Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

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Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By MeSoHordey Sat Jul 20, 2013 2:32 am
Just walked out of Guitar Center. I went in for some cables and spotted an MPC 4000. I know literally nothing about these machines as I've only owned a 500, 1000 and 5000. Guitar Center is usually super over-priced so I'm still not sure if it is a good deal or not (price-wise or feature-wise). I do know enough about MPCs though to fire it up and test all the pads and buttons. So I started checking it out and realized it was in perfect physical condition. No wear on the pads. No scratches on the screen. No scratches anywhere actually. As the guy was trying to find the price I plugged it in, ran a bunch of tests and everything checked out (from a headphones out perspective at least). Guy came back and said it had arrived yesterday and was priced at $499 which sounds good but I realize means is missing some critical $1,000 component like memory or something I didn't know to check for.

I can't believe I **** bought the thing but it is just beautiful. I mean, in 20 minutes I just fell in love. It's going to be a **** waiting 35 days to pick it up (California law on used goods).

5000 is now going up for sale. Guess I'll be purchasing a new Tutor manual as well. :lol:
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Re: Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By Metatron72 Sat Jul 20, 2013 2:50 am
Even if the memory isn't upgraded you still got 272MB stock. :nod:

Only other upgrades are the output boards just look at the back to see if either are installed.

If they are, ridiculous come up for $499, if not still a major come up.

You'll love it long term I'm sure, and it's not hard to learn at all, although you may never use all the features depending on what you do with it mainly.
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Re: Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By Coz Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:19 am
MeSoHordey wrote:Guess I'll be purchasing a new Tutor manual as well. :lol:



You'll have a job considering Tutor hasn't long bough one himself! :lol:

Your previous MPC experience will see you right with the 4K.
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Re: Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By MeSoHordey Sat Jul 20, 2013 4:20 am
Thanks guys. I made the guy promise to immediately send it to the back so it won't get banged on out on the floor for a month. I'm super excited about this machine. I have no idea if it has the expanded memory or outs but at this point not too concerned. It is a beauty.

I love MPCs but I'm just a hardware guy when it comes to samplers. The 1000 with JJOS is the last Akai machine I've really gotten into. It will always be a powerhouse for me, but there are times when I just want a bigger screen and softer pads. The 5000, while functional from a bigger screen perspective, has issues as well as zero soul. I've just been unable to embrace it. When I started testing making beats on the 4000 it just felt like....home.

We'll see, now I just have to figure out a way to return those cheap **** $6 dollar knives I bought from a traveling **** saleswoman at my local grocery store for $29 tonight.
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Re: Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By sirparksalot Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:00 am
I'm still on stock memory 4 years after I bought mine. I've gone through 2 harddrives (installed an SSD this year), and other than regular tact switch maintenance it's been fine. Screen is starting to get iffy, but you got a deal. I think I paid over $1k WITHOUT 8 outs 4 years ago. You should be able to find those boards for a couple hundred bucks. I'm also pretty sure that it uses the same 8 out board as the 2kxl, but check me on that.

One thing I will note: if you are filling up the stock memory, then you got some serious sampling going on. I have never even came close to that. Ever. Of course I'm also used to using a 3k so I'm pretty selective on what I sample.....but I never run out of memory on the 3k either with 32mb. :lol:
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Re: Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By Coz Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:14 am
MeSoHordey wrote:When I started testing making beats on the 4000 it just felt like....home.



Welcome to old Akai. :nod:

I just noticed you've only used Nukai machines in the past. No comparison in build quality really.

I bought a 2KXL the day they landed in the UK and that machine soldiered on for virtually a decade without issues. My 2500 on the other lasted barely 2 years before shit started going wrong.

The 35 days you've got to wait (WTF :shock: ) will give you a good opportunity to digest the manual and old forum posts.

Also, it took me 48 hours of solid use to go from "this is a bag of shit" to "this is the best thing since sliced bread"! If you're smitten within 20 minutes then the 4K is definitely the MPC for you. :smoker:
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Re: Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By feline1 Sat Jul 20, 2013 9:21 am
Metatron72 wrote:Even if the memory isn't upgraded you still got 272MB stock. :nod:
.


