MPC-60 vs SP1200

I've read in the MPC 60 manual that you can set up a few pads to play simultaneously. Do you guys know if SP1200 can do the same?

Thanks a lot!

Check the SP-1200 manual, downloadable all over the place.

I did, but couldn't find anything. I could have missed it though. Since I don't know the proper terminology yet, sometimes I don't know what chapters to look up.

I figured it would be OK to ask here.

Not a lot of SP-1200 cats on here unfortunately. Maybe try copying a track and changing the drum sound on the copy.

iMack wrote:I've read in the MPC 60 manual that you can set up a few pads to play simultaneously. Do you guys know if SP1200 can do the same?

Thanks a lot!

Man , as great as the sp 1200 is, the 60 for its price with the 3.10 is a better buy. If you had to chose one or the other, how could you not pick the 60? The 1200 doesnt have them great pads, and the 60 has more sampling time. Its like, what if you were on an Island and you could bring only one sampler with you, what would it be? The 60, no doubt.

elmacaco wrote:Maybe try copying a track and changing the drum sound on the copy.

I don't have an SP1200, I'm trying to get as much information BEFORE I buy.

As far as MPC-60 being better choice than the SP1200, I was thinking about SP1200+S950. From what I understand, the sound of S950 is close to the 60 and it would also allow me to tweak samples a lot.

What do you think?

Well, the strength of the 60 is sequencing and controlling other gear. the strength of the SP is the sound of it, and all those sliders.

I would reverse the combo and get the MPC 60 and an SP-12 Turbo or an Emax, even a 950 with the 60 would be better I think. Unless you really like the SP, which isn't hard to do, but the limits involved are way too much for me.

How are the 60 series anyway??? When that cat Paul Nice was out this way for a minute I seen he was rockin a 60II. He also had a 2000, but it just didn't get as much run as the 60II did for some reason. Cats are loyal to the 60's. Do they sound better than even the 3000 with 16-bit and all?? That was the main reason I went 3000, I am skeptical of 12-bit resolution. Ya know it's funny because the ASR-X series got a bad rap. But it's a damn 16-bit Emu sound engine trapped in a sh***y Ensoniq housing and lame interface (especially that offbeat sequencer). If I had spare cash, I'd cop either an ASR-X or ASR-X pro just for the D/A playback, them things are warm as hell sounding!!! Very underrated machines sound quality wise.

Well, the upgraded 60 gives you pretty much the 3000 experience with a better panel layout IMO (more space).

the 60 is really fun, as far as the sampler, yeah, I love 12 bit, I want it to sound different when I sample it, to have a kind of cohesive quality. You can get clean depending on how you sample, but hats and cymbals can be touchy.

the 60 is just a comand center man, the 2k has a better sampler, but as far as playing an MPC, the 60 wins hands down.

But my opinion is that if you have a 3000, no need to get a 60 unless you really like the differences, which are pretty small going from 60 to 3000, much bigger going from 3000 to 60 (filters, etc.)

You can't make one pad trigger another pad on the SP.
That's just one of many things that the 60 can do (especially upgraded) that the SP can't do.

Another consideration is that the 60 can have samples be polyphonic (when triggered multiple times, the sample can overlap.) On the SP all samples are monophonic. Plus you can only have 8 samples play at a time maximum on the SP.

I have a 60 and a SP, so I have been comparing.
If you are only gonna have one machine, an upgraded 60 is a better choice (on paper.)
If you already have a 2000, 3000, 4000, 1000 or 2000XL, then the SP might be a better second machine.

If you want the 12-bit grit sound, the SP wins HANDS DOWN. The 12-bit sound of the 60 is subtle. The 12-bit grit of the SP is ANYTHING BUT subtle. It's nasty, filthy, grainy, and grimey...especially if you do the sampling at 45 trick.
Also, the SP has filters, good ones. The 60 has NO filters. Something to consider.

The filters on the SP are kinda annoying though, since you gotta use outputs, and it's only controlable on one or two, no resonance, etc.
That's why the emax is just the shit, cuz you got all that plus fully programable filters with dedicated envelopes and resonance. plus the SP sound. or the closest thing to it.

I agree with the 12 bit thing, on the 60 it is subtle but you can bring it out or tone it down. The SP sounds better to me though.

itchyvinyl wrote:Another consideration is that the 60 can have samples be polyphonic (when triggered multiple times, the sample can overlap.) On the SP all samples are monophonic.

That means that if I trigger a sample before a previously triggered sample ends, it will cut it off, right?

Another thing I was wondering about - can you reverse a sample in the SP1200?

Thanks for answering my questions, itchyvinyl.

Right now I can't decide which one would be a better choice for me: SP1200+S950 or MPC60+Emax

elmacaco thinks the second combo would be better (he actually suggested it). I didn't even know about the Emax.

itchyvinyl, since you have both the SP1200 and the MPC-60, which combo would you suggest?

ive had both machines and i would have to say the mpc60+emax is a better choice in my humble opinon, if your going to get the emax make sure its the hd version that way you can hook-up scsi and use a scsi zip drive floppys suck!! i didnt know about this until i already purchased my emax se keyboard none the less its still dope, good luck

Yeah, on the SP each time you trigger the sample it will start again (ie cut off.) On the upgraded 60, you can choose mono or poly, or note off.

No sample reversing on the SP.

For being a controller, the 60 is better than the SP.

I've never used a S950, and I haven't touched an Emax since 1990....so I can't really speak on those with an informed opinion.

As far as advice about a combo for you.....I'm assuming you don't already have any of these machines, and you're trying to figure out what to get.
If I was in your spot, I might get a MPC2000XL (it's high fidelity 16bit, good controller of other machines, super easy interface - way easier than the 60 IMO, and has sample zone chopping, compatible with .wav files, reverse, filters, etc. etc. all the bells and whistles).....and to compliment that, add something lo-fi like the SP, S950, or Emax(?).

I mainly use the MPC2000XL. I sometimes use the SP to sample a sound first, then sample it back into the MPC just to get the 12bit sound. Or I'll sync each machine to ProTools one at a time. I never use the two machines synced together. Just me.

I recently got the 60 because one fell in my lap at a good price. I'm still getting to know it.....but I'm not sure if I'll keep it. The 2000XL is just way faster and easier to me. I can't say enough good things about the XL interface and features.....and .wav compatibility is crucial, I can't go backward on that.

This is all just my opinion, so get other opinions before you decide.
What works for one person might not work for another.
Just know what you want to be able to accomplish, and choose the machine(s) that will be the best easiest fit for your needs.

Good luck.

I would suggest the 60 and the 950, a lot easier to use and to learn both machines will be easier than learning the emax, it took me while to get the emax going, but the 950 is pretty easy.

The emax is more of a labor of love.

And Itchy, I think you just know the XL very well, the 60 interface kills the xl without even noticing it did anything, like squashing a bug.