
I don't know much about the mpc 1000.
That is , I've never actually seen one in person , much less USE one.
I was in the same boat as you before , meaning that I am actually a dj who decided to make his own beats. There was no MPC back when I started out though. Anyway , I'd leave the roland alone and grab the mpc 2000xl. Like I said , I've never used the 1000 , although I'm sure it's cool.
My experience with the 2000xl is as follows :
After years of spending LOTS of my hard earned cash in the studio at $30-$55 per hour , in what was usually 8 hour sessions , I FINALLY wised up and bought some more expensive equipment. I mean , I'd already had several different drum machines , multiracks , lower priced keyboards and keyboard samplers such as the casio sk1. I was able to make nice enough beats on them but they still left me wanting more. Like most of the people on here , I was broke as shlt and the thought of spending over $500 on anything that I couldnt drive scared the shlt outta me. Not to mention the fact that I wasnt exactly swimming in cash. Well , as time went on , with me making beats for myself as well as other artists in the studio , I realized that in one of my 8 hour sessions I had spent enough to buy a piece of equipment. Now , like yourself , I didnt know how to USE that equipment but I figured if it's MINE , I have all the time in the world to learn. When you do the math $30 x 8 =$240. That coulda brought me a nice used emax sampler! Just like the one I was PAYING the studio to use! I studied up. Found out what machines can do what and also what the pros were saying about it. The time came when I got hit off for a couple of projects and I picked up an mpc 2000xl. I drove 50 miles to get it and 50 miles back home. I got home at 8pm and turned on the MPC immediately.Read a little of the book , I'd never touched an mpc before , and started making beats. I turned the MPC off at 10 am the next day , quit my full-time job ( I was supposed to be there at 7am!) and went to sleep. I dreamt about the mpc of course. I am not here claiming that I am Premier , Dre , Pete Rock , the RZA or any of those guys. I'm just saying , as a producer , I never had a problem making a beat with whatever was there but NOW!!!!!! Man , I LOVE this machine! I wish everything I paid for gave this kinda feeling back to me. Unlike the drum machines I had , the sounds will NEVER get outdated because I choose the sounds. If you are making beats now or you have with a drum machine then you know what I mean. Even if others like your beats , you get tired of the same old snare and kick sometimes. I have issues with roland knockoffs of the mpc. I've hardly ever heard anything good about them and at the prices they are asking , I dont see what the benefit would be for me or anyone else for that matter , to pay them MORE for that thing , just because it has a cd burner? When I could get the 2000xl and finagle the beat burning other ways and STILL have loot in my pocket. Or a compressor. Or anything else. I heard the sound quality sucks in the roland. Don't just take my word for it though , I mean , you ARE on an mpc board so I dont think many folks will tell you to take the roland over the mpc , not unless you found one for like $200 or something. Go hit the store and test out the mpc , if you can. If not , just pick one up. If you dont like it , you can always return it. I doubt you will though. Just remember , you wont be an expert overnight. I STILL dont know a whole lotta stuff on the mpc and I've had mine for a little over a year now. But , even though there's a lot I dont know , I STILL make beats on it EVERYTIME I turn it on. Plus , one of the best reasons to buy an MPC these days is this very forum. What other production tool has this kind of site where people can come in , not knowing much about the machine they just brought , and learn so much in such a short period of time? I cant think of any. Man I got equipment in here that I cant even get the simple questions answered because the companies I brought it from dont do shlt for their customers and there arent any sites to help out , or at least , if there are , I havent found them and I've BEEN searching. Tutor and the other guys here will help you every step of the way. Shoot , I'll help too whenever I can. Go get that MPC homie and you ever need any help , just holla at ya boys.
That's what this place is all about.
Now just figure out which mpc you need and can afford.
You can do the budget thing yourself but as far as which one is best for you , the guys will probably want to know what else you have in your set-up as far as computer , etc.
Welcome to the club.
MPC 500, 2000XL 2500 3000 , 2 MPC 4000s , & MFC 42
Akai s950-S1000 S2000-,Sp 1200 , Korg Triton- ASR 10-EPS 16 rack- Digi002 PlanetPhatt-Imac-Macbook Pro-MPC Studio
Yamaha aw 16g etc & MAD records.