MPC controlling backing and 3 synths.

Hello ladies and gents,

Newb here so go easy.

I am not yet the owner of an MPC but wanted some advice. Was thinking of getting one to control 3 synths via midi files and also a possible stereo backing track coming from the machine itself. We use a laptop at present but I want to get rid of this.

Would the MPC 500 do the job?
Would I need the 128MB upgrade?
Is their a maximum sample length for instance a 5 minute track? Would I have to be careful with polyphony? Two synths will be monophonic (bass and lead) whilst one is polyphonic (chords).
If the audio files were mp3 okay-ish quality do you think I could load a 10 or so song set easy or need a big storage key?

so this is for live performance? mpc is a great choice for live work.

mpcs are really good sequencers. there'll be no problem running a few synths via midi. i think you have 128 midi tracks per song, not certain on that. d.load the manual and have a check. you can also sample your synth parts in into the mpc and leave the synths at home.

and you can run audio to play at the same time as the synths. but you won't be able to have a five-minute long sample as a backing track. but that shouldn't be a problem. just make the tracks out of smaller samples that are sequenced on the mpc. the manual will tell you how much sampling time you get for various ram configurations.
the 500 doesn't play mp3s. wavs only.

and yeah, you can have the midi files and samples necessary for 10 tracks no problem. the CF card will store hundreds of songs. and you can have as many CF cards as you like.