MPC 1000 or 2000XL unanswered questions

Hi there guys, I not only registered to make this topic, I also want to be involved with the things here.

Ive been reading the topics here a couple of days, but I just couldnt find the answers about the 2000XL and 1000 that I was looking for.

Here we go.

The MPC 1000, its 2012 now, many people recommend the JJ OS for the system, but I see Akai also has the 2.13, which contains chop shop, timestretch etc. etc.
Problem is, why should I even consider getting a 3rd party JJ OS for the MPC 1000 if Akai made all the missing things work.

I just don't get it though, why should I buy a MPC 1000 and plus plus buy another OS.. the money doesnt grow on me lol.

Now the 2000XL part, I read all about the fact you can only have 4 layers on it? I don't really understand this.. that means like, bass, drums, sample and some additional sounds? Or am I taking this all to the wrong way?

Plus point is aswell, the bigger pads, the tilting screen, 16 bits for the famous quality.
Negative side is the 32 MB etc.

But still, why should I take a MPC 1000 with JJ OS over the 2000 XL? I could get the XL for 100 dollars more with a MCD drive in it..

Is it really that slow to chop a sample on the XL?
And is the pad size of such importance compared to the MPC 1000?


Sorry for my English, I'm from Netherland.

OpinDraconis wrote:The MPC 1000, its 2012 now, many people recommend the JJ OS for the system, but I see Akai also has the 2.13, which contains chop shop, timestretch etc. etc.
Problem is, why should I even consider getting a 3rd party JJ OS for the MPC 1000 if Akai made all the missing things work.

To me, MPC is about workflow. With MPC (or "hardware" as opposed to software), I won't be distracted by loads of information on computer screens. With MPC, I can focus on sample chops, arrangement, and it forces me to use ears (with DAW, it often happens that people make music with their eyes.) With DAW, you might go crazy with effects (which unlikely make the music more interesting), instead of creating or trying out different arrangement.
I am not good at concentrating one thing for long time, especially in front of computer. When I am making music, it is better that I don't have any ways to check email or browsing websites.
I am not against DAWs or software, just I am not good at using those.

There a even free downloadable version of JJOS, which is already better than the Akai's stock OS (with more functions & bug fixes.) You don't have to stick with the OS that came with it. (I don't have MPC-1000, so can't say which is better, but you CAN go back to Akai's OS, if you don't like JJOS. Most of users seem to like JJOS than the Akai OS though.)

OpinDraconis wrote:Now the 2000XL part, I read all about the fact you can only have 4 layers on it? I don't really understand this.. that means like, bass, drums, sample and some additional sounds? Or am I taking this all to the wrong way?

That doesn't make any sense. MPC-2000 is 32 polyphony, which means it can play maximum of 32 mono samples at the same time. Of course stereo sample takes 2 polyphonic, or 2 mono samples.
Plus, there are 64 tracks for each sequences.

OpinDraconis wrote:Plus point is aswell, the bigger pads, the tilting screen, 16 bits for the famous quality.
Negative side is the 32 MB etc.

with 32MB, you can store over 4 minutes of mono samples. If you know how to manage RAM resource, it is a plenty of sample time. Of course, you can't have too much RAM, but it does not feel too limited, at least to me.

OpinDraconis wrote:But still, why should I take a MPC 1000 with JJ OS over the 2000 XL? I could get the XL for 100 dollars more with a MCD drive in it..

Data storage management is better on MPC-1000. You can even use USB cable to access MPC-1000's data storage (unfortunately, MPC-1000 does not work as a MIDI over USB MIDI controller.)
MPC-2000 Classic is even worse, there is no folder support (ALL the data is stored on root directory!) and it only supports floppy and SCSI devices, no IDE devices.
Those issues were improved on MPC-2000XL.

OpinDraconis wrote:Is it really that slow to chop a sample on the XL?
And is the pad size of such importance compared to the MPC 1000?

To me, the luck of digit keys on MPC-1000 is a real downer. I even wish that there were dedicated function keys on MPC-2000, like MPC-60/3000/4000. I think those things matters much more than mere RAM size.
For the sample chopping, since I'd chop samples manually anyway, MPC-2000XL is sufficient.
I guess tilting screen is underrated feature, that was major part of the reasons that I didn't like MPC-2000 classic.
Yes, users don't like the small pads, but you may not care though. You should try out to find out.

To me, the luck of digit keys on MPC-1000 is a real downer

jjos2xl allows you to use midi to control any function on the OS, even number input. you can set up a computer number pad as digit keys to send midi data to the 1k/2500

Nym wrote:

To me, the luck of digit keys on MPC-1000 is a real downer

jjos2xl allows you to use midi to control any function on the OS, even number input. you can set up a computer number pad as digit keys to send midi data to the 1k/2500

Oh, that's cool. Now, someone has to a make a programmable MIDI numeric keypad (with shift key)!
But I guess any MIDI controller (drum pad or music keyboard) can be used as a controller for JJOS2XL then.

Now, someone has to a make a programmable MIDI numeric keypad (with shift key)!

done

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYpzwEcKxuY

though instead of the numpad, i just use macros for standard entries like 12, 24, 48, 96, etc for duration

Nym wrote:

Now, someone has to a make a programmable MIDI numeric keypad (with shift key)!

done

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYpzwEcKxuY

though instead of the numpad, i just use macros for standard entries like 12, 24, 48, 96, etc for duration

Wow, that's very crafty! It would've been epic if you used a keypad like this;

^ you totally could, that would definitely be awesome
i considered getting one of those little number pad things but i'm on a strict "found/recycled object only" kick for my homemade devices....excluding whatever board level components i can't find in old electronics at work. my mpd16 has given me diodes for days. that + the sensitronics FSR array is about all that piece of crap was good for anyway

Made the decision to go with the MPC 1000, 2 more weeks for teh moneh.

I see I have unleashed some new info, thank you Nym for opening eyes lol, dope beats btw.

To Nym,

Yeah, I totally understand that, do-with-what-I-have mentality, it's cool. But the full size keyboard would eat up spece, especially with MPC-1000, the keyboard has more width. Maybe old IBM-PC numeric keypad that use DIN-5 (which is even smaller than the Apple keypad shown above) would be more suited to the project (and should be cheaper than Apple keypads.)