Starting out MPC Studio or MPC1000?

Hey everyone,
I have been trying to make beats for a while now but have found it hard because of the lack of equipment I have, I don't really know much about making beats or MPC's I have a very basic idea but I'm interested in making beats and learning more.

I know I learn best when I can get my hands on stuff and I haven't been able to touch an MPC only watch videos which makes me we want one more which is annoying.
So I think I'm just going to jump straight in buy an MPC and take it from there.
I was thinking of getting the MPC studio because I like the fact it's modern and it just seems to appeal to me I can pick one up for like £325 which is nearly $500 which is kind of the max I want to pay for something I don't know much about, I have also heard that the MPC1000 is good for beginners and that it is standalone unlike the studio, but I'm not sure whether the standalone or the studio with software will be better for me to get started with, I just want something which is quick and easy to make beats on and easy to get the hang of and possibly the cheaper option, from what I've seen the 1000 is slightly more expensive. Also which one would be the better allround peice of hardware because I want something that once I can get good at I can continue using for awhile before maybe upgrading.
I'am serious about this and I'm planning on studying a BTEC level 3 course in music production.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I personally would go with the MPC 1000 with JJOSXL. The Studio may be a great tool one day but right now it isn't where it needs to be. I'd hate for you start out on something to only get frustrated. My two cents.

Thanks for the reply I'll look more into the 1000, I also forgot to add that I want to make Hip-Hop beats maybe branch out on to other stuff like Dance etc. Maybe try a bit of dubstep not that I like it but it looks fun from what I've seen from people like AraabMusik, just incase that is relevant to what I choose.

TheMaverick wrote:Thanks for the reply I'll look more into the 1000, I also forgot to add that I want to make Hip-Hop beats maybe branch out on to other stuff like Dance etc. Maybe try a bit of dubstep not that I like it but it looks fun from what I've seen from people like AraabMusik, just incase that is relevant to what I choose.

That's irrelevant. The MPC is a music instrument like any other. You create what you want with it. You can play rock drums or jazz drums but you're stil playing drums.

TheMaverick wrote:I was thinking of getting the MPC studio because I like the fact it's modern and it just seems to appeal to me I can pick one up for like £325 which is nearly $500 which is kind of the max I want to pay for something I don't know much about

Bear in mind you'll need a decent computer and a separate audio interface to go with the Studio.

If I was just starting out I'd probably go with the Studio, but knowing what I know about MPCs, you may be better off going with the 1000. It's difficult to say because a lot of people buy a hardware MPC and never gel with it. Others take to it like a duck to water.

Starting out MPC Studio or MPC1000?
1000 /w jjos.

MPC1000 w/JJOS

w = without

Upgrade if and when you reach the limit of the Akai OS. Something to do with walking before you can run. It'll be cheaper to start with too if you're on a budget. My thing is everyone always recommends JJOS, you need to learn the fundamentals of making beats with an MPC like most people did. Without JJOS. JJOS won't make your beats any better and I don't recall hearing a track and saying "that's gotta be made on an MPC with JJOS, how else could it be possible".

Dope beats were made on MPCs long before JJ, don't feel it is a must have when you do nt even know what the features add to a standard machine. You'll know when you need it. Lots of people have never used it and maybe never will.

Clint wrote:MPC1000 w/JJOS

w = without

JJOS is a much more fluid experience than the standard Akai OS. On the surface layer it's child's play, but it's also got a seriously deep layer for those that need it.

It also doesn't seem to add much to the overall cost of used machines, so it's worth paying an extra £20 to get something that costs £100.

JJ OS being some "magic bullet" to make better beats is far from the point even if it was the false perception of a new user.

If you don't at least run JJ Free in a 1000 you're just crazy. One hour in the Akai OS making one program should be enough to swear it off for life. No Global Program Edit, any tweak will have to be done up to 64 separate times.

Nothing about JJ OS1 OS2 or even OS2XL is so radically different from the Akai OS that someone will be lost, especially when any difference can be referenced on the JJ chart in 5 seconds. And in almost every case even someone who is sitting with an MPC for the first time will see a difference from the Akai manual, figure it out in 5 seconds in JJ and say "oh that's just more logical, cool".

And it's not like the Akai manual is the only option so you're forced to learn on the stock OS. Stan Steez's manual is a superior manual to the Akai one just from a general standpoint too.

So I'm not sure why you're constantly telling people that the Akai OS is some boot camp they should through before trying JJ. You must have the perception that JJ OS's are that radically different that a user would be overwhelmed. That's not really the case. And JJ Free is already loaded in most 1000's that people buy, sometimes OS1 and then some have XL but cost a bit more.

To me it's akin to telling a new Reason user he's better of using Reason 2.0 for a month before he looks at the current one.

What about chopping samples? I know people take samples from turntables and keyboards etc. but I don't really want to buy anything else just yet, can't I just takes tracks from my PC and chop them up into samples with the MPC1000 because I know the studio hooks up to the PC so I assumed you could take tracks off the PC and load them straight onto the MPC, but with the MPC1000 surely you will need something to transfer samples from a PC if that's possible.

TheMaverick wrote:What about chopping samples? with the MPC1000 surely you will need something to transfer samples from a PC if that's possible.

Yes, you plug the MPC1000 into your computer via USB and transfer the audio files to your MPC1000 CF card or (if you have one) internal hard drive. You then disconnect the MPC1000 and load up the audio from your 1000's disk.

Get the 1000 s/h, install the free JJOS, see how it goes. Worse case, you sell the 1000 and might even make a profit. Ideally, look out for MPC1000's advertised as having the 'new style pads'. There's usually at least one of these on Ebay every week ATM.

Metatron72 wrote:I'm not sure why you're constantly telling people that the Akai OS is some boot camp they should through before trying JJ.

Constantly Meta? I have expressed this view two or three times, ever.

I think you are missing my point and failed to read what I posted properly, I know JJOS has better features and workflow enhancements. But still, plenty of people somehow manage to get by without it as shown by the traffic in the MPC1000 forum. The OP who himself said...

TheMaverick wrote:I don't really know much about making beats or MPC's.

could easily learn the MPC fundamentals of sampling, chopping, sequencing, editing and arranging with the stock OS and then...

Clint wrote:Upgrade if and when you reach the limit of the Akai OS.

Price may be an issue for the OP, in which case Coz makes a valid point.

Coz wrote:It also doesn't seem to add much to the overall cost of used machines, so it's worth paying an extra £20 to get something that costs £100.

Many people here who I know and trust reccommend JJOS as a 'must have' upgrade. I am essentially advocating, buying the machine first and working with it until it becomes clear that you a) dont like the physical machine for some reason or b) dont like the OS Akai have provided.

You can learn to make beats with the Akai OS, but you wont become an MPC ninja using it = My point.


So Im not anti-JJOS at all, I'm anti 'JJOS is essential for newbies'. Hope that is clear enough for anyone who cant relate to my position. It's my view, the OP will decide for himself after making an informed decision. No argument here.

JJ Free IS the last Akai OS with most bugs squashed and the addition of Global Program Edit.

To recommend that anyone would use the Akai OS over that is doing them a disservice.

Just because the OP is new to it is no reason to be a glutton for punishment and not use JJ Free over the stock OS.

So I'm not sure it was me that missed the point.

Metatron72 wrote:JJ Free IS the last Akai OS with most bugs squashed and the addition of Global Program Edit.

To recommend that anyone would use the Akai OS over that is doing them a disservice.

Just because the OP is new to it is no reason to be a glutton for punishment and not use JJ Free over the stock OS.

So I'm not sure it was me that missed the point.

yeah,it would be some sort of psychological punishment..