Keep the 1000, or get a 2500?

Post your questions, opinions and reviews of the MPC1000. This forum is for discussion of the OFFICIAL Akai OS (2.1). If you wish to discuss the JJ OS, please use the dedicated JJ OS forum
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Keep the 1000, or get a 2500?

By Myrical Lyfe Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:42 pm
So Im in between drum machines again haha. I found a black version 1000 with sheet pads, 256MB card on CL for a great deal. Im tempted to either look into keeping this, or selling and getting a 2500. maybe 4000?

What would the advantages be of getting a 4000 or 2500?

Re: Keep the 1000, or get a 2500?

By 313 studio tricks Tue Mar 25, 2014 6:13 pm
advantages over mpc 1000:

mpc 2500:

    runs jjos on 'better' hardware
    4 midi outputs
    more assignable audio outputs
    better and more q-link controls (4)
    full size pads
    closer to 1 button per function
    optical drive
    tilt screen
    shares parts with other mpcs
    more 'stately' appearance
    looks better when tricked out
    is the ballerz mpc if you must have jjos


mpc 4000:

    can be had for the SAME PRICE as 1k & 2k5 (!)
    max ram is FOUR TIMES the 1k & 2k5 at 512MB (!)
    much deeper voice architecture than jjos (mod matrix! many filter types! 2 lfos!)
    much more robust midi implementation (midi control flows in and out of this machine like chi)
    24 bit capability (!)
    direct phono sampling capability via on board riaa preamp input
    2 additional pad banks
    4 sample layers per pad
    'key grouped' samples for chromatic playback via controller keyboard (more robust than jjos)
    4 more effects busses with many more effect types, more ways to route as well
    adat out possible
    even more q-links (6)
    button per most functions
    full size errthang
    very informative screen is almost twice the size of the 1k & 2k5
    usb host port (!) for thumb drives, usb keyboard, your 1k or 2k5 ;)
    usb connection to 'aksys' (get it? -- 'access') running on windows or mac for layering and patch building or computer editing
    optical drive
    easily upgradeable with silent Solid State (hard) Drive (SSD) and super quiet fan
    looks great when tricked out
    the baller mpc
    you KNOW Dre & Em be throwin down on dat 4k
Last edited by 313 studio tricks on Tue Mar 25, 2014 8:34 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Re: Keep the 1000, or get a 2500?

By Myrical Lyfe Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:02 pm
Thanks for the reply.


So explain the software shnaz you were saying with the 4000?

I have 2 1000s. I bought them because they needed work. Already fixed one and sold it for profit, and about to do that on this second one. I also have a machine studio (NI), but I just don't get that feel with it, like I do the MPCs. If i kept the 1000 id have a lot of money for upgrades (first would be big screen).

Re: Keep the 1000, or get a 2500?

By 313 studio tricks Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:08 pm
1000 is awesome, i have one. i wouldnt even give it the time of day if there wasnt jjosxl

aksys is just software that will let you make a big kit or keygrouped program with the ease of a computer interface and then zap it to your 4000. it works with akai s5000 s6000 z4 & z8 & mpc 4000. its a pro's tool for making big patches. the 4k is a sampler you can grow into. it goes beyond the basics that all other mpcs are stuck with. you could go pretty deep with it. i love it.

Re: Keep the 1000, or get a 2500?

By dexnefex Wed Mar 26, 2014 3:48 am
Myrical I'm with you on the Machine, I still won't sell mine for the sole fact that I like the fact that the pads light up, so much easier to program visually.

I keep my Maschine around basically for techno, and the 1K for beats.
The NI software is a bit lacking.
Basically the NI beats the 1K for intuitive on the fly programming, but the 1K stomps the dirt out of NI in audio processing. Plus the 1K is all in one, where the NI required me to haul a laptop around

And big ups to the first response on the series breakdown, sorry I'm too lazy to go back and look at the tag, but it was on point. kudos

Re: Keep the 1000, or get a 2500?

By Myrical Lyfe Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:27 am
I love my maschine. But I feel it gives off a generic sound. And lacks in inspiring creativity. Idk. I Def won't sell my studio until I have a 4000 or 2500 with jjos right next to me to compare for a little.

Re: Keep the 1000, or get a 2500?

By 313 studio tricks Wed Mar 26, 2014 5:05 am
as far as samplers go, akai makes them very plain sounding compared to others like kurzweil or EMU or ensoniq. its up to you to use it impressively because it doesnt have exotic morphing filters or granular capabilities or the like. the mpc 4000 is different tho, and can do impressive synth style modification to sounds. there are ways to be creative with what jjosxl offers however. its got more than the basics down solid.
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Re: Keep the 1000, or get a 2500?

By Lampdog Wed Mar 26, 2014 5:22 am
Myrical Lyfe wrote:There's a few things I'm afraid I'll miss with my maschine.

Such as step editor, quantisize to name a few. Or maybe I just haven't found them yet.

4k has a step edit button right on the front panel.

Of course there is "quantize" on 4k.
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