Hey Heads a beginner question

So money isn't a big issue. I am debating between a 500 and 1000. My girlfriend doesn't mind the idea of getting the next step up, but can't fathom buying a 4000.

I have been making grooves on a cheap drum machine and sampler for years. I love the sound of a MPC.

I love Gangstarr, tribe, aesop, evidence, wu tang, nas, slum village (or anything dilla), pete rock....

Basically if it falls around those sounds/styles I am all in.

I am a drummer/saxophone player.

The 1000 can be had for around a 1000 dollars. Will definately do the memory upgrade, that I have read is very useful. I don't mind memory cards, but if I can get more memory internally, great.

I like the fact you can change pads and customize the look, that is inconsequential to the workflow of the unit, and it's practicality. Glow in the dark pads appeal to my sci fi nature.

Atmosphere, blueprint, POS (never better album is the best), and most Rhymesayers stuff also amazes me.

I like the idea of battery use in the 500, but read its really limited as far as duration.

I am pretty much leaning towards the 1000.

I am no rookie in terms of digital production, how to program etc, so once I get the machine, I don't think the learning curve would be too steep.


Thinking of using Roland SP404 to use as an added bonus with the unit, along with programming songs and playing live drums along with it. Questlove is an inspiration.

Any advice that you can give would be helpful, I will go around here and read as well.

Do the pads really go out as quickly as some say? I treat all my electronics with care, and being a drummer velocity is very understood as far as crisp strokes on the pads. I dont need to hit the pads like I am playing a Slayer song. So I figure as long as even handed on it, it shouldnt be a problem...

Thanks in advance.

Paistemage wrote:So money isn't a big issue. I am debating between a 500 and 1000. My girlfriend doesn't mind the idea of getting the next step up, but can't fathom buying a 4000.

I have been making grooves on a cheap drum machine and sampler for years. I love the sound of a MPC.

I love Gangstarr, tribe, aesop, evidence, wu tang, nas, slum village (or anything dilla), pete rock....

Basically if it falls around those sounds/styles I am all in.

I am a drummer/saxophone player.

The 1000 can be had for around a 1000 dollars. Will definately do the memory upgrade, that I have read is very useful. I don't mind memory cards, but if I can get more memory internally, great.

I like the fact you can change pads and customize the look, that is inconsequential to the workflow of the unit, and it's practicality. Glow in the dark pads appeal to my sci fi nature.

Atmosphere, blueprint, POS (never better album is the best), and most Rhymesayers stuff also amazes me.

I like the idea of battery use in the 500, but read its really limited as far as duration.

I am pretty much leaning towards the 1000.

I am no rookie in terms of digital production, how to program etc, so once I get the machine, I don't think the learning curve would be too steep.


Thinking of using Roland SP404 to use as an added bonus with the unit, along with programming songs and playing live drums along with it. Questlove is an inspiration.

Any advice that you can give would be helpful, I will go around here and read as well.

Do the pads really go out as quickly as some say? I treat all my electronics with care, and being a drummer velocity is very understood as far as crisp strokes on the pads. I dont need to hit the pads like I am playing a Slayer song. So I figure as long as even handed on it, it shouldnt be a problem...

Thanks in advance.

A new MPC 1000 is going to cost about the same as a used 4000. 4000 is more durable..drums are punchy and sound natural.24 bit and 16 bit....it has a bit reduction feature...intel chip..512 MB Ram capacity. Could hook a USB port to it and connect a keyboard to type file names, a external Hard Drive and USB stick....No comparison between the two.


The 500 isn't a real MPC...gotta have 16 pads to be considered a MPC.

I have a fully functional 4000 I'll sell you for 900 plus shipping via paypal, Heres a video of it in use. Its hard drive is loaded already with tons of breaks and drum kits I took from vinyl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1j7oDXgll8

No tilt screen sucks, treat yourself to a comfortable back.

Only certain models give you that including the original MPC-60.

Cost considerations = no tilt screen, simple.

clint246clint wrote:No tilt screen sucks, treat yourself to a comfortable back.

Only certain models give you that including the original MPC-60.

Cost considerations = no tilt screen, simple.

worth noting that the 60 'tilt' is fixed, not adjustable like on some others. i am not sure if any others are 'fixed' tilt like the 60.

if you find a 1000 for the same price as a 4000, yer either getting ripped off on the 1k or a killer deal on the 4k (i generally see 1k's for $400-$500).

from one drummer to another, although the pads on the 1000 are only a little bit smaller, that little bit makes a world of difference when playing your drums in. you could make it work but the 1000 feels cramped compared to my 2500. the pads are alright but their response takes a bit of getting used to,... of course you can always fiddle with the sensitivity settings till you find something you can work with.

round my neck of the woods, a used 4000 is just a bit more than a brand new 1000, but a used 2500 is almost the same as brand new 1000,... since i was getting it primarily for live, and didnt mind lugging around 6kgs, what the 2500 doesnt have was fine with me.

i do so want a 4000 though.

it would be woth noting that a used mpc is pretty much just as good as a new one, at almost half the price or less, provided that it has been taken care of.

i would get jjos 2xl with it (its 129 dollars or something like that) this will open up alot of features that the akai os 1k doesnt have. grid edit a better chopping feature, ect ect.

i wouldent get a 500 for your first mpc, the screen is very small ( only 2 lines of text) and it is feature limited. it is an alright mpc, and it was my first one, but now that i look back on it i would have rather gotten a 1000. i probably would still have that if i had gotten a 1k in the first place.

i now have a 2500 with jjos 2xl and am happy with it.

its nice that hte 1k is sitlll pretty portable without being battery powered, but the 2500 will still fit in a backpack.

the dude on here arkyve that said he is selling his 4000 for 900 bucks posts alot on here and i would trust him to be good for the money, so if you are inclined in getting a 4k i would consider that an option too. i cant really vouch for the unit itself, but i have heard many good things about it, although the learning curve is steeper than other mpcs.

i would also recomend getting the "beat making on the mpc" book that pertains to the model you get, when i have my 500 it was the best 40 bucks i had spent.

there is a book for the jjos in the works now too.