MPC 2000XL or ASR X?

So I've just bought a XL with a faulty screen on eBay for 90 GBP and not sure whether to get it fixed, sell it and buy a working XL or get an ASR X.

I've read the ASR X Pro has some glitches so maybe it's best to avoid that?

I work as a composer for film/ads (mostly orchestral stuff) but I want to move into writing for artists (top 20 stuff). I hate playing drums on my keyboard, even if it's something simple like Ke$ha type stuff.

One of my favourite artists, Brian McBride (album is called When Detail lost its Freedom) did most of his album, which is ambient stuff, on a ASR X. It was definately eye opening to know this type of music was done on a sampler like this. It sounds really warm and thick. I also do my own Brian Eno/Brian McBride type stuff that I release on Tunecore. I had a trigger Finger I used to use for pads that worked quite well. Now I just use my USB controller keyboard.

Do you think the XL would be best for me or the ASR? I like the idea of using the XL pads to play pads, synth notes because I'll be somewhat limited with what I can play so I never over play, just keeping music simple. I would put stuff into Logic after the basic track is done and go from there.

It seems hard to find a ASR X in the UK under 300 GBP and it seems like people in the US get them crazy cheap.

i would just replace the screen...the pads were made for drumming

Amber wrote:It seems hard to find a ASR X in the UK under 300 GBP ...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ENSONIQ-ASRX-SAMP ... 4152ad2868

£270 or best offer on ebay.co.uk now, 18 days left.

Cheaper than those on offer from the US.

ASR-X is a decent sampler, but a better effects unit. The knobs will wear out, resulting in inconsistent values. This WILL get on your nerves when it happens. The sequencer will also randomly hiccup. Be warned: If your recording, do not adjust any parameters will the sequencer is running.
Also, the scsi is slow. I would often turn on the ASR-X first, load some samples and walk away for a while.
While some people may praise the ASR-X for the effects and claim its a great companion to the MPC, I'd beg to differ. Effect are way better than the MPC's, but there are almost too many parameters to adjust. Also, the results are not realtime, the 2 line display is SUPER WACK and combine that with glitchy knobs you can imagine the frustration. I also don't believe the option of digital ins/outs were ever made available. Personally, I would go with an SP-303 over the ASR, or anything that has digital options. Why digital ins/outs? Because if your using a sampler to hold samples, you probably want them sounding exactly like you sample them, even if you are sampling analog equipment. Since the ASR-X has the scsi option, I used it for sample storage.
If you REALLY want the ASR-X, go with the red PRO model, but if I were you, I'd grab the 90 GBP MPC, fix the screen, and use some free Audacity effects (an extra 90 with the free plugin download).

Go with the X..and that's solely based on the options it provides.
The envelope options are dope...the amount of effects are helpful.
The sequncer is cool, so long as you have the 2.67 OS. In regards to
The knobs, you can replace them with the Mouser Rotary joints...


Sorry if this looks like I'm writing a keystyle...but posting on the Blackberry is a ****...lol.

clint246clint wrote:

Amber wrote:It seems hard to find a ASR X in the UK under 300 GBP ...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ENSONIQ-ASRX-SAMP ... 4152ad2868

£270 or best offer on ebay.co.uk now, 18 days left.

Cheaper than those on offer from the US.

It's still for sale, 11 days left.

You should have made it yours...

I've got a MPC 2000XL with a bad screen so just going to fix that first. Are you the person selling the ASRX on eBay and ASR 10 on Gumtree?

how about this? keep the mpc and add a rack sampler - such as an akai s series sampler, emu, roland.... that'll give you great flexibility for very little money.

here is an asr-x-pro that will ship to the UK from the usa.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 500wt_1154

Amber wrote:I've got a MPC 2000XL with a bad screen so just going to fix that first. Are you the person selling the ASRX on eBay and ASR 10 on Gumtree?

Go for the ASR10, you won't regret it.

If you needed to pick one, I think it all matter what you value more

2000XL - Stability: Better OS and construction

VS

ASRX - Better Sound, Options, and Effects

Both great machines

I would prolly take an ASR X Pro over an XL but not a regular ASR X

BTW Plastic pads past 1992 are a MAJOR Fail....(sorry SP lovers)...

Maaaan! That ASR-X is not all that great. The proof is in the pudding. Is there one major selling song done entirely in the ASR-X ?!?! hahaha! Not saying it can't be done, but I bet 35 seconds into it the sequencer will scramble the sequence.
For what it was (almost 20 years ago) it was dope, but the test of time has showed it wasn't too great. Construction wise, its built like a Hummer H2..never had any pads die on me, but its just not a reliable piece of equipment. Now, if your a gearhead that loves to tinker with parameters more than make a beat, then this is the machine for you. To each his own, but I found the effects in a simple SP-303 to be way better and easier to manipulate over the ASR-X.

PS. I remember listening to the demo song inside the ASR-X before I sold it and thought "THERE IS NO WAY THIS MACHINE DID THAT!" hahaha! Ensoniq was foolin' people with that!

dabmeister wrote:Go for the ASR10, you won't regret it.

+1