Can't Decide - Please Help

Hello all,

I've been producing Hip Hop, RnB as well as some alternative for over a decade now. My main arsenal consists of the Original Triton (had Trinity), various Emu and Roland racks, I'm on a Digi 002 with PT8 Win7 64bit Waves Diamond/SSL etc tho I also have 12 addition AD channels via RME converters. To put it simple I sampled a ton of drums like 8 years ago and have 2 kits I mainly use on the Triton. I never sample mainly because I absolutely hate the triton's sampler. I always run into some sort of issues where I can't have multiple samples simultaneously so I just went with live instruments and racks. Anyhow, the triton is starting to have issues where buttons arent working all the time system only recognizes the sczi drives when it wants to etc...

In a nutshell I want to breathe new life into my whole production set up. Alot of newer guys keep telling me go with Maschine and alot of my industry friends insist on a MPC4k.

So far I have done tons of research spent over 4 hours on the Maschine at guitar Center. Which i would like to say the staff there acted like they knew everything about the piece but couldn't answer any of my questions. Q's like quantizing, importing to PT, midi control etc. So I left there and did more research online.

I debated on buying Maschine first and if I dont like it return it and try out the MPC but I can't return it due to the software. If I get the MPC 4K I'm gonna end up getting my hands on a used one which I really don't want to buy used.

This leads me to the 5k. I have heard so many complaints on the 5k I don't know what to believe. Also the lack of 24bit support on the 5k seems outrageous in this day and age although 99% of the people that will hear my stuff is gonna be through mp3's anyways.

I don't know what to do! I see theres a great team of guys who contribute to these boards so I'm hoping on some help. Any advice or even left field ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking your time to read my story.

*edit - Just thought to also add workflow info. I sequence everything up to the Triton and once I'm ready to track I just slave the Triton to PT press record and go. I have also dabbled with Xpand as far as software synths I like the sounds just hate using the software. I tend to play out what I software instrument I want then buss the midi to a audio track that way i can mix the actual wave vs fiddling with the midi.

db00seven wrote:*edit - Just thought to also add workflow info. I sequence everything up to the Triton and once I'm ready to track I just slave the Triton to PT press record and go. I have also dabbled with Xpand as far as software synths I like the sounds just hate using the software. I tend to play out what I software instrument I want then buss the midi to a audio track that way i can mix the actual wave vs fiddling with the midi.

With the set-up you already have, the MPC 2500 or the 1000 would work as well. The 4000 and 5000 certainly have more features, but are they things that you need? If you don't trust the 5000, which some people have had no problems with at all, then the 1000 and 2500 will both do what you seem to want an MPC to do.

krush777 wrote:With the set-up you already have, the MPC 2500 or the 1000 would work as well. The 4000 and 5000 certainly have more features, but are they things that you need? If you don't trust the 5000, which some people have had no problems with at all, then the 1000 and 2500 will both do what you seem to want an MPC to do.

I sensed that but I am open to new features as well. Yeah mainly I need something exclusively for drums and sequencing and would like to try my hand at sampling. A selling point for me on the 5k is the light pipe out but it lacks 24 bit. I can run the 8 out to the RME for conversion there (while in 24/96 sessions). On board effects (eq, dynamics) are not needed for me. I like to patch stuff to my outboard pieces more so than digital. So I dont really know what other features I would be missing. Plus seeing as how i have never used any MPC I wouldnt know those little things that you guys know that would be great on one machine vs the other. I do know from research the 3k and 60 have the best sound or should I say "that saught after sound'. I do know I want to future proof myself as best I can, so what ever investment i make I'm set for a good 10 years.

Thanks for input bro i appreciate it!

Bump for help

You are the type that has a solid background, experience-wise, so I have no doubt you'll pick up either solution. I have a 5000. it's a little flaky to be honest. I doubt Akai is doing any more updates to it. However it runs and it is future proof from a PC OS perspective. It sings like an instrument in my hands when I'm in the zone. In fact it almost disappears completely for me, if that makes sense.

