MPC2500 vs Live

Caustic Yoda wrote:I have live and 2500 set up next to each other with same program loaded, nothing on the master, all samples at full volume, no filters or fx, same inputs on sound card, master volume on both at -6. ive recorded the same pattern out on each, they are close but 2500 has nicer top and bottom frequencies and is clear and punchy where live gets a bit mushier, also the live is at full volume on the output dial while the 2500 is only at 50% i think running off mains power rather than step down converter/batteries might have a bit to do with it, i can upload results if anyones interested, it is quite subtle but also what makes diference between a beat great and a bland one too. will be testing this more as i have extensive library of songs written on 2500 and alot of em im really not feeling when i load them up on the live

well there you have it folks... the mpc2500 winner winner chicken dinner. it’d be nice to have something battery operated though. hopefully the live getscheap asf down the road.

haha, im sure the live could be pushed to sound on par with good combo of fx on outputs, it has somethings that are next level in the metering etc but if i had to get one i woud go with the 2500 still, i might come around to the live in the next few months. did 1st gig with the live the other night and no problems and spent a bit of time trying to get my kits sounding close to what they do on 2500 and no complaints, live wins when you wanna catch a train and kick on after the gig.

Alright, so far the MPC2500 leads the race for me...
I think it's good that it's a finished product with no bugs and crashes, that with JJOS it got a very nice and fluid workflow, that it's sound seems to have (as Causta Yoda said) a subtle but noticeable difference to the Live and that the build quality seems to be a bit better and I prefer the non-touchscreen way over the one with a touchscreen.

But what I like about the live is the stem function, the nice pads, the portability (big +!) and the internal mixer that seems to be more or less capable (at least more than the 2500?) for a raw version of the beat, before doing it fully in the DAW of choice.

I'm planning to go to the USA this summer, with me my MPC and a fairly cheap Numark record player. Me and a friend are going to dig in some record shops and for my stay there I will use my MPC without any computer (have no laptop and my big PC stays at home).

Right now the MPC2500 seems to be the better option for me, I'm pretty set on it. But still thinking a bit around... I just want the discussion to continue a bit longer

The thing about the Live is I'm afraid AKAI will drop support for the new MPCs. Like they did with Ren and Studio... I mean AKAI isnt known as the most customer friendly/caring company... I'm afraid they're gonna drop support, prices of either machine will drop and they'll just release the next beta machine. That makes alot of money, but it kills AKAIs reputation... The 2500 on the other hand is finished. It's resell value will stay or even rise, and theres no real risk in buying it That's why I'm very close to buying the 2500...

Caustic Yoda wrote:I have live and 2500 set up next to each other with same program loaded, nothing on the master, all samples at full volume, no filters or fx, same inputs on sound card, master volume on both at -6. ive recorded the same pattern out on each, they are close but 2500 has nicer top and bottom frequencies and is clear and punchy where live gets a bit mushier, also the live is at full volume on the output dial while the 2500 is only at 50% i think running off mains power rather than step down converter/batteries might have a bit to do with it, i can upload results if anyones interested, it is quite subtle but also what makes diference between a beat great and a bland one too. will be testing this more as i have extensive library of songs written on 2500 and alot of em im really not feeling when i load them up on the live

This doesn't tell anybody anything about the sound quality of the Live in comparison to the 2500. All it suggests is that if you don't use any sound shaping tools (filters or effects), a track produced with the 2500 sounds subjectively better when played back from the 2500 rather than the Live. It's not even close to being a comparison.

As a basic starting point you'd need to produce the same track on both, physically sampling into both machines.

You're decision to get what you want.

I'm having no issues since day one of my purchase of the Live. The touch screen is magnificent on my end. It is teally sensitive and works well l am actually using it more withese new updates.

I just installed 2.2.1 and l am loving this machine. Sequencer is really tight just like how the 2000XL is. Pads are dope! I can get down the way l want. I love explode tracks that save me a whole lot of time. Exporting stems so l can drag and drop in Reason or Studio One.

The Live is not built flimsy it has some weight to especially the X.

I also love the software so if l need more tracks l can use.that.

Akai stopping support? Are you aware what they are doing? They are frequently dropping updates and they have to tend to the sofware and so far they been good. There's no evidence of Akai dropping support.

Its not perfect but lm having no problems and lm not looking for it to have everything as though its a DAW. It does what l need and mote.

ayatolli wrote:Alright, so far the MPC2500 leads the race for me...
I think it's good that it's a finished product with no bugs and crashes, that with JJOS it got a very nice and fluid workflow, that it's sound seems to have (as Causta Yoda said) a subtle but noticeable difference to the Live and that the build quality seems to be a bit better and I prefer the non-touchscreen way over the one with a touchscreen.

