one has to go...MPC 60 vs. MPC 3000 LE which would you keep?

Share your knowledge on these two classic MPCs
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By erkl Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:42 pm
Tal wrote:
issues wrote:keep the 3000le...period

sell the 60...same thing without all the extra sample time...12 bit, too, but ur gonna get an sp1200..

keep the 3000le. damn...i dont even see ur dillemma. 3000le...nuff said


**** just looks bad as hell.


Image
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By THE ADVERSARY Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:01 pm
switch18 wrote:
I don't agree entirely, with previous comments about the Juno & Bass Station. Yes its true sometimes they sound the same. Thats because lazy people dont program synths. If you are getting one of those for presets, dont. If you want to program, and I mean program those are all great synths. I could problably just keep a couple of my synths and get similiar results, but I am synth freak. I spend hours programming sounds & I don't think mine sound anything like what I hear on records. Still, like you said you could play synths off of the MPC pads. Do you do any editing on your computer?




That's not what I said.
I said you realize how much you have heard them.
That can tend to make you drift on them.
It real easy to get caught up in the sounds you have heard or spend too much time trying not to sound like the sounds you have heard.
Creation of sounds is a must, but not to the degree that it kills creativity.
You want to find that true balance.
Gear can be a burden or benefit.
I will never see limitations in gear as a benefit, I'm the type who sees it as not meeting my needs.
I am not the type that jumps for the newest and latest unless it fixes a problem.
You just find your pocket and work from it.
You already know which you like just ask yourself which it is.
As far as the SP, if you get one, put everything else to the side both physically and mentally and learn what it's really about.
That's the only way you'll understand why a fully loaded 60 struggles to be sold for a good price and SP's with issues can get into the $1K + club.
Same thing with 3k's they are going for some pretty low prices because many have been dogged out, some think the 4k is better and some think the 2500 is better.
Truth is if you can get your hands on a 60 or 3k in nice condition you better hold on to it.
Between multi-ownership and their actual age a lot of them are looking pretty bad.
So better units will be harder to find or cost more if you change your mind and want to go back.
I have bailed on a lot of gear over the years but it's always been for the right reasons so it always works out.

One more thing; switch18 who said liking synths was a crime?
Not making use of them is the crimninal act. :wink:
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By partyboy Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:06 pm
-I woud say....keep both, because nobody should sell those great machines---

but .....to your question:

keep the 3K and buy a SP then, you have best of both worlds....

the 3K in 16 bit and high solution and the dirty SP in 12 bit


cheers
Partybooy
Last edited by partyboy on Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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By Tal Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:31 pm
THE ADVERSARY wrote:
switch18 wrote:
I don't agree entirely, with previous comments about the Juno & Bass Station. Yes its true sometimes they sound the same. Thats because lazy people dont program synths. If you are getting one of those for presets, dont. If you want to program, and I mean program those are all great synths. I could problably just keep a couple of my synths and get similiar results, but I am synth freak. I spend hours programming sounds & I don't think mine sound anything like what I hear on records. Still, like you said you could play synths off of the MPC pads. Do you do any editing on your computer?




Honestly dude speaks the truth. To find an MPC 60II or an MPC3000 or even 3000Le is as easy as CRAIGSLIST. I was fortunate enough to find a MINT 3000LE. Dude had the original disk set, original manual and I flipped when he whipped out the Original BOX! I know the newer models have cd, card reader. Shit is really tempting but. Im content with my shit. If your shit is breaking down on you to the point where its causing you to get distracted then invest in some recent gear. If its something like a dim screen just replace with a new display. take a look at your position. I honestly work all day and to think of learning some new shit, reading manuals, i mean getting down to the nitty gritty of gear is like imagining myself going back to school. I cant see myself sitting through classes and doing homework. thats the type of mentality you have to have. oh and stop reading SCRATCH magazine to find out what other dudes are rockin.

