MPC Decision.

not bad at all


make sure you understand the limitations of a 2k compared to other models like the 3, the 1 and 25

ArKyve-31 wrote:not bad at all


make sure you understand the limitations of a 2k compared to other models like the 3, the 1 and 25

i understand what you meant about the 5000,it supposedly came with 52 bugs already in it (3 being ver fatal):

1. 'Selected Pads:' and 'Mode:Replace' doesn't replace not selected pads.
2. MMC Record and MMC Exit Record do not work properly.
3. Gate at 1% in Arp Mode sounds the same as gate at 100% for steps of 1/32(3) or higher.
4. Samples assigned to L & R of paired individual outs cutting each sample OFF.
5. When recording with TC OFF, early first note ends up in second measure.
6. Crash in main mode, only on MIDI port C.
7. Stereo monitoring not being updated after recording a mono sample.
8. Values will jump to current knob settings without touching knobs when messages sent to MIDI C or D.
9. Pitch Shifting & Auto Chopping a wav sample corrupts play pads.
10. Start note only played once in a looped sequence when last note overlaps the loop.

11. Possible Crash at 95% CPU usage and above.
12. PAN resets on loop boundary for synths.
13. Sound from one sequence hanging after going to the next sequence.
14. Possible crash when using Q-link controllers.
15. No MUTE indication for mute automation.
16. Voice stealing in SYNTH mode: clicks and crackles.
17. START and END settings in FINE not consistent with range numbers after pressing TRACK.
18. Unable to record mix changes after UNDO.
19. Punching In the numeral digit to next SEQ freezes the Now: time count b4 hitting the enter button.
20. Digital noise when punching back in AFTER end of song.

21. Upon boot up the UNDO light comes on when loading onboard ROM set.
22. Trim changes made in the FINE window can't be auditioned directly.
23. Disarming track while recording (with intention to punch out) and rearming track while continuing to record (with intention to punch in) loses initial recording.
24. Screen freezes when viewing a nonexistent event type when playing.
25. Metronome still sounds when punching out in HD record mode.
26. Overwriting HD Tracks to CF Card doesn't generate the overwrite message.
27. Touching any function button while unit performs long pitch shift type operation could interrupt the process.
28. Last sliced sample of Auto Chop is always distorted upon playback.
29. Overwriting multiple tracks generates multiple overwrite messages to HD.
30. Recording new HD Tracks over previous ones doesn't totally erase the old sound data.

31. Unable to turn off MUTE for audio tracks.
32. Progress bar non-functional for certain streaming engine tasks.
33. MIDI transpose not working properly.
34. Qlinks set to MIDI Channels causing random playback.
35. Samples being rerouted to individual ADAT out of next pressed pad.
36. When overwriting .ALL file and reloading it, any tracks recorded over still have original recorded notes on them.
37. In the 'Loop Measures' window, 'Total Bars' does not calculated correctly when 'Last Bar' = 'End'.
38. No progress bar to indicate CDRW is being burned or erased.
39. Jerky playback of automated Continuous Sample Track or long sample.

40. Frequency parameter in Frequency Shifter effect can not be returned to zero.
41. Original file chopped and converted as sliced sample takes on end time of region 1.
42. Significant sluggishness on scrolling thru grid edit on long sequences.
43. HD recording input has crackles on the right channel.
44. TRIM and LOOP endpoints can be unsynced, causing editing errors.
45. SOLO missing on MPC in TrkMIX SONG mode.
46. HD automation not followed when started and stopping song.
47. Streaming Engine progress bar only goes to 50%.
48. Transpose should have a destination pad, not an amount pad.
49. Renaming sequence does not update the display correctly

50. Viewing inserted real-time step edit events clunky.
51. When discarding, deleting, or extracting, sample endpoints are off by 1.
52. Disk mode folders are not correctly alphabetized.

and how can i exactly compare the 2k to the 1k and 3k? i supposed vintagesynth.com could tell me

theophanephoebus wrote:

ArKyve-31 wrote:not bad at all


make sure you understand the limitations of a 2k compared to other models like the 3, the 1 and 25

i understand what you meant about the 5000,it supposedly came with 52 bugs already in it (3 being ver fatal):

1. 'Selected Pads:' and 'Mode:Replace' doesn't replace not selected pads.
2. MMC Record and MMC Exit Record do not work properly.
3. Gate at 1% in Arp Mode sounds the same as gate at 100% for steps of 1/32(3) or higher.
4. Samples assigned to L & R of paired individual outs cutting each sample OFF.
5. When recording with TC OFF, early first note ends up in second measure.
6. Crash in main mode, only on MIDI port C.
7. Stereo monitoring not being updated after recording a mono sample.
8. Values will jump to current knob settings without touching knobs when messages sent to MIDI C or D.
9. Pitch Shifting & Auto Chopping a wav sample corrupts play pads.
10. Start note only played once in a looped sequence when last note overlaps the loop.

