Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
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By phono Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:33 pm
beatbully wrote:101 is one hell of a synth.

btw if you guys are looking for basslines. check this is out. one hell of a analog devil.

http://www.ladyada.net/make/x0xb0x/

but only if you're up for some diy!


hehe funny you mention that, i help moderate teh x0x forums, its relativly simple to build if you take time and patience. Most build problems are caused by people rushing or not following the instructions.
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By beatbully Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:21 am
beatbully wrote:Most build problems are caused by people rushing or not following the instructions.



i think that's the most common problem with all electronics work:

human error ;)
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By NearTao Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:39 pm
The Korg DS-10 on the Nintendo DS is kinda nifty, but no midi sync/control :(

There is plenty to sample though... Electroplankton is a pretty fun app on it and you can get some interesting effects you could sample with the mic.
By jumbuk Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:53 am
Just adding to this thread . . .

I have both the Micron and the Evolver. They are both killer synths, but a bit limited with editing (except for the Evolver keyboard if u are using it).

I like the look of the new Microkorg XL. Three good things:

- It can run off batteries, like the 500
- It's small, so u have fully portable studio
- It has soft thru for the audio inputs - important because the 500 doesn't, so u would otherwise need a mixer as well.

Another option for a mobile studio is to use the el cheapo Behringer control board with MPC multisamples.
By supasnashbuhl Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:14 pm
Hey! Same question.. But i'd want a batterypowered one without keys cuz i already have a midikeyboard and if i ain't got powersupply i would trigger the sounds trough the mpc pads. I dont know about the electribes but i think they're not batterypowered.. Plus they got a sequencer witch i don't really need. All in all i'm kinda searching for some kind of small batterypowered sythesizer box witch can be midicontrolled.. Why can't i find anything like that? :(
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By Ill-Green Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:13 pm
supasnashbuhl wrote:Hey! Same question.. But i'd want a batterypowered one without keys cuz i already have a midikeyboard and if i ain't got powersupply i would trigger the sounds trough the mpc pads. I dont know about the electribes but i think they're not batterypowered.. Plus they got a sequencer witch i don't really need. All in all i'm kinda searching for some kind of small batterypowered sythesizer box witch can be midicontrolled.. Why can't i find anything like that? :(

A no-keys synth? Tried a Korg Kaos? There's a sampling one and a synth version. CRAZY.
By logic_user99 Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:05 pm
phono wrote:
beatbully wrote:101 is one hell of a synth.

btw if you guys are looking for basslines. check this is out. one hell of a analog devil.

http://www.ladyada.net/make/x0xb0x/

but only if you're up for some diy!


hehe funny you mention that, i help moderate teh x0x forums, its relativly simple to build if you take time and patience. Most build problems are caused by people rushing or not following the instructions.


I am SERIOUSLY tempted by the ol' x0xb0x! They're showing stock in, too...
By fac Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:35 pm
supasnashbuhl wrote: i'd want a batterypowered one without keys cuz i already have a midikeyboard and if i ain't got powersupply i would trigger the sounds trough the mpc pads. I dont know about the electribes but i think they're not batterypowered.. Plus they got a sequencer witch i don't really need. All in all i'm kinda searching for some kind of small batterypowered sythesizer box witch can be midicontrolled.. Why can't i find anything like that? :(


There aren't many battery-powered synths, but there are a few that I know of:

Chimera bc-16 - Pretty cool mini-modular patcheable synth with MIDI control.

Chimera bc-8 - Small, fixed-architecture synth.

Korg 707 - 4-octave 4-operator FM synth

Korg Poly-800 - Quirky hybrid synth, but has a powerful analog filter.

Yamaha MU-5 - General Midi module. Probably not too exciting.

Yamaha QY-10, QY-20, QY-70, etc. - XG-based synth engines.

Casio CZ-101 - Nice phase distortion synth.

Novation BassStation

Yamaha DX-100

Nintendo DS with Korg DS-10 - this would actually be a nice companion for the MPC-500

Korg Kaossillator


I would go for a Basstation or the DS-10 myself, but it all depends on what you want it for.
By supasnashbuhl Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:45 am
Thanks for the replies. I checked all of em out. Here's what i think: The kaossilator has cool sounds that's for sure but there's no midicontrol and no way to create your own sounds. The DS-synth hasn't got midicontrol either obviously.. I think te coolest thing was this patchable synth fromn chimera bc16 but it's a little expensive i think... hmm.. This Novation bass station would be the biggest one i would consider but isn't it for bass sounds only? Can't really make my mind.. Thanks for the insight though and if somebody else knows of some synth module that's batterypowered and keyless please say so! :)
By supasnashbuhl Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:09 pm
Whoa.. **** the batteries, i'm so gonna get this one: MFB-Synth Lite II. This synth is wicked and the price is a joke. It's no real analog synth but the sound is almost like a moog. Check it out on YouTube. I just need to know this. I obviously can use my mpc to trigger notes on that synth trough midi. So lets say i play in some melody on the mpc and it plays on loop. Can i record that as a sample? In other words: Is it possible to record stuff that you're controlling via midi simultaniously?
By fac Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:25 pm
supasnashbuhl wrote:So lets say i play in some melody on the mpc and it plays on loop. Can i record that as a sample? In other words: Is it possible to record stuff that you're controlling via midi simultaniously?


According to this thread, it is possible:

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=113445


The MFB Synth Lite is probably a good choice, BTW. Analog filter, plenty of knobs, etc. I think it even has a step sequencer that you can sync with the MPC for extra fun.
By supasnashbuhl Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:42 pm
Yepp there's a stepsequencer too. I'd go for the synth lite I if i found it somewhere for under 100€s but seems like nobody wants to sell their synth lites :) Can't find a single auction on ebay..
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By beatbully Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:58 pm
i've got the mfb and it rocks. only shitty thing about it is some strange aliasing in the higher frequencies because of the dco's. nothing a little low pass can't work out, but still annoying. but it's super cheap and versatile as hell so i don't give a shit.

i've got the kaossilator as well. it's good because there's a lot of cool presets - especially basses, but extremely limited.
By fac Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:22 pm
beatbully wrote:i've got the mfb and it rocks. only **** thing about it is some strange aliasing in the higher frequencies because of the dco's.


That's probably because they're not DCO's, but 100% digital oscillators (e.g., as those you would find in a VA).