MPC5000 reviews, bug reports and fellow user support on the most recent standalone, hardware MPC from Akai
By b-righteous Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:19 pm
No new 5k OS. :( I guess Numark gave up. The 4k is still king. Just a higher quality MPC and still the best overall IMO
By oneday2one Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:31 am
what if 'ease of use' was the only category between the 4k and the 5k?

except, of course, maybe a rock and a stick would win in that case.

what if HD recording was the only category?

what if subtractive synthesis was the only category?

what if arpeggiation was the only category?

okay, i'm just being silly now. just having fun. :wink:
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By Jauly Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:13 pm
Coz wrote:What if 24bit was the only category? :wink:


LoL not really an issue for the 5000 unless you prefer less space on the hd.
The 5000 sounds pretty awesome. Her 16 bits eat the 16 on the 4000 :P
By golfzerosafari Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:12 pm
You guys were actually waiting for Namm?

Coz wrote:What if 24bit was the only category? :wink:


Wow, ONLY category??? Where would that actually get you??? When was the last time you heard a good song and said "that's 24 bit" :lol: Ill tell you one thing, if I wanted a really good SOUNDING sampler I wouldnt get a 4000.
By b-righteous Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:28 pm
You guys are off about the 4k sound. The 5k sounds nice and has better effects but the 4k sounds a little better. No, it's not thin sounding either as you may assume. You get more detail and clarity even when working at 44k with 16 bit samples. It has just as much thump as the 5k does. But maybe less warm than the 3k. It sounds like a more detailed 5k but with cheap FX like all the other MPc's

Ease of use?

I think the 4k got a bad rap for this. Overall it is easier to use than the 5k due to some more polished features that help the workflow go smooth. Lot's of the things that make the JJ OS are direct rips off the 4k.

The only thing that is more complex is the basic voice editing and assign is more deep so there are some concepts you have to wrap your head around to understand. Once you take the time to do this and you get the design it becomes more easy to use than the other MPC's. It just takes a day or two to get familiar with.

The biggest advantage of the 5k over the 4k is the effects, input through, quantize strength, chop shop 2.0 for the guys that do auto slicing, 8track HDR, Mute groups, and if you want to count the mediocre synth. Also the smaller size.

For the 4k advantages there are too many to list but I listed most of them in the feature thread.

I think it's a close race and each has advantages but I pick the 4k as the winner.
By golfzerosafari Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:51 pm
Hearing is subjective. People hear different frequencies louder or softer. People have different workflow's and utilize certain features more or less. I ASSUME you have both. Well I did, and I did not like the character or workflow of the 4000 PERSONALLY. Im not gonna say which is better for you. Youre actually on the wrong side of the tracks because it seems more people like the 4000 better. NOT ME :lol: A person's talent and style far outweighs what any MPC model could offer.
By b-righteous Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:00 pm
True indeed. This is all subjective opinion.

Either way, Numark really should give the 5k an update to finish a couple missing features and resolve the sluggish response.
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By D-One Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:24 am
b-righteous wrote:For the 4k advantages there are too many to list but I listed most of them in the feature thread.


Sorry could not find that! Can you giv me the link? i would like to see that list.
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By mr_debauch Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:48 am
Jauly wrote:
Coz wrote:What if 24bit was the only category? :wink:


LoL not really an issue for the 5000 unless you prefer less space on the hd.
The 5000 sounds pretty awesome. Her 16 bits eat the 16 on the 4000 :P



well why does anything have 24 bit? I think the point is that during production, some people prefer to use the highest possible quality available and after the mixdown they put the track out on CD in 16bit.

often it doesn't really matter, but to some it is important since they might own gear designed to work that way.
By Emilie Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:39 am
mr_debauch wrote:
Jauly wrote:
Coz wrote:What if 24bit was the only category? :wink:


LoL not really an issue for the 5000 unless you prefer less space on the hd.
The 5000 sounds pretty awesome. Her 16 bits eat the 16 on the 4000 :P



well why does anything have 24 bit? I think the point is that during production, some people prefer to use the highest possible quality available and after the mixdown they put the track out on CD in 16bit.

often it doesn't really matter, but to some it is important since they might own gear designed to work that way.


The point is that Nukai could have taken the same embedded technology from the mpc-4000 and made it a 16 bit monster instead of using the same technology as the mpc-2500. The MPC-4000 was a powerhouse!!! I think that the only reason that they made the 5000 is that Roger Linn and Dave Smith annouced their LinnDrum 2 (Boom Chik). But that one newer came ;-(
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By mr_debauch Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:40 am
eimer wrote:
mr_debauch wrote:
Jauly wrote:


LoL not really an issue for the 5000 unless you prefer less space on the hd.
The 5000 sounds pretty awesome. Her 16 bits eat the 16 on the 4000 :P



well why does anything have 24 bit? I think the point is that during production, some people prefer to use the highest possible quality available and after the mixdown they put the track out on CD in 16bit.

often it doesn't really matter, but to some it is important since they might own gear designed to work that way.


The point is that Nukai could have taken the same embedded technology from the mpc-4000 and made it a 16 bit monster instead of using the same technology as the mpc-2500. The MPC-4000 was a powerhouse!!! I think that the only reason that they made the 5000 is that Roger Linn and Dave Smith annouced their LinnDrum 2 (Boom Chik). But that one newer came ;-([/quote]


well I dont know. I think they needed to make a new mpc since that is the series they are known for and they need to make money.

I think the machine became the way it is because instead of starting from the ground up they took that alesis workstation (was it the fusion???) and they added a thing or two to that. There was a thread where someone pointed out how the two machines were almost identical (unless I am crazy and I somehow misread something)

I do agree though. Why didn't they repackage the 4k?
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By Jauly Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:32 pm
mr_debauch wrote:
I do agree though. Why didn't they repackage the 4k?


Because they had the bright idea of a 3500 - a lighter & tighter MPC than the 4000 tank, but with more ease of use and practical addons like hd recorder, more sliders and synth. So Numakai tried to build it on their praised, but somehow half-baked fusion and wanted to recycle it into the 3500. But as they were about to release the bride of frankenstein, they lost self confidence and market it (wrongly in my opinion) as the new "flagship" 5000.

I assume the main reason for this step was that production and developement costs probably were to high when they had to squeeze the fusion into the MPC. It's like transforming an airliner into an helicopter. For that price-jump from the 2500 (roofed by the prices of the 4000), numakai did not dare to sell it as an mpc 3500.

So the MPC 5000 has to be seen somewhere between the 2500 and the 4000, but advanced in handy points. With that view in mind, you will stop complaining and take the 5000 for what she is: A damn beautiful Vamp 8)

New OS wanted indeed... she needs a clearer mind :lol:
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By Coz Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:09 pm
From what users say it seems the 5k is woefully underpowered for the supposed 'flagship'.