That's not what I said.
I said you realize how much you have heard them.
That can tend to make you drift on them.
It real easy to get caught up in the sounds you have heard or spend too much time trying not to sound like the sounds you have heard.
Creation of sounds is a must, but not to the degree that it kills creativity.
You want to find that true balance.
Gear can be a burden or benefit.
I will never see limitations in gear as a benefit, I'm the type who sees it as not meeting my needs.
I am not the type that jumps for the newest and latest unless it fixes a problem.
You just find your pocket and work from it.
You already know which you like just ask yourself which it is.
As far as the SP, if you get one, put everything else to the side both physically and mentally and learn what it's really about.
That's the only way you'll understand why a fully loaded 60 struggles to be sold for a good price and SP's with issues can get into the $1K + club.
Same thing with 3k's they are going for some pretty low prices because many have been dogged out, some think the 4k is better and some think the 2500 is better.
Truth is if you can get your hands on a 60 or 3k in nice condition you better hold on to it.
Between multi-ownership and their actual age a lot of them are looking pretty bad.
So better units will be harder to find or cost more if you change your mind and want to go back.
I have bailed on a lot of gear over the years but it's always been for the right reasons so it always works out.

One more thing; switch18 who said liking synths was a crime?
Not making use of them is the crimninal act. :wink:
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By kersey Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:50 pm
in a way, I wish I had that much gear!
As someone pointed out, saving tracks made with different machines sometimes is a pain. but it is more flexible

I'd keep the 3000 (I can't imagine how much room you need fot both a 3K and a 60... lol)... with that 950 it seems a perfect setup.

the SP is so expensive for what it does (although it really ain't nothing), and seems to be such a pain to program, I won't bother buying one (at least a the current going price)

By Deta!L Thu Mar 09, 2006 3:01 am
thanks yall. this isn't any scratch magazine type ish either, I just had the money and got the 3K at a great deal and planned to sell it and/or keep it but couldn't decide. I love the 60 and never wanted anything more until I was looking at the evil cousin seducing me to the dark side in all her black glory...
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By 3001 Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:20 pm
if u like the mpc60 sell the mpc3000, you'll regret getting rid of the 60 if so.

do ya really need the sp1200 though? the mpc60 sound just doesn't do it for you?

I recently just got outta my old school drum machine stint, and i'd say i'm very happy about that. all the options that are out there are ridiculous. and the amount of acts rockign new shit like mpc2k and other shit really **** well destroys the idea that they don't sound good.

mpc3000 is cute but outdated, it's hard to deny that. many people are stuck in it cuz like somone said before, tehy're not willing to learn something new. they're f'n lazy. it's the plight of the MPC head, falling into stereotypes of "thunk thunk i thunk i seen me a Beat box, make me beat good!!" lol... i 've encountered that shit too much...

the mpc3000 to me offers really nothing greater than the 60, the 60 has a unique sound, you can buy an akai s6000 if u want hi fi sound on top of hte 60 and it'll be the same price. a lot of heads are satisfied now using the 2500 saynig the groove is up there too.

simply the lack of editing n file manage ment on an mpc3000 is frustrating. It's 2006, i want USB, resampling, and chopping, timestretching...siht that makes me life 1000x easier, easier enough to realize my buddies are making tracks that sound higher quality being able to utilize higher bit rates, and making them quicker utilizing the extra features...

i don't make simple underground hip hop though, so that might change things...bum bum chi bum chi (insert stupid jazz sample or any other stupid sample to make ya sound pseudo intellectual) hi hat eigth notes... yay... that's what hte mpc3000 is great for...lol;p sorry i know i insulted 80% of the forum, but i'm cranky...and really jsut don't give a ****. so sick of those lame ass tracks...it isn't the early 90s anymore!(i should tell myself this, i make pretty dated tekno lol)

only keep the mpc3000 if you're used to it, and aren't willing to learn other things. It's a great box if it's all u know, but there are many more options out there. and the 60 gets u a signature sound u can't get any other way(s950 tho...)
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By Tal Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:34 pm
Honestly you, myself, and all others who have posted have given you the detail that is influenced by personal perspective. Whether done intentionally or not this seems to be the case. There is something to be said about all the MPC lines. from the 60 MKI to the 4000PLUS. Whether it be the amount of OUTS, Built in effects, sample rate, etc, all machines differ. Does that mean you need to go out and purchase every one. Probably not. To say one machine is better than the other is a bit of an over statement. It all comes with experience, I also said I owned two other models before I purchased a 3000Le. Was my 2000Xl better or worse than what I have now? No. To compare grittiness, swing, feel, really has been beaten to death. To think all that time investing debating this can be spent making music. I think thats what seperates the Pro's from "bed room producers". Seems that way to much time is spent debating when we should be creating.
PEACE
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By 3001 Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:36 pm
yea also a lot of "pros" also have tons of high end proccessing gear, so they can make any peice sound good..also a lot of pros are looking for commercial success so are making tracks for that...
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By Tal Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:39 pm
3001 wrote:yea also a lot of "pros" also have tons of high end proccessing gear, so they can make any peice sound good..also a lot of pros are looking for commercial success so are making tracks for that...


