Saving for 3000 or 4000?

Cockdiesel wrote:Same sound. One, x or live. Way more options to sculpt a sound vs a lot of work that you’d need to do on a 4000.

Start with a one and if you want the extras upgrade.

It will click the most for you. Easiest way to get a beat into your phone or upload. The others require sound card, etc just to come close.

Some secret sauce could be rendering your beat and using a free daw to run the rx950 plugin and a tape simulator.... the possibilities are endless and not getting collectors gear. You can have everything needed to make a “pro track” exactly how you want it to sound for well under 2000.00 which is what a 3000 seems to sell for...

Alright ya'll might sell me on the One but I have one final question, what kind of inputs can I run through it? Can I sample vinyl off it? My guitar? A midi keyboard?

Also I wrote off the 3000 after viewing some feedback from the thread lol. My only real options I'm considering are the One, 4K and the 2KXL which are cheaper by a substantial margin. If the One schools both of those though then IDK I might just pull the trigger on that

Lampdog wrote:You can make the new ones have “that sound”.
You can make the clean sounds dirty and thick.
Old technology is a pain.

Your missing the point and blinded by “the sound”.
New gear can be made to sound how you want it to sound.

Are there effects the 4K can do that the One can't (no DAW)? I get what you're saying but I'm trying to consider the positives of both perspectives before I purchase one.

Nope the 4000 is built with a different user in mind. They sound the same for the most part but the 4000 just has different filters and editing options. Not always for the better. The one is streamlined for users like you.

Get the one and a set of headphones. Work at it some time and when you run into road blocks just post up here. Many will help out here.

I run a mixer into my live but that work flow isn’t always needed.you may need a preamp or something for guitar but it’s the same with al mpcs. Not sure myself on how get instruments like that into the Mpc, I have no problems hooking up synths or my mixer to the live.

Cockdiesel wrote:Nope the 4000 is built with a different user in mind. They sound the same for the most part but the 4000 just has different filters and editing options. Not always for the better. The one is streamlined for users like you.

Get the one and a set of headphones. Work at it some time and when you run into road blocks just post up here. Many will help out here.

I run a mixer into my live but that work flow isn’t always needed.you may need a preamp or something for guitar but it’s the same with al mpcs. Not sure myself on how get instruments like that into the Mpc, I have no problems hooking up synths or my mixer to the live.

I don't know man. I have a tough time seeing videos on the One (plenty on the live though) and there isn't much comparison out there. Maybe I was quick to dismiss the Live, what are the differences between the two as they both look really similar. I watched a long comparison video on it just now but it didn't sum up the pros and cons well.

The One looks cool but idk, a lot of the stuff I see on youtube seems to be really basic beats or trap stuff. I want to make 90s boom bap and idk if vintage mode or emulation can do that.

IF i were to go with one of the newer ones, could i route it to an old S series Akai Sampler? Maybe I'm being retarded or naive but there is a sound to that older hardware, it feels more punchy.

sorry If I am sounding stubbourn I really am trying my best google searching looking at forums comparisons etc. there is just something within telling me the MPC 4000 is it

I feel you man. I get the “vintage” bug a lot too But I had a 4000 for 10 years and upgraded to a live .i don t regret it at all.

Same sound just different options to sculpt the sound. You would also need a sound card.

Samplers are samplers it’s just the newer mpcs offer the most options especially for those more inexperienced to get acclimated with system for creating “professional beats”.

3000, 4000, live x it’s pretty much the same ... just what you’re willing to work with.

I’m trying to tell you that if you’re after a sound there’s many ways to achieve that. There’s no magical unit, just the magic you can create on the unit. Which the new mpcs will be a lot easier for you to achieve. You need to remember that a lot went into those old golden era sounds and a old school Mpc doesn’t magically create that sound itself.

Cockdiesel wrote:I feel you man. I get the “vintage” bug a lot too But I had a 4000 for 10 years and upgraded to a live .i don t regret it at all.

Same sound just different options to sculpt the sound. You would also need a sound card.

Samplers are samplers it’s just the newer mpcs offer the most options especially for those more inexperienced to get acclimated with system for creating “professional beats”.

3000, 4000, live x it’s pretty much the same ... just what you’re willing to work with.

I’m trying to tell you that if you’re after a sound there’s many ways to achieve that. There’s no magical unit, just the magic you can create on the unit. Which the new mpcs will be a lot easier for you to achieve. You need to remember that a lot went into those old golden era sounds and a old school Mpc doesn’t magically create that sound itself.

Thanks for dropping some truths on me man. I guess I should probably worry less about what MPC im getting and a little more on refining my skills.

Also I went thru some more old comparison threads, you and Lamp really seem to be active and know wtf yall are talking about . Think Imma browse for a Live

Going down the “vintage” or gear lust path can be a big headache man. Create a foundation and work from there, less is more really. Many people here know their shit more than I and even those people were trying to steer you in the right direction. It’s pretty simple, start with understanding where things are at now, if you need help there’s outlets for it. You can spend years buy8ng all the wrong stuff, getting discouraged or disappointed or actually learn techniques and get shit done.

