HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE 4000

I AM CURRENTLY A 2000XL OWNER AND I KNOW ALOT OF YOU GUYS OWNED ONE BEFORE YALL GOT THE 4000. SO I WANT TO KNOW HOW YALL FEEL ABOUT THE JUMP I PLAN ON GETTING ONE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

i HAVE NO REGRETS

I d*cked around with one at Digital Village. I really like whats on it. If I could just sell my 2kXL... and get rid of my wife... only then could I afford the 4K.

http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php ... =2kxl+4000
I learn from history.

I love mine. I moved up from mpc60. I have owned many, amny sampler / beat machines. The mpc4000 tops them all.


I have to admit, I am jealous of a few of the mv8000 features. namely 8 stereo hard disk tracks.

Lord Toranaga wrote:I love mine. I moved up from mpc60. I have owned many, amny sampler / beat machines. The mpc4000 tops them all.


I have to admit, I am jealous of a few of the mv8000 features. namely 8 stereo hard disk tracks.

You're wrong about the MV8000 having 8 "hard disk" tracks. Those 8 audio tracks are actually recorded to and played back from RAM. It's better than nothing but Roland would have had a hit on their hands if they actually made them hard disk tracks instead.

After comparing the MV to the 4K, I ended up getting the 4K instead because I felt it had more to offer in terms of how I work.

I moved up from a 2000xl and have no regrets. It takes a while to really learn the 4k, but once you get it down, the sky's the limit.

You're wrong about the MV8000 having 8 "hard disk" tracks. Those 8 audio tracks are actually recorded to and played back from RAM. It's better than nothing but Roland would have had a hit on their hands if they actually made them hard disk tracks instead.

And the ability to preview patches. That is what ultimately killed it for me as well as having to navigate numerous screens just to do a simple command. I just received my 4000 and I honestly have to say this is the best hardware piece I've ever had, and I tried them all. And I'm staring at my Motif ES as I write this. The features on this thing are unbelievable, and I took a while to buy it until they got the OS stable. Which they did in 1.70. If anybody is in the L.A. area, particularly San Bernardino/Riverside area that wants to help a brotha learn how to sample patches, hit me up. The 4000 is a monsta though, best sampler and all around synth workstation out right now as I write this. But that Alesis Fusion with it's analogue capabilities as well as it's 24 bit recording ability looks very dangerous. Hmmmm..........

My first MPC experiences were on the MPC 60II - just fiddling and making beats with my friends' sounds. I bought the MPC 2000 when it came out and was using the 2000XL when i'd go to other peoples' houses (those who had one). I loved the 2000 but, hated the fact you couldn't use its files on the 2000XL. While i was moving, a partner of mine was holding all of our records & studio equipment at his house. Long story short, i never got my 2000 back but, i did get all of my records, floppys and zip disks.

I bought the 4000 because, i needed an MPC and i wanted a change. Saving the money to buy the MPC was the biggest challenge because, i wasn't used to paying that much for a drum machine. Just like Blue Haze, I had read the specs and reviews of the 4000 for a few years while saving the money to decide. One of my major factors in decision making was that, the 4000 reads both MPC 2000 and 2000XL files (that alone had me sold). When i finally got the machine in my home, i spent 2 days just looking at it turned on.

Learning to use the 4000 was an entire different story. The functional language is different, the workflow of it is different, the whole use of it is different. You have to change the way you think of using an MPC or you'll be one of those people who've taken their machines back to the store.

I thought i'd NEVER get the hang of the 4000 but, i was determined to get over my own hump. I wasn't going to be one of those guys feline1 used to snap at and i was certain that this was the machine for me. It's so easy to go with what you know and it's very hard to transfer WHAT you know, to what you would like to do.

It took me a long time to make my first beat. I had to learn the 4000's language first and then figure out a workflow that worked for me and my set-up. I'd say it took about 4 months before i was feeling like i did, when i sat at my old MPC 2000. From there forward, i've turned into the complete MPC 4000 user - i can't even look at any other MPC, much less remember how they worked. This forum has helped me SO MUCH and i have to thank all of the good sports on here, you guys know who you are. I'm totally convinced that this is the best MPC ever released and anyone who says different, doesn't know jack about an MPC to begin with. (go put yours up on eBay)

Not that i've turned snob or anything but, when i see people with an MPC 2000 or 2000XL these days, i say to myself, "you guys just don't know what you're missing." The 4000 will change your life!

Kid Captain Coolout wrote:My first MPC experiences were on the MPC 60II - just fiddling and making beats with my friends' sounds. I bought the MPC 2000 when it came out and was using the 2000XL when i'd go to other peoples' houses (those who had one). I loved the 2000 but, hated the fact you couldn't use its files on the 2000XL. While i was moving, a partner of mine was holding all of our records & studio equipment at his house. Long story short, i never got my 2000 back but, i did get all of my records, floppys and zip disks.

I bought the 4000 because, i needed an MPC and i wanted a change. Saving the money to buy the MPC was the biggest challenge because, i wasn't used to paying that much for a drum machine. Just like Blue Haze, I had read the specs and reviews of the 4000 for a few years while saving the money to decide. One of my major factors in decision making was that, the 4000 reads both MPC 2000 and 2000XL files (that alone had me sold). When i finally got the machine in my home, i spent 2 days just looking at it turned on.

Learning to use the 4000 was an entire different story. The functional language is different, the workflow of it is different, the whole use of it is different. You have to change the way you think of using an MPC or you'll be one of those people who've taken their machines back to the store.

