buying first mpc

Trying to get an mpc on a 330$ budget which one should I get?

Do yourself a favor and save a little more and try to find a MPC4000 in the $600 range. It will take you places you didn't know.

I have been playing music/ performing for a while and did not get into MPC's until April 2012, I got into my own studio in 2004. I should have gotten the MPC then got the studio. I did it all backwards. I did a tremendous amount of research and concluded the 4000 was the one. Of course I am speaking as a person who sells music and performs as a side gig.

If you want to hobby then that is a different ball game. Don't spend the money and get yourself a 2000XL or a 500. You can still make great music with the others...this was not a slight towards other mpc's.

Peace
Ian

how about the mpc 2000 classic?

here is the difference between the two....I am not into neck pain.


http://www.vintagesynth.com/akai/mpc2000.php

cheers,
Ian

I'm going to second the recommendation to try to save $600-$700 and get a 4000.

A 2k is about the only MPC you can really get in the $300~ range, maybe a blue 1000 with bad pads...

I own a 1000 (JJOS2XL), 2000XL, 2500 (JJOSXL), and a 4000. If I had to choose only one it's the 4K with a JJ enabled machine as runner up. The 512MB RAM installable and the 24/96khz operation are big pluses for me on the 4K.

Is their resampling on the 4k? or ways to change the bit rate?
And are the filters on the 2k and 4k?

firstmpc wrote:Is their resampling on the 4k? or ways to change the bit rate?
And are the filters on the 2k and 4k?

Resampling is a yes, both machines have filters and the 4000 can be set to globally operate at a variety of bit depths and sample rates.

Or do you mean the machine itself doing bit conversions or possibly a bit crushing type effect you meant?

I meant bit conversion

firstmpc wrote:I meant bit conversion

You can have a 4k set to 24 bit globally and load 16 bit files (which are read as 24 with the extra memory space of the 24 bit file empty really), the 5k does the reverse, if you load a 24 bit file it dithers it 16 bit internally. (5k only operates at to 16 bit internally, why they went backwards from the 4k is anybody's guess). But that is about the extent of any internal converting.

So for general bit rate/depth conversions on MPC's the norm is to use something like Sound Forge or another batch convertor capable app and just convert everything prior to loading into the MPC's.

MPC2000 classic pretty limited in a couple of ways compared to MPC2000XL. If going 2000, go MPC2000XL.

MPC4000 much more advanced sampler, way more filter options, has the 96kHz/24bit sampling engine from the Z4/Z8 rack mount samplers.

MPC2500 (and MPC1000) with JJOS more advanced than MPC2000/MPC2000XL.


Save up for MPC4000 or MPC2500+JJOS.

Be prepared for dodgy tact switches that might need replacing on cheap (or any) MPC2500.

Early pad design wasn't any good on MPC1000, so they could have faulty pads/sensors that need replacing, as well as tact switches.


If not in a rush, there might be some bargain MPC4000s around, I think I saw one sell, pretty quickly, for $450 recently.


If you have a decent computer/interface already, maybe a refurbished MPC Studio for $500, or maybe second hand for less. The MPC Software is pretty early in the development cycle, but might end up OK.

Though the controls and screen on the MPC Studio are not that good compared to MPC4000/MPC2500, and you might want a standalone/hardware MPC rather than a tethered/software MPC.

firstmpc wrote:how about the mpc 2000 classic?

No, the MPC4000. It was slept on due to the success of the MPC 1000 and 2500, but now that the Renaissance appeared on the scene, people want those advanced features and realized they were on the 4000 the whole time.

If I didn't have the MV8800, an MPC4000 would be in my studio right now.

MPC 2500 with JJOSXL. I own both the 4000 and the 2500 with JJOSXL (and the 3000 and started out on the 2XL). As a FIRST MPC, the 2500 with JJOSXL may be all you need. The 4000 is most likely, completely overkill. Though the 4000 is the best MPC ever created. Might want to start out on the 2500 with JJOSXL, master that (going to take a long time) and see if you need anything else. You most likely won't, especially with JJOS being updated all the time.

SimonInAustralia wrote:Save up for MPC4000 or MPC2500+JJOS.

Be prepared for dodgy tact switches that might need replacing on cheap (or any) MPC2500.

Simon speaks the truth. You will be glad that followed this advice right here.

I would hit up ebay and try to get a mpc2000xl with a 100/250mb zip drive. Also make sure it has extended memory. Thats the basic beginner set if you want something that is going to last you and its a good machine to learn the basic work flow on.

juskolmeal wrote:I would hit up ebay and try to get a mpc2000xl with a 100/250mb zip drive. Also make sure it has extended memory. Thats the basic beginner set if you want something that is going to last you and its a good machine to learn the basic work flow on.

Yes, I agree. MPC4000 and 1000JJ0S are great options for the price but OP is talking about buying his first MPC. The 2KXL is a good middle ground between MPC Music Production Centers and the MPC MIDI Production Centers.