First MPC: 2500 jjos or 4000

Hello!

I'm from Sweden and this is my first post. I've done plenty of searches on these forums and on google. I believe I've read all comparisons and still Im not sure of which one to buy.

I have no hands-on experience on mpc:s but I've talked to people and read reviews. I seriously believe that its the kind of gear I'm looking for.

At the moment I'm using more software based production tools. I have an Imac with Logic and NI:s Maschine. The thing is that on the latest 6 months I've felt like the software is pulling me back when it comes to banging out beats. Many times when I sit by the big computerscreen It kind of stops my creativity and my ideas gets lost in this mouseclicking jungle.
I've tried hard to move away from the screen and rely on the controller alone but in the end you still need too look whats going on.

So to stay on topic I'm loocking for an mpc to get more hardware/standalone musicmaking. I'm not planning to sell my Maschine but i want to complement it.
My music style is leaning more to the oldschool sample-based hiphop.
In Sweden theres a small market for older mpc:s like the 2000xl, 3000 and 60.
And if you're lucky you will find a 2000xl for the same price as a loaded 2500 or even a 4000

Anyway since this is my first mpc which one do you guys recommend?

I can get a blue 4000 with 512mb ram, 8 outs and 80gb harddrive in good shape for 940$
A 3-year old 2500 with v3 jjos harddrive, full ram and looking brand new will set me back 780$.

Im really appreciating your help and trust your knowledge.

Thanks!

Both those MPCs will do you proud, but I'd be tempted to go for the 2500 running JJOS-XL, simply because the OS is being constantly updated with very cool features.

But $940 for the 4000 is a good price, so maybe get both and see which one suits your production workflow better

Yeah sure its a tuff choice. The 4000 feels lika a more solid quality-piece. How is used 4000s holding up after a few years of usage compared to a second hand 2500? I mean which one tender to break internal/external?
Its always hard byuing used gear

Which resampling options do you have on the 2500? Could you turn down the bitrate and get a more gritty sound?

Well byuing both is for sure comfy but still you'd be putting alot of money on the table

Damn its hard...

The 2500 has less of a learning curve, I think the 4k sounds better and is built better, but it will be hard to replace parts and repair as time goes on while the 2500 is easy as hell to repair. The 4k has features I love, but then again so does the JJOS, but in the end I think I would choose the 4k. For you, with it being your first hardware sampler either one is a great choice, you can resample in lower bits depth if you want in both, and if you wanna save the cash get the 2500, you wont be disappointed either way as long as you take the time to explore the machine.

Thanks for some solid opinions!

I've done some thinking and slowly pushed the newer 2500 out of my head to focus more on the older mpc's. Since those are the ones that really got to my attention.
I cancelled the 4000 which I found because of the seller didnt play serious.

So with some searching on the net for a mpc I found a 2000xl nearby..
I bought it today but only had time to power it up and get a first glimpse of the cool thing. (Working nights)
This will be my first step into the mpc-world.
I'll be adding a cf-reader soon but then I'm good to go.

But thanks for some really good infos on these forums and for the inputs!

1000/2500 + JJOSXL is the best investment anyone can do right now. 4k and 5k and definitely not really worth it IMO. i hope you didn't pay too much for the XL.

You made the right choice. 2000XL is the perfect choice for a 1st MPC. Economical and durable.