11. Possible Crash at 95% CPU usage and above.
12. PAN resets on loop boundary for synths.
13. Sound from one sequence hanging after going to the next sequence.
14. Possible crash when using Q-link controllers.
15. No MUTE indication for mute automation.
16. Voice stealing in SYNTH mode: clicks and crackles.
17. START and END settings in FINE not consistent with range numbers after pressing TRACK.
18. Unable to record mix changes after UNDO.
19. Punching In the numeral digit to next SEQ freezes the Now: time count b4 hitting the enter button.
20. Digital noise when punching back in AFTER end of song.

21. Upon boot up the UNDO light comes on when loading onboard ROM set.
22. Trim changes made in the FINE window can't be auditioned directly.
23. Disarming track while recording (with intention to punch out) and rearming track while continuing to record (with intention to punch in) loses initial recording.
24. Screen freezes when viewing a nonexistent event type when playing.
25. Metronome still sounds when punching out in HD record mode.
26. Overwriting HD Tracks to CF Card doesn't generate the overwrite message.
27. Touching any function button while unit performs long pitch shift type operation could interrupt the process.
28. Last sliced sample of Auto Chop is always distorted upon playback.
29. Overwriting multiple tracks generates multiple overwrite messages to HD.
30. Recording new HD Tracks over previous ones doesn't totally erase the old sound data.

31. Unable to turn off MUTE for audio tracks.
32. Progress bar non-functional for certain streaming engine tasks.
33. MIDI transpose not working properly.
34. Qlinks set to MIDI Channels causing random playback.
35. Samples being rerouted to individual ADAT out of next pressed pad.
36. When overwriting .ALL file and reloading it, any tracks recorded over still have original recorded notes on them.
37. In the 'Loop Measures' window, 'Total Bars' does not calculated correctly when 'Last Bar' = 'End'.
38. No progress bar to indicate CDRW is being burned or erased.
39. Jerky playback of automated Continuous Sample Track or long sample.

40. Frequency parameter in Frequency Shifter effect can not be returned to zero.
41. Original file chopped and converted as sliced sample takes on end time of region 1.
42. Significant sluggishness on scrolling thru grid edit on long sequences.
43. HD recording input has crackles on the right channel.
44. TRIM and LOOP endpoints can be unsynced, causing editing errors.
45. SOLO missing on MPC in TrkMIX SONG mode.
46. HD automation not followed when started and stopping song.
47. Streaming Engine progress bar only goes to 50%.
48. Transpose should have a destination pad, not an amount pad.
49. Renaming sequence does not update the display correctly

50. Viewing inserted real-time step edit events clunky.
51. When discarding, deleting, or extracting, sample endpoints are off by 1.
52. Disk mode folders are not correctly alphabetized.

and how can i exactly compare the 2k to the 1k and 3k? i supposed vintagesynth.com could tell me

very*

theophanephoebus wrote:and how can i exactly compare the 2k to the 1k and 3k? i supposed vintagesynth.com could tell me

there are also threads within this forum comparing the different models. or you can go to akai pro, no need to post the 5k bugs, I'm aware of em. Here it is bro, the 3k is a great machine but dated, the 2500 although not built as good physically (material wise) is much more powerful, has vast more sampling time and control of those samples, the 1k with jj is pretty much the exact same as a 25 just smaller, the 2k is pointless really, if you go the cheaper route get a 2xl at least, I said it earlier, get a maxed 2500 with jj and you'll be happy. The only thing that out performs it and is stable is the 4k, but i woulnd't suggest getting that as your first mpc. Hell another forum member just traded me his 4k for my maxed 25, whats that tell you? the hottest beats on this forum are usually done on a 2500, not saying you can't make heat on other versions, but save yourself the time, its easy to fix if it breaks, parts can be hard to find for other models, ecspecially the older 3k and 2's, and its the most up to date as far as modern technology with the exception of the 5k, but we've already covered that model...Thats it I can no longer help you, and likely not many others will go in depth with you on this topic. choose wisely I'm tired of cats coming on the forum copping a random model then selling it all and posting all pissed off how its not a "full production studio" or doesn't do what they want because they didn't take our advice and got the wrong damn model.

How are you finding the 4k Ark?

As you've said (and I know), the 2500 with JJ is a killer combination. I just wondered how you think they both stack up against each other? The spec sheet doesn't really tell the story of everyday usage.

Coz wrote:How are you finding the 4k Ark?

