hi everyone. I've never used an MPC. I'm trying to find out which tools I need before I start blowing thousands on studio equipment. Can someone tell me what the main difference is between the different models? Has anyone gotten to check out the new 1000? It looks incredible. What I want to do is put together an MPC with Final Scratch on a Mac iBook (eventually Powerbook) and maybe other midi controllers (such as a keyboard, or faders and knobs for recording and mixing) and eventually some analog synths (and maybe further down the road, live instruments). I want to be able to use my setup for live performance and djing, and I also want to be able to record tracks and live sets. Please keep in mind that I don't know much of sh*t, so any advice on soundcards (usb,firewire), mixers (probably more for the djing), sequencers, physical connection types, etc, is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
By Swissmaster Cheese
Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:32 pm
I say, just start out and stick to one thing for awhile...since this is the MPC forum, I say get yourself an MPC 2000xl first and learn to use that and then move on up to the other stuff...couple that with a decent turntable for sampling of of vinyl(you dont need a mic in case you didnt know that) and a mixer with phono and line ins/outs..........if you try to get too much at one time, then you'll get frustrated trying to put it all together at once....no need to be in a rush....
The 3 Tenets of the Cobra Kai-
1) Strike First!
2) Strike Hard!
3) Show No Mercy!
First single "Sweep the Leg, Johnny!" coming soon On Cold Clutch Records........
1) Strike First!
2) Strike Hard!
3) Show No Mercy!
First single "Sweep the Leg, Johnny!" coming soon On Cold Clutch Records........
By itchyvinyl
Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:35 pm
Hey AM,
I would suggest you slow down a bit. Buy one piece of gear at a time, and learn it before you buy the next thing....especially if you "don't know much of $hit."
The new 1000 might be a good place to start if you've never made beats before. That way you'll spend less, but still have a powerful machine. And it's more portable if you eventually want to use it in a live set-up as you described.
Just score an MPC first, and learn it, and learn it some more. THEN maybe later if you're still interested, you can take it to the next step and buy something additional.
Despite what some people say, you can make full-on productions with just an MPC alone. Just start there.
I would suggest you slow down a bit. Buy one piece of gear at a time, and learn it before you buy the next thing....especially if you "don't know much of $hit."
The new 1000 might be a good place to start if you've never made beats before. That way you'll spend less, but still have a powerful machine. And it's more portable if you eventually want to use it in a live set-up as you described.
Just score an MPC first, and learn it, and learn it some more. THEN maybe later if you're still interested, you can take it to the next step and buy something additional.
Despite what some people say, you can make full-on productions with just an MPC alone. Just start there.
I appreciate the replies. I realize I need to just start out learning the MPC, however, I really want to buy the right one. Right now I'm thinking about either the new 1000 or a 2000xl. But what is the difference between, say a 2000 and a 2000xl or between a 2000 or a 3000. I just want to get the right tool keeping in mind my future goals. I'm trying to look long term, but efficiently.
I hope I didn't turn a lot of people off by mentioning final scratch, but I just think there are so many options you can have by being able to control any digital music that you can find or create, with vinyl, without having to pay to cut a record. Also being able to combine that with an MPC and the possibilties are mind numbing. By the way, has anybody tried final scratch, and does it sound legit?
When I asked about a mic, I meant there are these sounds I want to record and play back on the MPC. Like there is this really low rumbling vibration caused by a certain commercial air conditioner that I want to capture. Also, I want to make various vocal sounds and rythms, and play those back on the MPC as well. I just want to be able to put the stuff in my head into a rythmic structure as directly as I can. I think sampling my own vocal rythms are the quickest way there. Do all the MPCs have mic connections?
Thanks again for the input. It can be really confusing with all the gear out there when you are just learning all the terminology (without that, you don't even know what the answers to your questions often mean). I finally feel like I'm weeding out all that other junk I don't need and seeing the core pieces that are the most important and flexible. I think this site is what I've been (unconsciously) looking for, for a long time.
