MPC 60 or SP1200

Im no full time producer or anything like that, more of a hobby and I enjoy old skool equipment. Unfortunately I cannot test either so I am going by reviews.

I dont want to buy both, because one would get used a lot the other would sit there.

The reason why I'd like either is because I like the fact you are limited to what you can do, and the sound that comes out of them is really nice without having to run filters on samples etc. And, because I'd like to own and learn to use one over time and learn how music was made back then. As you can see, I'm more of a hobbyist with a bit to much cash to burn.

Out of the 2, what would you say is the better one to go for?

Thanks for any personal reviews of each/or one.

you sample from mp3s, right?

prolly best for you to get the NI Maschine

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=127886

gertie wrote:you sample from mp3s, right?

prolly best for you to get the NI Maschine

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=127886

Lol, nah nah. That was a test thing. I've got vinyl now I wouldnt go anywhere near that NI machine. It's totally unrelated to the reason why I want a 60 or SP1200.

if you dont have another sampler id say go with the 60 due to the extra sampling time. the 10 seconds in the sp1200 is gonna have you mad limited and it could be very frustrating if you arent used to that type of work flow. however if you added a s950 to the equation id be all over the sp1200. and theres a pretty big price difference between the 2 (sp/mpc)

This may not matter to you at all, since I assume sound quality and other features will be the deciding factor but I cast my vote for the MPC60 because there is a SCSI interface available for it and there is not for the SP1200. Again, that may not matter so much for the SP1200 due to the small amount of sampling memory. But SCSI is a nice feature to have for serious use of the machine.

klassik.one wrote:if you dont have another sampler id say go with the 60 due to the extra sampling time. the 10 seconds in the sp1200 is gonna have you mad limited and it could be very frustrating if you arent used to that type of work flow. however if you added a s950 to the equation id be all over the sp1200. and theres a pretty big price difference between the 2 (sp/mpc)

Yeah I would defiantly hook it up to a s950. I seen an SP1200 for 1500 (sterling on ebay), tempted to place a bid but if it goes over 2k I'll just keep looking.

Just wanted to get some decent reviews first. I think my heart is going with the SP1200.

I'm used to the MPC workflow, and I do know the SP1200 is like working with a dinosaur, but that wouldn't bother me in the slightest. I'd be more excited about having some fun and banging out some nice beats.

word thats cool then. if you got cash to drop and ur down with the doing everything the oldshcool then thats proper. its been a love affair with me and my 60 since i picked her up. but id looooove an s950 and sp1200. looks like ur minds pretty set. also i wouldnt worry about the floppys. they do take a little longer to do everything in general but where they shine is how organized they keep your files

For drums, you can't beat the SP1200.

JamesJeffery wrote:Yeah I would defiantly hook it up to a s950. I seen an SP1200 for 1500 (sterling on ebay), tempted to place a bid but if it goes over 2k I'll just keep looking.

Just wanted to get some decent reviews first. I think my heart is going with the SP1200.

How do you feel about the SP12 Turbo? Half the memory for half the price.

id go with the 12 turbo and a 950 walking out there less then both
but thats only if your okay with 5 1/4 floppy disks
cuz sysex doesn't work with the 12 that well

EDIT: or even an s1000 increase that sample time and the 1000 sounds lovely thats an item ill never sell for sound and convenience purposes

boxcutter butta wrote:id go with the 12 turbo and a 950 walking out there less then both
but thats only if your okay with 5 1/4 floppy disks
cuz sysex doesn't work with the 12 that well

You can save the data as an audio file on your computer (cassette out -> audio interface -> wave editor). It just takes a lot of time.

I'll try and be honest, since I own both of them:

The SP can become extremely FRUSTRATING sometimes. It is not limited only memory side, it's also mad limited everywhere else too. But you cannot beat it soundwise, end of story.

The 60 is not that intriguing soundwise (even though I love it for old samples), but it is very flexible and can serve you standalone.

The s950 option? It's cool (expanded 60 sound engine with filter!) but it's bulky, very uncomfortable when working long sessions on it and spare parts are obsolete (still can't figure out why). Still, I got two of them lying around too

SP1200 + S950 all day if you have the patience

I've not already tested my 60, just refurbishing, but the combi S950 + SP1200 is clearly a dope work environement.

But as Deta!l said, you must be patient cause it's pretty long to do your programs and midi parameters.

I m pretty much for a MPC60 cause, as scsiforsamplers told, you have a Compact Flash card, so it s pretty nice to don't mess with Zip or Floppy.

For the sound, the SP1200 is most powerfull. Just put a big sub kick, and take it in the head

like everyone said

the sp1200 destroys the mpc60 soundwise....

i think sound wise the lofi drum machines go

sp1200/sp12T
forat9000
studio 440(soft sound, think mantronix)
mpc60

Functionality wise:

MPC60
forat9000
studio 440
sp1200
sp12t

stability wise:
mpc60/sp1200 tie(never really an SP1200 crash on me...)
SP12T(had it crash on me)
forat9000
studio 440

feature wise:

Studio 440
MPC60
Forat900
sp1200
SP12T

User INterface:

Forat9000
MPC60
Sp1200
Studio 440
SP12T(stupid saving exterenallyo n big disk drive...)

I think for usability the mpc60 wins over all else. it's a full fledged sequencer, has a great sound, 10 outputs. very comfy to use. extremely nice user interface.

I'd rather an mpc60 over an sp1200 any day.

IT really matters your work flow. sp1200 sounds dope. but only dope for that old school vinyl type sound. it's kind of limited if you're not into that.

lets face it, isn't the sp1200's sound hip hop's sound from 9+ years ago? It was a dinasour then. and it just leads to tracks that kinda sound...boring to say the least? I dont really listen to hip hop much anymore at all. But what i appreciate is all the new use of technology in the songs and how intricate they are. you can't get that on an sp1200

you can get basic patterns with some swing using 1/16th notes...

I think with the MPC60 u still have expandability. get an emulator II for the sp1200 sounds(same sampler engine...:p) or the prophet 2000 for the studio 440 sound, i know the s950 ot teh 60 sound but that sound isn't that great...it's not bad. but it's not like "wheeeeee " as a sp1200

the mpc60 sampler is much more flexible sound wise too because it is higher fidelity...


I would go mpc60 if you want to have something to bang arund with for a long time, and you can also install CF cards and all that shit making it mad easy. I really want an mpc60 they're amazing machines.

I say all this cuz of experience owning with #s:

4 or 5 forat 9000s
3 studio 440s
2 sp1200s
3 mpc60s
1 mpc3k
1 sp12T
2 mpc1k
2 mpc2kxl
1 mpc2k
1 mpc500 in "rental" lol

what i have now is mpc500, i'm broke so borrowing it...it's the cloest to teh old school drum machines i'm finding (with it's limited interface that is...but it's the old school way of working on things....)