If I mainly sample with a computer, is an MPC 4000 still rel

I understand one of the main selling points of the 4000 is the sampler. Right now I'm using a 2500 with JJOS, but I have the opportunity to get a 4000 cheaply (although it may need some minor repairs).

I really would like to continue samping via a wav editor because it's quicker for me, and I also work with reason so I'm going back and forth. Is the 4000 something that would still be proven beneficial? Does it "sound better" than a 2500? My main concern is having a smooth workflow between an MPC and the DAW I use.

At the very least, I suppose I could fix and resell it. Thanks for the help!

I have both and yes the 4000 sounds better than the 2500. Not that a 2500 sounds awful or anything. Even when I load it with sounds from the computer, i.e. not sampling through it's in's, you can still hear it's character on the output, and it's filter has a nice character for a digital one. My favorite thing about a 4000 is I don't have to convert files as it accepts up to 24bit/96khz files. But the increased available headroom doesn't necessarily mean the 4000 can only do hi-fi ultra clean, it's just more sonic room to operate in either direction.

You'd probably like it, a lot of JJ features clearly have their origins on the 4000 OS. The machine is the most unique of all the MPC's and just takes some getting used to.

JesseHolmz wrote:I really would like to continue samping via a wav editor because it's quicker for me, and I also work with reason so I'm going back and forth. Is the 4000 something that would still be proven beneficial?

no.
id stay with what you got - save that 4k for someone who would really appreciate it.

tapedeck wrote:

JesseHolmz wrote:I really would like to continue samping via a wav editor because it's quicker for me, and I also work with reason so I'm going back and forth. Is the 4000 something that would still be proven beneficial?

no.
id stay with what you got - save that 4k for someone who would really appreciate it.

Ok, how about I buy it, fix it, and sell it to you for double of what I paid? That should help you appreciate it about as twice as much as I would then, right?

JesseHolmz wrote:Ok, how about I buy it, fix it, and sell it to you for double of what I paid? That should help you appreciate it about as twice as much as I would then, right?

if you want to buy it to flip it - that is a different story

if you have a working mpc, with a workflow you like, with a modern os, and you still like sampling with a wav editor - then no i dont think an mpc4000 that needs repairs, has a foreign workflow, with an outdated os, which you cant use as easily with a wav editor - is for you.

i am sensing some heat from you but i just answered yer question. i think if you want to resell it - then yes go for it.
but im not interested, thanks though

tapedeck wrote:

JesseHolmz wrote:Ok, how about I buy it, fix it, and sell it to you for double of what I paid? That should help you appreciate it about as twice as much as I would then, right?

if you want to buy it to flip it - that is a different story

if you have a working mpc, with a workflow you like, with a modern os, and you still like sampling with a wav editor - then no i dont think an mpc4000 that needs repairs, has a foreign workflow, with an outdated os, which you cant use as easily with a wav editor - is for you.

i am sensing some heat from you but i just answered yer question. i think if you want to resell it - then yes go for it.
but im not interested, thanks though

Nah I was only f'n with you man. And honestly, I haven't discovered my ideal workflow yet.

The thing I like about MPCs the best is the timing it offers my drum sequences, it's something that I haven't been able to get from software. With this opportunity to snag an MPC4000 at less than half price, I thought it may be a good way to try it out, especially after hearing that the sequencer on this particular machine is really tight. I've seen people talk about using the 4000 with Logic/Pro tools, so perhaps that's an option?

The idea that the 4000's OS is older is certainly a turn off, but it doesn't seem to be as outdated as something like an ASR which comes off as being a huge pain in the ass to work with on first glance.

In a perfect world, I'd like to own every MPC to try for myself, and sell the ones that don't interest me, and with that said, I went ahead and bought this 4000 on eBay, so I guess we'll find out. At the very least I'll be able to resell it as you said, as it seems to only need pad sensors.

