Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
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By medearis Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:36 pm
So, been checkin' into which model MPC I'd feel the happiest with and I chose the 500.

Most will think this very, very strange but it's really just a matter of me diggin' on the stripped down nature.
Maybe the lack of a "real" display might make certain things harder, but I really won't be chopping/trimmin shit down on the 500 itself unless really needed! Even then, numeric chopping feels right to me so I aint scurred! :lol:

Alright - I've been browsing around a LOT checking into different features of the 500 and how to tap into them from the unit itself. Seems like timestretching was one thing on this particular lil' box that wasn't exaaaaaactly "up to par". Downloaded "AKAIZER", which is a pretty cool (FREE!), stand alone, timestretching program. Real cool. Also, found out about another program for chopping that was made for the 500 called "BeatButcherMPC". That is for the choppy chops.

Between these two little programs and the MPC itself, I feel like I'm not going to be let down by the 500 at all. The ONE THING I've read enough to freak me out is that the 500 has weird timing issues. Some people have said that they struggle to keep their beats on the metronome and feel their 500 is the cause. Not too sure on this one y'all. Any of you have problems with that? I'm NOT TOO SURE how long ago these things were said, and I'm sure there's been some updates. Are these issues a matter of user-flaw OR are they really spawned from the MPC500 itself? If it's the box... that is 100% unacceptable. Listening to a lot of people's tunes, I don't really hear any timing problems/drifts. Maybe I'm just misunderstanding what people are griping about here... please fill me in.

Basically - if the 500 doesn't have any functioning issues, I'm down to buy this thing as soon as I sell a piece or two. Holler back at me o' wise ones. :mrgreen:

(also - if anyone here has used/uses the BeatButcherMPC, I'd love to hear what it's all about. I'm on Apple so I cannot really use it from this machine! Do you chop and import to the MPC? Can't imagine it being anything different really.)


Thanks a ton homies
(inner) peace! 8)
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By medearis Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:08 am
Well check it - I have a MachineDrum & a X0X will be here in August (can't wait). Both of these boxes have very percise clocks. I haven't any hands-on time with this particular X0X yet but with the proper firmware, I've never heard of complaints.

My reasoning for grabbing an MPC (besides me playing drums so bangin' = score!) is the fact that when I take the MPC by itself, or just jam with it alone, it offers it's very own feel. Plus, the 500's portable! **** YES. Very excited about all the possibilities with this lil' dude in the noize-squad.

Any time I have a MIDI-chain I ALWAYS put an Elektron piece first. I've ran multiple "tests" where I've left up to three pieces running off the MachineDrum's clock and the only one that seemed to slack at all was the ESX I had. All I intend to use the MPC for when teamed up with the MD+X0X is long'ish one-shot speech/monologue sorta samples. I'll obviously use it for more if the timing's not an issue at all! (cello samples FTW :lol: )


I guess I'll just have to go ahead and grab it up and then figure it out, eh? OH NOEZ! :wink:
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By medearis Wed Apr 20, 2011 3:38 am
That's some good news, Esquilo. Thanks for the post.

Tomorrow or day after I'll have my 500 so I'll be able to experiment. I think that sync'ing to the computer will ever be an issue as I usually only make weird pads in Logic if I feel the need to tie things together that way.

Can't wait. This little dude's amazing.
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By Ill-Green Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:48 pm
Let us know how you hate it :mrgreen:

Timing is not an issue when you set the bars to 999 measures and turn off Timing Correct and the metronome. You'll be stone free. Just bang out to your heart's content and screw the timing.
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By medearis Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:42 am
Sounds pretty good to me, Green! :lol:

I was able to play on a 500 again at the dreaded local Guitar Center and was wreckin' on it! Maybe not like Jordan Jackson (osmhandpainted on YouTubez) but it was definitely very beautiful feeling. Tomorrow (or later today, depeinding on how your night went!) I'm driving to meet the seller I found on Craig's List. Been a super legit dude so I cannot wait to finally close this deal and get this bad boy on my desk/lap.

Sooner than later, I'll be posting stuff/beats I make soley with the 500... along with stuff that the 500 is part of.
(Elektron MachineDrum, Korg EA-1, MPC500, Tablas, mics for random shit, and an analogue delay pedal! :mrgreen: )

Super excited for this. Cannot wait to "officially join the community". Y'all 500 guys have a lick of cynicism I can dig on. :lol:




(inner) peace!
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By medearis Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:50 am
Word. Weird bump to my post but I am offering the 500 homies a chance to grab up an interface I just upgraded from. Selling the Presonus Firestudio Mobile for $220. Hit me up. It's a solid little dude, but my mobile rig is turning into something bigger than it was intended to be!

Holler.
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By medearis Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:42 pm
Alright y'all - in a few hours I'm going to make the drive to go pick up my 500.
This is going to be the shit, cannot wait to have this f*cker on my desk/lap/backpack.

MPC500 + AKG K240s + a huge oak tree + a phatty = sounds like a great way to spend the next few evenings


Don't mean to bump with a useless post, I'm just super excited about this little sampler. I know y'all feel me. :lol:


(inner) peace!