MPC5000 reviews, bug reports and fellow user support on the most recent standalone, hardware MPC from Akai
By dryad-66 Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:26 pm
Metatron72 wrote:To stay somewhat on topic, jigzelmnt should get a 4000 as suggested earlier. :)


I hear you on the getting the 4k.Its the tougher more stable beast with higher general quality and totally reliable.I use mine regularly and have pitted it against 2 different 5k s at different times.Lets just say i got different results out of both.Every time that 5k left the crib i missed it.Its well tight and fun.The q links all automatically control the eq s,fx,mixer,synth ect ect.a tweekers dream.Its pretty wide sounding too.

Anyway the 4k,i always record in my 4k in 24 bits.Always.Sounds great mostly.Gotta make use of the digital eq tho.Adds the tops and tails on the inputs and outs.Comp is good ect ect :smoker:
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By Metatron72 Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:09 pm
I only ever used a 5000 at GC (when the LCD wasn't fried). It did always seem like it had great potential had Akai done at least one or two OS revisions. Obviously I wasn't catching all the issues just making a beat at the store, but I had followed so many threads here back when I considered maybe getting one.

If I recall Akai hasn't manufactured an MPC in a factory for at least a year now. All the 1000's and 500's they have are previously manufactured dead stock. I bet by years end they may officially discontinue those two as well.

Somebody steal the 2 OS's codebases for JJ before they shut the lights off. :lol:
By CoinOP! Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:18 pm
Maybe there is something wrong with my ears, but I didn't notice anything that blew me away comparing a 4000 to a 5000 sample(not a 4000 16bit against a 24bit 4000 sample).

If the source is good.........
By dryad-66 Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:30 pm
I think its something you notice if you use it evryday, the bit rate thing.It will work better with some sources.Sre theres some difference if you notice or not.More sonics and dynamics.Some others lke it less so : ].I did tests with headphones on both(4k and 5k,16 and 24) and it was close.Very close.I found the 4k to have better more refined attack responce even after adjusting envolopes ect.The pitching of the 4k absolutely killed the nukai machines tho.Huge range and almost analog resolution.Like playing with a record.That was the final decision maker for me both times lol im still eyeing up the 5k s.Made some good tracks on them.
By CoinOP! Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:19 am
Well I didn't noticed it. Different doesn't mean better!

Like I said, if the source is good........ Someone mentioned recording with vocals it's noticable. When using a good mic, preamp etc. you won't notice a difference when recording in 16b in the 5000 or DAW or 24 bit in your 4000.

Do a blind test and you couldn't tell.
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By Coz Tue Jul 17, 2012 3:35 pm
dryad-66 wrote:The pitching of the 4k absolutely killed the nukai machines tho.Huge range and almost analog resolution.Like playing with a record.




This was the first thing I noticed about the 4K. The pitch/tuning is phenomenal compared to other MPC's. :smoker:
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By Metatron72 Tue Jul 17, 2012 3:37 pm
Coz wrote:
dryad-66 wrote:The pitching of the 4k absolutely killed the nukai machines tho.Huge range and almost analog resolution.Like playing with a record.




This was the first thing I noticed about the 4K. The pitch/tuning is phenomenal compared to other MPC's. :smoker:


I feel the same way about the filter on the 4K. It just behaves a lot closer to an analog filter especially on the resonance. I have all the E-MU/Ensoniq sounds in mine and they play real nice with that filter.
By dryad-66 Tue Jul 17, 2012 3:41 pm
Coz wrote:
dryad-66 wrote:The pitching of the 4k absolutely killed the nukai machines tho.Huge range and almost analog resolution.Like playing with a record.




This was the first thing I noticed about the 4K. The pitch/tuning is phenomenal compared to other MPC's. :smoker:

Yeah,you gotta love it.First thing i do now is dedicate a knob for the whole machine to change the pitch.And one for realease and filters.And then i light a jazz cigar.Crazy stuff.
I feel the same way about the filter on the 4K. It just behaves a lot closer to an analog filter especially on the resonance. I have all the E-MU/Ensoniq sounds in mine and they play real nice with that filter.


Yep,apart from the shrill high resonance.Some deep,deep subby sounds can be unearthed.I try and resample when i find something nice.

I was sampling from the 4k str8 into the asr10 last night.Great combo.
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By Metatron72 Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:00 pm
dryad-66 wrote:
Coz wrote:
dryad-66 wrote:The pitching of the 4k absolutely killed the nukai machines tho.Huge range and almost analog resolution.Like playing with a record.




This was the first thing I noticed about the 4K. The pitch/tuning is phenomenal compared to other MPC's. :smoker:

Yeah,you gotta love it.First thing i do now is dedicate a knob for the whole machine to change the pitch.And one for realease and filters.And then i light a jazz cigar.Crazy stuff.
I feel the same way about the filter on the 4K. It just behaves a lot closer to an analog filter especially on the resonance. I have all the E-MU/Ensoniq sounds in mine and they play real nice with that filter.


Yep,apart from the shrill high resonance.Some deep,deep subby sounds can be unearthed.I try and resample when i find something nice.

I was sampling from the 4k str8 into the asr10 last night.Great combo.


ASR to 4000 good call, I should set that up myself. Unfortunately I'm moving over the next 6 weeks and I'm going to have to get that black tank moved sooner than later. I'm going to be rocking a netbook and and iPhone by my last week in this house. :lol:
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By Dan L Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:10 pm
konc3pt wrote:
Lampdog wrote:Anyways 24 bit or 16 bit doesn't matter. You won't hear it.
This is false.

Can't believe people still use that as a sellingpoint for the 4000.
Because there is a noticeable difference.


I remember when the 4k came out and everyone said it sounded " thin, weak.. "
All MPC's have their own pros and cons. I would have bought a mpc 3000 if I had a computer to store all of my beats,sounds...
I bought the 5000 because I can turn it on, sample off my records with no mixer, I have a HD recorder so if I want to rap over a beat I can, when I'm all done I can save everything under one file name and come back to it.
I have three lives of gear in my humble set up:
Mpc 5000
Turntable
25 key midi keyboard
It makes me happy and I don't get cluttered with having to turn on a buch of gear to have fun. Right now I have just my MPC on a table and have been making beats off of samples on the HD. :mrgreen:
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By Coz Fri Jul 20, 2012 3:59 pm
Metatron72 wrote:I feel the same way about the filter on the 4K. It just behaves a lot closer to an analog filter especially on the resonance. I have all the E-MU/Ensoniq sounds in mine and they play real nice with that filter.




I think they should have balanced the resonance better across the range, because it doesn't take much to get it barking! The filters on the whole are great though.



dryad-66 wrote:First thing i do now is dedicate a knob for the whole machine to change the pitch.And one for realease and filters.And then i light a jazz cigar.Crazy stuff.




I created my first keygroup last night (Professor Quak style) and the tuning quality really comes into its own. Great stuff. :smoker: