Users that went from the 2000xl to the 4000. Advice please!

whats up, just got my MPC stolen and I am contimplating getting a 4000 instead of replacing my 2000. Do you think it is a wast of money since I use the MPC more as a sampler rather than a sequencer? I use logic to sequence everything. I likethe idea of the functionality of using the USB direct connect with a mac.

Does anyone use the MPC4K as a sound device only, does it hold descent advantages over the 2000 for that use?
thanks

one more question....
I noticed that the 4000 can let you use regular multi samples like pianos, vibes etc. the old MPC 2000xl used a weird matrix to set up what notes were what on the 4 groups of 16. pad 1 group 1 was C1 and then pad2 group 1 was like A3. there was no sense to it at all.

(check this page out if you dont know what I am talking about)

http://www.mpc2000xl.com/pads.htm

So does that mean that if I load my old session setups off of my old SCSI hard drive (that wasnt stolen) that when I send note information from my Logic files originally programmed on my 2000Xl it will play all of the wrong notes because these notes have been cleaned up on the 4000? Do you get me?

Strange question. I know.

I don't use a 4k but thats messed up about getting your mpc stolen.

well i mean..............did you think it was pointlesss with the 2000? I actually think the sequencer on the mpc2000xl is better than the mpc4k...............but thats more because the menus were easier to get use too and they are the same, just things are located differantly (takes some getting use to)....and im still not 100% use to the 4k yet...as ive had like 3 years on the mpc2k, like 4 weeks on the 4k-anyways....

i think it would be LESS pointless with the 4k than it would be with the mpc2, cause its a better sampler, and can be used more for just sounds in the sense you are thinking....cause you can use it to synthesize a bit. Plus obvious things like memory, speed, and usb, more filters, etc. Basically its built better for multisamples, lots of sounds, sound manipulation via filters, modulation, lfo, layering, etc. Its a workhorse

but Maybe a "rack sampler" might fit you better. You could go for like a z8, a used s5000, etc. This might work better price wise since you dont need the sequencer.


Do you dislike the mpc sequencer that much? or do you just love logic?
think about if you might need the mpc sequencer somewhere down the line. Even if you like logic better.......logic is probably one of the only sequencers better than the mpc (well you cant really compare hardware vs software) but mpc is probably the best sequence for hardware. So it might be a plus to get the mpc, cause nothing like having it all in one, for gigs, going to studio. And then youd have 2 great sequencers...........

I dont know, personally i think it would be a good setup, logic and mpc4k. You could use the 4k to throw around ideas, then take them into logic or vice versa. Akai sys with the 4k is really nice, so eventually you could start using the sequencer on 4k, but then still edit your samples on the computer. The 4k is just logical, cause no matter how you use it, you can incorporate sample editing on the computer and get the best of both worlds.

The most important thing to consider, is why you would want hardware over software, and if you want hardware, why do you want it. I mean, i chose the 4k cause i actually use the whole thing, so i needed all the extra features compared to my mpc2k. And also i choose hardware for sonic qualities, like the way the dacs sound.........i also like the simple interface, i dont like using the mouse, etc. But ask your self if a external sampler will benefit you...if it will, do you need another sequencer? no? then pick the rack sampler in your price range. If you dont need a external sampmler, do you need better computer interface? a sound module like motif rack? etc. just someting to spark ideas

or think about a better computer interface and midi keyboard like a motu interface mk### and just get a software sampler. Thats a good choice too...dont know how hands on you are, but you could also add a mpd pad.

1 more thing. A z8 sampler is pretty expensive compared the the 4k, cause the 4k has the same sampler, plus a sequencer with like a 500 differance?! (correct me if im wrong.) something to think about.

but no matter what you decide..........reinvest that money (im assuming you got insurance coverage?) either way, if you dont dump that money back into your production setup, you will end up blowing it on something stupid, and wish you didnt....and end up missing your mpc.

peace good luck.

your last question. The wierd matrix basically is just a wierd akai thing...........but the pads are assigned to corresponding "standard " midi numbers. If say example you pluged in a midi keyboard into the mpc.....midi number 36 would correspond to C2 on the keyboard. If you think of a normal midi keyboards "keys" like the pads........they too have midi numbers assigned to them. Except A keyboard goes form like 1 to 127......left to right in chronological order. The pads are not chronological........if tha makes sense...so basically, the pads just have the same numbers assigned to them, they are just not in the same order. but you could (if you knew) reassign the pads to be in a chronological order. So that the first pad chorresponds to say #36, then the next pad goes to #37, etc. This is tedious to do, but does help.

on the mpc4k, there are two differant kinds of programs.....the original kind "drum program" like the mpc2k..............and "keygroups" like how a keyboard sampler or normal sampler would work...........basically allowing you to assign multisamples so they spread out across the keyboard how you want them too, assigning the original "key" of the sample to the right midi number so that the sample matches the correct physical key. i.e. you sample a note that is tuned to C2(low c) the midi number matches the actual C2 key on the keyboard...

