Should I buy an MPC at all?

Hello MPC users!

I'm currently deciding whether or not an MPC would be the right thing for me. I hope you don't mind if I explain my background and my preferred way of work a bit

I started making electronic music in 1999, and until today, nearly all of my tracks have been made solely with software. But from the beginning, I always wanted to be able to produce hardware-only one day, and I also like to use hardware for live performances. In 2005, I was nearly buying an MPC 2000 XL, because I wanted to prepare for some live performances, but then I missed the auction and got me two Electribes instead (the EA-1 and the ES-1), which was the right decision back then, because it was easier to produce my kind of sound (oldschool Electro, Synth Pop and C64/Amiga-like stuff).

Today, I'm still using both Electribes along with an Alesis Micron and a recently-bought Nord Rack 2, but only for live playing or jamming around, not for producing. They are wonderful to use, but they are very limited in sequencing capabilities, so my next buy has to be a good sequencer, and I don't want to use a computer, I want hardware.

Recently I discovered the Yamaha sequencers, like e.g. RM1x or QY700, and I thought they might be the perfect tools for my needs. But I always had a certain interest in MPCs as well, and maybe they might be better for me, but since I don't have the chance to try all these machines somewhere, I have to rely on what I read in manuals or what people in forums tell me.

So the big question for me is, should I choose Yamaha or Akai?

I tried watching some videos about how to use them, but most MPC users produce hiphop, which relies heavily on using samples. For my music, sampling is not so essential. Of course, I use some drum samples and some oneshots, but I don't build a song from samples alone. On the other hand, having a good sampler along with the sequencer can always turn out to be a big advantage, maybe I would actually use it more often in future if I discover its potential. But the main thing for me is sequencing, and people say that both Yamaha and Akai produce the best hardware sequencers.

My ideal way of producing would look like this:
- create patterns
- let them run in a loop
- be able to switch between them easily
- mute/unmute tracks
- jam around like if I was playing on a live gig
- in the end, create a complete song out of those patterns and ideas and record it

I think both Yamaha and Akai sequencers would manage this. But I'm not really sure which one has the better workflow for me. I saw that the Yamaha sequencers have one huge killer feature: they allow to switch between patterns with a fill-in, so that you could e.g. easily switch between a verse and a chorus, but with a nice drum roll in between, without having to manually cycle through three patterns. Of course, a fill-in can also be triggered without switching the base pattern (from verse to chorus). This would accompany my producing and live style perfectly, and I'm not sure if this could be somehow emulated on an MPC.

As I said before, a lot of people who use MPCs play hiphop, but I wonder if there are some folks around here who are more into the style I'm playing and I'd be glad if they could describe how they play their live sets on an MPC. Usually, my sets consist of different songs, and they are all played non-stop, and sometimes have verse/chorus structures, so pattern switching should not be too complicated. I read in the MPC 2000 manual that it's possible to create Sequences, then chain them together to build a song and set the number of repeats for each Sequence. That's good for producing a song, but is it also possible to e.g. press some button which "holds" the current pattern in a loop, until the button is pressed again, so that the rest of the pattern chain is played? It's functions like these that I'd love to have, and even though I read some manuals, I'm not really sure what is really possible with each machine, so if you do live sets, please tell me a bit about your way of doing it. As I said, I read some manuals, but often there are ways of working with a machine that are beyond that what's written in there.

Also, it would be nice if there are some people here who know the mentioned Yamaha machines and are able to describe some of the workflow differences towards MPCs. If I choose an MPC, I guess I'd take a 2000 or 2000 XL.

I hope you can give me some advice! Big thanks in advance. Deciding which gear to buy without being able to test it for a few weeks is a tough thing

The MPC might not be for you, but journalism apparently is ... sheesh. welcome

"I have to rely on what I read in manuals or what people in forums tell me."

This is how I grew up, without the forums though. I had to buy everything from what I read and learn how to use them myself. I still don't know anyone who is interested in MIDI like I am. The great thing about now is the ability to talk on forums and have all of this info at your fingertips. Also, being able to see these machines being used on video.

One thing to know is that ANY instrument can be used for any type of music. My advise would be to watch as many videos as you can and apply what they're doing to what it is you want to do.

I would also check out the Roland grooveboxes for the type of sequencing your talking about. Especially the MC-909. As for Mp's, I really think the 1000 with the JJ operating systems would be your best bet. There are just so many different ways to sequence in these machines. As for not really needing a sampler... I imagine that once you get one, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it. Hope that helps a little. Good luck!

ZeHa wrote:Hello MPC users!

but is it also possible to e.g. press some button which "holds" the current pattern in a loop, until the button is pressed again, so that the rest of the pattern chain is played?

Nope, well not on any of the legacy models(60, 3000, 2k, 2kxl). Mute button screen would be your best friend in this scenario.

