Which MPC is best as stand alone production station

My main question here is, can a MPC be used as a music production workstation on its own? Can you, on one machine, go from sampling, sequencing, tracking, recording, and burning, or extracting a final product file?

I am looking for something that will give me more control over the little things in my music production. And I want to avoid using a computer. I like boxes that have buttons and nobs.

Ok, I am just going to ask specific questions.

little things,
Can you control the panning of samples? If you change the pan on a pad is it permanent, or can you change panning in time while sequencing?

Can you record a track, then re-record the track while applying effects live to the track? So that the effects are saved.

I keep hearing people say things like, "you only get 12 seconds" or "you have to learn to fit everything into 'those' 60 seconds" What does this mean? Do MPCs have limits on pattern time or something?

examples/bigger questions,
On this song Pete Rock drops out tracks all the time which keeps these somewhat repetitive 5 minutes fresh. (see 42 sec., 1:25, 1:45) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrIhZPAAcjI Did he record these tracks directly on the MPC and edit out those parts? Is this what you mean by an MPC is a Sequencer? Right now if I want to achieve this sort of effect I definitely can but it doesn't feel organic. I have to record from my sampler into my computer then slice up a track make new tracks with the . . . . . . it sucks. I'm sure I could get to know the DAW better but I'd rather not.

On this song Dilla slows the tempo of the song in the middle of it. listen at 50 seconds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-hKtCCgIMw Did he do this with a MPC?

I have more questions but I would rather get some sort of discussion going here. Also, I am looking at buying a 2000xl because it seems to be more what I am going for, I don't want to mess with a computer. And Pete Rock used it, so there's that too. But I would be willing to save up for any MPC if it will give me the control over sound that I want.

I have been making music using a Roland sp-404 sampler and a Boss Dr-Groove 202 for a few years now(I put some links to some songs below). Both of these machines are suited more for a live setting so to record I generally play songs live into my computer(Cubase Daw) or an 8-track. I want to have more control on the production. I don't like the feel of using a mouse and dealing with a Daw. I basically use Cubase as an 8-track and occasionally use some effects.

https://soundcloud.com/garretthartley/j ... ling-ducks
https://soundcloud.com/garretthartley/slow-it-down
https://soundcloud.com/garretthartley/spacefunk-dub

all the older mpcs will have a really dry and straight forward sound. it will be up to you to sample the right phrases and fit them together. beyond that, youll just want some simple eq or the like to help your tracks fit better... my answer would be the 1000/2500 with jjos but then if you want the sound and effect used by your heroes, why not just buy what they used? no need to ask all these questions if you just want do what they did. then i believe most would say its a matter of technique rather than equipment. for the most part, those guys used the mpcs exactly the way they were meant to be used, with little to nothing remotely sophisticated in the way of filtering or envelopes or lfos etc. of course those old machines didnt have any of those things.

imho mpcs were not meant to be used as all in one devices unless youre simply playing back phrases and nothing more.

Cool, thanks for the reply.

Maybe I am not being clear enough in my question. I am not looking to have the 'same' sound as J Dilla or Pete Rock. I mean, these machines are samplers.... The sounds come from where you get them basically. If you want a vinyl sound, sample vinyl. I get you can mess with eqs and stuff, but yeah anyways the sound doesn't concern me much.

I am more curious if the techniques they used come naturally with the use of an MPC.

I can replicate these techniques with the system I have now, but it is extremely unnatural.

And regardless of if the MPC was intended to be a stand alone system. Could it be used as one?

I am asking here because I assume you guys are familiar with their capabilities.
I also understand that you get out of a machine what you put into it. And I know my Sp-404 and Drum machine like the back of my hand and have discovered many tricks and loop-holes to get the effect I want, but I am starting to feel that my imagination is getting limited by the machines. And I have this fantasy that an MPC is the answer to all my problems because that is what it seems to be, that is, of course after I put the time in to master it, BUT I just want to know if the desired effects I am going for are not only possible, but also natural with an mpc.

The limitations most producers talked about back in the day were mostly the small amount of RAM. Especially on the older models/ samplers. (If I'm correct you can only expand the RAM up to 1,5mb with the MPC60, and 2,25mb with the S950).
With the newer MPC models RAM isn't really an issue, but still the rule 'less is more' is still relevant for some producers and beats.

Not sure with the older models, but with the 1000/2500 you can automate the panning of each individual pad. Not sure whether you can automate the FX as well.

The rest of the techniques you described can all be programed with the MPC's sequencer like tempo change and track mutes. That effect Pete Rock does on that track is just simply creative track muting you can also record into your sequence with the 1000/2500.

It's an illusion that the great producers only used one machine and did everything on that "stand alone production station".

If you look at the back of the Pete Rock Soul Survivor LP cover, you can see a 250k SSL mixing desk, a huge ass tape machine, etc.

It's possible most tracks started out as ideas on just one machine, but i would bet my left testicle, there was A LOT more happening with outside gear and other stuff in most of these productions.

Many productions were done in expensive studios, with engineers who knew what they were doing. Again... 250k mixing desks, tape machines, outboard effects and compressors and stuff that cost more together than your car, etc.

Maybe Pete Rock had more than one SP1200... and so on...

You can do whole productions with just one MPC, but don't expect the same results as the "greats" as they usually had unlimited recourses of awesome gear and studio engineers who knew their craft in and out.

for me, no the mpc is not a standalone production machine. it cant do many of the things i think are essential that a more sophisticated sampler like an emu ultra series can for instance. now that machine might be closer to an all in one. it lacks a tactile interface with drum machine style sequencer, although it does have a sequencer. this is where the mpc shines if you ask me. but especially one with jjos. all my mpc needs to be for me is a solid midi sequencer with a rudimentary sampler bolted on. and that it does exquisitely well (with jjos2xl). it keeps me from needing a computer for sure. it keeps me in contact with my sequences and gear which is the way i like it.

MPC4000 is probably closest to an all in one sample-based production station, but you don't really want to mix and attempt post-production in the box. You can track out stems with the 8 outputs and hand those over to Mr DAW for the finishing touches.