Which MPC (or Tempest?)

So I'm getting into a lot of beat programming. I've generally used plugins like Battery, with Logic / Pro Tools, and a MIDI Keyboard. However, recently I messed around with a Tempest (I know, different than an MPC), but loved the HANDS ON nature, and the MPC-ish OS and not necessarily being tied to a computer.

Investigating further into the MPC realm, I'm also interested in doing some sampling as well...

So things I'm considering

1) Get an MPC. If so, I hear everyone raving about the MPC60 and MPC3000. Seems to have to do with a the 'swing', and the general lo-fi sound. However, floppies and ZIPs seem a little tedious. That being said, people seem to think the newer MPCs are a little junky and not built well, and I wouldn't wanna pay for something crappy. Any recommendations? Is there anything between the MPC3000 and the current ones that were well built, and have more 'modern' conveniences?

2) Get a Tempest (used probably). I like this cause it's built well, has MPC functionality as far as sequencing, note repeat, etc. The only thing is no sampling, but I would prefer to pay for a quality instrument rather than something crappy.

what are people's thoughts?

1. Mpc4000

2. Its hard to pit the MPC vs the tempest, there do very different things albeit held together by the pad interface. I also prefer elektrons machine drum. Basically do you prefer tweaking a synth or making songs with samples?

Also, you can make a lot of setups with the MPC that don't tie to a computer.

The 4000 has quite a lot of features right? I don't know if I need all that...

I know that Tempest and MPC are apples and oranges, I just remember liking the experience with it, and having the on-board analog effects and such.

But really, I just want:

1) Quality machine
2) MPC-esque interface

As far as getting sounds on older machines, just sample em right?

m56p87 wrote:1. Mpc4000

2. Its hard to pit the MPC vs the tempest, there do very different things albeit held together by the pad interface. I also prefer elektrons machine drum. Basically do you prefer tweaking a synth or making songs with samples?

Also, you can make a lot of setups with the MPC that don't tie to a computer.

I actually think the best blend for you would probably be to get a tempest, but then also buy an akai rack sampler which you could play from your tempest via midi Best of both worlds, playing would be fun because IMHO the 2 x 8 pad setup on the tempest is the most user friendly pad layout in existance right now. You could get a 16 bit akai rack sampler for very cheap

hm interesting, I hadn't thought of that...

Here's a question: If I got a Tempest to start, and lets say I had some sounds I sampled into Battery. Via USB. could I sequence the sounds in battery?

m56p87 wrote:I actually think the best blend for you would probably be to get a tempest, but then also buy an akai rack sampler which you could play from your tempest via midi Best of both worlds, playing would be fun because IMHO the 2 x 8 pad setup on the tempest is the most user friendly pad layout in existance right now. You could get a 16 bit akai rack sampler for very cheap

dtirer wrote:hm interesting, I hadn't thought of that...

Here's a question: If I got a Tempest to start, and lets say I had some sounds I sampled into Battery. Via USB. could I sequence the sounds in battery?

I'm sorry I don't understand what your saying totally. but ill try, you could load sounds up in battery and play them from your tempest yes. Using both at the same time of course.

Right, but once I've loaded those sounds in Battery and am playing them from The Tempest, could I create a MIDI sequence on the Tempest, using the Battery sounds -- So the Tempest would send out the MIDI sequence to Battery, and play it

m56p87 wrote:

dtirer wrote:hm interesting, I hadn't thought of that...

Here's a question: If I got a Tempest to start, and lets say I had some sounds I sampled into Battery. Via USB. could I sequence the sounds in battery?

I'm sorry I don't understand what your saying totally. but ill try, you could load sounds up in battery and play them from your tempest yes. Using both at the same time of course.

Yes the tempest is a sequencer as well as synth. So it will allow you to record and replay midi data not just generate it. Playing a pad with your finger, and replaying a recorded sequence will send the same midi note data out of the midi out.

Alright thats good to know. The yes, maybe it's best I get the Tempest first, and look into a sampler or MPC after.

thanks!

m56p87 wrote:Yes the tempest is a sequencer as well as synth. So it will allow you to record and replay midi data not just generate it. Playing a pad with your finger, and replaying a recorded sequence will send the same midi note data out of the midi out.

Sounds good, enjoy building your setup!

