Which MPC is best overall? I want my first mpc to be my last

I"ve been looking at the 4000, the 2500, and the 5000. i've narrowed it down to the 2500. But I've been hearing problems about it as far as buttons, data wheel, and other things just breaking on the thing. I hear the 5000 is sloww, the 4000 has bugs, and the 1000 has little pads that will stop working afterwhile. If i spend $1500 on a machine, that kinda thing is just unexceptable. Which MPC can i count on to get the job done, and not nickle and dime me down the road??

Use 1k for around $500... pad upgrade (if required) $180... 128MB Ram (if required) $15... HD and Kit (if required) $60... JJOS2XL $100

Around $860 max... could even be cheaper. That'd leave another $640 or so for vinyl, samples, synths, rack modules, effects...

The 'tiny' pads aren't unusably smaller and with the pad upgrade you don't need to worry about them failing. Tons of niceties on the 2500 though... but still worth investigating used.

4000 all the way.


remember, nothing lasts forever.
especially machines that are designed to "hit" by human beings

Lord Toranaga wrote:4000 all the way.


remember, nothing lasts forever.
especially machines that are designed to "hit" by human beings

Why would you say the 4000, if you don't mind me asking?

#1 my personal preference. it was my favorite of all I tried (60, 2000, 1000)
#2 best build quality of all mpc models. very strong build quality.
#3 most ram available for any mpc.

Now when I look back on it, my choice of the 4k was because of its cross breed capabilties.

High res sampling, first unit to offer usb, an internal HD and cdrw. Plus I was sold on the ak.sys program (s/w for remote file mgmt from your pc/mac).

you have to ask yourself,

sound or efficenty

sound = 3000 , 2000xl 60
efficenty = 1000 2500 4000 5000

I went with the 1000. it feels reallly cheap. But once i put them sounds in it, that should be the last thing i'm worried about. I hope i made the right choice.

dabmeister wrote:Now when I look back on it, my choice of the 4k was because of its cross breed capabilties.

What are "cross breed" capabilties?

kneebone77 wrote:

dabmeister wrote:Now when I look back on it, my choice of the 4k was because of its cross breed capabilties.

What are "cross breed" capabilties?

You know...the features I refered to that made it stand out from the rest. It was the only mpc that offered more "pro" features than the others when it first came out. Even though it shares a lot from previous models, it just made its mark as being an all around instrument.

dabmeister wrote:

kneebone77 wrote:

dabmeister wrote:Now when I look back on it, my choice of the 4k was because of its cross breed capabilties.

What are "cross breed" capabilties?

You know...the features I refered to that made it stand out from the rest. It was the only mpc that offered more "pro" features than the others when it first came out. Even though it shares a lot from previous models, it just made its mark as being an all around instrument.

I think I know what you mean now.

MPC 3000 OS 3.50 FOREVER...

And a bunch of good racks:
- emax
- Fantom
- Minimoog

That's it!!!