Z8 connected to an mpc VS MPC4000

for those who try both, what are the main differences?
i have mpcs so i was checkin for Z8, to connect to my mpc (1000 or 2000xl) and use it midi remote, drum on mpc and patch synth and similar to Z8

no idea btw is an mpc4000 can be better havin all inside...
please let me know, only direct experience with both please, i'm already confused

I have the Z4 and the MPC4000 not the Z8.
The Z4/8 are the same except for the amount of Qlink knobs.
The MPC4000 has a Z inside it.

The MPC 4000 is a sequencer, with a hardware box sampler inside it.
The Akai Z4/8 do not have sequencers, they are just samplers.

Differences:
The Z4/8 has autoload for samples. I have not found that in the MPC4000. THis means that you can play a cd with samples and it will load the first sample, stop when there is a break in the sound, and then put the next sound on the next key(note) and so on. So it makes for quick loading. It also means that you can scratch a record and play with the crossfaders and put various sounds on different keys.

Advantage of having both:
Doubles up on the power of the MPC4000.
1) The MPC has 64 polyphony(so you could have 128 with both).
2) If you are a sound-layer fanatic then you now have 8 layers instead of just 4.
3) With multiple outs in both machines then you have a 20 output set up.
4) Tweaking heaven with all of the various Qlinks on both machines.
5) Your MULTIS can be layered in interesting ways.
6) You will have more midi outputs than you will know what to do with.
7) AK.sys works!

Things to NOTE:
The Z4/8 do not have an old school sound. Yes you can resample at different rates but it will not sound like an old machine from the 90's. These are modern(read that as cold) sounding machines unless you sample live horn playing or drumming at 24bit 96khz. With the right mic it would sound like ?uestlove was in your studio.
You will likely need to change the HDD in the Z4/8. The ones that they came with were loud. I unplugged mine and only use a USB thumb drive.

If you can get the Z8 do so because it has the removeable faceplate. The z4 is fine but the extra qlinks means you have much more control over parameters and you will have more fun once you start to understand the level of tweakage that you can do.

Peace
Ian

PS I have not used the other MPC's. The layout on the 4000 makes it a sequencers dream and if you organize your sounds well between the 2 machines then you do not need anything else. Sometimes I wonder if I should just load my other machines sounds into these two pieces and therefore only have to worry about them and use nothing else.

hey mate

thanks a lot for reply
only one more question

they can manage patch in the same exactly way? i mean u can make layer on z4/8 and mpc4000 and u have all exact parameter and function?

i suspect z4/8 is more oriented to classic sampler layer, like synth and mpc4000 is more oriented to drums, so just curious if they are the real exact system, apart of course sequencer and different knob assign and similar

thaks again

They do it the exact same way. If you have Aksys you would be able to see this. Watch the youtube video on Aksys and akai mpc 4000 and Z4 ( I made it)

The Z4/8 is literally the same inside the mpc4000, except for what I mentioned. Both machines have Keygroups and drum layouts.

The Keygroups are for instruments that Do RE mi Fa So LA tee Doh
And Drum are for non scaled sounds.


But the fun starts when you put the drums in small one note keygroups. Then you can edit in a different way.

Peace
Ian

Ian Canefire wrote:

But the fun starts when you put the drums in small one note keygroups. Then you can edit in a different way.

Peace
Ian

mate u centre the point!
i will watch the video
and really really thanks again for the super tech info, appreciate!

Ian Canefire wrote:Differences:
The Z4/8 has autoload for samples. I have not found that in the MPC4000. THis means that you can play a cd with samples and it will load the first sample, stop when there is a break in the sound, and then put the next sound on the next key(note) and so on. So it makes for quick loading. It also means that you can scratch a record and play with the crossfaders and put various sounds on different keys.

I think you mean auto sampling combined with automatic mapping.?
A great feature - especially for sampling every key from a hardware synth.
Even soft samplers today dont universally do this. You have to buy a separate product and the one available is very expensive. This feature alone (for someone creating hardware synth sample banks) is worth the price of the admission.
And as you correctly point out a very handy feature for creative purposes such as scratching.

Im surprised this isnt available on the 4k.

hey can the mpc4000 sample while playing?

hey can the mpc4000 sample while playing?

BUMP

Someone in here must know the answer to this question.

I gather he means while sampling from an external source can the MPC4000 also play its previously recorded samples or have the sequencer triggering external gear at the same time? So you are hearing your music and the "to be sampled sound" at the same time.

I have never tried this with my MPC4000. If sampling from a record I was never trying to get it in synchronization with other things in the sequencer.

Cheers,
Ian

PS "Yup Labcoats that is what I meant...thanks"

psoul wrote:is an mpc4000 can be better havin all inside...

Put it this way, an 8 hour session with a rack sampler might be good for your bingo wings, but otherwise it'll get tedious real quick. The 4K will be comfortable from start to finish.

psoul wrote:hey can the mpc4000 sample while playing?

Yes.

well this u focus what i talk about

idea is to have an external expander and create a bass line, then sample to mpc and then use the synth to make a pad and so on... so just curious if u can sample in a sort of sync with start button.... in order not to have to re-sync again the file

hope u understand guys