I don't see why everyone is shitting on the older MPCs now. I have a 2k classic (model right after the 3k) and I'm completely satisfied with it. Haven't had any problems with it so far. Most common problems you can get are faded screens and bad tact switches. You can easily replace a tact switch for under 15 bucks and while the screens are expensive, it might not even happen to you, and if it does, it's still a relatively easy install. Then again I'm talking about the 2k, but I suspect the 3k isn't too different. I say, try to experiment with the workflows of the different machines and then make your decision.

Oh and everyone is right about the sound topic. You can't just rely on the MPC to give your beats that sound. That's on you.

The older MPC's work fine and I'm not against them. I however I'm realistic when it comes to their issues. A thorough cleaning inside and out, replace the Caps, Tact Switches, Pad Sensor, Add a card reader, Rubber Pads, and Screen (Unless new) are a must change for me anytime I purchase an older MPC's. (MPC 3000, 4000, 2000XL,1000, 2500, REN) Everything else I try to stay away from.

Lots of people fantasize about vintage gear, until they get one and all hell breaks loose. So most things people are saying, are realistic and come from answering question like the one below.

Help, My screen won't turn on.
Which tact switch do I need?
My floppy drive stopped working.
Why does the Jog Wheel cost so much?
Pad 1 through 13 works but 14, 15, 16 don't.
Where can I buy new RAM?
My ZIP Drive is clicking, is there a fix?

or my soon to be favorite.

My MPC LIVE battery, only last 30 minutes. Why are the replacements $250 dollars?

could I hook a dr sample 303 to a Live? I might just have to save up for both cuz I found a ridiculously nice deal (200) for one in my city with adapter and cards.

CharlesRandolph wrote:The older MPC's work fine and I'm not against them. I however I'm realistic when it comes to their issues. A thorough cleaning inside and out, replace the Caps, Tact Switches, Pad Sensor, Add a card reader, Rubber Pads, and Screen (Unless new) are a must change for me anytime I purchase an older MPC's. (MPC 3000, 4000, 2000XL,1000, 2500, REN) Everything else I try to stay away from.

Lots of people fantasize about vintage gear, until they get one and all hell breaks loose. So most things people are saying, are realistic and come from answering question like the one below.

Help, My screen won't turn on.
Which tact switch do I need?
My floppy drive stopped working.
Why does the Jog Wheel cost so much?
Pad 1 through 13 works but 14, 15, 16 don't.
Where can I buy new RAM?
My ZIP Drive is clicking, is there a fix?

or my soon to be favorite.

My MPC LIVE battery, only last 30 minutes. Why are the replacements $250 dollars?

I understand that all those things can and do often go wrong, but we shouldn't be dramatic and scare him off what might be best for him when there's also a big chance that everything will be fine for a long time.

Sorry, I know yall tried to convince me and objectively I even agree with you, the new stuff does look better and more integrated with modern technology. That said, I just watched 2 hours of comparison videos chopping beats on the Live and XL. I just can't deal with that touchscreen and that menu with all the colors and lights and stuff going on. When my brother used to live at home he had an SP808 he would chop shit up on that and while I remember it being kinda loud, I loved dicking around with the interface and knobs and stuff. In a way the limits of older hardware It didn't feel overwhelming and a lot like a toy, though I was pretty young at the time.

I'm still not quite sure what I'll get now. The touchscreen and the new tools are cool but tbh the only thing I like about the modern machines is that it is easy to get my samples from the computer to the machine according to the videos. Working with the actual interface looks more intuitive and in a certain way like an instrument with the 2KXL and the 4K, though the 4k definitely looks a little more confusing.

I think either a cheap 2k with cf or a good condition 4k with working USB is what I'm leaning towards, but I'm certainly open to the new machines now whereas before I absolutely wasn't. It's just them bright screens and lights remind me too much of my time spent on my CS coursework. Lol

as a side note, I do like the look of the Digitakt. Anyone know more about it's capabilties?

cleansocks wrote:Sorry, I know yall tried to convince me and objectively I even agree with you, the new stuff does look better and more integrated with modern technology. That said, I just watched 2 hours of comparison videos chopping beats on the Live and XL. I just can't deal with that touchscreen and that menu with all the colors and lights and stuff going on. When my brother used to live at home he had an SP808 he would chop **** up on that and while I remember it being kinda loud, I loved dicking around with the interface and knobs and stuff. In a way the limits of older hardware It didn't feel overwhelming and a lot like a toy, though I was pretty young at the time.

I'm still not quite sure what I'll get now. The touchscreen and the new tools are cool but tbh the only thing I like about the modern machines is that it is easy to get my samples from the computer to the machine according to the videos. Working with the actual interface looks more intuitive and in a certain way like an instrument with the 2KXL and the 4K, though the 4k definitely looks a little more confusing.

I think either a cheap 2k with cf or a good condition 4k with working USB is what I'm leaning towards, but I'm certainly open to the new machines now whereas before I absolutely wasn't. It's just them bright screens and lights remind me too much of my time spent on my CS coursework. Lol

Most of the SPs I know are a lot closer to toys than the MPCs so you might be a little disappointed if you get an older MPC and expect a toy feeling lol.