ASR-X ROll Call

skid wrote:

bluempc4k wrote:i have an asr-x pro too.

have both the urban card, and world card.

i haven't used it much lately because i've been getting a lot more into the computer for sound design, and FX. but my asr-x will never be forgotten! it will always be in my collection.

Want to sell the rom cards?

sorry, the asr-x pro and nothing in or around it is for sale. that reminds me that i need to finish sampling the drum sounds. it sucks that it doesn't have a digital out... but atleast i can get 24/96k samples.

First Post!

I'm having a helluva time making a decision, and I hope some of you mpc/asr-x heads can help me out with some opinions/advice/ideas.

I've been producing music on computers for many years now, and I've just about had it. My production chops have finally come up, but at the same time I kind of get board sitting at the computer working on music. I sit in front of the computer for 8-10 hrs a day for work anyway, and working on music after that is really starting to feel like a chore.

So, I've dug out my old asr-x pro to bash out some beats on the couch, away from the computer.

Way back in the day I bought an asr-x black new. Took every penny I had. I had no troubles with that box, but sold it for an adat if I recall... bad choice. Anywayz, I bought a used asr-x pro. It's got the 8 out, scsi w/ internal zip and dance rom - straight loaded.

But... The pads are totally shot, they are hard, and the springs I can tell are just worn out. I broke the volume knob, it still works, but it's a little wobbly, and can put some noise into the output if wiggled. The transport buttons don't fire sometimes. And most importantly, the sequencer is f'ing odd at times.

So after all this, the Q:

Do I take the time and $$$ to fix up the asr-x pro with new custom pads/springs, new volume knob, maybe some new rotary encoders, try to fix the transport buttons, buy an external zip drive for the pc, or do I buy a used 4000, 5000, or 2500?

I've been lusting after mpc's for over 2o years now, never really worked with one. But love the sound of the asr-x pro. It is thick and punchy, two things that don't always go together, but when the do...

Money is also tight, as it is always...

I welcome ur opinions.

Theres a guy that sells the whole ASR-X pad assembly on ebay. I bought one for mine for $60.

Encoders are cheap. As for the output, It sounds like a simple solder fix.

The buttons might just need some electrical cleaner sprayed into the tact switches.

I would keep the ASR and buy a 2500 to sequence the ASR.

If you do that, you wont need the asr pads or have to deal with its sequencer.

Thanks for the input. I'm looking to simplify my beat making though, not complexify it. I can sequence the asr from my comp as it stands now. I've got a pad kontrol too, which has excelent pads in my opinion.

But I'm looking for an all in one discrete package, something I can walk away from the comp, chock full of samples, close my eyes, and start making beats.

I feel like I could go the distance and fix up the asr-x, but I feel like it's buggy, and after a lot of fixing, I'm still gonna be stuck with a buggy box. But I don't know, I've been reading about the mpc's being bug riddled too, but I can't imagine it's as bad as the asr-x pro. But then the sound of the asr-x man! Sh!t.

Gotta see if I can find that guy on ebay about those pads.

sell it to me, and buy yourself a 2000xl. I go a 2kxl, and its dope as all hell. Stay the fukk away from 5k's, seem to have FAIL as their middle initial, and newer 2500's seem to be crapola in a handbasket too. IMO, any legacy series mpc would do just fine.

That's why I'm thinking 4000. Count as legacy? I know the new ones are built cheaply, but then the old ones are worn out... tough choice.

Missed one on ebay tonight, was wrapped up in a match of modern warfare2. 4000 went for 923$$$!

Couldn't find that dood on ebay with the asr-x pads, btw.

master-ceo wrote:I would keep the ASR and buy a 2500 to sequence the ASR.

If you do that, you wont need the asr pads or have to deal with its sequencer.

I'd also say the same, except that you still need the pads to select which sample you're editing.

i know you guys are talking about the asr-x not the asr-10 but, what is the sequencer like on the asr-10? i hear lots of people saying they don't like it but when i listen to music made on the asr-10, i love how it's sequenced and even though sequencing on my mpc is really easy, im tired of it, just because my songs just end up being verse chorus verse chorus etc.

At a certain point, you're going to have to realize that the tools you use can achieve just about any result you can imagine.

The trick is imagining them in the first place, and then knowing how or figuring out how to achieve them.

Prefuse 73 uses mpc's and that is a long way from verse/chorus.

The most important piece of hardware that you have is right there in between your ears. Use it.

are you the same 'nowaysj' from the sp-forum? if so, i'm fauna over there. if you are the same dude, don't you have an sp- you can sit with on the couch?

my asrx-pro is / was super buggy too. fugged up, hard pads, messed up rotary encoder, shot disc drive - the works.

i took it all apart, carefully lifted and cleaned the springs on the pads using rubbing alcohol and q-tips, used some computer cleaning spray on the contacts, and i swapped out the a-drive for another a-drive i had from an old computer.

i will have to get a buddy to help me switch the encoders, but right now i can live with how "finicky" they are.

BUT - i'm just using the asrx as a sound module. my sequencing is done on one of my sp's or on the mpc 1000. so i can't help you there.

all of ^^ this to say, i ALSO avoided my asrx cuz it was so buggy, but i did some research and took a few days and got it back to functioning. it's a bit of work, but it is satisfying too.

whether you should keep it, or get something else....i donno....the mpc 1000 with JJ is a pretty robust set up. something to consider.

Yeah, that's me over on the sp's. That's how this all got started... I saw the sx came out and figured the base 404 would come down in price. I figured I'd pick up a pocket sampler for on the cheap. Then I was debating about the 606 v the 404. The 606 got me to thinking, why not just do it after all these years and get the mpc... ha ha ha, which led me to the price, which led me to my closet to dig out the asr-x, lolz.

I might actually pick up a 4000, and at a slower pace, fix up the asr-x. I don't think I could let that sound go. BEEFY. After programing my drums on the comp for all these years, with now high quality eq and compression, still doesn't sound like the asr

Are y'all recommending the 2000xl over the 4000?

nowaysj wrote:Are y'all recommending the 2000xl over the 4000?

it depends on what you want to do. i used to have a 2k classic. the sequencing was great... but at the time it was my only sampler. i usually make electronic music, so the sampler on the mpc wasn't cutting it... way too basic, and missing too many things. for most people on here, the mpc2k/xl is enough for what they do. plus the FX sucked.

the mpc4k will have more of a learning curve, because it has a lot more features. a lot of those extras are very useful. especially to those who know how to use the sampler. but you have to be a complete dumbdumb to not be able to learn how to use one.

the mpc4k has so much more to offer, it's not even funny. but if all you are going to do is chop breaks/samples and sequence them, then maybe the 4k will be overkill. if you need, or are planning to grow into a fullblown sampler then get a 4k. also the 4k has usb, and a harddrive built in. you don't need to mess w/floppy's or scsi. another favorite feature of the mpc4k is the usb port in the front by the headphone jack... you can plug in a usb keyboard to have access to a lot of mpc's features from the keyboard. plus it's a million times faster and easier to name tracks and samples w/the keyboard than it is w/the mpc, or the asr-x.

also, the 4k is solid. i don't have problems w/it lock up or freezing. i bought mine new... and it's like having a mac i suppose. very stable. it has locked up once or twice on me... but one or two lock up's in the span of 3-4 years or so is pretty damn good if you ask me. the 2k was good to me too. never really had any problems with it. it was lightyears a head of win98 in terms of stability... ;)