But what I like about the live is the stem function, the nice pads, the portability (big +!) and the internal mixer that seems to be more or less capable (at least more than the 2500?) for a raw version of the beat, before doing it fully in the DAW of choice.

I'm planning to go to the USA this summer, with me my MPC and a fairly cheap Numark record player. Me and a friend are going to dig in some record shops and for my stay there I will use my MPC without any computer (have no laptop and my big PC stays at home).

Right now the MPC2500 seems to be the better option for me, I'm pretty set on it. But still thinking a bit around... I just want the discussion to continue a bit longer

The thing about the Live is I'm afraid AKAI will drop support for the new MPCs. Like they did with Ren and Studio... I mean AKAI isnt known as the most customer friendly/caring company... I'm afraid they're gonna drop support, prices of either machine will drop and they'll just release the next beta machine. That makes alot of money, but it kills AKAIs reputation... The 2500 on the other hand is finished. It's resell value will stay or even rise, and theres no real risk in buying it That's why I'm very close to buying the 2500...

Danoc wrote:You're decision to get what you want.

I'm having no issues since day one of my purchase of the Live. The touch screen is magnificent on my end. It is teally sensitive and works well l am actually using it more withese new updates.

I just installed 2.2.1 and l am loving this machine. Sequencer is really tight just like how the 2000XL is. Pads are dope! I can get down the way l want. I love explode tracks that save me a whole lot of time. Exporting stems so l can drag and drop in Reason or Studio One.

The Live is not built flimsy it has some weight to especially the X.

I also love the software so if l need more tracks l can use.that.

Akai stopping support? Are you aware what they are doing? They are frequently dropping updates and they have to tend to the sofware and so far they been good. There's no evidence of Akai dropping support.

Its not perfect but lm having no problems and lm not looking for it to have everything as though its a DAW. It does what l need and mote.

I respect that Danoc.. I also know that the Live is a REALLY capable machine, but I think it's just a bit too early, also AKAI released a bit too early! I'll get the 2500, which will hold it's resell value easy. I'll just look how things develop and then maybe get the Live too, when prices are down and when all issues have been ironed out. Nothing wrong with owning two MPCs ? The X is dope, but way out of my range right now haha...

Let's hear the audio comparison.
Best not to believe anything till you can hear it and make up your mind about what you hear.

you wouldnt be able to sample into each machine exactly the same accurately, so the test i did is with files loaded from the harddrives onto pads, playing back a basic seq, this would be testing the playback sound nnot the sampling sound. i can upload results when i got time. ive worked out an fx chain for the output of the live to get it to sound closer to the 2500.

Hey do ya thang and have fun.

ayatolli wrote:
I respect that Danoc.. I also know that the Live is a REALLY capable machine, but I think it's just a bit too early, also AKAI released a bit too early! I'll get the 2500, which will hold it's resell value easy. I'll just look how things develop and then maybe get the Live too, when prices are down and when all issues have been ironed out. Nothing wrong with owning two MPCs ? The X is dope, but way out of my range right now haha...

I always thought Akai was too late with these MPCs. These should've been the Renaissance movement in 2012.

The Live would've been thee choice for me. Live has a way better build than the 2500 in which the tact switches break every 6 months. Sure its got JJ, thats dynamite and all but the free OS kinda takes it up the ass. For real features you gotta cough up more money. Money for switches and money for JJOS. Money that could've went to a Live.

ayatolli wrote:

Danoc wrote:You're decision to get what you want.

I'm having no issues since day one of my purchase of the Live. The touch screen is magnificent on my end. It is teally sensitive and works well l am actually using it more withese new updates.

I just installed 2.2.1 and l am loving this machine. Sequencer is really tight just like how the 2000XL is. Pads are dope! I can get down the way l want. I love explode tracks that save me a whole lot of time. Exporting stems so l can drag and drop in Reason or Studio One.

The Live is not built flimsy it has some weight to especially the X.

I also love the software so if l need more tracks l can use.that.

Akai stopping support? Are you aware what they are doing? They are frequently dropping updates and they have to tend to the sofware and so far they been good. There's no evidence of Akai dropping support.

Its not perfect but lm having no problems and lm not looking for it to have everything as though its a DAW. It does what l need and mote.

I respect that Danoc.. I also know that the Live is a REALLY capable machine, but I think it's just a bit too early, also AKAI released a bit too early! I'll get the 2500, which will hold it's resell value easy. I'll just look how things develop and then maybe get the Live too, when prices are down and when all issues have been ironed out. Nothing wrong with owning two MPCs ? The X is dope, but way out of my range right now haha...

The listener do not care if you made it in FL Studio, Cubase, SP 1200, MPC 4000, or a with a broken guitar and busted drum-set. All they care about is do they like it.