Stock MPC4000's in most territories originally came with only 16MB onboard RAM - the two expansion slots (which can each take 256MB DIMMs) were empty. :popcorn:
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Re: Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By Ian Canefire Sat Jul 20, 2013 11:08 am
@ feline in the US it came with more memory I think. At least that was the case with the Z series according to Sund on Sound.

I got my 4000 for a cheap price like that too. The guy couldnt figure it out and had t sitting in a bag for years.

I am happy so many people are getting into the 4000. Seems to be surging. Do yourself a favor and watch the videos on youtube.

peace
ian
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Re: Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By Lampdog Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:33 pm
Ian Canefire wrote:Do yourself a favor and watch the videos on youtube.

About that. I can't watch videos with so many people drearily opening with almost 2 minutes of monotone talk and then lead into, 15 seconds of actual tutorial.
I would like to learn more but people like to hear themselves talk and I'll pass.
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Re: Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By MPCWeapon1 Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:03 pm
MeSoHordey wrote:Just walked out of Guitar Center. I went in for some cables and spotted an MPC 4000. I know literally nothing about these machines as I've only owned a 500, 1000 and 5000. Guitar Center is usually super over-priced so I'm still not sure if it is a good deal or not (price-wise or feature-wise). I do know enough about MPCs though to fire it up and test all the pads and buttons. So I started checking it out and realized it was in perfect physical condition. No wear on the pads. No scratches on the screen. No scratches anywhere actually. As the guy was trying to find the price I plugged it in, ran a bunch of tests and everything checked out (from a headphones out perspective at least). Guy came back and said it had arrived yesterday and was priced at $499 which sounds good but I realize means is missing some critical $1,000 component like memory or something I didn't know to check for.

I can't believe I **** bought the thing but it is just beautiful. I mean, in 20 minutes I just fell in love. It's going to be a **** waiting 35 days to pick it up (California law on used goods).

5000 is now going up for sale. Guess I'll be purchasing a new Tutor manual as well. :lol:


You have to wait 35 days to pick it up??? Wow must be a new law. I haven't bought used gear from GC since 2009 but when I did I took it home the same night I bought it.

The 4k sounds beautiful. Nice big crisp Prestine sound.
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Re: Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By SimonInAustralia Sat Jul 20, 2013 11:26 pm
MPCWeapon1 wrote:You have to wait 35 days to pick it up??? Wow must be a new law. I haven't bought used gear from GC since 2009 but when I did I took it home the same night I bought it.

I suspect it has to stay at the store for a certain number of days after the store bought it from whoever sold it to them.

Probably designed to give the police time to find it, if stolen, before being sold on by the store to their customers.


CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE - Becoming a
Secondhand Dealer or Pawnbroker - Application Handbook - March 2009, wrote:21636. Retention of possession of property by dealer for 30-day period

(a) Every secondhand dealer and coin dealer shall retain in his or her possession for a period of 30 days all tangible personal property reported under Sections 21628, 21629, and 21630. The 30-day holding period with respect to this tangible personal property shall commence with the date the report of its acquisition was made to the chief of police or to the sheriff by the secondhand dealer and coin dealer. The chief of police or the sheriff may for good cause, as specified by the Department of Justice, authorize prior disposition of any such property described in a specific report, provided that a secondhand dealer who disposes of tangible personal property pursuant to that authorization shall report the sale thereof to the chief of police or the sheriff.

(b) During the 30-day holding period specified in subdivision (a) every secondhand dealer and coin dealer shall produce any tangible personal property reported under Sections 21628, 21629, and 21630 for inspection by any peace officer or employee designated by the chief of police or sheriff.

(c) Property subject to inspection as specified in subdivision (b) and property held in pawn, which is stored off the business premises of the licensee, shall, upon request for inspection, be produced at the licensee's business premises within one business day of a request.
Last edited by SimonInAustralia on Sun Jul 21, 2013 12:51 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Not sure what I've gotten myself into...New 4000 user

By Ill-Green Sun Jul 21, 2013 12:39 am
Lampdog wrote:
Ian Canefire wrote:Do yourself a favor and watch the videos on youtube.

About that. I can't watch videos with so many people drearily opening with almost 2 minutes of monotone talk and then lead into, 15 seconds of actual tutorial.
I would like to learn more but people like to hear themselves talk and I'll pass.

Yeah, especially with the teeth-splitchin'.
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