Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By clownool Wed Dec 26, 2007 6:06 am
I am new to synths, samplers, and sequencers. I just want to make music for fun to see if I might be able to make Southern beats that sound good. and maybe take it to the next level.
I want to make hip hop beats.

I bought a EMU mk-6 on e-bay and it should be here soon. Is that synth a good choice? I am looking at getting a MPC500 or MPC1000. It would take me around a month to get the mpc500 or two months for the mpc1000. Which one would be a better choice?
What's the difference between the two? and how long is the learning curve on these samplers? Please give me all the advice you can give me
By marlonr72 Wed Dec 26, 2007 12:41 pm
clownool wrote:I am new to synths, samplers, and sequencers. I just want to make music for fun to see if I might be able to make Southern beats that sound good. and maybe take it to the next level.
I want to make hip hop beats.

I bought a EMU mk-6 on e-bay and it should be here soon. Is that synth a good choice? I am looking at getting a MPC500 or MPC1000. It would take me around a month to get the mpc500 or two months for the mpc1000. Which one would be a better choice?
What's the difference between the two? and how long is the learning curve on these samplers? Please give me all the advice you can give me
stay away from the mpc500, with the mpc1000 you can actually turn it into an mpc 2500 for like $30 bucks more if you install the jj operating system, the 1000 is the better option,, just make sure if you get an mpc1000 you get the updated pads, dont buy one of the earlier models with the crappy pads, the mpc 500 is ok but the screen is too small, for like 1100 you can get a maxed out mpc 1000,, i bought mine form hiphopworks on ebay, for $1000 i got my mpc 1000 with the new pads, maxed out sampling memory and a 120gb harddrive.

By ThaSuperSoaker Wed Dec 26, 2007 2:27 pm
fo southern style beats (if u mean that kind of crunk ish?), i wouldnt recommend a mpc, mpc is fine for sample based beats, fo the southern style beats i would recommend a good pc with pro software like reason, fl studio blabla, lots of vstis and a midi or usb keyboard, i think thats enuff to start, u can cop hardware synthies later (fo example: http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=yPFtb0-2FZg)

By aquarius Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:23 pm
I'm not really into crunk or southern beats but most of the stuff that I have heard usually uses 808 samples so why couldn't you use an mpc for that?
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By Upright Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:16 pm
I kinda agree with superSoaker here but if your dead set on getting an mpc go with the 1000 and make sure you get your pads updated...the last thing you want is to spend a $1000 dollars and end up with dead pads somewhere down the line. There are tons upon tons of videos on youtube of guys using the mpc 1000, so look to those for inspiration. :D
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By Lithion Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:20 am
If you want to go software, FL studio is so cheap these days, and perfect for crunk music.