Considering buying an MPC 2000XL - what do you think?

MPC 2000XL with Card Reader/8 Outs for $500. Cosmetically, im told the unit is in good shape and everything works. Not too familiar with the 2000's series. Mostly a 60/60II and 3K head. As always I appreciate any assistance. I just wanted to know what other users of the 2K thought.


Thanks in advance!

~1~

easy, i use the 2kxl and i aint got the 8 outs, believe me they are very handy if u like to mix out of the box. Also ive only used the 2kxl and the 2500 but also had a brief go on a 1000 but my favourite was the 2kxl without a doubt, if u want features of quality rather than quantity and just want an mpc to be an mpc then 2kxl is the 1 imo

That sounds like a good deal.

"if u want features of quality rather than quantity and just want an mpc to be an mpc then 2kxl is the 1 imo"

I'm a little lost with this. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the 2XL, and for $500, the XL your looking at appears to be a nice buy, BUT the 2500 is EASILY the better choice between the two. The XL doesn't have enough "features," and while any seasoned producers can make due with 32meg ram and a low pass filter, the addition of Normalizing, resampling, eq, compressor, USB, and a much faster processor makes the 2500 the perfect upgrade for the 2000XL.
With used prices for the 2500 dipping below $800, I would spend the extra $300 (or less) on the much better MPC.

"I would choose a 2000xl over a 2500 any day. It's about the sound, and the 2500 does not compare to the 2000 series. I would never use in the box EQ, compression or normalization."

What sound? Its a 16 bit sampler. Who glorifies the 200XL over its sound??
With the 2500, you can dial in your sound. With no effects it sounds just like an XL, but its a night an day difference when you use the compressor/eq.

CREAM OF BEATS! Caught some of your stuff a while back on Soundcloud, the beats are sounding nice.

about 2500 vs 2000:
There's no magic to the sound of 2000xl vs the 2500. You're fooling yourself if you think so. The 2500 is faster and more featured. If somebody doesn't mind spending a extra few hundred to get the 2500 I see no reason not to.

I'm sure it's easy to muddy up a sound overusing the FX of the 2500 but if you know what you're doing they're nothing but additional tools to use, not to mention they're integrated and easy to get to when you're working on the machine.

yeah but the real question is... would you rather have the 2000xl or the 2500 in a bar fight? let's be realistic, you hit one guy with the 2500 and maybe you knock him out but you for sure ruin your machine... 2000xl will win you that fight and still work!

word up the 2000 series are built like tanks ive played the pads with drum sticks on my old one drunk off my ass bad idea but the machine took it nicely lol

mQueue wrote:CREAM OF BEATS! Caught some of your stuff a while back on Soundcloud, the beats are sounding nice.

about 2500 vs 2000:
There's no magic to the sound of 2000xl vs the 2500. You're fooling yourself if you think so. The 2500 is faster and more featured. If somebody doesn't mind spending a extra few hundred to get the 2500 I see no reason not to.

I'm sure it's easy to muddy up a sound overusing the FX of the 2500 but if you know what you're doing they're nothing but additional tools to use, not to mention they're integrated and easy to get to when you're working on the machine.

Ehh not really true. The 2000 series uses different converters, and drums and samples usually have a more 'warm' tone. I know people say this a lot and people argue it all the time but its true for me I guess. It really all depends on what style of hip hop your going for when you want to make this purchase. If you are looking for heavy sampling, gritty drums, ect, then stick with the 2000xl or even better 60/3000. 2000xl just has more features then the 60/3000 but is not as 'warm' also. If you are sticking to sampling/synths/dance style hip hop and still want the mpc then 2500 is the way to go, you can use the direct record feature and not even have to use midi in order to record from keyboards or vst's. You can also filter your drums to try to get a grittier sound, but its still hard to re-create that like the previous mpc generations. I used both and honestly love both, overall the 2500 is easier to use, more features ect. But if you can handle learning a 2000xl down to its 'underground' features then its an amazing buy and instrument to learn. Just my .02$. Peace!

Thread subject updated to be more descriptive....

I have to chance to actually have both machines at home at the moment. The 2000XL is from a friend that gave it to me for a long 2months test-drive, and the 2500 it's my new MP.

Sound-wise the 2000XL is very pleasant to play with. Not that you can't get a grit, warm and full sound out of the 2.5K, but that's what you have out of the box from the 2KXL. No stress, no fiddling-around...

I think it's because of the fact you got just a LP filter and no FX that you end up with such a characteristic and distinctive sound. But again I never checked the FX/Filter card so I don't have a counter-example.

That said, you can always buy a "vintage-sounding" sampler to re-flip single samples or full sequences to spice up your 2.5K

I use a SP303, you can go with whatever you like (SU-10, ASR-PRO, ST224...) Most part of this little boxes will complement nicely any MPC.

That also means that if you snatch the 2KXL for $500, you can find very easy ways around the limitations of that old machine.

With 8 outs you could add plenty of boss pedals to route single outs to the mixer...

I'm sure that with the difference between the price of the two you could add another sampler and at least a couple of FXs...

If I was in your shoes I would go for that.

Even if in my shoes I ended up with a 2.5K and the 2KXL will leave me soon.

I could have bought the 2KXL from my buddy for the same price of the 2.5K (I really had a GREAT DEAL on that)... and even if I'm not using ALL of the JJOSXL features, I'm happy it's there (I actually prefer OS1) !

Why? because they can both achieve the same results and I (PERSONALLY) appreciate the faster processor and the added features.

Big ups to all who responded. I scored the 2000xl. It was mad clean and my wife was not trying to hear me spending $800 so the 2500 was never an option. Again, thanks to all and I will see my fellow beat makers in the mind. ~1~

pauseflights wrote:Big ups to all who responded. I scored the 2000xl. It was mad clean and my wife was not trying to hear me spending $800 so the 2500 was never an option. Again, thanks to all and I will see my fellow beat makers in the mind. ~1~

oh congrats!

good move, you dont want to have to then go and spend an other 800 on your wife too...

"would you rather have the 2000xl or the 2500 in a bar fight? let's be realistic, you hit one guy with the 2500 and maybe you knock him out but you for sure ruin your machine... 2000xl will win you that fight and still work! "

Hmm..I doubt that. I'd bet money they'd both break. haha!
All I'm saying is the sound difference is SO minimal that no one will notice. Its not like MPC3000 VS MPC60. No 16bit sampler sounds exactly like another (since they all have difference circuitry) but in general, 16bit sounds like 16bit. 12bit samplers have more variety in sound difference.
I play beats made on my XL on my 2500 and they both sound dry, but when I add the effects on the 2500, it brings the beat to life.
Props on the XL PauseFights! Its a dope machine. I almost bought another XL before I upgraded from the akai OS in my 2500!