Let me know what you think about...

this:

But if you're want something that can do everything, you can get a used 1k and max it out for another $200 and have enough money left over to buy a turntable, mixer and some vinyl.

When I say 'maxed out,' I mean that MPCs have room on the inside for internal hard drives and expanded memory, which can be used in addition to the floppy/compact flash drives. You can get both for cheap out of used laptops, as long as the brand name of the drive is compatible and it's not over 100GB. I have a 70GB one in my 1000 and I haven't even made a dent in the memory.

A maxed out 1k=maxed out 4k, the only difference is the size and weight, and the 4k has a built in CD burner that can be used for data only (if you have the newest operating system, you can create music CDs).

This was written at another forum in response to someone asking where they can get a 4000 for cheap. This is a statement I've heard before from this user, and I'm having a hardtime believing that a maxed out 1,000 = a 4,000.

Discuss....

He's talking out of his arse.

A 1000 maxed out is powerful but it aint no 4000...

This is a guy I've known online for a few years...he USUALLY knows what he's talking about, and is a very intelligent person who only posts when he has something good to say. So...that means he really believes his own statement.

Is there anything I can point specifically that the 4000 has that a maxed out 1,000 would not?

the 4000 is three times the cost of a 1000.. that should be all the info he needs....

tell him to look at this chart..

http://www.akaipro.com/MPC_Comparison_Chart.pdf

This dude has said since that last post earlier today, after I voiced my doubts that his statement was correct.

Yeah Tic, a maxed out 1ooo can do just about everything that a maxed out 4ooo can.
There's a new OS that just came out a few weeks ago that basically closes the gap between them.
Don't be fooled by the way the 1ooo looks, it's not a toy.
It's just compact because it's made to fit with a computer setup and have everything be accessible, but as far as features go there's not much difference. That's why you can get a blue one for cheap now

and not many people know how install the OS themselves so sales went through the roof via selling the blue ones and buying black ones instead.
The only thing I've seen that I wish I had on my 1ooo is the pad configuration.
On every other MPC, the pads are on a sheet, but on the 1ooo the pads are made individually so it's a pain trying to repair them.

Though I can see where he's coming from, I still don't think it's correct, I just can't see a maxed 1000 equaling the capablities of a 4000. I would think that the 4000 has more features, more effects, an overall more powerful sequencer than the 1k.

That sounds much like the discussion 2500 <-> 1000 that has been going on in the last days. Of course you might do 80% of the job the 4000 can do with the new 1000 as well. But if you need those little extra details, like higher sampling rate, higher resolution sequencer, better display, 4x memory, keygroups, LFO (just look at the comparison chart) and overall more reliable hardware, you will sure be willing to spend the extra money.

And as a side note, I personally don't believe people sell their 1000 to buy a new one, cause they don't know how to update their OS...



Peace.

That is straight ignorant, to anybody who would be fooled into thinking that a 1000 could do the things a 4000 can, just a get a damn 1000, because you won't need what the 4000 has anyway.

I never even used the thing but its an s5000 in there, a full featured sampler...The 1000 is a dressed-up MPC sampler. ADSR's, crossfades, more filters, and bit rate conversions are examples of things left out of the 1000. (for now at least)

d_loc wrote:its an s5000 in there

In fact a Z4 or Z8, the next generation along from the S5000 / S6000.

As far as interface alone goes, the 4000 is night and day compared to the 1000. I never got into the 1000, the 4000 is a walk in the park... that extra money goes to making things easier I guess! Bigger screen, bigger pads, more buttons (= more direct access to functions), more midi outs, higher bit rate, higher sampling rate, higher sequencer resolution. Not dissing the 1000, it's cool, but no way is it a 4000!

Its always surprised me that people dont make a bigger deal about the 4000 screen. You can see sooooo much more at once..especially in grid edit, step edit, waveform pages..

I gave dude a link to this thread, and here's his response:

Most of the issues these guys are talking about, aside from the incredibly detailed screen, bitrate conversion, and added memory, are taken care of with the new OS.

It's still in beta testing, as I have been told, but as I said, the 3.0 OS is really closing the gap.

But from a technical standpoint, all the things a 4k can do can be done with a 1k, maybe not in the same way but they can be done.

Being honest, I tried out a 4k and I was thingking about getting one, but the extra two grand was'nt worth it when all I had to do was wait for the new OS and get a HD second hand.
The cat that said,
'it's two grand more, that says it all'
evidently doesn't know about Akai's rep very well.