Yes and NO. You cant turn shit to flowers no matter how you plant it. If you arent coming correct with your drums they are never gonna bang. I dont care what you run them through. I firmly believe in you reep what you sow. Meaning if your not spending time getting your drums correct. Take that how ever you want it. (digging for drums etc) . I've never personally recorded my own work professionally but I've been witness in enough sessions to stand by this.
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By 3001 Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:49 pm
it's your rhythms that often matter.. but apart from that, u can polish a turd with today's proccessing. there's a lot of "proffessinal recording" places which are about as pro as me sneindg shit through a behringer. proccessing, eqing is about 50% of the sound...

also what is "making your drusm correct" after a while u end up shitting out rhythms in seconds, and there's no real work. especialyl with an mpc..unless you're smoking so many blunts that it makes it complex...i mean how imaginative do you have to be to throw a beat together...once i hear some really imaginative shit i'll say "word that shit's hot" but too oftne i hear people "i'm workin so hard on this beat" then i hear it and i'm like "why?" or somone will try odd time signatures to try and make themselves unique but just sound off...


sorry goin off...:-) but yes u can polish a terd, most pop singers are a great example of this...

if your engineer can't polish a terd he's not a good engineer...!:-)
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By Tal Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:36 pm
3001 wrote:it's your rhythms that often matter.. but apart from that, u can polish a turd with today's proccessing. there's a lot of "proffessinal recording" places which are about as pro as me sneindg **** through a behringer. proccessing, eqing is about 50% of the sound...

also what is "making your drusm correct" after a while u end up **** out rhythms in seconds, and there's no real work. especialyl with an mpc..unless you're smoking so many blunts that it makes it complex...i mean how imaginative do you have to be to throw a beat together...once i hear some really imaginative **** i'll say "word that ****'s hot" but too oftne i hear people "i'm workin so hard on this beat" then i hear it and i'm like "why?" or somone will try odd time signatures to try and make themselves unique but just sound off...





sorry goin off...:-) but yes u can polish a terd, most pop singers are a great example of this...

if your engineer can't polish a terd he's not a good engineer...!:-)


From how intial dude was describing it appeared that hes creating HIPHOP. Gathered that from asking about SP, grit, etc. What I mean by making your drums correct is what are your drum/drum saple sources. I wasnt talking about drum pattern signatures. If your drums are weak sauce then theyre gonna stay weak sauce. Again its all relative. props to all
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By THE ADVERSARY Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:40 pm
No matter what it still comes down to how you like to work, what gear you have and how well you know your gear.
Funny thing about most gear advice is it comes from people who don't know or use that piece of gear and it's pretty easy to recognize.
Doesn't matter if it's a DAW, MPC, mic, mic pre, or whatever.

Another thing is "PROs" have plenty of time to peck around on a laptop while someone is doing take #45 or smoking blunt #4 to try and get a good take.

Studio's have Internet access and sessions do require distractions to make them less fatiguing.

Doesn't matter what your sampling chops are or what outboard gear you use, you can't get certain sounds from certain boxes.
Never loose site of that fact.
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By Something Like That Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:04 pm
"i don't make simple underground hip hop though, so that might change things...bum bum chi bum chi (insert stupid jazz sample or any other stupid sample to make ya sound pseudo intellectual) hi hat eigth notes... yay... that's what hte mpc3000 is great for...lol;p sorry i know i insulted 80% of the forum, but i'm cranky...and really jsut don't give a ****. so sick of those lame ass tracks...it isn't the early 90s anymore!(i should tell myself this, i make pretty dated tekno lol)

only keep the mpc3000 if you're used to it, and aren't willing to learn other things. It's a great box if it's all u know, but there are many more options out there."



true, true...ain't mad at ya.
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