I love software though. I tried Maschine at Guitar center and it is pretty damn cool. It is definitely the first pc-based solution that gives that hands on feeling and NI is a great company. I think you have to go with your instincts on this one.

Thanks for input. I bumped this thread earlier after a friend pointed me towards the Fantom G6. I was so drum oriented I did'nt think about a new workstation. G6 goes for same price range as a MPC 5k so now thats a new option. Plus I have experience with Rolands stuff so the learning curve will drastically shrink.

lol So yes the G6 is now a option.

I know my original post was geared towards the 4k vs 5k due to what I have been told is worth looking into. Does anyone object to the 2500. I could actually drop the money on both if I can find a 2500 for around $1000.

Once again appreciate everyones input.

db00seven wrote:Does anyone object to the 2500.

Nope.

The 2500 strikes a perfect balance between features, price and size.

Well, I'm going to throw the curve ball here. I too once tracked exclusively using the on-board sequencers off of the hardware gear I used, but that was because it was before the time s/w sequencers came about.

Once I got wind of how to incorporate/track utilizing s/w & hardware, it was on.

That was the begining for me to start using midi more so than I did before. And once I grasped that to the fullest, I started investing into rack sound modules instead of the same sound sources in their keyboard form.

These days it's more important for me to utilize the 24 bit foundation in the daw program I use rather than wanting it in the individual instrument components that's around me. But I can't deny the fact that when the 4k came out, it offered something very unique for an instrument of its caliber. It was something I couldn't live without and that was it's 24 bit/96k feature. It also doubles as one of my sound modules too so that was even more of a plus.

Everything intergrates seamlessly with the steinberg daws I use, so it makes it easier to select my instruments right from the daw instead of dialing stuff straight from the instrument itself.

It's a producers paradise when you can function to the fullest without limitations.

db00seven wrote:....

lol So yes the G6 is now a option.

Great. Now I've got that damned song in my head.... Poppin bottles in the ice, like a blizzard. When we drink we do it right gettin slizzard ....

dabmeister wrote:Well, I'm going to throw the curve ball here. I too once tracked exclusively using the on-board sequencers off of the hardware gear I used, but that was because it was before the time s/w sequencers came about.

Once I got wind of how to incorporate/track utilizing s/w & hardware, it was on.

That was the begining for me to start using midi more so than I did before. And once I grasped that to the fullest, I started investing into rack sound modules instead of the same sound sources in their keyboard form.

These days it's more important for me to utilize the 24 bit foundation in the daw program I use rather than wanting it in the individual instrument components that's around me. But I can't deny the fact that when the 4k came out, it offered something very unique for an instrument of its caliber. It was something I couldn't live without and that was it's 24 bit/96k feature. It also doubles as one of my sound modules too so that was even more of a plus.

Everything intergrates seamlessly with the steinberg daws I use, so it makes it easier to select my instruments right from the daw instead of dialing stuff straight from the instrument itself.

It's a producers paradise when you can function to the fullest without limitations.

LOL @ Me soHordy


Yea I just hate using anything on PC even tho I mix exclusively through PT. :/ The 4k is awesome its just hard finding one. But today I made a huge curveball myself.

I ordered a 2000XL off of Ebay in mint condition for $700. With the 8 outs. I'm gonna give the MPC world a try and this way I don't lose a ton of money if I end up changing up later. I was going to grab a 2500 but the 4k's were the same price range if not cheaper. Just couldnt really find a 4k that seemed like it was in good condition that had the 8 out expansion. I plan on utilizing my RME converters so the adat option and internal conversion doesn't make a difference to me. (Wish I had 8 channels of Lavry )

Now seeing as how I have drums out of the way debating on the fantom as of yet. Their XF rack module doesn't come out for another 6 months and seeing as how my Triton is shitting the bed in other aspects I might as well just get the new keyboard.

Any thoughts?