I thought i'd NEVER get the hang of the 4000 but, i was determined to get over my own hump. I wasn't going to be one of those guys feline1 used to snap at and i was certain that this was the machine for me. It's so easy to go with what you know and it's very hard to transfer WHAT you know, to what you would like to do.

It took me a long time to make my first beat. I had to learn the 4000's language first and then figure out a workflow that worked for me and my set-up. I'd say it took about 4 months before i was feeling like i did, when i sat at my old MPC 2000. From there forward, i've turned into the complete MPC 4000 user - i can't even look at any other MPC, much less remember how they worked. This forum has helped me SO MUCH and i have to thank all of the good sports on here, you guys know who you are. I'm totally convinced that this is the best MPC ever released and anyone who says different, doesn't know jack about an MPC to begin with. (go put yours up on eBay)

Not that i've turned snob or anything but, when i see people with an MPC 2000 or 2000XL these days, i say to myself, "you guys just don't know what you're missing." The 4000 will change your life!

I couldn`t have put it any better.

[quote="Kid Captain Coolout"]
When i finally got the machine in my home, i spent 2 days just looking at it turned on.



classic quote right there

its incredible !!!
my only disapointment is it only having 10 analouge outs &/or adat, I would have liked 20+ outs or at least separate adat and analouge out configuration (prehaps 2.0?)...
I´m very fast on it now, way faster than I ever was on my 2kxl in the 5year period I had it, its slowly helping me form my musical style and soon I´ll be downsizining my entire studio to just the 4k and some essentials as its just so dam fine,...
actually its simply superb!!..but v2.0, a Akasys update and a usb qlink controle surface will be the day that will end it all..

i still luv my mpc2xl...........

for me, its sort of like, i want both. I started out on the 2xl, and even though the 4000 kills it......................something about the 2xl just flows for me; most likely because it was my first mpc, but i feel like i can make hot beats on both..........but they got differant feel to them. If i had a choice with the knowledge of owning both, and being very knowledgeable with the mpc2xl and familiar with it (enough to where i dislike using other equipment because of its crappy interface) I would still take the 4000.

Yes, the mpc4000 is "differant" and has a somewhat differant "workflow" hwoever, its similar enough you wont miss a heart beat, and the added features make it worth it.

Hands down the 4000 is worth it over the mpc2xl-no doubt. But that does not lessen the degree of the 2xl and its ability.

Something about the mpc2xl is just pure good. I mean, its hard to explain, but i can do everything i can on the 4000....on the 2xl (thats a backwards statement..........but) you really dont need more than the 2xl with skill and creative thinking. I guess it all depends on how you work and what you need, but it sort of goes along with a minimalist phylosophy...........but if you use your tools to the fullest, you dont need more than the 2xl...........

The things that i luv more than my 2xl are: more filters, hardrive, speed, keymapping, ability to use it like a synth (difficult to put in words, but things like crossing midi channels, layering, lfos, more extensive sample editing and midi, etc.)

but im gonna end this post with this. If the akai came out with a super mpc2xl i would be happy and consider selling my 4000; an in between the mpc4000 and mpc2xl-building off the current mpc2xl interface(some of the features of the mpc4000 but bulding off the 2xl OS). A mpc2xl that makes up for where it lacks, more ram, resample, keymapping, more filters (this is what i care about most) effects board standard, maybe some more sample editing features like normalize and crossfading, more midi outs But its gotta be in the mpc2xl style.

I'm sorry, but I really don't see how people say there is such a steep learning curve. I've had a couple of days on this machine and I'm already whipping around this thing making beats. I think if people just really sat down and digested the manual, it really wouldn't be that hard. I'm only on page 50 of the user guide, and this thing is honestly almost like working on the 1000, 2000xl. Just more features crammed into it. The only thing I don't know how to do yet is keymapping and making my own patches, but that's only because I've never done that on any other MPC. And I'm gonna get deep in that chapter tomorrow. Honestly, alot of people make this sound like once you get the 4000 it's like learning how to work the Hubble telescope. It's not even that serious.

jbplaya wrote:I'm sorry, but I really don't see how people say there is such a steep learning curve. I've had a couple of days on this machine and I'm already whipping around this thing making beats. I think if people just really sat down and digested the manual, it really wouldn't be that hard. I'm only on page 50 of the user guide, and this thing is honestly almost like working on the 1000, 2000xl. Just more features crammed into it. The only thing I don't know how to do yet is keymapping and making my own patches, but that's only because I've never done that on any other MPC. And I'm gonna get deep in that chapter tomorrow. Honestly, alot of people make this sound like once you get the 4000 it's like learning how to work the Hubble telescope. It's not even that serious.

"The only thing I don't know how to do yet is keymapping and making my own patches, but that's only because I've never done that on any other MPC".

Sho you right once beyond the similar drum programs and step editor its learning about keygroups,multis, parts, midi outputs, the effects, qlinks, and that awesome sampler. You are on the right track and the reference manual takes you step by step just learn all the new terms and you will have a better more satifisying workflow on the 4k. Sometimes it is difficult to teach old dogs, new tricks cuz they don`t want to read. Also newbies are sometimes impatient to learn what the words means and want alot of automation to do it for them. Smart work and experience makes great music. Once you can hit every page and function with your eyes close like the back of your hand in depth you are on your way. Review, Review, Review if you have to think you don`t understand it completely yet. Do it again and again still its second nature. This was for the others out there not just you myself included. But you are on a good start my man.