Post your views and questions about the Akai MPC2500
By squishy Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:45 pm
In the MPC Comparison Chart (available at akaipro.com), I notice that the MPC 4000 is the only one with a sequencer resolution of 960 ticks per quarter note - all the others have 96 TPQ.

Moore's law and all, I find it surprising - and a bit disappointing - that an older piece of "computer" hardware has better specs that the newest one.

Do anybody else feel this way? Or am I just being overly concerned about something that have no practical consequence?
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By Fist Full of Dollaz Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:58 pm
squishy wrote:In the MPC Comparison Chart (available at akaipro.com), I notice that the MPC 4000 is the only one with a sequencer resolution of 960 ticks per quarter note - all the others have 96 TPQ.

Moore's law and all, I find it surprising - and a bit disappointing - that an older piece of "computer" hardware has better specs that the newest one.

Do anybody else feel this way? Or am I just being overly concerned about something that have no practical consequence?


it would have been nice to have 960 because that would in a sense be more accurate when doing stuff in small increments, thing is the diff. probably can not be heard
By squishy Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:11 am
[quote="Fist Full of Dollaz"]
it would have been nice to have 960 because that would in a sense be more accurate when doing stuff in small increments, thing is the diff. probably can not be heard
[/quote]

See your point. However, it does seem funny to me in the world of digital technology. And why so little memory? And why not a DVD burner?

On the other hand - I hear that the unit is very quiet (no pun). This is good. Also, it seems well laid out. And a couple of people have pointed out the workflow factor. All in all, it seems like an nice box for working with music. That's exactly why it is so disturbing that some of its spec's look a bit below par.
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By Fist Full of Dollaz Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:51 am
I feel exactly where u coming from too, u would think that with all the new tech. they woulda said hey lets put the new stuff in

unless they're saving it for the next Super unit

or maybe its been in development since the old tech.
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By jahrome Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:22 am
My few cents.....

I am one for trying to pack as many features into a unit as possible. But is it really necessary??

The 2500 is not a multi-sampler. 128 MBs is plenty for sampling drums/phrases and sequencing. I know there are live performers that may want more in this department....but they are a minority. The MPC 4000 and MV-8000 are the only compairable products on the market with more memory..which is about 512MB. Why stop at 512? Why not a few Gigs?? In the past, I all had to work with on an MPC was 32 MBs. I never had problems running out of memory for music production...I am quite sure that I will never use up 128...especially since its main function is that of a MIDI sequencer.

Why not a DVD burner?? The advertised function that isn't available with the current OS is CD-R back up of data. Giving the amount of memory it holds....CD-R media is more than enough as a back up tool. It does read DVD-Rs although this is not advertised anywhere.

Why not more PPQs?? Don't know...me being me..I would want it just because although I would probably never use that function much. This machine is geared twoards rhythm based music..which this feature may not be really needed much. The MV-8000 has over 400 and the MPC 4000 doubles that. So there are options for people that really need this function.

The MPC 4000 is still the flag-ship MPC for the time being. The 2500 is far from a replacement for the 4000. Its just a super charged, modernized MPC 2000XL delux.
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By Lampdog Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:49 am
the human ear can only distingusih a certain amount of space between ppqn resolutions, so much of that HYPED resolution, your ears will not be able to pick up.

Look it up and you'll find what I'm talking about. This what brought up AGES ago.
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By Blue Haze Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:27 pm
Mainly for keyboard players and real drummers if you turn off the T/C the accuracy of playback goes way up along with the nuances of your playing with 960ppqs. The current MPC 4 res matches the same resolution as popular DAW like PTs, Logic, and so on. One less thing to complain about if it wasn`t there.

However for most of us that are finger drummers on the pads the double tempo technique and a 1/16 to 1/32 triplet 96ppq is enough for drums.

There is a difference if you are a Kenny G on a midi wind instrument or someone like that.

By squishy Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:26 pm
[quote="Blue Haze"]Mainly for keyboard players and real drummers if you turn off the T/C the accuracy of playback goes way up along with the nuances of your playing with 960ppqs. The current MPC 4 res matches the same resolution as popular DAW like PTs, Logic, and so on. One less thing to complain about if it wasn`t there.

However for most of us that are finger drummers on the pads the double tempo technique and a 1/16 to 1/32 triplet 96ppq is enough for drums.

There is a difference if you are a Kenny G on a midi wind instrument or someone like that.[/quote]

Funny you should mention that - I happen to be a "real drummer". Of course I would like to be able to program the MPC from my drum kit. :D

Anyway, I'd say that Kenny G could do with a lesser resolution. After all, his instrument does not have that much attack.

However, with drums, timing nuances have much greater importance - both since they are essential for groove and feel, and also because the drum / percussion sounds have significantly more attack - and how several sounds triggered simultaneously sound together is as interesting as the amount of time between sequence events.

I have not experimented with flamming effects / artifacts with any of the MPCs - anyone who have?

By boomspot Fri Dec 16, 2005 8:34 am
squishy wrote:
Blue Haze wrote:Mainly for keyboard players and real drummers if you turn off the T/C the accuracy of playback goes way up along with the nuances of your playing with 960ppqs. The current MPC 4 res matches the same resolution as popular DAW like PTs, Logic, and so on. One less thing to complain about if it wasn`t there.

However for most of us that are finger drummers on the pads the double tempo technique and a 1/16 to 1/32 triplet 96ppq is enough for drums.

There is a difference if you are a Kenny G on a midi wind instrument or someone like that.


Funny you should mention that - I happen to be a "real drummer". Of course I would like to be able to program the MPC from my drum kit. :D
?


Get some vdrums & you'll be able to sequence your kit on the mpc.

By peezie Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:29 pm
Do the double BPM trick and you have 192ppq.