Opinions on getting MPC60 or MPC1000 with my current setup

I've got a SP12Turbo and an S950 but after some beat sessions I realized that this combo wouldn't accomplish my beatmaking ideas - > One-Shot samples, clicks when retriggering etc.

I would use the MPC as my main sampler & sequencer and use the SP12 for drums only. I prefer the warm sound at 12-bit but maybe I could achieve similar results with the Bit-Grunger on the MPC1000. What about the sequencer on both ? Are they really different one from each other ?

So now I'm planning to get either a MPC1000 or a 60. Although I would prefer the 60 I want your opinions on what to get.

the bit grunger doesnt sound anything like a lo-fi effect. it sounds more like an overdrive/distortion type of effect... so it's still usefull to me in that sense. as far as sequencing and timing, all the mpc's are similar to a degree. thats debatable though.

Yea the bit cruncher on the 1k isn't going to get you that lo fi sound by no means.

You sound like a good candidate for an EPS16+. That thing is much handier for processing sounds, has numerous playback modes+effects+filters, and it has an internal sequencer too that you can slave to the SP.

I used to use the SP1200 for drum programming and just sequence my melodies on the ASR10 keyboard (and the EPS16+ sequencer is the best of the ensoniqs for reliability). This way, the drums were programmed with ease, but I could do more complex things with the ASR sequencer (plus the keys made things easier too).

If you're addicted to lofi, then you could easily score an original EPS which is 13-bit and sounds sort of similar to the S900... ie. not too dirty, but def. not 16-bit.

13 bit?

The original EPS was 13-bit (ADC).
The EPS16+ and ASR10 were 16-bit (ADC/~DAC).

Ensoniq never made a true 12-bit sampler...I think the Mirage was 8-bit.

Word? Crazy.

The Mirage was actually 4 bit. As per Mr. Shocklee.

The Mirage was actually 4 bit. As per Mr. Shocklee.

yeah right. Even telephone signals are 8-bit. If you have an EPS/ASR (or any sampler with a destructive gain feature) you can certainly create a 4-bit sample and you'd be surprised how useless it would sound on its own.

Well the key phrase here is "use the MPC as my main sampler". If this is your intention, I would recommend the 1k. However, in most respects the 60 is a better machine probably, but the 1k is much more versatile because of the filters, routing, effects, and large memory.

Neither is very good as a main sampler however. The MPC's are desgined with limitations in the envelopes/looping that make them best for percussion.

I think the biggest disadvantage of the 1k is the pads aren't that good. Timing is tight with os 2.0 it seems to me, and that's the main thing to me! Plus the sanpler on the 1k sounds good, to me better than the 2k, and has digital in anyway...

tbiggz wrote:

The Mirage was actually 4 bit. As per Mr. Shocklee.

yeah right. Even telephone signals are 8-bit. If you have an EPS/ASR (or any sampler with a destructive gain feature) you can certainly create a 4-bit sample and you'd be surprised how useless it would sound on its own.

I stand corrected:

http://www.synthmuseum.com/ensoniq/ensmirage01.html

switch18 wrote:The Mirage was actually 4 bit. As per Mr. Shocklee.

" Its sampling specs are pretty old-school, a maximum sampling-rate of 32kHz and 8-bit resolution means your sounds will be somewhat lo-fi" from http://www.vintagesynth.com/ensoniq/ens_mirage.shtml

I used to have an ensoniq mirage because of the analog filters and envelopes. Also the variable sampling rate of 8kHz-33kHz.

More info on it here http://www.synthmuseum.com/ensoniq/ensmirage01.html

I didn't want to know the sampling specs of all Ensoniq samplers....however thanks for the replies so far !

Maybe I should have pointed out that I also have an ASR-10 and even a Sampletrak....yes I know I'm a collector

But the thing is I don't like the ASR's sequencer too much. Since I used the sequencer on the SP and Sampletrak I fell for it, so as far as I'm informed the MPC will be even hotter !

I don't care for the lack of filtering/FX on the 60, usually I don't add FX on the main samples anyways and if I needed to I could use my PC.

buy a 60 first and if you don't like it then you wouldn't have any trouble in selling it for a 1000

its funny
all these kids are tellin you other samplers to get


you can accomplish everything you want wiht your currnet combo
learn your equipment before you worry about buyin new sh it
go to the sp forums for help with your sp 950 combo... you need some
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