I hope I didn't turn a lot of people off by mentioning final scratch, but I just think there are so many options you can have by being able to control any digital music that you can find or create, with vinyl, without having to pay to cut a record. Also being able to combine that with an MPC and the possibilties are mind numbing. By the way, has anybody tried final scratch, and does it sound legit?
When I asked about a mic, I meant there are these sounds I want to record and play back on the MPC. Like there is this really low rumbling vibration caused by a certain commercial air conditioner that I want to capture. Also, I want to make various vocal sounds and rythms, and play those back on the MPC as well. I just want to be able to put the stuff in my head into a rythmic structure as directly as I can. I think sampling my own vocal rythms are the quickest way there. Do all the MPCs have mic connections?
Thanks again for the input. It can be really confusing with all the gear out there when you are just learning all the terminology (without that, you don't even know what the answers to your questions often mean). I finally feel like I'm weeding out all that other junk I don't need and seeing the core pieces that are the most important and flexible. I think this site is what I've been (unconsciously) looking for, for a long time.
By itchyvinyl
Mon Oct 20, 2003 1:03 am
The 2000xl and 1000 both read .wav files which will make them more compatible with computers and other gear/sample cds/etc.
I may be wrong, but I think the 60, 3000, and 2000 only read the Akai .snd format (someone correct me if I'm trippin.)
If you're looking "long term", I think the 2000XL and the 1000 will be compatible with more stuff for longer.
As far as sampling stuff with a mic, you might benefit from scoring a portable DAT recorder. Unless you have a fat extension cord, you won't be "out in the field" with your MPC sampling stuff. Plus, recording onto DAT first (or even a cassette recorder), and then sampling from the tape into MPC is usually better than plugging a mic into the MPC.
I may be wrong, but I think the 60, 3000, and 2000 only read the Akai .snd format (someone correct me if I'm trippin.)
If you're looking "long term", I think the 2000XL and the 1000 will be compatible with more stuff for longer.
As far as sampling stuff with a mic, you might benefit from scoring a portable DAT recorder. Unless you have a fat extension cord, you won't be "out in the field" with your MPC sampling stuff. Plus, recording onto DAT first (or even a cassette recorder), and then sampling from the tape into MPC is usually better than plugging a mic into the MPC.
By Swissmaster Cheese
Mon Oct 20, 2003 5:00 am
great post itchy.....beat me by a few hours... 
anyways, its a great idea to get that final scratch mane....I get wood just thinking about one of them units....thats a REALLLLL good investment there....I'd love to cop one of them there bad boys ....i'd never hafta buy a break record ever again....
as for sampling...just get a minidisc recorder(you can find really good ones on ebay for dead cheap mane), hook up a mic and there you go...alot better than DAT and less expensive too.....
i'd cop a 2000xl since it has the most potential for growth of the imagination and its just a great all around tool.....you'll love it-seriously-as long as you understand its limitations and its strengths.....
anyways, its a great idea to get that final scratch mane....I get wood just thinking about one of them units....thats a REALLLLL good investment there....I'd love to cop one of them there bad boys ....i'd never hafta buy a break record ever again....
as for sampling...just get a minidisc recorder(you can find really good ones on ebay for dead cheap mane), hook up a mic and there you go...alot better than DAT and less expensive too.....
i'd cop a 2000xl since it has the most potential for growth of the imagination and its just a great all around tool.....you'll love it-seriously-as long as you understand its limitations and its strengths.....
The 3 Tenets of the Cobra Kai-
1) Strike First!
2) Strike Hard!
3) Show No Mercy!
First single "Sweep the Leg, Johnny!" coming soon On Cold Clutch Records........
1) Strike First!
2) Strike Hard!
3) Show No Mercy!
First single "Sweep the Leg, Johnny!" coming soon On Cold Clutch Records........
By Lampdog
Mon Oct 20, 2003 5:39 am
2kxl is a great starting point if you've never touched an MPC before..
