai MPC500 is the perfect size and layout for what I need but the functionality is total overkill, I don't need effects or the ability to make loops etc. The only other product that I can see on the market that could be compared to it is the Roland SP-404 which is too big to fit along side my synth in its case anyway.

Can I get some input into what you guys believe would be the best course of action to take given my situation?

Thanks for your time.

buy a second hand 500, so even if it's an overkill you don't pay that much. they go quite cheap.

You could get a rackmount sampler and hide it in your amps, and just use some small MIDI keyboard to call them up via MIDI during performace -- assigning each sound to a different key.

If portability is more what you're looking for, boogaloo is right, get a second-hand MPC 500 -- I can't think of anything that shares the small form factor of the 500 that you could slip into a case.

The Korg MicroSampler is another option, but quite a bit bigger and if you think the MPC 500 is overkill, then yikes this thing is probably off the charts.

A second hand MPC 500 sounds like it would fit the bill for you without a lot of hassle and would give you room to grow into it if you decided to get more technical with it.

I think a roland sp404sx might be what your looking for.

Edit :- Sorry didnt read your full post , mabey look for a used sp303?

Not sure if im understanding your question. So you wanna basically downgrade from what you have now??!?

An iPhone... with any of the many software sampling options?

I'd suggest doing your own research and come to your own conclusion as to what it is you want or you're after.

Or I can give you my perception of what I think you should have, and mislead you into spending your money unwisely.

The 500 may be cut and dry simple, but it can't compare to a 1k w/ jjos if you really need to augment samples in any way (ie: chop, stretch, compress).

with an mpc500, can you for example sidechain a bass or whatever to the kick drum so it ducks?

a korg es1 can be triggered from a midi kbd and goin v cheap these days, has its own sequencer, tiny bit thicker than most laptops, thinner than a 500 though.

or maybe a an s3000xl can be had for about £100 stick that in a rack or on floor. sorted.

or you could look into something like boss or zoom make loop playing foot pedals, small hands free and might give new direction to standard rock type band. with a bit of practice you can play your self a bar of backing on the guitar then stamp the ped to loop it then improvise over it.

or if you only need to drop in a 1 second sample into a song a couple of times you could consider not bothering with the midi controller and get one of those cheepo kidies casio "sample keyboard"
i got an sk-1 for three pounds years ago( for purposes of of circuit bending ) . and i can assure you that its capabilities are in NO way overkill! - unless you intend cracking it open and trying your hand at circuit bending in which case you can make some down right filthy glitchy type stuff.

i digress

if you have a 500 allready simply use the functions you need and dont use the rest.-eat untill your full and leave the rest works well for me.

however, if by over kill you meen confusing then read the manual and all will become clear.

good luck

dabmeister wrote:
The 500 may be cut and dry simple, but it can't compare to a 1k w/ jjos if you really need to augment samples in any way (ie: chop, stretch, compress).

Sure it can.
Using the 500 is just more like using a 60.
the 500 only falls short if you are looking for something like auto chopping.

the new sp 404 would be my choice
it has plenty of sampling time and good storage option
visual feedback of the playng samples for easy stage use.
plenty of effects to tweak the samples and a simple sequencer.