Getting Ready To Purchase

I am getting ready to purchase a MPC 5000 but need to get some opinions. I currently am using Logic Pro 8, Ableton Live, and Pro Tools LE for recording. I cannot get the hang of sampling with a computer system. Also, I think for putting together samples on pads an recording from the pads would be a breeze with the MPC. I am just a newbie but have some great gear but am struggling. I am thinking the MPC could be useful for me.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

simply read through all the threads. There are plenty of opinions from mes and non-users alike.......

I feel you man, I just cant get into my groove when im playing around on this computer. Yesterday I went ahead and bought the MPK49 to have for when I get my 5K (and build some credit while im at it) and I tried out the Abelton Lite that came with it. I guess this laptop is not strong enough to handle the basic midi recordings, two i cant get my workflow right on a computer for some reason, I played around with a friend of mine MPC2500 made som of the hottest stuff I could have imagined.

Anywho, if your anything like me your headed in the right route. Just be sure you read up on it and know what your getting into right now with the 5K.

I personally think that buying the 5k at this point in time (baring in mind what users are saying) would be a mistake. I would even go as far as to say wait until a few OS updates are produced as there's no guarantee that the one dropping sometime in the next few months will be any good!

There are never any guarantees of course, but in 6 months to a year this machine will 'probably' be more stable and way cheaper than it is at the moment. Akai need to pull their finger out though... i'm sure we all agree on that.

Thanks for the opinions all. I am currently getting quotes on this unit. I am seeing some movement on price. I have a quote for a new one in a sealed box as low as $2180 shipped. Still very expensive if there are issues with the OS. Perhaps dropping down to the 2500 or waiting a bit is more sensible. The other side of the coin is I am assuming that any updates in the OS could be downloaded and installed if I bought the 5000 now?

The other side of the coin is I am assuming that any updates in the OS could be downloaded and installed if I bought the 5000 now?

True, but you may be downloading plenty of new bugs that the current bug fixes will create. There's plenty of unfortunate 'real-world' beta testers here without volunteering yourself to become one too!

Just sit tight for a month or so and you will have a far better idea of what to do.

For me personally it is a lot easier to compose a full song on live than on the mpc. It depends on your work habits. The computer screen is much easier to work with, when you are editing, moodifying etc. This is my personal experience. I like the MPC very much, but have found the workflow very efficient when I work with a computer. I basically use my MPC for playing live, since it's rock solid and gives me an awesome sound. Apart from being able to play certain parts of the song.
This is not the only way to do things, only my approach
Cheers!

I am really having trouble with sampling with a computer, even with Ableton or Logic Pro. I really thought the MPC would be better for this. Since I have so much gear should I maybe just purchase a 2500?

Thanks.

If you need something now then I would say yes. But dont sleep on the 5K, in a few months it will be monsterous... personally im gonna hold off and put my money for it to the side until the next OS update release and get the rest of my gear that I will build around my 5K (Keyboards, Monitors, Stronger Computer, Mixer, DAWs,...)

[email protected] wrote:I am really having trouble with sampling with a computer, even with Ableton or Logic Pro. I really thought the MPC would be better for this. Since I have so much gear should I maybe just purchase a 2500?

Thanks.

What do you mean by having trouble sampling with a computer? Personally I think that it is much easier to edit start and endpoints with a large graphic display than by ear or with a tinny screen. I believe tha ableton live is one of the best softwares around for composing and producing. What I don't really trust ableton live is for live gigs. That's what I have the MPC for.

And personally, if you have the money for the 5k, I would go for it instead of 2500. The 5K has it's bugs, but we'll get around them in a couple of months
Cheers

Teknokeyz wrote:If you need something now then I would say yes. But dont sleep on the 5K, in a few months it will be monsterous... personally im gonna hold off and put my money for it to the side until the next OS update release

Me 2 and that's also with purchasing the Fantom G. I here the "G" is still buggy.

Ok again thanks for the information. Here is my situation and I am sure alot of the problem is my learning ability and short patience. I am an old dude trying to do this recording thing. I am using a MAC Book Pro with Ableton LIve 7, Pro Tools LE 7.4. and Logic Pro 8. When I want to sample something I go to Ableton but cannot seem to figure out how to set the beginning and ending points and then export that into Logic or Pro Tools. I figure the MPC could do this and I could play the sample into a song via an assigned pad on the MPC. For instruments I am using a Korg M3 which also has sampling capability which I cannot figure out. I also have a Virus but of course no sampling with it.

Help please, I am lost and really could use some type of tutorial or lessons.

Thanks.

Logic comes with EXS24 which is a very well spec'd sampler as far as I know. By the sounds of things you're struggling with the basics, so maybe spend a few days trying to work out Ableton or the EXS24, then at least you can make a better decision on things.

That's got to be better than spending over 2k to learn about sampling only to find out that it's easier or more to your liking within the software you already have!

Also, you say you're a newbie yet you have gone out and acquired Logic Pro 8, Ableton Live AND Pro Tools... ?!! Jeeeez, you're not making it easy for yourself fella! Any 'one' of those programs would suffice for you, but good luck anyway!

[email protected] wrote:Ok again thanks for the information. Here is my situation and I am sure alot of the problem is my learning ability and short patience. I am an old dude trying to do this recording thing. I am using a MAC Book Pro with Ableton LIve 7, Pro Tools LE 7.4. and Logic Pro 8. When I want to sample something I go to Ableton but cannot seem to figure out how to set the beginning and ending points and then export that into Logic or Pro Tools. I figure the MPC could do this and I could play the sample into a song via an assigned pad on the MPC. For instruments I am using a Korg M3 which also has sampling capability which I cannot figure out. I also have a Virus but of course no sampling with it.

Help please, I am lost and really could use some type of tutorial or lessons.

Thanks.

Yea, you are doing too much at one time.... you might wanna make sure about what you are trying to do first, understand what each program can and is capable of doing before trying to connect all of those dots at one time.

You might only need 1 or 2 of the programs, and/or hardware to make happen with what you are trying to do.