As you've said (and I know), the 2500 with JJ is a killer combination. I just wondered how you think they both stack up against each other? The spec sheet doesn't really tell the story of everyday usage.

Well because its a holiday hear in the states, I can't pick the package till tomorrow, so i cant answer that question yet

That's a ****.

I'm sure you'll be putting it through it's paces soon enough.

ArKyve-31 wrote:

theophanephoebus wrote:and how can i exactly compare the 2k to the 1k and 3k? i supposed vintagesynth.com could tell me

there are also threads within this forum comparing the different models. or you can go to akai pro, no need to post the 5k bugs, I'm aware of em. Here it is bro, the 3k is a great machine but dated, the 2500 although not built as good physically (material wise) is much more powerful, has vast more sampling time and control of those samples, the 1k with jj is pretty much the exact same as a 25 just smaller, the 2k is pointless really, if you go the cheaper route get a 2xl at least, I said it earlier, get a maxed 2500 with jj and you'll be happy. The only thing that out performs it and is stable is the 4k, but i woulnd't suggest getting that as your first mpc. Hell another forum member just traded me his 4k for my maxed 25, whats that tell you? the hottest beats on this forum are usually done on a 2500, not saying you can't make heat on other versions, but save yourself the time, its easy to fix if it breaks, parts can be hard to find for other models, ecspecially the older 3k and 2's, and its the most up to date as far as modern technology with the exception of the 5k, but we've already covered that model...Thats it I can no longer help you, and likely not many others will go in depth with you on this topic. choose wisely I'm tired of cats coming on the forum copping a random model then selling it all and posting all pissed off how its not a "full production studio" or doesn't do what they want because they didn't take our advice and got the wrong damn model.

Maxed out 2kXL? either that or the 1k with jjOS

The list of 52 bugs was actually released by Akai (not sure why though). It was for the MPC 5000's OS 1.0 I believe. I was among the first in the US to get one and OS 1.02 was already available which corrected most if not all of those bugs.

It really doesn't matter which MPC you get. They all sequence. However, when consider models like the MPC 3000, you have to remember that those were created in the early 90s...about 20 years ago. While they are well built, you never know exactly what you are getting on the second hand market. I bought at least 2-3 MPC 3000s that I had to spend a few hundred dollars fixing (LCD, power supply, tact switch replacements, etc). The 3000 does support 32 MB of memory.

The MPC 2000/2000XL are good options and are normally in better condition than 3000s. Plus they give you graphic waveform editing and better (not great) effects. Personally, I like the MPC 2000 although the 2000XL allows you to use 4 programs (the 2000 uses only one), faster sample editing processing, and chopping.

The MPC 1000/2500 are probably the best option due to many advances in the MPC OS. JJ OS keeps evolving. If you need those functions, either will do fine. But having the larger 2500 is a plus unless you don't need a full size MPC.

The MPC 4000 or 5000 I wouldn't recommend because of costs. You can find them at or below $1500 but they don't stick around long for that price.

I just ordered an MPD32 to go with my Kronos. Also, I am currently looking for an MPC 2000 in the $315 range. It was my first MPC and I want another for nostalgia. As a matter of fact, that is what I will name her....may even get a Forat cosmetic upgrade....

Askia Shaheed wrote:The MPC 4000 or 5000 I wouldn't recommend because of costs. You can find them at or below $1500 but they don't stick around long for that price.

In the last year I been seeing 4ks on local craigslist anywhere from 900-1300, 5000's anywhere from 1100 and up..

My MPC 2000 just arrived today. Its been 7-8 years since I last owned this model. The sequencer, although very simple, is still one of the best I have ever used.

Askia Shaheed wrote:My MPC 2000 just arrived today. Its been 7-8 years since I last owned this model. The sequencer, although very simple, is still one of the best I have ever used.

Simple can be so eloquent sometimes. Glad to hear you found a worthy 2000!

krush777 wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:My MPC 2000 just arrived today. Its been 7-8 years since I last owned this model. The sequencer, although very simple, is still one of the best I have ever used.

Simple can be so eloquent sometimes. Glad to hear you found a worthy 2000!

I bought two. One was was near flawless (for its age) and another needed repairs. I wrote a thread in the MPC 2000 forum about replace all the tact switches for under $10. I am planning giving one away as a gift to my 12 y/o cousin.

Yeah...when I started using the MPC2K I found myself more into making music than worrying about specs.

Is the 4k a worthy investment? I'm thinking the 2kxl maxed like suggested or the 2500

Askia Shaheed wrote:Yeah...when I started using the MPC2K I found myself more into making music than worrying about specs.

It is a quite convincing statement, especially the statement come from you!
It is main reason why I like to use MPC-2000XL or Electribe ES-1, although I do have a quite capable computer (MacBook Pro.)