SO...........you dont have to worry about loading up your mpc2k files. but its like 95% accurate, because ive notice some of my files, the decay settings, and sometimes loop points get **** up.......not that big of a deal.

sorry if i confused you with m y explanations, if you dont understand it, i will try to rephrase it. And someone else can chime in. But its not as complicated to understand as it is to write

Peace and good luck.

yo thanks man,
I really want a MPC for the pads and for the sampling. I have been suing one for almost 3 years and that is simply how I work. Plus I got about 75 songs that I need to incorporate into new projects. i have a 6 gig HD with all MPC sound libraries that I have been collecting for ever. Basically I cant get away from using the MPC. I wish they had the aksys for the 1000 or 2000. Anyhow, did I hear you correctly in saying that the 4000 has 2 different modes one with the old strange pad matrix and one with the normal sequencial pad setup? that would solvve my problem.

the MPC doesnt do any automatic pitch time stretching does it? You know for multi samples.

Anyhow I prefer hardware and really dont like using software for sampling. I use the exs24 alot, but the drums I got set up on my MPC are thetruth so...
thanks

Onedependent wrote:
the MPC doesnt do any automatic pitch time stretching does it? You know for multi samples.

Do you mean real time timestretching???
If so, then the answer is NO.


But we can Use BPM match to timestretch a sample to a different BPM, but this offline.



Dave

cool

yeah. It would solve your problem. The mpc4k does the program thing slightly differant. You can pick between a "drum program" which is exactly like the mpc2000xl. Or you can pick a "keygroup" which is more like a rack sampler, or a keyboard sampler setup.......designed exactly for multisampling. So keygroups lets you use the mpc like a synth.

The "drum program" and "keygroup" are organized in multis. So basically, like the mpc2000xl, you can load and play up to 4 drum programs(you can load more, but only 4 slots available drum1, drum2, drum3, and drum4).

ON the mpc4k, you can create a "multi" the multi then allows you to load up your "drum program" or "keygroup".......allowing you do have any combination, and multiple programs, wether they be "keygroup" or "drum program"so like on track 1, you can have a keygroup, on track 2 you can have a drum program, on track 3 you can have a differant keygroup, and on track 4 you can have a differant drum program..........or whatever, any combination or amount of either (ther is a limit to the amount but i dont remember, but is alot) and you can also load up more than one multi........

so for example you can have like a piano multi.......and that multi can contain several diferant variations or styles of piano keygroups. Or you can have your jazz multi, with like a jazz program, a jazz drum kit, a organ keygroup, etc. Or you can just do a differant multi for each song. So whatever type of program used in that song, you save it in a multi........so when y ou reload the song, it automatically loads up all the programs.

Think about multis like an "aps" file. (save all programs on the mpc2xl.) that is permantly used on the mpc4k.........and that you can edit parameters and settings on the entire multi, so it affects all the programs inside the multi. You cant use a program, without a multi.

get it? sorry if i explained this bad....if you look in the newbie mpc4k bible, its been explained........i tried to explain it in easier terms, but............ But it is way better than the mpc2000xl for sure........and i you will get the hang of it like the first 30 minutes of using your mpc4k.

renegadebliss wrote:

Onedependent wrote:
the MPC doesnt do any automatic pitch time stretching does it? You know for multi samples.

Do you mean real time timestretching???
If so, then the answer is NO.


But we can Use BPM match to timestretch a sample to a different BPM, but this offline.



Dave

I think it does, I'm not sure but if "automatic pitch shifting" is like playing a sample at a different pitch when you hit different keys on your keyboard it does work this way, i guess, with multisamples

thanks
yeah the 2000xl does that. I was talking about doing areal time time stretch as well so that the sample maintains rhytn or vibrato timing.

nah i don t think it does an automatic timestretching

these kind of functions require a lot of processing power and the 4000 is not that powerfull

I took the 4000 pluge a week ago. I ordered mine of ebay, cost me 2000. I sold my 2000xl the same day I got the 4000. Talk about putting your ball on the table!




Any how, First off, I f@cking love this thing! It is a Z8 and a 2000xl in one! This is how I use it. It has so man new features, and the sequence editing is sick! More important than anything, I use to use reason as a soundmodue for all my sounds (akai cds), after transfering these sounds into the 4000 and using its filters and such, the sound diffrence is amazing! The 4000 just sounds so much better. Period. Also another issue is I no longer have to turn on my computer to make a beat!

Thanks guys. Damn those joints are expensive.