is the 500 good to start with

Like the title says is the mpc 500 a good model to start with. I've never used an mpc mainly software and some keyboards/workstations but I'm really looking into getting a mpc. I want the 1k but I'm a little tight on income right now and my girl says she will help me get the 500 right now if I want then she will help me save for the 1k in about a year. So should I just get the 500 now n a 1k or possibly 2500 in a year or so or just wait about 6 months and maybe be able to get the 1k. I really like the portability of the 500 which is the only reason I was looking at that model but the 1k is what I hear is the way to go if u use software. Advice anyone?

Coming from software programs I would get the 1000+ jjos.

abstraktVOID wrote:Like the title says is the mpc 500 a good model to start with. I've never used an mpc mainly software and some keyboards/workstations but I'm really looking into getting a mpc. I want the 1k but I'm a little tight on income right now and my girl says she will help me get the 500 right now if I want then she will help me save for the 1k in about a year. So should I just get the 500 now n a 1k or possibly 2500 in a year or so or just wait about 6 months and maybe be able to get the 1k. I really like the portability of the 500 which is the only reason I was looking at that model but the 1k is what I hear is the way to go if u use software. Advice anyone?

I suggest you go to your local Guitar Center or the equivalent near you to try the unit out first. Being a software cat and never using an MPC before, you should find out what your getting yourself in to before you buy.

IMHO the 500 is a good starter unit, but it depends on exactly what your after in a beatbox. Determine what your needs/wants are in terms of features and workability and then pick your MPC based on those critera. If your stuck on portability, the 500 is the only one that is battery powered.

It's definitely good to start with. But as soon as you get used to it youre going to want to upgrade, this goes for most gear but this shit is pricey so I would just wait until you can get the 1000. Just my opinion though, you can do it all with the 500 anyway, I just wish I would have saved for the 1000.

Esquilo wrote:It's definitely good to start with. But as soon as you get used to it youre going to want to upgrade, this goes for most gear but this **** is pricey so I would just wait until you can get the 1000. Just my opinion though, you can do it all with the 500 anyway, I just wish I would have saved for the 1000.

my sentiments exactly. My 500 is a beast and i use it everyday, whether its entertaining myself, friends or when i get studio time at college or on the bus ride home i always have it on mme. Its one of the first things my friends ask when they see me! The portability is awesome, and its a great little tool, but if you are using software aswell, your best bet is to go for the 1000 + jjos. I tried to, this very day infact, synch my 500 to Logic and use it as a controller with one of Logics kits.... Alas i needed the 1000 to do that successfully, although you will be able to load your drum sequences etc into Logic with your 500, if your experience mainly lies with Software....get the 1000....if your experience mainly lies on the bus...get the 500...simples

using the mpc as a controller isnt very important for me.. i just want to use the mpc to load up the sounds from my pc onto it and make beats then transfer the beats through my mixer connected to my pc into a software program to then clean up or whatever.. using it midi with the software isnt soo important right now cuz im kinda tired of software and have always been wanting to get mpc and learn that way of making beats. i will however want to connect it to my korg and pulls sounds from that or possibly use it as a controller for the korg(possible?). im just kinda stuck deciding what to get and i fear if i dont get anything soon something might comeup and i wont have the cash anymore and the mpc will remain a desire never to be fullfilled.

let me ask you is your mom good to start with?

in other words no dont get the 500 you might aswell save your money, and just use a free softwear program you can got online like reaper, download some vinyl and drums sounds for free just knda find them, and then once oyu have the money get the 1000.

this is literly your best decision, if you dont not follow this you will not be as sick of a producer

Thats sounds like a cool setup, but I really hate tracking out the 500 because of the single output. I have a good ten tracks done that are sitting idle in my mpc because I dont want to go through all the shit to track it out. The 1000 has 4 outs i think.

I love my MPC 500. To be honest, if you don't know if you want to get with an Akai, then you could either try an MPC 500, or buy one to know if you'll like it. For my use, I think it is perfect. I have my MPC 500 hooked up to the mixer out and a single turntable into the mixer. I bought an off brand 256mb ram to put in it, and it works perfectly. It gives me over 11 minutes of sample time, enough for me to record a song and put it onto the ram and copy it onto the compact flash card, and I just copy the WAV file to the computer through the USB. In the future, I really want to get an MPC 5000, because now I want the options. Hope this helps!

Very soon Im going to upgrade to the MPC 1000 with JJOS. Its got more pads, more outs and is very stable. Dont get me wrong, the 500 is a beast, but after you've used something for 3 years, of course your gonna want to upgrade. to start out with though, yes its easy to learn and sounds good. just get some good speakers/headphones and get used to using effects.

I started with a 500 and it taught me the basics very well. Had a great time composing with the 500.
Now Im on the 2500, and when I switch back I can't get used to it anymore. Workflow is too tedious and it misses some (important) features I can't live without anymore.
It kinda depends on what ur used to and what u need ur mpc to do for u.

Esquilo wrote:The 1000 has 4 outs i think.

6, L/R/1/2/3/4

Having both the 500/1000, the 1000 is amazing... it does a ton that you probably won't want to do on the 500. In reality though, right now the 500 gets way more use for me. If you're mostly using one shots/drums... well you can do a ton with the 500. Chopping beats is more of an art form than a science like it is on the 1000.

So... if you don't mind the extra restrictions... the 500 is really awesome. Both are portable, but the 500 is so much more so.

If you're looking for something feature rich, well get the 1000.

Or... check out ebay/craigslist. You can get some good deals and maybe pick up both quicker than getting 2 new devices. I picked up my 500 used for about $300, with a big big big compact flash card and maxed memory. You can get a pretty well maxed out 1000 for $500-$700.

Yeah I picked up my 500 for $280.00 in Super Mint condition with manuals and 2 cf cards. I love the portability. I use mine when I have down time at work in my truck.

I love my 500, but I agree with the people above who wrote about the importance of knowing what you want to get out of your "mpc experience".

if you're more into the software aspect of producing and want to stay this way - then wait and save for the 1000.

I have found that using the 500 (and people may argue this point with any mpc) is about working within the limitations of your equipment. Coming from a novice DAW software background even I really had to rethink the way I approached simple music production. that said, that's one aspect of working with the 500 that i really enjoy - the process of getting ideas in my head into (and out of) the mpc500. it certainly has it's limitations and you will be forced to do things "the long way" at times and if this is the kind of thing that really bugs you then the 500 may not be your cup of tea!