How many of y'all still on the 4000 in 2015?

I've always wanted to try one. I know this subforum is bound to be bias toward the 4000, but I am asking for fun/interest anyway. Is the 4000 still your favorite MPC?

It is my most inspirational MPC. I know this is gonna sound cliche, but I made some of my best work while struggling to get comfortable with my 4000. I owned a 2k XL first but for only a few months and I have a MPC Studio now. But my 4000 forces me to think differently and try different approaches to get a desired result. I actually helps me continue to be creative with the Studio because the tricks I have learned translate pretty well.

still my main (MIDI) sequencer - the pad inputs, opposite to a keyboard - tend to yield some interesting/non-conformistic results...
(the pads output polyphonic aftertouch - something -still- not found on many controllers/keyboards)
tight (timing) as a hard-body...
clean, honest in it's sample/input handling
upgradable/flexible output options
can be serviced with a SSD disk (or 2)
offline sample handling (like with propellerheads recycle) and USB import again...
guess we'll have to wait for 2016 for a new (?) stand-alone MPC like this...

I still use mine. It is the best sequencer I have found.
My usage of it has made me buy other gear to further enhance the song writing process.

For example, I bought a digital drum kit and now I get the best nuance with my drums as I use real drummers on tracks. I also always plug a keyboard into the midi input so that I am not using the pads.

The latest thing I have done is use the 4000 to sequence my Moog Minitaur(analog bass), the JD-xi(analog synth), volca beats (analog drums), and volca keys(analog synth)

It is the heart of my studio where we make, reggae, blues, hip-hop, pop and funk music.

Cheers,
Ian

Let me say this...

I have a MUCH MORE POWERFUL MPC Ren and I don't even use it anymore. That's because I love the 4000 so much more. you get a lot of power and versatility without the distractions of a computer. It's always a pleasure to work with.

You can make good music on anything.

I like the 4000 because it is solid and simple or complex as you want it to be.

There are some quirks, nothing muscle memory can't handle. The arm rest is funny shaped, kinda ugly.

The midi timing is the best hands down between all of them.

There is a slept on synthesizer.

You can add new technology, a ssd, touchscreen, dvd drive, etc..

It is wav compatible.

Turn off the mod matrix and put it in 16 bit when doing drums, sounds vintageee.

The filters are lovely, the plus filters on 100 add a touch of sparkle.

I like using ios midi apps like step sequencers, drum machines and touch pad apps that generate midi and use the mpc 4000 to capture/record that midi. I'm not really interested in capturing sound from my ios devices.

I just bought mine. Been looking at the 4000 since they came out, n the prices just came down enough for me

Ive been using Logic and Live for the last ten years to little avail. I was much more productive so long ago on the MPC so I'm going back. Not really sure why; maybe I'm just destined to be an old time hardware guy. I mostly use synths that are older than I am anyway, why not an old sequencer too?

I used to make fun of the guys who would say things about the MPC's timing being so tight and the swing just sounding right. Well I still think a swing is a swing; the MPC just has a finer setting to it than most DAWs, BUT the TIMING.... All these years I've been pulling out my hair trying to get Maschine to work within Logic, or trying the get the jitter between them in stand-alone to solidify... Trying to get the midi pattern triggering to actually trigger patterns... No. Nothing but bugs, bugs, bugs. I think they want to SELL cool, deep features but don't expect anyone to actually try to USE them. So many years later and after everything, all I can do is use annoying workarounds which ruin my creative energy before even getting started. Just last night, I unboxed my used, cigarette stinking, bare minimum MPC4K model which I just got for a steal on ebay, and proceeded to make the best beat I have in ages. Its so tight. The sound, the timing... its just LOCKED IN and SOUNDS SOLID!

I sample analog synths, voice, and guitar so the 24/96 was really the main point for me. Its absolutely insane to me that the newer ones don't have the higher sample rates available. All I ever do is HD. Call me pretentious or whatever, but I really do feel like I can hear a difference on the really smooth, high freq sounds like cymbals and FM patches. IDK, maybe I'm full o crap. The Q sequencing is nice too.

Working on the MPC feels much more organic; like you're still playing an actual instrument. Thats what Ive missed. Computers feel so cold and empty. The workflow is so linear and dry. Something about working on the MPC keeps your mind in the music, something the Maschine sadly lacks. I think its dedicated controls and a simple workflow. Its very, primal, very reptilian brain when your cerebrum should be tilted to the right, focusing on your inspiration. When I have to sit there and futz w settings in the DAW, it puts the computer in the front of my mind... which doesn't encourage creativity. Starting the MPC up is simple. Despite waiting to load samples, Its on, & ready to go. With the computer, its like telling your girl to hang on a sec while you take out the trash... right in the heat of 'the moment'. Once you get started... she dun dried up :-/

I keep saying things I used to laugh at ppl for. I guess you just have to try one to really feel it. If you don't, just stick w the PC because DAWs are way more flexible.

djredhead wrote:I like using ios midi apps like step sequencers, drum machines and touch pad apps that generate midi and use the mpc 4000 to capture/record that midi. I'm not really interested in capturing sound from my ios devices.

Nice, some of those apps are crazy. Thats right, I forgot you just press record and it captures. Ive been contemplating an iPad.

Bruce Forat showed me a nice feature, non-destructive quantize of single or every track.

In the timing correct window as you adjust the quantize the 4000 should follow. You can select single or all tracks.

dustymaestro wrote:Bruce Forat showed me a nice feature, non-destructive quantize of single or every track.

In the timing correct window as you adjust the quantize the 4000 should follow. You can select single or all tracks.

You can select all tracks.Blimey-whatever next?

dustymaestro wrote:In the timing correct window as you adjust the quantize the 4000 should follow. You can select single or all tracks.

but it turns permanent when you exit this window... - it is a good mean to try/listen to different settings though

but cant you just turn it to off when you exit....or summink?or at least copy a few tracks first...i dunno im not with my machine for some time..

tiger001 wrote:

dustymaestro wrote:In the timing correct window as you adjust the quantize the 4000 should follow. You can select single or all tracks.

but it turns permanent when you exit this window... - it is a good mean to try/listen to different settings though

Don't take this wrong, but I don't h ave 90% of the problems people have. Something like this, why wouldn't you just copy the track first, leave the original somewhere else?

And no it doesn't turn permanent when you leave the window, you have to to confirm it.