Mpc4000 upgrade from 2xl OR Protools?

Which option below would you choose in my situation.

Its time. I mean, i know ive been browsing the boards trying to decide, and asked lots of questions. Ive found its easy to give everyone else advice, but when it comes to myself, i just cant decide. IM not caught up in gear lust, but i want to spend my moeny wisely.

But ive narrowed my options down. Im looking to maximaze my creative flow, and increase my production level. I plan on doing this shit forever, and make a Career out of it....whether i work at a studio, or i produce beats for ScarFace. I currently use mpc2xl, triton st, emu px7, sonar (2496 soundcard), crappy mixer.

I make both sample beats, and keyboard beats. IM gonna upgrade my triton studio no matter what.


option 1. protools & motif rack

option 2: sell mpc2xl and upgrade to mpc4000

problem is, that i feel like i dont really need protools cause i go to a studio. But i hate lugging equipment around...and i want to sample alot more (making sample cds and customizing my sound library) I figured with the mpc4000 i could build my own unique sound set, and have it all inside the mpc. BUt protools would be nice, and a rack would add more sounds to the mix. I know the answer is in my face, and im being indecisive, but please if its simple, just help me out and shout it at me!

peace

Option 2: get the 4k BUT spend the extra $500 and at least get an mbox. The 4k needs Protools and Protools needs the 4k. The Yamaha rack would round your studio out nicely. I just made my last few tracks with this exact setup and it rocks. If you choose one option over the other I think you will be missing out, especially if you like working with MPCs. Protools is not an either or thing, if you plan on working in the industry it's a no brainer. Good luck
4k
PT 6.7
Motif rack

Ol'Sparky wrote:Option 2: get the 4k BUT spend the extra $500 and at least get an mbox. The 4k needs Protools and Protools needs the 4k. The Yamaha rack would round your studio out nicely. I just made my last few tracks with this exact setup and it rocks. If you choose one option over the other I think you will be missing out, especially if you like working with MPCs. Protools is not an either or thing, if you plan on working in the industry it's a no brainer. Good luck
4k
PT 6.7
Motif rack

good point. Yeah, thats the thing. I know at some point i am gonna need protools, if anything, so i know my way around and can stay on top of my game.

And its more of a matter of "which one first" type thing;i can only spend so much at once.

But i think i do need to "centralize" my setup. To Get how i work, down, and know it like the back of my hand; increase my productivity, and be organized with my sounds. and the 4k is something that will stay for many years, and is eventual.

Yeah, i was leaning towards the 4k, as i love my mpc, and considerate the main piece.

Thanks man.

Ol'Sparky wrote:Option 2: get the 4k BUT spend the extra $500 and at least get an mbox. The 4k needs Protools and Protools needs the 4k. The Yamaha rack would round your studio out nicely. I just made my last few tracks with this exact setup and it rocks. If you choose one option over the other I think you will be missing out, especially if you like working with MPCs. Protools is not an either or thing, if you plan on working in the industry it's a no brainer. Good luck
4k
PT 6.7
Motif rack

Man no disrespect but that was some real b.s.... Ima be real with you tell if you need to get anything on ya list i would only say your really need a digi 002 rack(but ou only said pro tools but i dont think you was talking about hd). Im also gona tell ya that you dont need pro tools le to transfer your songs over the Pro tools hd. You can covert you cubase nuendo or logic file to a Omf and it will open up in a pro tools hd system. What ever you do do not get a mbox with all the outs on your mpc and triton. Please do be like everybody that saids i got a mbox but ask somebody with a real pro tools set up and theyll laugh at ya.

My thing is if its not broke dont fix it. I own a mpc 2k xl and have never had the need for a 4k cause what i cant do in the 2k xl now im gona do it in the computer later better anyways(from programing mutes, to arranging to effects). You say you want to sample more but what are you sampling that needs to take up that much space( the whole song). I mean yea the mpc 4k is nice but lets get what ya need and right now thats the digi 002. Put the Triton up for sale and you can get the motif es rack(if thats what you need) and thats a good trade off. I could go on for days but im not.

good lookin,

yeah, im not giving up my triton.

But yeah, right now i sample my bass sounds into the mpc, and i also sample vinyl. I want a multisampler.....for bass and synth sounds(I got one in my triton studio) but things get messy when you got a sample in the triton and mpc, so i end up doing on the mpc anyways....even if i resample on the triton, i save it to cd export as a wav, then load it up in my mpc-it would be nice to have it all in the mpc.

BUt i see your point, it really is uncessary...as i can make hot tracks just with the mpc2xl.

see thats my problem. You are absolutely right, dont fix it, but i could say the same with my computer too, as i can record with it now, and "it works" ya know? But you have definately a good point.


peace

Yo Cy you see my gear list(ima abouts to ad a analog to digital covert to get 8 channels of adat soon). I dont really sample much but if i do i have no problem with recording the sample into the computer first and doing all my edits and chops on the computer with sound forge(dont let the 4k users fool ya they do this too). On the real because of my style of making beats i really only use the mpc for the seq and the drums. To me my mpc is the drummer in the group and the motif es is rest of the band players. I have a zip disk with nothing but drum sounds on it fill up that i have collected and edit over the years and pretty much thats all that is on my zips( Drum samples and midi files, all files).
On the motif i have created some great bass sounds and if i need anything else i use the nord lead. I like to play my bass all on the motif. I feel ya on wanting to have it all in one but if you become cool with programing sounds you can have your bass always ready inside the motife once you create something good.

LIke i said if it aint broke do fix it and you could say the same with your computer but what is the in puts and out puts like on the sound card you have. With my motu 828 i can record up to 18 track at once( not that i would do it but i have room for growth in my studio.
Alot o producers dont do it all in the mpc any more. some just use the mpc for its drums and play the rest into the computer. I get all the tracks to to sound like they are suppose to in the mpc and then i feed it all the nuendo and arange it all by cutting out and adding parts hear and there. I like doing it this way cause if somebody dont like a mute i made i can just copy a part fil it back in. O yea dont rule out the 828 mk 2 if ya looking for a new sound card.

Keys has a point, If you know the 2000 you should stick with it and get a 002. My point was this, don't dump the MPC out of your setup. If you can afford the 4k it's awesome but it's also a luxery item. IF you know the 2000xl backwards and forwards and don't have the dough to throw around then keep what you have. Personally I would skip the MOTU stuff and use Protools because it's the professional standard(and cos I prefer it). But again if you are on a budget you might want to consider DP or Logic or Cubase because they are all great programs albeit sequencers first and formost, where as Protools is mainly a digital recorder/editor.. And since you already sequence with the MPC all you need to do is lock it up and dump it in. Then you can take that track anywhere. I don't suggest Mbox as the end all be all, but for 4 hun you could do a lot worse. If you have the $1500 then definately get the 002 rack+ pluggins bundle and you will be set.