Need some advice on getting MPC500

Hi, I've been looking closely into MPC500 for sometime now, but I'm not sure whether I should get it or not. I'm hoping you guys can help me make a decision.

'til now I've been only making songs on computer. I just got Logic Pro 7.2 and learning to use it in its full potential.

I started as beat maker - making hiphop beats mostly, but then got interested in various types of music. I'm now interested in making different genres of music.

I know MPC is what hiphop prudcers all have, almost a must. But since I've only been using computer mostly, and since what I wanna do is being able to produce music other than hiphop as well, I'm wondering if MPC will be right for me.

I also encountered MPD24 while looking into MPC500, which seems attractive as well, since I'm computer based musician. But firstly the size seem to be rather big, and I'm not sure if it makes much difference with my computer production. MPC500 at least promise me totally different way of producing but not sure whether MPD24 does.

Also my concern is some people saying MPC500 is intended to compliment other MPCs. I don't own MPC and thinkng of using it my main MPC. I don't know if that'd work well since I've heard some people saying you should use MPC500 along with other big MPCs.

I like MPC500 for its size. I live in New York now but I have music career in my home country Korea, and I fly there twice a year. So I'm trying to have all my gears small enough to carry around.

Seems like I rambled too much, but if you have any advice for me about MPC500 I'd really appreciate it. thanks!

Jeremy

If your going to be traveling I think considering the 500 is a smart move. The 500 does indeed make a great companion to other mpc's, if your using the 500 for portable reasons. I'm sure there are a ton of guys here using it as their main sequencer. Bottom line is that the 500 is a hot ticket(IMO) and worth having for the portable aspect alone.

I have been using the 500 by itself lately. I use SoundForge to chop/manipulate samples and transfer them onto the CF card.Blue Box is a lovely program to help put together .pgms. I love the machine.Portability alone like Upright said and to me it isn't perfect yet it still is a powerful tool. At first the size was awkward yet with time you get used to it,coming from using the 2000xl.People complain about the limitations of the machine,but I like the challenge of making the most of what it offers.Coupled with all that Logic has,you have a powerful combination there.The 500 over an MPD any day. The MPD is NOT an MPC