Excited about getting an MPC

I've been playing music for a while... mainly guitar with a little piano mixed in. I love hip-hop and want to combine good beats with acoustic guitar. I purchased the MPK-49 a couple years ago and thought it would help me acomplish my goals. But I always found myself fiddling with Reason and other software to get everything to work. Never did get the hang of chopping samples and assigning them to pads. I still like it for playing synths, but not that great for beats.

I had an epiphany the other day while checking out a youtube video of somebody playing an MPC1000. It seems to be integrated really well, especially the process of chopping a sample and assigning it to the pads. Plus, I feel like the computer is limiting me musically, like I need something to free me up from the mouse and screen. I hope the MPC1000 will do the trick!

The only tough part is now I have to convince the wife that I must buy this! It sucks because we already agreed to not buy anything for each other for Christmas (I'm deployed to middle east right now). But I'm going to go back on that. I'll try to get her something nice to make up for it though!

man, that is the deal man.. you wind up getting sucked in and you find a way to justify the purchase haha... for example: mpcs hold their value pretty much... so if it doesn't work out you can always resell it no problem. hahhaa.


You know what though, put some cash aside little by little, and wait for a deal to pop up. It will happen eventually and maybe you dont need the 1000 or a new expensive model... perhaps an older 2000xl is for you and that will pop up for cheap... never know.

try it out, watch those youtube vids, find out what you all need when it comes to features... compare models, make your move...


good luck man,

Yes I'm definitely justifying it to myself. But seeing all the videos has got me excited!

I have read a lot about the features of the new systems compared to the old ones. I'm pretty sure I would rather have a current model rather than get a 2000XL. I don't want to be limited in features. Although the 2000XL does have that killer vintage look that is to die for!

Casey

caseym wrote:I'm pretty sure I would rather have a current model rather than get a 2000XL. I don't want to be limited in features.

If you can sweeten the deal with your Mrs, try and treat yourself to the 2500.

Coz wrote:
If you can sweeten the deal with your Mrs, try and treat yourself to the 2500.

I can't seem to find a good price on the 2500. Neither Zzounds nor Sweetwater carry it. I did see it on Amazon for $1,800. If that's the going price then I think it's too big of a jump from the 1000!

Buy used.

You'll save a stack of cash and be able to sell it for a similar price if you don't click with it.

yeah man, even ob ebay they go for 800

caseym wrote:Yes I'm definitely justifying it to myself. But seeing all the videos has got me excited!

I have read a lot about the features of the new systems compared to the old ones. I'm pretty sure I would rather have a current model rather than get a 2000XL. I don't want to be limited in features. Although the 2000XL does have that killer vintage look that is to die for!

Casey

I hope it works out... keep in mind though, they make it look easy because they have alot of time invested.. so dont give up when you get and its hard to learn at first..

Guys,

Well great news... the Mrs is on board with this purchase! Not that I need her approval or anything... I make my own decisions.

Anyway, I was going to get the 1000 brand new but like Coz and mr_debauch suggested I started poking around on eBay. There are some really good deals on there! So now I'm leaning towards used and should spend around $600. One thing that surprised me is that the 2500 used is about the same as a 1000. So now I'm tempted to get that.

Is it true that the 1000 is easier to use than the 2500? I would like to have the bigger pads, but if the workflow is slower I would rather go with the 1000.

Also, what should I watch out for when buying used? I know to get a 1000 ending in BK-N to ensure it has the good pads. What about the 2500, does it have that issue?

If you see any good deals out there please send them my way!

Oh and ghosty that's good advice... I know there will be a learning curve and I'm ready to dig in and learn for a while before I really make anything good.

Thanks,
Casey

What do you all think of this deal:

http://cgi.ebay.com/AKAI-MPC-2500-JJOS- ... 500wt_1156

I bought my MPC off of eBay. The seller seemed so legit, but as soon as I won the auction he got super sketchy (lied about my payment, tried to extort feedback, etc.). But when it arrived, my "used" MPC was still in the box with the plastic on the screen - practically brand new!

Lots of MPCs on eBay/craigslist/etc. because dudes buy them thinking it will magically turn them into Premier, and they sell it in a week when they learn that it involves actual time, commitment, and work. I found the "difficult learning curve" to be BS - it was super easy to learn.

You only live once. I say go for it!

caseym wrote:Also, what should I watch out for when buying used? I know to get a 1000 ending in BK-N to ensure it has the good pads. What about the 2500, does it have that issue?

no, the flawed pad design was only used on the 1000

bear in mind that for either the 1000 or the 2500 you will probably want the 128MB memory upgrade (get a third party memory expansion, not the overpriced official Akai model, see the sticky threads on this site) and might want a hard drive (not essential, a decent size CF card has enough space to get started) and might want to install the unofficial JJOS (again, see elsewhere on this site) - so those might push up the cost slightly if you're looking at ebay auctions for the basic unit without those upgrades

caseym wrote:Guys,

Not that I need her approval or anything... I make my own decisions.

haha, we all do!


yeah man, the 1000 had the pad issue, the 2500 never did. they both take the same time to learn, but the 2500 is the better machine. it has more outputs (one day you will like that feature) it has better pads since the 1000 has mini pads.... and eventually you will find yourself looking into the JJOS which is an alternate operating system available for both the 1000 and 2500 that improves the machine's capability 10 fold.

Yeah, the first thing you'll wanna do is delete everything and max the machine out. I got a 256MB memory upgrade for 12 bucks and a 4G compact flash card for 8 bucks... so 20 to max the thing out. 24+ minutes of sampling time, and enough storage to carry every sample I have around with me.

Also... and this is IMPORTANT... READ THE MANUAL. Read it before it arrives. Read it when you get it. Periodically refer back to it. Randomly re-read sections of it. The MPC is one of those things that always has something new for you to learn, even though it's pretty much all in the manual.

I too went from being a consistently gigging guitarist to making beats. I think it will be easy for you, just use what you already know about songwriting and technique and practice. The MPC definitely feels like an instrument, if you mess up it will produce horrible noise like any other instrument, but it is definitely the instrument I've been waiting all my life to play. For the first time I truly feel creatively unlimited. It's a crazy feeling.

Dr. Frank Boogie wrote:Yeah, the first thing you'll wanna do is delete everything and max the machine out. I got a 256MB memory upgrade for 12 bucks and a 4G compact flash card for 8 bucks... so 20 to max the thing out. 24+ minutes of sampling time, and enough storage to carry every sample I have around with me.

Also... and this is IMPORTANT... READ THE MANUAL. Read it before it arrives. Read it when you get it. Periodically refer back to it. Randomly re-read sections of it. The MPC is one of those things that always has something new for you to learn, even though it's pretty much all in the manual.

I too went from being a consistently gigging guitarist to making beats. I think it will be easy for you, just use what you already know about songwriting and technique and practice. The MPC definitely feels like an instrument, if you mess up it will produce horrible noise like any other instrument, but it is definitely the instrument I've been waiting all my life to play. For the first time I truly feel creatively unlimited. It's a crazy feeling.

well said, also... there are quite a few guitarists who have started using the mpc for that as well. I have been seeing videos with guys who record parts and use it almost as a complex looping pedal that can layer bits together. very neat and as you said... limitless. It's almost like a plug and play recorder type of thing...