Trials and Tribulations of using a MPC2000 in the new world

I just wanna step in here
and say
that my original hope for this post was to get a list
of trials tribulations and tales from people
of what kinda problems you face
still using a MPC 2000 or 2000xl
being that there are many things about the 2 machines
that are outdated
Like the storage means
scsi ports floppy disks etc
that is one of my biggest trials
of being dedicated to using my MPC
in the new world of convience
Trying to sort that out

But also
for me once i started to really use pro tools alot
i discovered that choping up samples from a record
is much faster and i can make it more exact
in Pro Tools
however not having some pads with 808 kicks on them
right there
to tap along to the dope sample
is one of the tribulations

I sometimes just bang a beat out on the MPC onto a seperate track
in pro tools
Lke playing along to the sample trakcs
Playing the mpc like a real time instrument
There are a ton of variations i can talk about
with this method
but
My intention with this post was to state
that i end up in a weird situation
with my MPC

"TO MPC OR NOT TO MPC" that is the Question

There is other gear and software that i have gotten
pretty proficeint with and i know the track will be made faster and
more clean even
However wont have the same sound quality and charm
as it will if i do the whole thing on the MPC
Then it gets into this whole analog digital decision
Analog in the sense
that i 8 out every beat i make to a 16 channel board
and on there i can play with it Dub style
with analog outboard gear etc
However then dumping it to Pro tools
as a two track
that is my final mix to then add overdubs to
so im sub mixing and working 60's style
even tho there is no need to
im actually limiting the remix capability of my track
So you see what im sayin?

The New world
as technology grows for our convienence
we get put into this weird situation
of
Nah im gonna do it the old fashon way
But if you really think about it
its extra work and can be limiting
and for me its a matter of how i feel
on a given day
Any other 2000 owners feel this way?

mwalker wrote:i bet for every mpc brought in 2005 10 copies of reason were sold.

Id bet it's more than 10

The best thing that I like about the MPC is the timing which has become almost an industry norm. You could get started with the MPC and get a whole lot of ideas down before going into your computer, which could become a little time consuming. Computers are great and you have alot more to offer, but when you just want to get to the mmeat and potatoes of your beat, then just do it on the MPC and then dump it into your computer.

[quote="empeecee.P"]TO MPC OR NOT TO MPC" that is the Question

it brings out my good qualities

MPC makes everything easier.
try to hook up a computer w/ 8 analog outputs, digital in/out, 2midi in 2 midi out, see how much that costs you then you have to be aware of what operating system you use that you have enough ram to run software, software compatability, sound compatibility every company makes up a new file type then you've got .wav.aif.knt .acd .ghb MP3 then you have to have another program to try to covert file types. Your never going to find just one software that can do everything. You have to try to use all these programs together in unison and the software makers make it as hard as it can be to use them with other programs. then theres the midi Latency the ***&* falls of beat!
in virtual reality world how are you supposed have your sampler effects and track recording all in one. too complicated to have all these thing's at once. every professional producer uses either MPC, ASR 10, MV8000, racksampler akai s1000 etc to sequence lay down drums and samples, or synths a huge professional mixing board with EQ's compressors etc build into each line then track record/master using mac computer with protools.

Mpc reads .wav and can have digital in/out you can install smart media card reader which makes it very compatible with computers and other samplers

the sp606 is not up to MPC standards as far as tracks 4 vs. 64 and polyphony 8 vs. 32 trim on the mpc is much finer. mv8000 i think could hang but ive never used it

the mpc 2000xl is a very equiped drummachine sampler it has almost too much 64 tracks 99 sequences 32mb sampling time you can load up to 256 samples at one time 16pads x 4= 1 program & you have 4 programs! it doesnt have alot of stupid features that dont need to be there its made for making drums, it provides more than what you need to make incredible drum tracks.

mwalker wrote:
yo d, i was not trying to turn this into a hardware -vs- software thread but

" when i got an idea, it' nice to be able to put it in to action w/o a manual" statement.


was just weak.

it is strickly perference what one uses. it is amazing how you/other make thier beats just with a mpc. by the way i own mcp2000 classic (fully loaded) for about 10 years and have the manual on the floor right next to it.

About 10 years..huh?? Damn..you got a proto-type! The MPC 3000 was only 1 year old 10 years ago....but you did say about 10 years

I would go for any MPC (or comparable hardware sequencer) over a computer and software sequencers. Dedicated hardware samplers are more reliable than software..although software has an incredible amount of features.

me personally, I hate the sequencer in Reason. I sequence on the MPC and use reason for sounds. To me the MPC is just easy.

man keep it OG. I got numerous problems with my mpc so what. out dated or not its starting to get out of control with cats that got like 50 programs for there computer and shit....u would think there running a mechanic shop for diagnostics and repairs or something. How much technology can u put into making music. switchin equipment to what Make shit faster? More conveniate? Make your dick bigger? pay some dues and stick with the classic shit

1k user

I also use the computer

The 2k, even the xl, is officially OG now, with 3 newer MPC's released. However, of these MPC's,

The 1k lacks professional sync options

4k costs too damn much

2.5k, well too early to say

After years of using software sequencers, the MPC sequencer is REFRESHING to mo for several reasons. ]
1) Everything you need is right in front of you in the same place, not like a keyboard/controller/soundcard/ Windows interface

2) The amount of visual information generated is VERY minimal allowing your mind to focus on the sound

3) Step sequencer is intuitive, fast, easy, accurate --- Words cannot describe the joy I felt when I began to use Step Edit on my drums!!!!! Fine tuning everything is so easy!

4) It has what I need for my drums, and even many complete tracks. Yes my computer had 5,000,000 mind bending plugis, but they are just a distraction from learning good drum sequencing and sampling. The only plugins I really use now (preproduction) are Waves compressors, wow.

So those are the main reasons why I PREFER to use the MPC to software. After the 1k......who knows which one I'll move on to........definitely wait for the OS update first tho