MPC 60 Vs. ASR-10: On the same level Sonicly?

Hi I was wondering a few things before deciding to buy an MPC 60(I or II):

1) What's the Max(incl upgrades) sample time?

2) Is there a local off so I can use it as midi controller and if so can I use it to trigger sounds from my pc?

3) How does it compare sound wise(old school Premo/RZA hip hop perspective) with an ASR-10 because my dream studio would center around these two machines and a pc ofcourse. BTW I know Premo uses the MPC 60 and RZA the ASR-10.

I personally have only ever used an Ensoniq Mirage back in the day and have never touched an MPC or an ASR-10 (made a few beats on my friends EPS 16 in the mid ninties). I've been using software for the past six years and have had a 'moment of clarity' and need to get back to the 'real' hip-hop machines that make samples sound dope (or def if your really old lol).

Peace

1) What's the Max(incl upgrades) sample time?
RTM, it's in there.

2) Is there a local off so I can use it as midi controller and if so can I use it to trigger sounds from my pc?Again, I will have to say read the manual and any addendums on different os's.

Thanks for that I just read the manual after I posted and answered my own questions(sorry; hey it's my first post here).

I still want to know from anyone who might know if the mpc 60 sound and the asr-10 sound are comparable and how? I want both of these machines!

peace haze, what's going down?

i use an asr-10 and an mpc 60 and i think they compliment each other beautifully -- i wouldn't change out my setup for anything.

i don't know if i'd say that they sound the same, but i will say that they're most definitely compatible. as i'm sure you know, the asr-10 is a 16 bit sampler while the 60 is a 12 bit sampler. this is a bit deceiving though because the mpc60 actually samples in 16 bit and then internally converts the sound into a 12 bit non-linear sample... because of this it's definitely more along the lines of an asr-10 (as far as clarity) than an sp, for example. it does not have that true 12 bit dirt like an eps or an sp1200, so if that's what you're looking for, the 60 may be a bit clean for you. but having said that, i absolutely love working with the 10 and the 60. i think you'd be hard pressed to combine two machines that can top the sound you'll get from these units...

hope that helped. good luck!

lynn ness wrote:
this is a bit deceiving though because the mpc60 actually samples in 16 bit and then internally converts the sound into a 12 bit non-linear sample...

That's backward it samples at 12 and converts it to 16 for processing.

The Maker wrote:

lynn ness wrote:
this is a bit deceiving though because the mpc60 actually samples in 16 bit and then internally converts the sound into a 12 bit non-linear sample...

That's backward it samples at 12 and converts it to 16 for processing.

You might want to let the folks at Roger Linn know how their machine works then...

As per the 60's manual (on page 136):

"All sampling is done using a 16 bit analog-to-digital converter at a 40kHz sampling rate, and compressing the data into a special 12-bit non-linear storage format."

Yo thanks a million for this info lynn ness, I don't want anything else for my studio now; Ebay here I come! Unless someone knows another place to get vintage gear? One

Best of luck, man! I'm sure you're gonna kill it!

Peas.

P.S. Keep an eye on craigslist too.

haze3000 wrote:Thanks for that I just read the manual after I posted and answered my own questions(sorry; hey it's my first post here).

Not a problem, Welcome to the boards.

Craigslist is GREAT.

lynn ness wrote:

The Maker wrote:

lynn ness wrote:
this is a bit deceiving though because the mpc60 actually samples in 16 bit and then internally converts the sound into a 12 bit non-linear sample...

That's backward it samples at 12 and converts it to 16 for processing.

You might want to let the folks at Roger Linn know how their machine works then...

As per the 60's manual (on page 136):

"All sampling is done using a 16 bit analog-to-digital converter at a 40kHz sampling rate, and compressing the data into a special 12-bit non-linear storage format."

It uses 12-bit sampling with 16-bit oversampling which means it samples at a low rate and processes at the higher rate for better quality.
Oversampling means generating more samples from a waveform that has already been digitally recorded.

Personally Haze I have both the ASR-10 and the MPC 3000.
I only use the ASR-10 to play sounds from my Triton rackmount. I like the feel of the MP as opposed to the ASR meaning, I think the MP is alot punchier with kicks and snares etc... and I personally found it painstaking trying to play drums on keys. But thats me fam. Both are a good by but the only drawback with the ASR is that it does not have onboard sounds it just samples. You expect a drum machine not to have onboard sounds but a keyboard. I suggest playing with both to get a feel of what beeter suits your playing style then make an informed decisions after that. If you dont have access to either machine just peep the post and see what kind of replies you get. Stay up! ~1~

Here it is... I have both an ASR 10 and MPC 60. For drum programing and basic sampling I would say the 60 is better. For playing out samples on a keyboard like bass, synth ect the ASR is better suited. The most popular combo seem to be an ASR 10 and MPC 2000. I know alot of people use this combo because Kanye has it but actually alot of people I run into have been using this combo for years. The ASR 10 has a certian warmth that colors any sound sampled into it. I personally never really use the ASR for sequencing as MPC's are alot quicker to work with. Sonically the 60 and ASR 10 differ as well.... the 60 seems to have a clear crisp crunch and the ASR 10 seem to have an "old vinyl" sound about it. The sound ourt of the ASR 10 is fantastic and the 60 is right up there with it but they both have there strengths and weanesses. You will not have tons of luck melodically if you are a keyboard guy with the 60 comared to the ASR as it is more of a drum sampler ....... I think MPC's and ASR's are so popular because they work together where one lacks the other fills. But I think with either you can't go wrong. As far as sampling time,... The 60 has 26 seconds maxed out ( that is if you find one with max ram...100.00 for a chip if it doesn't ) and the ASR has like 3 or 4 min if I am not mistaken..it goes up to 16mb ..I never max it out ) ..... and Local off...yeah the ASR and MPC can both do that. I hate reading Manuals too ..... peas....

If you do decide on an MPC 60 MAKE SURE....

1. The backlight is good
2. It has the newer V3 Linn Operating System
3. TRY to get it with max Ram 2.25mb and SCSI ( Has to be Marion Systems upgrade not the standard port..)
4. If you work at home with headphones get a 60II as the original 60 does not have a headphone jack...

Pay around 800.00 for the 60 with these options.


If you decide on the ASR 10

1. Make sure it has SCSI !! Floppies SIZZUCK
2. Get 16mb ram ( Not a big deal though as it uses cheap computer SIMM ram)
3. Get OS 3.04 somehow.. 10.00 on eBay...

Pay around 800.00 for the keyboard and 600.00 for the rack version.

Buying tips from an audio kingpin.

MPZ60 wrote:4. If you work at home with headphones get a 60II as the original 60 does not have a headphone jack...

no dis cuz your post was very concise and acurate, but on the stength -- folks really need to stop trippin' on this whole headphone jack thing... i personally don't know one person who isn't running the stereo outs of their sampler into some kind of mixer (which then has it's own headphone jack).

and if haze is gonna be using a 10 along with the 60, he's most def' gonna have a little mixer for monitoring both units simultaneously.

I think the mpc-60 maxes out at 1.5 megs. Which gives you the 26 seconds. The compression feature on the 3.10 yields 52 seconds. The s-950 maxes out at 2.25 I believe. I got the memory upgrade but I don't have the 3.10 software. I ain't complaining. the upgrade is is almost 2 bills and thats pretty much the difference it makes on ebay. But if you can get it go for it.