JesseHolmz wrote:Nah I was only f'n with you man

no e-beef at all - we're good ;]

JesseHolmz wrote:especially after hearing that the sequencer on this particular machine is really tight

i dont think the 4k is a whole lot 'tighter' than a 2.5k - the only mpc that really screwed this up was the 5k
http://www.innerclocksystems.com/New%20 ... itmus.html <-interesting but really make sure you understand the science behind this before accepting - i think a lot of people misunderstand and either give it too much weight or write it off.

JesseHolmz wrote: I've seen people talk about using the 4000 with Logic/Pro tools, so perhaps that's an option?

for that - your 2.5k will do the exact same things - and with jj, probably a bit more (chords, arps, patterns, etc).

JesseHolmz wrote:The idea that the 4000's OS is older is certainly a turn off, but it doesn't seem to be as outdated as something like an ASR which comes off as being a huge pain in the ass to work with on first glance.

very true - i dont mean outdated in a bad way - i just mean jjos has been updated this year i think and continues to update and improve - the 4k is dead since the early 2000's.

JesseHolmz wrote:In a perfect world, I'd like to own every MPC to try for myself, and sell the ones that don't interest me, and with that said, I went ahead and bought this 4000 on eBay, so I guess we'll find out. At the very least I'll be able to resell it as you said, as it seems to only need pad sensors.

amen and props on the snag! good luck

you might be surprised at how quick you can get with sampling on the 4K. i prefer it over sampling in ableton (my host of choice) and there is a significant sonic difference - in this case i'm comparing echofire i/o + whatever ableton does to audio VS. the mpc. if you prefer the clicking and dragging then more power to you but i like to touch the computer as little as possible.

the 4k should integrate seamlessly with your daw regardless of the extent to which you incorporate it.

- jim

jimfowler wrote:you might be surprised at how quick you can get with sampling on the 4K. i prefer it over sampling in ableton (my host of choice) and there is a significant sonic difference - in this case i'm comparing echofire i/o + whatever ableton does to audio VS. the mpc. if you prefer the clicking and dragging then more power to you but i like to touch the computer as little as possible.

the 4k should integrate seamlessly with your daw regardless of the extent to which you incorporate it.

- jim

You're right, I definitely should experiment doing both. Right now I chop samples with Recycle, then bring my chops into my MPC. I feel like this is the quickest way but who knows. I'm looking forward to playing with the 4000 and seeing how it compares to the 2500.

well, like you said you are getting it for a decent price so you can spend a couple weeks with it and flip it if it doesn't suit your fancy. but do give it an honest shot. me, i find it way more fun than using the computer.

One plus for the 4K over the 2500 in a DAW set up is the ability to get 8 digital tracks out of it with the ADAT option board.

Obviously the usefulness of this would depend on your particular DAW set up; with the 2500 (or 4K without ADAT) you can still digitally track out 2 tracks at a time via SPDIF (provided your 4K has the SPDIF board).

JesseHolmz wrote:Right now I chop samples with Recycle, then bring my chops into my MPC.

In that scenario the 4K shines, but you need to give the workflow a solid week to see if it suits you.

The OS isn't dated at all compared to subsequent MPCs, but the chopping doesn't exactly set the world alight. It's perfectly functional though.

Coz wrote:

JesseHolmz wrote:Right now I chop samples with Recycle, then bring my chops into my MPC.

In that scenario the 4K shines, )

Could you elaborate a bit more on this?

JesseHolmz wrote:Could you elaborate a bit more on this?

As I mentioned, chopping isn't the 4K's strongest feature, but if you're circumventing it you'll be able to benefit from all the other good stuff in the machine... Better filters, 24/96, full keygroup sampling, 64 note poly, 512MB ram, hi-res sequencer, ADAT, dual waveforms in Trim, dedicated buttons for everything, solid build, big screen etc etc.

It's the Daddy.

Works fine with WAV editing programs for me, i have my 4K hooked up to the computer and it all works great, never had a problem, never had a crash. The only prob i have is that there is a corrupt wav file stuck on there that won't erase but it is only 1kb and in it's own folder.

I love my 4K