Mpc 5000 vs 2500, what should I get?

My first post!
I was on gearslutz asking some of these same questions but nobody really wanted to answer me unfortunately. Hopefully someone here will! I'm about to purchase a mpc 5k but I'm not sure if it would be overkill, if so i might just get the 25k. I was wondering if the 5k had direct recording in addition to being able to record 8 tracks to the HD?, are they the same thing essentially? Also with just 192mb how many keygroups can you actually load?, I know it depends on the sample size but does anyone fine this to be a limitation on their music? I was also thinking that instead of loading a keygoup program I could just use one of the audio tracks and just record the audio. Does anyone do this normally, if so how is it working out as far a workflow? Thanks for any help, I want to buy one of these within the next 3 weeks. Thanks

I would say if your beginner the 2500 would be perfect.
I would say do your research on both machines, check out the specs on both
and see which one fits you and your setup.

I'm not a beginner at all. I mostly use an asr-x and maschine but I'm wanting to just use one piece of hardware. I've been researching this for the past 2 week! Just trying to find a good enough reason to get the 5k over the 25k.

Well I went down this road a couple years ago. I really had to think of what I wanted in a groovebox / sampler / mpc etc. I considered MV 8800, Maschine, MPC 2500 & MPC 5000.

I was intrigued by the synth in the 5000, the extra q link knobs and sliders, larger screen, direct turntable connect, sequencer resolution, and all the IO and routing capabilities. ultimately the 5000 allowed me to get rid of my phono amp which was a nuisance for me. The MV 8800 had just discontinued their outs and even if i could get them you needed some retarded ass break out box and the outs in order to get the adat digital out. MPC 5000 has the adat out for 8 digital outs included. loved that because I use an RME and the adat 8 outs kept me from buying a bunch of expensive cables right away but still had the 8 analogue outs in case i wanted to use them there were options. the midi IO was a winner for me too. I like being able to track digitally but use the other 8 outs for routing say the synth out to a preamp and back in via the record thru feature with internal effects, resample etc sky is the limit with the 5000's routing. I dig the 8 track hdd recorder too. I once recorded my DJ and my bass player simultaneously directly into the 5k over an improved beat. came out dope. session pic below... good times



So i chose the 5k ad have been real happy with it ever since. OS 2.0 was a huge leap.

So my advise is to consider what options you most like, want and need. for me the 5k was it but for some the 5k is too much and too big in which case maybe the 25000 is the one.

Thanks for the insight on the ways you use your 5k. Question, as far as synths go are you using midi to sequence them or do you use one of the 8 audio tracksk?

well neither.

each synth patch is loaded as it's own program (very small in size) so you sequence it as a track in a sequence. In order to play it you'll need a keyboard controller unless you use pads to play synth parts.

I mean as far as external sounds like keys or organ sounds. The one thing I hate about hardware like mpc's and asr's is that you have to midi up external sounds to sequence them and then when you want to save the track you either have to track it out then or save it on multiple devices. I thought that with the 5k I could use it like a daw sort of and record my external sounds as audio through direct recording?

yes u can. it has the 8 track recording and i believe it has direct audio recording to sequence. I usually sequence and sample the external parts back in. but either way should work for you.

Ah Man thanks for the help! I'm gonna run with the 5k or the 25k. One last question though, where can i find good rhodes and keyboard sounds for the 5k? I replay a lot of my samples. Thanks again!

personally I would choose 2500 for jjOs, if jj wasnt in the picture I'd say 5000 but to be honest not sure if I would even consider working on mpc if it wasnt for jj

konc3pt wrote:personally I would choose 2500 for jjOs, if jj wasnt in the picture I'd say 5000 but to be honest not sure if I would even consider working on mpc if it wasnt for jj

I havent worked on JJos but I'd def say thats worth considering from what i've heard.