How well does the MPC25k sequence your other gear?

I'm seriously considering picking up a MPC25k from a pawn shop since it's at a price I can probably afford. But I happen to own 2 electribes (Er-1 & EMX), a Yamaha DX200, a 20 channel Mackie Mixer, and a Roland MC-09. I'm planning to buy a synth sometime later if I get this. Can I use the mpc to sequence all the gear I already own? I know it has a bunch of midi ins and outs, so I should be good, right?

Would love to hear any advice, or how your setups go.

I think the MPC2500 is as good as any hardware sequencer. I don't know about the specific gear you list but if it can send or receive MIDI data then yes.

I have an MPC 1000 with JJOS1 on it and sequencing everything so far has been as easy as plugging everything in correctly and then scrolling to the proper MIDI channel. Works like a charm and looks good while doing it.

Thanks for the replies. I saw a guy on youtube who had his mpc25k hooked up to a Moog Voyager, a MicroKorg, and I think a DaveSmith synth?? But it would seem this would be a excellent sequencer for me to control my existing gear.

I'm not sure if it needs any repairs or upgrades, but I'll try it out, and if it's working perfectly, I'm putting my money down on this.

If you find yourself needing/wanting more sequencing powah you can always pick up one of those Kenton or iConnectMIDI hubs. If you can set up each of your synth's MIDI channels, you could have one intense lil' sequencing rig!

sequencer ability to sync up external gear is mpcs strongest point

the MPC sequencer is an instrument in itself, powerful and surprisingly easy to use. You can't go wrong with this unit if your goal is to sequence other boards.
Since I have discovered the MPC 1000, 2 years ago, I have definitely ditched the computer for the sake of hardware sequencing.

MPC are sleek and really cheap now, I have found on the french craig list a used 2500 for 300 euros. There was some soldering involved, half a dozen switches did not respond well if at all. I have ordered a good soldering iron, desoldering braid and pump, one hundred tact switches, and replaced them all. That's a forty bucks investment and two full afternoons of soldering. Now it's as good as new. I now have two units a 1000 and 2500, fully expanded and customised. A little on the overkill side, but believe me, there is no such a thing as too many MPCs.

My 2500 is now the master brain of my setup, with 4 midi outputs there is no need for me to daisy chain midi cables. My MPC runs flawlessly 1 virus TI2, 1 virus Kc, 1 blofeld and 1 mininova. Everything is in sync.

If you pick one, I suggest you invest in JJOS XL firmware since you get some kind of simplified piano roll for midi editing among dozen of new powerful functions.

It's been tested to be less rock solid than the MPC4000 (which scored outstanding in terms of MIDI drift etc.)

But the 2500 is more than adequate. I have both machines.

In spite of computer based MIDI theoretically being sample accurate no matter what, that usually isn't the case. So unless your rocking an external clock solution or a interface with MIDI that cost 900$-$2000, the MPC is gonna having more solid timing than many computer based MIDI clock setups.

So I co-sign all pixie42 wrote. And anyone else here with a 2500 would too.

Metatron72 wrote:So I co-sign all pixie42 wrote. And anyone else here with a 2500 would too.

Wb Meta

Word. I'm putting my money down this friday. It's going to take me allllll summer to pay it off, but once I can bring it home, then I can see about anything that needs to be fixed, updated, or improved. I'll probably want to give it a custom makeover of some sort, (It's a ugly grey, and I'm not really feeling that). I don't know which operating system it's got, but it shouldn't be too hard to give it one. Not sure if I need to install a HD, or what, but that's another worry for another day.

I'm more used to sequencing step wise (My electribes and MC09), but I'm sure with some practice, I can boom bap some beats, sync some basslines/melodies from my EMX/MC09, and keep the timing tight.

Wish I could pick it up asap, but I'm cool with paying it off. It makes you apprectiate the hard work you do once you finally get to pay it off and bring it home. Thanx everybody.

Headphones, you're gonna be pleased with the 2500. And they are easy to service, mod etc as all the parts are still out there.

Get the JJ Free OS if it's not already in the machine. It's the last Akai OS essentially but with bug fixes. But you get Global Program Edit. So then you don't have to f around with doing the same edit 64 damn times for the pads.

I hope you luck out and it has a paid JJOS in it already. I know JJ-XL has a step sequence mode so you might want to look at that if it isn't already in the unit.

The 2500 with JJOS is a really good MIDI sequencing platform. You can access 64 channels of MIDI and save your MIDI channel config to an autoload folder so that You get your MIDI channel/track settings loaded up automatically upon powerup. You can use the note repeat functions as well as the swing settings to record notes in realtime which is a killer feature IMO (only available in such extent on the 1000/2500 with JJOS AFAIK). Hook up a footswitch to the MPC and set it to overdub/punch for looper-like MIDI recording to the selected track/channel. A lot to like!

Only minus point is the MIDI sequencers timing, intense MiDI note data jitters in higher BPM ranges (<150BPM). You can fix this by syncing the MPC to an external MIDI clock however (your electribes clock for example)

Cool. The pawn shop hooked me up with a good deal. They took $140 off of the $799 they had it listed for. I've got 6 months to get it paid off, which shouldn't be a issue. There might be some problems with it once I get it home, but another worry for another day. The fact that I'm getting my first MPC is worth the price of admission. I just got my ESX out of storage, so I've got something to make beats with for now. Thanx for the replies.

Enjoy your new toy !
Prepare to say good bye to your social life. MPCs are quite addictive.
Don't worry too much about potential issue. There is nothing you can't solve with this forum or get fixed.
You can always find replacement parts and upgrade at mpcstuff.com
Not cheap, to say the least, but top services !
You might probably encounter a few unresponsive tact switches (most MPC 2500 and 1K do) : don't panic.
It's not that difficult to solder new ones ( actually I have just replaced 'em all on both my MPCs). It takes a little practice and reading before plugin the iron but it's no rocket science.
Don't buy the new switches at MPC stuff, they are ridiculously expensive. You should'nt pay more than a few cents for a brand new tact switches.
have fun !

Headphones wrote:Cool. The pawn shop hooked me up with a good deal. They took $140 off of the $799 they had it listed for. .

it's good they did that cuz they tried ripping you off initially...these things range between 600-850 depending on ugprades...$800 would get you fully expanded unit with ram, cd-rw, hard drive and sometimes paid JJOS in good condition...


$600 should buy ya 2500 in mostly stock configuration

here's what I mean

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Akai-MPC-2500-/271492051408?pt=US_Drums&hash=item3f362ff1d0#ht_173wt_1123

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/4461581951.html