Complementary MPC's

No, I'm not giving away any MPC's.. That would be Complimentary, not Complementary.

I'm talking about anyone here have both an MPC 3000 and, say, an MPC 2000xl, or another one? If so, what do you get out of each unit? How do they work together and what are the strengths of one of them that compensates for the weaknesses of the other? Feel free to insult me as well, or flame or whatever.. Any response would be nice, actually.
See, I have an MPC 3000 on layaway and there's another MPC 2000xl for sale and I'm wondering which one, or both (and why) would be better for me.

Damn, 0 replies I thought I was in for a free MPC for sure!

Well I got you to read and reply, which is a good thing, right?

I find the XL to be faster, more functional, and generally easier to use.

The biggest difference is the XL you can see the wavform you are trimming.

And the midi on the 3k is twice as expandable, also has a slightly rougher sound.

Hav in the Studio sayin 3K>2K: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho_7z9UX1oQ

I own an MPC60(relevance) and an XL.
I use the 60 for sequencing and drums when I am combining the two together via MIDI.
The XL holds the loops, chops, filters etc...
They're a good mix IMO. 60 has that sound, punch and ease of use for sequencing. XL has that large sampling time, quick chopping, SCSI ZIP(use floppies for the 60 still).

Sometimes I use only the XL. Sometimes I use only the 60. The 60 was my first MPC and I will never get rid of it. I have loaded sounds from my 60's floppies on the XL and the 60 seems to always have that dope bottom end.

Next thing is an S3000 rack and I'm all set.

I got a 60mk1 and a 500, I use the 60 mainly to sample things that need high ends being cutt off or just simply drums. I can really tell the difference between the same kick sampled in to the 60 or 500. I hate to say but I will, since I got the 500 I am using my 60 less and less, mainly to sample, sometiimes to sequence. Overall I think they fit well together since I got the oldschool feel with the 60 and the modern age (more sample time, usb etc) in the 500.

The advantage if any of having 2 MPC's, is being able to switch between them when you are in different moods. Another would be, if one is in the shop, the beat goes on.

Other than that.. its redundant, if you ask me. I would rather have an MPC and a Fantom G. This way, I have more flexibility, and in a crunch if needed it has some paddy thingies. (If the MPC is in the shop)

It's kind of like having that vintage Stratocaster from the 60's (MPC60) and then also having that newer model with a different sound (2000XL) ... this is the case with me I guess.

?but the sound is really what we are after right?


I think regardless of what gear your using, you have to find a way to make whatever you want to hear come out of that unit.


theres just sonic advantages to different pieces of gear.


If you are a real programmer, "producer", you should be able to set up with any sampler/sequencing piece of gear, and figure that shit out... without being skeptical about your ability to do it on anything you grab a hold of.

of course most people like this or that about their gear, and know how to use it well, but maybe they are tonedeaf, or have no concept of why and how their gear works.

I found learning everything I could get my hands on that had to do with MIDI really tripled my understanding of routing options within my studio. I am just beginning to figure out the controller options I have available to me.

If you cant take your gear and make the sound you want, then you have the wrong gear. as far as complimentary MPC's, they compliment when you know how to use them together.

I think the 1000 is one of the most powerful mpc's I've owned, (jjos of course), but I really do not care for the sound it produces on its own (dry sample signal to rec in).

but by using it as a tool, you can do unbelievable stuff in such a small box.

the XL is powerful, but very limited in its sonic modulation. with an MCD reader, you can really be portable with it and save massive amounts of data. (still my favorite all in all machine)

the 3k is unbelievable with the timing and swing it produces (same as the 60 i think), and I actually have a harder time trying to emulate this on any other machine. It has a very human feel to the timing when you swing your drums.


sorry for hijacking, but I think all mpc's are powerful animals when you start MIDI'ing them to other outboard gear.

The Grublet wrote:

sorry for hijacking, but I think all mpc's are powerful animals when you start MIDI'ing them to other outboard gear.

Good post!
I have a huge EMPTY rack waiting to be filled. Only a lonely patchbay and sonic maximizer sit there currently.(Beside 3 MPCs mind you

So if I want to I can take the MPC3000 and control any of the various samples or sampling programs on the computer via MIDI? SWEET!

the MPC and an SP303 or 404 is a great combo

Cosign. I have been sampling through a 404 for a minute now. Straight form the line outs of my stanton.

im on a sp404/mpc4k/mpc3k combo.

although truth be told...the 4k swings just like the 3k...but the output in my 3k is much louder.