I actually had fun with the 500 last night but still hate it

I am bugging about how the filters & effects, output levels and polyphony of the 500 leave a lot to wish for in 2007. Last night I plugged it into my Elektron Machinedrum to use it's filters on whatever I had in the sampler. I suddenly found myself chopping samples in a whole other way than before, due to the simple fact that I could USE serious lowpass/hi pass to work with the output of the 500.

This sort of challenges the 500 as an all in one solution to produce beats on the road. I've been using it on trains and flights, pre-loaded with song snippets from records to work with.. drum sounds. Nothing really comes out that I can feel.

I keep asking myself how in the world could the 3000 have more ellaborate filtering possbilities than the 500? Why didn't they reprocude THAT in this unit?

Apart from chopping the occasional beats I rarely find myself enjoying trying to do whole compositions on the 500 without processing samples externally. The effects on the MPC series (I used the 1K before) are already known as some of the cheesiest around. And while this is fun in one way it is totally akward and ridiculous in another. Bit grunger is god awful and the EQ:ing completely one-dimensional.

I'm seriously hoping that a future instrument from Elektron or maybe Dave Smith/Linn's collaboration will offer some means of portability. In the meantime I'm sticking with this. If not so at least to have something around with pads, um... a memory card and well a sequencer.

I remember being happier with the 1000 . . ? Don't have one around to compare with now.

Ah well.

Nice read

After almost a month of owning it, I can admit that I'm actually getting pretty frustrated with mine as well. I literally spent the entire weekend with my MPC and manual and tried to do simple things that would make my life easier (i.e., timestretching). My goal was to build a foundation for a beat and it just didn't happen.

As much as I love the machine, I'm kinda feeling like I wasted $700. For me, it's less a hassle to open up ProTools and Reason and just get to work.

I like the MPC line enough, maybe I should upgrade to a 2500 (for some reason I'm not too keen on the 1000), but I'm also worried that I'll run into some of the same issues I'm having with my current box. I cannot get over the fact that even though I follow the manual I am unable to make things work. From saving and loading to tempo matching and applying effects, it's just not working for me.

*sigh* I figured since this was the venting post, I should participate.

Satisfy wrote:After almost a month of owning it, I can admit that I'm actually getting pretty frustrated with mine as well. I literally spent the entire weekend with my MPC and manual and tried to do simple things that would make my life easier (i.e., timestretching). My goal was to build a foundation for a beat and it just didn't happen.

As much as I love the machine, I'm kinda feeling like I wasted $700. For me, it's less a hassle to open up ProTools and Reason and just get to work.

I like the MPC line enough, maybe I should upgrade to a 2500 (for some reason I'm not too keen on the 1000), but I'm also worried that I'll run into some of the same issues I'm having with my current box. I cannot get over the fact that even though I follow the manual I am unable to make things work. From saving and loading to tempo matching and applying effects, it's just not working for me.

*sigh* I figured since this was the venting post, I should participate.

I dont think the 500 should be used as your MAIN beat making machine. Its like you should own a regular mpc and just have the 500 for its portability for ideas on the go. You know what Im saying? You cant expect that lil shyt to do everything, but thats also why it should priceed lower. 700 for that shyt is crazy!!! But then again I never used it before.

Regardless of whether or not it is my "main" beat machine, I just find the box to be downright difficult. I don't have a problem navigating, I have a problem with the box not functioning the way it's supposed to according to the manual. I assume most people here don't have these issues with the 500 because they have prior experience with MPCs and as a result the learning curve is minimal.

Satisfy wrote:Regardless of whether or not it is my "main" beat machine, I just find the box to be downright difficult. I don't have a problem navigating, I have a problem with the box not functioning the way it's supposed to according to the manual. I assume most people here don't have these issues with the 500 because they have prior experience with MPCs and as a result the learning curve is minimal.

Its not difficult, its actually pretty damn easy to use. It all about getting familiar with the layout of the machine and getting comfortable with the "OPEN WINDOW" button

It takes time. Plus everyone is different. When I first got my mpc I made a hot track right out the box! Of course I didnt use half the functions I should have used but I found my way around it. Thats probably because Ive owned other Hardware sequencers though

Geez. Just stop whining already and start making those beats.

Jacpot wrote:Its not difficult, its actually pretty damn easy to use. It all about getting familiar with the layout of the machine and getting comfortable with the "OPEN WINDOW" button

You are obviously not familar with the layout of the MPC500, as there is no "OPEN WINDOW" button!!!

WTF are you talking about?

This is not the MPC2000xl, MPC2000 Forum...they are the only MPC's with an "OPEN WINDOW" button!

motormind wrote:Geez. Just stop whining already and start making those beats.

Or sell it and quit ya bitchin'!

Satisfy wrote:Regardless of whether or not it is my "main" beat machine, I just find the box to be downright difficult. I don't have a problem navigating, I have a problem with the box not functioning the way it's supposed to according to the manual.

In what way does it not function the way it says in the manual?

SimonInAustralia wrote:

Jacpot wrote:Its not difficult, its actually pretty damn easy to use. It all about getting familiar with the layout of the machine and getting comfortable with the "OPEN WINDOW" button

You are obviously not familar with the layout of the MPC500, as there is no "OPEN WINDOW" button!!!

WTF are you talking about?

This is not the MPC2000xl, MPC2000 Forum...they are the only MPC's with an "OPEN WINDOW" button!

Guess you told me. Dont the 1k and 2500 have window buttons also??

And like I said above I never used a 500 i was assuming

Jacpot wrote:Dont the 1k and 2500 have window buttons also??

Yes...MPC1000, MPC2500, and MPC4000 have "WINDOW" buttons (not "OPEN WINDOW"), the MPC500 does not.

"... but i still hate it."

Then you sir are a hater.

Jacpot wrote:And like I said above I never used a 500 i was assuming

This is the second time I've seen someone on this forum try to be a smart aleck only to have it backfire and expose them as someone talking out of their crack. But it's all good. I'm still baby!

The problem I'm having is tempo matching. In trying to use timestretching, I'm trying to layer a drum break over an Ohio Player's sample. No, this is not for a "real" track, I'm still trying to learn how to use the box.

Satisfy wrote:

Jacpot wrote:And like I said above I never used a 500 i was assuming

This is the second time I've seen someone on this forum try to be a smart aleck only to have it backfire and expose them as someone talking out of their crack. But it's all good. I'm still baby!

The problem I'm having is tempo matching. In trying to use timestretching, I'm trying to layer a drum break over an Ohio Player's sample. No, this is not for a "real" track, I'm still trying to learn how to use the box.

COck in your mouf.
I know how to use my XL back to front. Learn yours chief