Sorry to resurrect this one, but i've been investigating your suggestion with the Akai Sampler vs an MPC, and use it in conjunction with the MPC. Is there any sampler you'd recommend that does sonically, what the MPC3000 does?

Also, do these larger rack units, like an s1000, have more available as far as storage, or am I still dealing with floppy disks and such?

You can use a pcd50b card reader (which is still available).. in a s1000 that's kitted with a scsi card (optional)... the s1100 always comes with a scsi card unless it's harvested. You need the right cables and a pcmcia to compact flash adapter ....

Then you have a modern compact flash soltuion ..each formatted cf card gives max:
five hundred something megs of data .. which should be plenty.

If you go for an s1000/1100 don't assume you can get a RAM upgrade later....
So if you want max RAM (32MB) .... find one with 32MB in it to begin with.


If you're a fan of the more plastic/hollow sound of the mpc3k ..... get a non XL S2800/S3000/S3200
... Same applies to those regarding storage... although the formatted size limit might be higher.. you'd have to look into that

Hm alright interesting.
Isn't the S1000 also 16bit like the s3000? So wouldn't they both have a similar sound?

I'm still trying to figure this all out. Apparently the tempest isn't sending out MIDI sequences to external hardware, at least not yet.. So right now the choice is between

Tempest (fingers crossed for MIDI sequence update) and eventually some sort of Akai Rack Sampler

OR

an MPC. I think I would want the MPC3000, which is 16bit (right)? I just want something well built, and with a reasonably convenient storage option...no floppies or zips, but I could use a SCSI hard drive with it, right?

I really just want a solid sequencer first and foremost and a well built unit. I will honestly be using more sampled sounds than I will analog sounds....

The Tempest just seems to have an appealing interface, some nice analog stuff when I need it, a good sequencer, and a good build quality. But i need to be able to control a sampler with it

szr wrote:You can use a pcd50b card reader (which is still available).. in a s1000 that's kitted with a scsi card (optional)... the s1100 always comes with a scsi card unless it's harvested. You need the right cables and a pcmcia to compact flash adapter ....

Then you have a modern compact flash soltuion ..each formatted cf card gives max:
five hundred something megs of data .. which should be plenty.

If you go for an s1000/1100 don't assume you can get a RAM upgrade later....
So if you want max RAM (32MB) .... find one with 32MB in it to begin with.


If you're a fan of the more plastic/hollow sound of the mpc3k ..... get a non XL S2800/S3000/S3200
... Same applies to those regarding storage... although the formatted size limit might be higher.. you'd have to look into that

Wow, Tempest's OS still doesn't have proper MIDI out? I don't regret not buying it earlier this year then. I realize it's just the one guy, Pym doing the coding but it's been awhile.

I still want one but can surely wait until the OS has matured some more, and personally I would use the analog aspect quite a bit.

If solid sequencing and MIDI out are your main priorities maybe look into a cheap used MPC whether you go rack samplers or not. If you don't you can sample into the MPC, if you do you just have more sample time and versatility.

I only suggest this as a used MPC could be had for as little as $250-$300 (MPC500) to $350-$600 (2000/2000XL/MPC 1000) and the Tempest being $2000. Maybe you could make up whatever you spend on an MPC later and pick up the Tempest then when the feature set is complete.

I'll have to confirm that info on the Tempest. This was the latest reading I could find, but I sent them an email just to confirm. will prob hear back tomorrow.

Yeah I'll definitely pick one up used. I don't wanna spend too much on pporly-built stuff though...So while I could find a MPC1000 used, people don't seem to have much good to say about them...

Metatron72 wrote:Wow, Tempest's OS still doesn't have proper MIDI out? I don't regret not buying it earlier this year then. I realize it's just the one guy, Pym doing the coding but it's been awhile.

I still want one but can surely wait until the OS has matured some more, and personally I would use the analog aspect quite a bit.

If solid sequencing and MIDI out are your main priorities maybe look into a cheap used MPC whether you go rack samplers or not. If you don't you can sample into the MPC, if you do you just have more sample time and versatility.

I only suggest this as a used MPC could be had for as little as $250-$300 (MPC500) to $350-$600 (2000/2000XL/MPC 1000) and the Tempest being $2000. Maybe you could make up whatever you spend on an MPC later and pick up the Tempest then when the feature set is complete.