What MPC would suit me best?

What's up MPC Forums,

I'm considering buying an MPC. I've recently started out producing music on my Macbook Pro using Logic Pro, I also have a PC which I can use if needed (but prefer the Macbook as I'm using Logic Pro for my college course,) and I have a pair of Technics Turntables too. I find that I like to be more tactile when producing and that just using logic with a keyboard is not quite fulfilling my satisfaction.

I'm really inspired by old-school Hip-Hop and artists like J-Dilla.

I'm not really sure whether I want an old MPC or a modern one. I have no idea how to sample from vinyl, although it would be something I'm interested in. New or old I will take everything into consideration, I have a budget of around £400 which is around $620.

Thanks, if you want to know anything more please ask below!

You might be able to get a 2500 for that money if you hold out for one.

1k w/jjos if you need one now, 2500 w/jjos if you can wait. I would wait and get the 8 outs/bigger pads with the 2500.

I think you'll struggle to get a 2500 with £400, but you can easily get an MPC1000 with all the upgrades, probably with JJOSXL included. That's my suggestion, plenty on Ebay UK ATM.

okay I've checked the 1000 and the 2500 out so far. If I want to sample from some of my vinyl records and then take the samples and upload them to the 1000 / 2500, what would I need to sample from my records?

What exactly would I need to connect my Technics SL 1210 Mk 2 Deck to an MPC 100 and then to my Macbook Pro/Logic Pro?

Thanks!

Thanks for the PDF!

I now get that I can connect to my PC/Mac via USB, (is that 2.0?) + That I can connect a "DJ Mixer" via RCA to the right and left audio.

However I'm currently using my Allen and Heath Xone: DX DJ Controller, and I have my Cakewalk MA-7A Powered monitor speakers connected to the Xone DX. Is it possible to use these both without any kind of amp, and connect them to the Akai 1000?

Also I'm guessing I just keep my turntable connected to the Mixer/Controller still, if I want to sample from it I'm not sure?

Thanks!

FreshDonuts wrote:Thanks for the PDF!

I now get that I can connect to my PC/Mac via USB, (is that 2.0?) + That I can connect a "DJ Mixer" via RCA to the right and left audio.

However I'm currently using my Allen and Heath Xone: DX DJ Controller, and I have my Cakewalk MA-7A Powered monitor speakers connected to the Xone DX. Is it possible to use these both without any kind of amp, and connect them to the Akai 1000?

Also I'm guessing I just keep my turntable connected to the Mixer/Controller still, if I want to sample from it I'm not sure?

Thanks!

Your powered monitors could be attached directly to an MPC's main outputs and you use the the MPC's output control for volume. Or you could just leave your set up as is and just send the MPC's output to the Xone mixer if you have an extra set of inputs or are willing to unplug one deck or whatever your set up is.

The USB is 1.1 standard, pretty slow and only used to copy data back and forth. Personally I use a $20 USB 2.0 CF reader rather than the MPC over USB to copy at USB 2.0 speeds. Not necessary but a real time saver for only $20.

And yes having the mixer around makes sampling to the MPC all the easier, more control over levels, EQ and not having to find a ground screw for the turntable if it's already hooked to the mixer.

Sounds like an MPC 1000 or 2500 would slot nicely into what you already have.

I just bought this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=271219314029

I don't really understand the whole JJOS thing too well. However it does come with JJOS 2XL and passwords of course. I'm not sure if that's the best one however you do have to pay for it from what I've read so it's obviously better than the free one?

If someone could explain I'd be very appreciative!

FreshDonuts wrote:I just bought this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=271219314029

I don't really understand the whole JJOS thing too well. However it does come with JJOS 2XL and passwords of course. I'm not sure if that's the best one however you do have to pay for it from what I've read so it's obviously better than the free one?

If someone could explain I'd be very appreciative!

Nice.

RAM upgrade, HD and JJ OS2XL? You did well on the purchase, that's more than a fair price and he tossed in a carry bag too.

JJ OS is a third party OS programmed by a former Akai employee. His insider experience basically allowed him to continue support of the 1000 and 2500 OS's where Akai would not. Akai reached particular OS version numbers on both machines and just stopped dead.

Over the years what started as a few bug fixes and some additional workflow features mutated into basically whole new machines given how much was added. But never getting away from the general simplicity of how MPC's work. Just more options in menus and workflow possibilities that one could easily wait to use when an appropriate situation arose.

It comes in numerous versions at this point. JJ Free is basically the last 1000/2500 OS with bug fixes and a couple tweaks that are really time savers when editing. Then there were the paid OS1 and OS2. After that JJ went on to create OS2XL.

This summer OS2XL owners will be given free access to JJ OS 3. The brilliant thing is that the unlock code you buy is machine specific. Your seller confirmed in the listing that the unlock is in the machine.

So you will be an owner OS2XL which allows you to freely install OS1, OS2 and OS2XL. You could even revert to the free one if you plan on learning with the official Akai manuals so that your screens are more a 1:1 match to the manual. You will never lose the OS2XL unlock, which again is an umbrella unlock for all 3 (soon to 4 paid 1000 JJ OS's)

Although once you have the basic screens down , the differences in the various JJ OS's aren't too confusing. And there's some documentation available for the JJ ones as well.

The tutorials for sale here on this site are really high quality, and very accessible. The 1000 book for example can be followed with the Akai OS or JJ Free.

But I would recommend using JJ Free rather than stock Akai as it's so similar, more stable and has a lifesaver in Global Program Edit. (Basically can toggle "All" and select all 64 pads and make a tweak, rather than have to do it 64 times like in the Akai OS.)

Congratulations you got yourself a nice MPC fully loaded, and with the additions JJ added to OS2XL your 1000 is as powerful as a 2500. You just miss tilt screen, larger pads, keypad and extra Q-link controls. You got everything else feature wise.

Here's the chart showing how all the OS's differ.

http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~mpc1000/chart.htm

JJ manuals -

http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~mpc1000/os_manual.htm

Thanks a lot for this ^ you really helped me out! I'll definitely check out various JJOS manuals, and I can't wait to get my hands on the MPC! It definitely looked like a good deal so I snapped it up.

Thanks again!

By the way on the earlier post about what my setup would be. I do plan on using one turntable, combined with my xone dx and then the akai 1000, as the rca cables on my other deck are broken so I need to get some new ones soldered onto it.

As I want to sample vinyl will it all be possible just on the MPC, or do I need some specific software/hardware?