MPC 500 sequencer

Hi guys!

I am very close to buying a MPC 500 cause I don't have enough money for a 2500. I will mainly use it do drive my synths, as a sequencer, as I heard a lot about akai sequencers.

I want to know if the 500 sequencer is the same with other akai sequencers, like the 2500, 3000, 2000 and so on. Is it as easy to work with the sequencer on the 500?
I used many sequencers: yamaha qy700 and 100, roland mc 808 and 909, MV 8800 and didn't glue with any. Very okward. U think the 500 sequencer will improve my workflow?
(I used extensively Ableton but I want out of the computer)

Thanks a loooot!!!!

I don't know if it'll improve your workflow, but the 500's sequencer is like the other MPCs with minor minuses. I'll say a step down from a 1000 and a step up from a 2000 (sorry, the only MPCs I've messed with).

If you had troubles with those other sequencers, then you might struggle with the MPC too. The MC 808/909 is pretty basic and fun. The MV does take time to get used to but its all downhill once you lay the smackdown on it, its like an MPC + DAW type of sequencer. The Yamaha just sucks.

Try it out if you never touched an MPC. In fact, try a 2nd hand 1000 if you can.

What do I know though, my favorite sequencer is a tape recorder.

Thanks!

Anyone else?

I don't often gel with sequencers either--for example the EMX-1 which everyone else thinks is easy to use. I do like the one onboard the Motif, and I like the 500 as well. It's simple and straightforward enough that it's easy to figure out the basic functions and works really well with external modules. However I don't do any step editing; I play everything live into the 500. If you need step editing, you should try to spring for the 1000 with JJOS.

i agree with machine life, i think you should save up and get jjos2xl with a mpc 1k. the 500 seqeuncer didnt gel with me as much because it wasnt so visual. the mpc 1k with jjos has "grid edit" where you can go in and visually see the bars like a piano roll, if you want to. that is the one feature that really got me warmed up to the idea of making beats only in the mpc.

i think a 500 would be a good for a second mpc, after you already have the workflow down. i got mine first, then sold it, then got a 2500, and now finally have a 1k because of portability vs the 2500. i def would have just kept the 1k if i had gotten this mpc first.

there is a bit of menu diving in the 500 that isnt so much there on other mpc's. and now that i am comfortable with the mpc workflow, i would like to get a 500 again sometime in the future, but like i said before, if i woulda just gotten a 1k in the first place i probably would have just stuck with that. with that being said, the 500 could be just fine for you as a first mpc, but i have the feeling you might be a bit dissapinted like i was if you are visual at all. grid edit and being able to see actual waveforms are both really great features that cant be seen on the mpc 500 because it only supports 2 lines of text.

Why does everyone say the 1000 as portable? Please school me because it doesn't run on batteries... or does it? Or maybe portability is just a word you guys just throw around meaning you can just get busy at your nearest electrical outlet? I just wanna know... Ya know.

^^^ i call it portable cause i can throw it in my backpack when im traveling, that to me is portable regardless of power supply. i didnt even really like to use the 500 without the outlet, shit scares me turning off in the middle of something dope.