With that said, get what works for you. Resell value do not matter, your music composition should pay back the cost of the gear ten fold. As far as sound goes, it all depends on the ROOM you are in and the SPEAKERS you use, The cables you have, and the other gear you have connected.

The sound difference between the 2500 and Live is really not that noticeable. Now a SP12 to the LIVE/2500 is night and day. But in the end, all the matters is do you like the music you make? Do your audience like the music you make?

You've mentioned that you will traveling with MPC and Portable Turntable. If sonic quality is your aim, you may not want to sample off those portable turntables. To much flutter, horrible cables, horrific noise floor, and the needles are not good.

I didn't understand his comment on being released to early when in fact they have been working on the Live/X for 3 YEARS! Its just the way Akai handled the product. I thought they were way late too. I waited for this since 2012 and got it in may of 2017. In producer's life that's a long dam time. Im very happy l waited.

Price wise? Oh hell no they got 2500 for over $2,000 dollas! Might as well get the X. I see three on ebay like $899.
Hell l got a brand new live for $959 and with a warranty. Its a year later. Im very sure no one has to pay $1,199 for a Live.

https://m.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40 ... w=mpc+2500

Green did you say every 6 months the switches go bad on the 2500? Wow.

I'll stick wuth my live l don't want no other machine.

Ill-Green wrote:I always thought Akai was too late with these MPCs. These should've been the Renaissance movement in 2012.

The Live would've been thee choice for me. Live has a way better build than the 2500 in which the tact switches break every 6 months. Sure its got JJ, thats dynamite and all but the free OS kinda takes it up the ass. For real features you gotta cough up more money. Money for switches and money for JJOS. Money that could've went to a Live.

Danoc wrote:I didn't understand his comment on being released to early when in fact they have been working on the Live/X for 3 YEARS! Its just the way Akai handled the product. I thought they were way late too. I waited for this since 2012 and got it in may of 2017. In producer's life that's a long dam time. Im very happy l waited.

Price wise? Oh hell no they got 2500 for over $2,000 dollas! Might as well get the X. I see three on ebay like $899.
Hell l got a brand new live for $959 and with a warranty. Its a year later. Im very sure no one has to pay $1,199 for a Live.

https://m.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40 ... w=mpc+2500

Green did you say every 6 months the switches go bad on the 2500? Wow.

I'll stick wuth my live l don't want no other machine.

Ill-Green wrote:I always thought Akai was too late with these MPCs. These should've been the Renaissance movement in 2012.

The Live would've been thee choice for me. Live has a way better build than the 2500 in which the tact switches break every 6 months. Sure its got JJ, thats dynamite and all but the free OS kinda takes it up the ass. For real features you gotta cough up more money. Money for switches and money for JJOS. Money that could've went to a Live.

MPC 2500 tact switches have always been an issue and as far as Ripbay aka Ripoff Ebay. Most of the those 2500 will not sell for that price. I agree best to get a live or X at least there is support for it.

Then you won't have to open it up, test all the switches, caps, main board, power supply, screen, knobs, faders, pads, pad sensor and everything else.

Listing says smoke free environment. But inside the machine it has more ashes than a Catholic church during Easter.

You are crazy lol but you're telling the truth.
I never knew the 2500 had issues like that.

But for some reason the guy wrote "2500 HAS NO ISSUES BUT THE LIVE HAS GLITCHES"

But its on him he seem like the did his research.

CharlesRandolph wrote:
MPC 2500 tact switches have always been an issue and as far as Ripbay aka Ripoff Ebay. Most of the those 2500 will not sell for that price. I agree best to get a live or X at least there is support for it.

Then you won't have to open it up, test all the switches, caps, main board, power supply, screen, knobs, faders, pads, pad sensor and everything else.

Listing says smoke free environment. But inside the machine it has more ashes than a Catholic church during Easter.

Danoc wrote::lol: You are crazy lol but you're telling the truth.
I never knew the 2500 had issues like that.

But for some reason the guy wrote "2500 HAS NO ISSUES BUT THE LIVE HAS GLITCHES"

But its on him he seem like the did his research.

CharlesRandolph wrote:
MPC 2500 tact switches have always been an issue and as far as Ripbay aka Ripoff Ebay. Most of the those 2500 will not sell for that price. I agree best to get a live or X at least there is support for it.

Then you won't have to open it up, test all the switches, caps, main board, power supply, screen, knobs, faders, pads, pad sensor and everything else.

Listing says smoke free environment. But inside the machine it has more ashes than a Catholic church during Easter.

If he can find a 2500 in great condition, I say pick it up. However if he has to upgrade it and repair it. The cost is not worth the issue. As of now, the LIVE and X is an excellent buy, if there are issues he can take it back.

I find it funny they want 1299 or more for some of these machines. All because it has a purple skin decal and purple pads. If PRINCE did not own it. They won't get 1299. RIP-BAY!