Should I buy a used mpc500 if A/C adapter and compact flash

Sm0keydaBear wrote:200$ is not a bad price for the unit, but I think you need to focus on other instruments first. If you do not know anything of what an MPC 500 can do, then what business do you have in trying to purchase one? My suggestion is to try to find a second-hand Akai XR20 to focus on first. That's what I started out with, and not I'm getting much better with my production.

Well i already have a roland groovebox and I just wanted to add a sampler to my rig something cool for sound effects. By the way I also have a nord stage

lpnalda wrote:

Sm0keydaBear wrote:200$ is not a bad price for the unit, but I think you need to focus on other instruments first. If you do not know anything of what an MPC 500 can do, then what business do you have in trying to purchase one? My suggestion is to try to find a second-hand Akai XR20 to focus on first. That's what I started out with, and not I'm getting much better with my production.

Well i already have a roland groovebox and I just wanted to add a sampler to my rig something cool for sound effects. By the way I also have a nord stage

one more thing, is that I'd like to see how and in what way, I can incoperate the mpc with my computer (macbook Pro), maybe DAW besides just for file xfer, etc. Although, I'd prefer not gigging the macbook.

I think the 500 is a smart move, groovebox or not. He's got the manual, what other "business" does he need to have in order before getting an mpc? We all started somewhere...

b.read wrote:I think the 500 is a smart move, groovebox or not. He's got the manual, what other "business" does he need to have in order before getting an mpc? We all started somewhere...

Just wanted to say thanks for all the input. I've put the unit on layaway for my next payday. I've done research, and think this is going to be a wise investment for me, and if it weren't for this used $200 one, I'd be paying $600 for a new one, making this a pretty good deal. I think it'll sit well in my current rig, as I'll have the groovebox, and nord stage for knob work, and then the mpc for more rhythm and noise, things that the other two can't do all that well.

Oh by the way, my current style is Electro Lounge, but I'm adding soon more dubstep influences, hoping to maybe come up with a new genre, called "Rootstep".

Sm0keydaBear wrote:200$ is not a bad price for the unit, but I think you need to focus on other instruments first. If you do not know anything of what an MPC 500 can do, then what business do you have in trying to purchase one? My suggestion is to try to find a second-hand Akai XR20 to focus on first. That's what I started out with, and not I'm getting much better with my production.

DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS ADVICE!!!

What worked for Smokey ain't gonna work for you. I had no idea what my 500 could do except for sample. I've had it over a year now and I'm about 60/70% au faix with it's capabilities. That's the best part of it. Coming on here and asking some goofy questions, getting laughed at or told to RTFM!!!!

If you can afford it, get it. And if you don't get on with it, sell it to someone else to feel the love for $50 less than you paid!

I got an MPC500 one day after i've seen an MPC for the first time in my life. I had no idea how they work, i just knew i wanted an MPC. The only thing you need before buying an MPC is to make up your mind if you want to have one.

Saying you need to buy other instruments before you get an MPC is really really... weird.

Hi all,
Well, I'm pretty excited! Picked up the used mpc500 today. Only bad thing, was that someone had put some tape over the expansion board, as even I noticed it was a bit wabbly. Also, to my surprise, there were actually 4 sequences in the internal memory, as the cf card I bought was newly formated and empty. I'd bought a 4gb card btw, as there was a video of how to make that work, and it seems fine. One last thing, that contrast adjustment is harder than hell to get right if you're only running from batteries! I got it adjusted though, although it might could use a slight turn back as it's a bit heavy on contrast. sure works good from an above angle though!. Finally, what the hell makes these things sound so damn good? it sounds better than any groovebox I have ever had, and had 2 rolands (still have the mc303), it's punchier than hell!

You can use it with your DAW if you have a MIDI interface (you probably have MIDI ports in the interface you're using with your DAW now).
MIDI doesn't have anything to do with sound whatsoever though so you should also grab a couple 1/4"-14" cables ("guitar cords") to run audio out of the MPC into your DAW interface. When it comes to audio the "you get what you pay for" saying is incredibly important (unless you find a lucky deal on used gear) so how much you spend on the cords will make a big difference. Whether your ear is sensitive enough yet to hear the difference or not, it matters A LOT. I use only Mogami gold cables but I have a fairly big annual budget because this is my job (I'm an audio-engineer) so if you don't want to spend more on cords than you spent on your MPC then Monster will do. Just get the best ones you can afford (preferably gold-plated).

I just grabbed an MPC500 at a pawn shop for $70 earlier today. No AC or CF either but I'm sure one of these adapters I have in the studio will work, I'm gonna need a ton of CF cards to transfer all my ASR's Zip-Disk of sounds to CF anyway, and I had him throw in some new batteries in the meanwhile (still gotta get the RAM expansion though, none of mine fit).
I went in there to buy another pre-amp and saw it sitting there. He clearly didn't know much about it when he told me "$150" so I was like "I don't know. Samplers are so old school. I might be able to use it as a MIDI controller for the drum pads, I guess, maybe if it was cheaper." and he was like "$80" so I told him "$75" and he started acting like he couldn't budge. I left the shop. Came back an hour later and pulled out $70 and walked out with it I'm getting damn good at this pawn shop thing. I would've paid $300 or more no problem so it made my day lol.

Damn I love pawn shops...