I cant speak on the newer generation models.

ZeHa wrote:But I always had a certain interest in MPCs as well, and maybe they might be better for me, but since I don't have the chance to try all these machines somewhere, I have to rely on what I read in manuals or what people in forums tell me.

You could also try hitting up Guitar Center or whatever store you have in your area and sit for a hour or two trying out the different machines.

Thanks for your answers!

@ wudsiba: I already worked with an MC-505 and MC-909, they are okay, but I wasn't really convinced. I also thought about getting an MC-303, because it's cheap, compact, and very easy to get (and thus also easy to replace if it ever gets broke), but I read that the MIDI-OUT implementation is far from complete

@ CoolHeff: Yeah, I know I wrote a lot but I tried to do my best in describing what I'm after, because I already read lots of threads and information and I'm still not able to fully decide.
Going to a shop would be great, but most shops around here don't even have the new MPC models around, and testing old MPCs or the old Yamaha boxes is of course impossible, since they aren't sold anymore :/ the only way of doing this would be buying things on eBay, trying them out for a few weeks and then selling them again if they don't suit my needs. Prices should be stable enough, but it's still a lot of hassle and somehow I have the feeling that I would keep what I bought first anyway

CoolHeff wrote:The MPC might not be for you, but journalism apparently is ... sheesh. welcome

I agree with CoolHeff on this one...


You may want to hang out at a Guitar Center/Sam Ash type of store for a few hours and mess with some gear to see what fits what you are looking for. A few years back I went to Guitar center to look for sound modules and walked out with a damn Motif No regrets.

Yeah, but as I said, I don't have big stores around here, and even if I take my time to drive to a bigger store, I can only test new MPCs like the MPC 1000, but I won't be able to decide if it's better to buy an old one (MPC 2000 (XL)) or if I should buy a Yamaha RM1x or QY700, because I won't find those in a store nowadays

ZeHa wrote:Yeah, but as I said, I don't have big stores around here, and even if I take my time to drive to a bigger store, I can only test new MPCs like the MPC 1000, but I won't be able to decide if it's better to buy an old one (MPC 2000 (XL)) or if I should buy a Yamaha RM1x or QY700, because I won't find those in a store nowadays

My take: if you are coming from a software based production work-flow, the transition to an older model MPC will be extremely difficult and frustrating. Time after time, people jump for a 2000xl or older model because they see their favorite producers use them on youtube, but what they fail ro realize is that most of them STARTED on these machines. In short, this is all that they know. I dont know your exact reasoning for switching, other than, "I dont want to use a computer, I want hardware"

I feel that if you have a good workflow using software and the features that come with it, you will be doing yourself and your music a dis-service by trying to reinvent the wheel. If you want to perform live, why not just bring your macbook, Logic Pro and an MPD?

If you are determined on going MPC, I would look at the newer models. they have many more features and have most of the capabilities you have grown accustomed to in a DAW environment.

get a 1000 & a foot pedal... both used,, try it out if don't like it, sell it on ebay for 30 bucks more than you bought it for

no loss on your part other than time

@ CoolHeff:
Well, I've been interested in hardware all the time, it was just a lack of money that kept me using software but I don't think I would completely ditch software just because I have hardware, it's just the fact that I actually WANT the difference now and then. Whenever I turn on my live equipment to jam around, I get completely different ideas compared to when sitting in front of the computer, and sometimes I just wish I could complete it on hardware instead of having to turn back to the computer to reprogram everything etc...

But I know that software has its commodities of course, and I also know that newer MPCs come closer to that, but it's also a question of money for me, and another thing is that I just love older machines. I know, that might be a little bit stubborn, but I'm often willing to accept some loss in comfort for the sake of having old stuff (I drive old cars, I have an old phone (with a rotary dial), etc etc). But apart from pure love I also find it quite refreshing if I restrict myself a bit, because it often helps you doing different things than you usually do (it's the same with the hardware vs. software discussion - they are different approaches and they often lead to different results).


@ BGBEATS:
Yeah, that's the good thing about those machines, the prices are quite stable. Since the RM1x can be picked up for about 200 - 230 EUR, I already thought about maybe just getting it, toying around with it a few days and then maybe try to find an MPC as well to compare them, and then sell one of them again. It might be really worth it... but I know myself and I'd guess I'd surely keep them both then

ZeHa wrote: I know, that might be a little bit stubborn, but I'm often willing to accept some loss in comfort for the sake of having old stuff (I drive old cars, I have an old phone (with a rotary dial), etc etc).

Well, it sounds like you have your mind made up. speaking from experience(I was a long time Sonar/Reason head and switched to external gear(MPC 2000xl and MO6)... it will be like night and day. Prepare for a few weeks of frustration. Good luck