MPC500 - Do we really need it?

Hi there,

Just joined and had some questions on the 500. I currently have a normal MIDI setup, Cubase with the Halion Sampler, some hardware synths, a digital mixing desk e.t.c, My production partner wants to get an MPC500, now I am not sure we need one? We make a mixture of house, electronic music, and hip hop. Can someone tell me what the MPC500 can do that cubase sequencer can’t? Ive heard the MPC’s give a good skip to your beat programming, and having used an old Akai S sampler in the past, I know and do love the way Akai hardware samples but I would rather put the money towards another synth. Can anyone suggest how we could get the best out of the 500 using our current set up?

Could we program the beats in the 500 and then run them into a channel on cubase? My only worry is that would restrict the FX we can put on each individual beat if the beat is all in one audio channel.

What I am saying I guess is does anyone here use an MCP in a similar set up to mine and for what part of the production process do you use it for?

I keep thinking it is an alternative to the set up we have? and it is normally one OR the other...

I would only add an mpc to ur setup if u want to program sample and sequence(or only sequencing midi) with the mpc. I would only do that if I don't need the advantages of ur current more advanced setup and searching for a more organic way of beat programming.
If so, you could either sequence everything with the mpc and track out everything to cubase. Or use cubase as master and sequence the mpc's sampler with it. If u also want to use the mpc's sampler I would go for 1000 at least for the multiple outs.

Or do what Lampdog said.

last year i've added the mpc 500 to an entirely digital environment that i've been using for about 6 years... i grew up using a computer for EVERYTHING and feel comfortable that way. what the mpc can do for you though: 1) it will take your eyes off the screen, off equalizers and level settings, and in return it will activate your ears and fingers (yeah, they're actived already, but not to their full potential, 'cause your eyes might think that they have to cut the bass at at exactly 30 hertz - PER INSTANCE), 2) it can inject a bit of tranquility through patience back into your workflow. that clearly has an effect on the music. 3) you can take it anywhere and stare at: the clouds... girls asses... paintings? your pet? while programming whatever you program. that has an effect on the music too. as usual, what we discuss here isn't palpable. except for 4) it has not latency delay. my 192 cents on this, i hope it's of help

I Agree with these 2^^
That's more or less exactly how I use my 500, and it's great! Also so perfect when travelling. I might look a bit crazy on the train/bus/flight whatever but I don't care when I'm in the zone!!!

Like the others have implied, it's nice to break away from the computer from time to time and just sit in front of the MPC and bang out a few ideas. It will also integrate with Cubase to some degree, and tracking out is a piece of cake. It just requires a bit of prior thought to work out how best to do it.

Ok thanks people. I think we are going to go for the 1000 in the next month or two. We decided for a home set up the 500 its maybe a bit too limited particularly with its only one stereo output..