Where to spend the next $500 in my studio

Hey there folk,

First off thanks to all you knowledgeable types; I have learned much here and I've progressed huge with my setup. My question is:

I have a MPC 2kxl, turntable with a ton o' vinyl, Mackie 1202 mixer, Alesis amp/monitors, and an Alesis QS6 (old but works great), and a cheap little 2x2 USB interface. The way I get down is to create my sequences, make it all happy with the onboard mixer, add all my effects and what-not, then record to my laptop through audacity. I can save it as a mp3 and end up with a mediocre sounding track. I have the 8 outs and I am considering either getting a multitrack recorder, a nice interface/DAW, or just a bunch more vinyl. Even thought about a S2000 -- I saw one go on ebay stupid cheap recently. I'm a bit scared to go down that road as I could see myself parked in front of the damn thing for many hours since it's so slow.

Thoughts? Suggestions? I should probably mention that I am strictly making my mediocre music for my own enjoyment and don't have any aspirations or delusions about being a groundbreaking producer or anything like that. I'm just reveling in my good fortune to be alive at a time when I can make such comprehensive music all by myself!

Thanks all.

If the qs keyboard has the basic piano, Rhodes, and strings then don't buy anything else but a book or DVD on how to play keys and read music.

I bought an eps classic, emulator x3, a new quad core i7 machine with live 8. Because I have been busy with projects at work and doing programming classes after work...... All but the eps haven't been touched in a while. I try to use my laptop and emu1616m to record my vinyl in and do the audio editing in audition 3 then bounce the WAV files into the 2000xl and I make music from there


Save your money as much as possible

A sound module?

A 'Pro' level DAW package such as Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools, Reaper etc?

Take it to the next level, you already have the basic components.

Don't get an s2000. If u do really want another rack sampler buy one that produces another sound. I'd trade the mackie for a mixer with firewire interface. It comes with a free daw version most of the time.

Or like others said, a sound module.

Id say ProTools. That should take your production up a few notches.

Explicit- wrote:ProTools.

You're going to end up using it anyway. Might as well get to it early

Spend it on hookers and weed.

^ I think I change my answer