It's an industry fact that Akai has a rep for overcharging for any new upgrades and hardware, and the only reason they do it is because people like him believe that because it costs more it has to be bigger, better, stronger and thier company endorsed products are superior.
It's basically the equivilant of buying GM parts for an American car, it's a HUGE ripoff when you can buy the same part for a fraction of the cost from another company but GM recommends you buiy thier parts (of course they would, it's more money in thier pocket).

Just to put things in perspective, when you pay the extra $2,ooo for it, this is basicaly what you're geting:
An internal hard drive
Extra RAM
1 more filter
more step sequencing (the 1k comes with 100,000 and the 4k comes with 300,000-you don't need THAT much with either)
ON-board bays

In addition to a few other rings and bells, this is all the difference.

But that comparison chart the dude put up was NOT COMPREHENSIVE MACHINE CAPABILITY, it was a comparison of what you get when you buy it new.
You get the 4ooo basically maxed out already when bought new, but if you shell out an extra $450 for an already more cheap machine, then you can get the same thing for almost 2ooo less.

When you're paying that money for it, you're essentially paying for the fact that they have to pay workers to put the HD and extra RAM in it, pay a hardware company to make the hardware for them, the extra shipping because of the added bulk, and advertisements for the machine itself.

The 4ooo is an incredible machine, no doubt about it, and it's great for people that aren't good at installing hardware and software, but if you're trained to do these things there's no sense in paying someone else to do it for you.

Ok, first off cross-posting between forums sucks, if you want to have this discussion, tell this guy to come over here.

Second, the whole argument is incredibaly boring. Buy the machine you fancy and get on with making music.

Third, the argument this guy is making about upgrading machines etc is really thin.

Forth, the arguments about the cost of these things falls down when you look at second hand prices. Why buy a 1000 new for £550 or a 2500 new for £700 (or whatever) when you can catch a 4000 second hand for £800 or £900?

Finaly, at the end of the day, it all doesn't matter. All MPC's make music. Save your money, make a decision, and go for it.

Oh, and BTW, the whole O/S thing is kinda boring as well. back in the day, we bought / hired a drum machine or sampler and got on with it. Wonder what would have happened if Afrika Bambaataa had decided to wait for a new Fairlight O/S to do Planet Rock with?

First of all, the person initiating this thread isn't the guy from the other forums, it's me. I'm the one who's inquiring about this whole thing.

Look at it this way, what if I read this in an article? I guess criss-crossing between forums and the writer of that article would be really gay too, wouldn't it? The guy doesn't have any beef with any of you guys, he's simply sticking to his position which isn't made in any sort of argumentive way whatsoever. It's actually a really interesting and important discussion.

Yeah, bambaataa shouldn't have waited to make anything, but if he found out he heard someone bought a machine that does almost the same exact thing as his more expensive machine, I can bet he'd take interest. I don't know about you, but $400 dollars is a lot of dough, homie, and if you don't think so, you need to get your head out of your ass. I can buy a lot of things with $400, and we might even be talking about more money than that.

I'm not saying the guy's right, hell, I'm the one who's doubts inspired me to make this thread, but he's made solid points while some people in here say vague quotes like "a 1,000 is powerful...but it ain't no 4,000".

I guess I overestimated the members of this site, thinking they'd be willing to partake in a discussion about a valid point that actually makes you think twice. Instead, a couple people have taken offense at the actual AUDACITY of saying a much cheaper product might be almost equivalent to the 2,000 bucks we spent on the 4,000.

Go figure.

PS: I wasn't referring to the majority of people who posted in this thread, just one or two. Everyone's input is appreciated on the whole.

Re: wrote:I gave dude a link to this thread, and here's his response:

[...]
The 4ooo is an incredible machine, no doubt about it, and it's great for people that aren't good at installing hardware and software, but if you're trained to do these things there's no sense in paying someone else to do it for you.

Okay, the guy obviously has his standpoint and arguments to support it. But this point is (for lack of a better word, sorry) bullshit.

And like nik already said, finally it depends on your personal preference which machine you choose. And that's part of what every manufacturer builds his pricing policy on as well. Add a few more features to a bigger machine, and price it juuuust as high that the customer is still willing to pay. That's an art of itself of course

I personally would rather save for a 4000 than buy a 1000 as well.


Cheers.