Selling MPC 3000 and buying a REN or STUDIO

Hi,
I used to use my mpc 3000 many years ago, but haven't used it for a long time.
Thinking of selling and getting either a Ren or Studio.Convenience and new features are my reasons.
Couple of questions..
-Will I be able to get the same swing as I used to get on the 3000 ?
-Is the Ren worth the extra ££ (I use Logic-but want a machine just for beats and samples) than the studio?
thanks
JL

I'm assuming the 3000 has the same tc swing as all mpcs.. So yes..

If you dont have a audio interface and your osx is not mavericks then yes...
The convenience of the audio interface (especially if you sample from records) is the built in phono preamp.. You can plug a turntable straight into it.

There are issues though with getting the plugin to work inside a daw as a plugin.. IF your happy with running the ren and it's own sequencer inside itself when it's a plugin then thats fine..

If you want logic to sequence it(midi event in logic trigger pgms in the ren plugin) then you;ll run into limitations...

You can only export tracks... Not pads.. A limitation if you play your drums all at once...

You have more qlinks that control things in sample edit and it's a bit easier compared to the studio..

There is also the element.. It's limitation is that it is only 1 track.. in logic this could work in your favour though.. As you load multiple instances and use logic to sequence it...

HI,
Thanks for the tips.
I have old osx -I do have an audio interface, just an m-audio one from a few years back-its ok, but I could live without it.
Built in phono-pre amp is a big plus for me (does the studio have this also?).
Plug-in issues on logic? I thought I could just run it midi like I would anything else, but you say there are problems with this?
Do you mean I can only use one track on logic (midi) to control the studio/ren or can I run more midi tracks?
Thanks in advance for any advice-I want to buy one asap.
Cheers!

The studio is just a controller with a midi interface.. The ren is a controller with a built in audio/midi interface.



So midi wise the plugin cannot recieve multiple midi channels only one per mpc plugin instance.

Say you have 5 midi tracks in logic.. You want to send them to the mpc.. You assign each midi track a channel.. and even a pgm change number...

Now the plugin can't assign midi channels to tracks... all midi will just go to the focused track in the mpc software....

You actually get the element software when purchasing the studio or ren, this would be more efficient at running as a plugin i would think... Because i's limited to one track.. So each logic midi track would load the a instance of the essentials software .

ah ok- gotcha. thanks for explaining it so good.
So midi wise-no difference from each machine.
I think the Ren's audio/phono inputs are swinging it for me now.
Just saw one for £599. Im purchasing as soon as I sell my 3000.

I would have thought that you could get far more for your 3000 than a ren costs. 3000s are very sought after in the uk.

Don Blake wrote:I would have thought that you could get far more for your 3000 than a ren costs. 3000s are very sought after in the uk.

really? I was gonna try ebay, but couldn't see any more on there.
You any idea how much they go for (good working original condition with all upgrades)?
cheers

i gotta be honest i have no idea but you rarely see them come up ebay. i personally have always wanted a 3000 but they never come up on ebay at all so im using an mpc 5000 and s3000.

I would advise you to have a look on ebays completed listings. but im afraid i have no idea of price.
If you offered someone with a ren a trade for your 3000 here on the forum they would take your arm off.

Don Blake wrote:i gotta be honest i have no idea but you rarely see them come up ebay. i personally have always wanted a 3000 but they never come up on ebay at all so im using an mpc 5000 and s3000.


Still love my s3000 ! though not much use these days.

I would advise you to have a look on ebays completed listings. but im afraid i have no idea of price.
If you offered someone with a ren a trade for your 3000 here on the forum they would take your arm off.

Well I need my arm- but I reckon I can get a new Ren for about 700,so if I can get more than that for my 3000 I would be happy.

Just save up and buy the Ren. How do you know you would like it? Buy it under guarantee so you can return it for a refund later if you have to. You will regret selling the 3000, mark my words young lad. Bahaha bahaha.

@JoLarge: not sure if this is still an active topic for you but for a Stateside frame of reference 3000's are going from about $1300 for fairly grubby ones up over $2000us for nicer ones.

If you haven't used the 3000 in a long while then, yeah, just sell it. But are you really done with it or would you miss it?

For convenience, I starting making music in software. FX's Geist and MPD in Logic and a bunch of plugins was a really powerful setup that I enjoyed for a couple of years. But, like what happens with many people, I kind of felt that my music was more vibrant back when I used a limited sampler+a couple of modules+mixing desk and some cheap FX. I don't feel staring at a DAW and using a mouse for hours is really that inspiring.

I just feel that with software it made it too damn easy to make the same glossy 'big sounding' shiny commercial music as every other bastard - nothing wrong with that, it's just not the music I listen to and want to make. So now I'm back on the MPC2500 as a sampler and sequencer. It's nowhere near as fast to get a track done but the workflow's second nature and just feels more fun and satisfying. And if the workflow makes you feel good you'll make more music.

proppa wrote:@JoLarge: not sure if this is still an active topic for you but for a Stateside frame of reference 3000's are going from about $1300 for fairly grubby ones up over $2000us for nicer ones.

Nope.

Check eBay completed listings, they are going for a lot less than $1300.

LEs might be up around $2000 for the more expensive examples.

You still trying to trade that 3000 for a Ren???!??!?! Hit me up

@simon: you're right - I was looking at asking prices - I'm surprised to see any allegedly decent 3000's going for under a grand usd but they seem to be doing so