Just played with MPC500 in guitar center..

To actually try out MPC500 before deciding whether to buy it or not, I went to guitar center last night to see it and touch it in person.

I was first so surprised by its size. I knew it was gonna be small but not that small! Online I've read people saying it's size of laptop, but it was even smaller than lots of laptops out there.

So then I played with the pads, playing drums and sounds that are pre-loaded, and it really sounded and felt great. Such a small device but so much power.

They also had MPC1000 and MPC2500 on display so I played with them also. I've read from this forum that MPC500 pads are not good compared to big ones, but I couldn't really feel anything different. MPC500 pads seem to bejust as good as other MPCs. I do wish 500 had bigger LCDs like those other MPCs but it's size alone makes up for it really.

I carry my laptop around sometime, and even though it's laptop you know it's heavy when you carry on your shoulder all day long. thus you don't carry it around all the time any more. But with the size of 500, I can't see why you don't carry it everywhere, and anywhere. It's just so small enough to basically make music in the subway. (Saw some people being skeptical with that but anyway)

So in conclusion I really loved it, and I think I will be getting it probably next week. Nevered used MPC or any hardware sampler/sequencer before so I will have hard time learning things, but I'm very excited about it. MPC500 seem to be something that can really inspire you, and for a musician who really doesn't stay in one place, like me, this seems to be a god send.

Welcome to the forums rapperwany. The 500 pads do feel different,yet that is not a bad thing. I would rather deal with these pads then with the issues the 1k users are faced with.I don't think the 500 would be difficult to learn. As with anything the more you mess around with it,the more comfortable you become with it.

welcome to the family of the 500.

pz

yeah, the only thing i dont like is the small lcd.

thanks Sam. I hope it ain't that hard. I'm really clueless when it comes to using hardware stuff u know.

thank you contra. did you put yourself playing with 500 on youtube by the way? I thought I saw a clip that looked like you in that picture.

rapperwany wrote:thanks Sam. I hope it ain't that hard. I'm really clueless when it comes to using hardware stuff u know.

thank you contra. did you put yourself playing with 500 on youtube by the way? I thought I saw a clip that looked like you in that picture.

nah i aint got a camera,
that was prollly jowdjo's video, btw where the hell is jowdjo???

read your other thread (where you rambled HA)

seriously get the 500.

if you have only used a computer to make music you just don't even know the power of something that you can sit with on your lap and truly interface with and make music with.

i also use logic and it is nowhere as intimate as an mpc.

i owned an mpc 2000 (nonXL) for years, loved it, got really into doing things on the computer. i sold it a few years ago to buy a fender rhodes.

i picked up a 500 yesterday and i dont know what people are talking about saying "its intended to compliment other mpcs".

this machine is the real deal. it can do everything my 2000 could do, better, and then some. the only difference i can think of is that it only has 1 midi i/o (i never ever once used both on my 2000) and doesn't have an 8 output upgrade (which i never had anyways).

if you have only used a computer to make music you just don't even know the power of something that you can sit with on your lap and truly interface with and make music with.

i also use logic and it is nowhere as intimate as an mpc.

i'm going to quote you on this elsewhere
excellent point. i agree so much.
there's a lot to be said about looking at a small screen (maybe not AS small as the 500 but you know what i mean) as opposed to a massive dual monitor monster software app...

its not even about the screen, its just that the workflow is always the same. the buttons always have the same function. once you really learn a hardware machine, you can truly use it without thinking about what you are doing, you can get "right side of the brain" with it. tap into the creative zone and loose yourself.

with a computer and interfaces (trust me i have a ton, see below) you always have to take a second and remember what is this knob/slider assigned to this time. they offer so much flexibility that it is near impossible to be so disciplined that they always have the same function. or if you did, you wouldn't be taking full advantage of the computer where there is such a surplus of effects/instruments/options.

i have one other pice of equipment that i can get intimate with (not like that, but it is damn sexy), and that is my monome 40h. when i use that with some of their software like mlr or 64step, i dont even need to look at the computer once im up and running. everything else with that connection is hardware. microkorg, roland rs 09, rhodes, guitars, etc.

controllers that dont quite get me there that i have:
m-audio O2
m-audio trigger finger
novation remote SL 0
behringer bcr 2000

i dunno its a different workflow for me, doesnt distract me with bells and whistles, just straight to the point makin music.

pz

and i make better shit now on my 500 than 2000 xl. once again its the mind of the beatmaker not the machine.

ejectorset wrote:
i have one other pice of equipment that i can get intimate with (not like that, but it is damn sexy), and that is my monome 40h. when i use that with some of their software like mlr or 64step, i dont even need to look at the computer once im up and running. everything else with that connection is hardware. microkorg, roland rs 09, rhodes, guitars, etc.

Hi ejectorset. I'm another lucky owner of a 40h and totally agree about it's 'intimacy' and intuitiveness. It's has really given me a taste of working away from the computer, which is the reason why i'm lurking about in this forum as I wanna get a 500 to sync up with MLR etc. My music and live performances have both become more enjoyable, for me as well as the listener (I hope), since using it and i'm pretty sure the 500 will add to that tactile approach. How have you been enjoying syncing the two together...?

Bong Sau wrote:...How have you been enjoying syncing the two together...?

well, i accidentally got the 500. i had been looking for a sampler/sequencer on the cheap to use live for shows (outdoor) that i dont want to expose my macbook setup to. i owned an mpc2000 for years so i knew an mpc would be perfect, but way out of my price range at the moment. needed something quick, have a show coming up in like 3 weeks.

we (theres two of us) planned on using the wurlizter electric piano with our akai headrush looper, the microkorg and my er 1 for the show. i wanted some way to use some of the stuff i have been making in ableton, with no computer. i went to guitar center hoping to grab a korg es1 mk II, but they dont carry them anymore. they had an open box special mpc 500 in there for well under $500 and i couldnt pass it by.

i guess my point before i started rambling was that i havent tried using it with the 40h in any way yet.

have you owned/used an mpc before bong sau? they are definately worth it. think of it as like 16 (or 32, cant remember how many total tracks on the 500) pattern recorders in mlr, with like tons of sounds available to use, which you can then mute/unmute in realtime. oh with velocity too.

ejectorset wrote:have you owned/used an mpc before?

I used a friends 1000 a few times and was really impressed. It must be great fun using just the MPC live on its own. The thought of combining a 500 with some of the 40h patches is very appealing, as is the portability of the unit.

You'll have to keep us posted as to how your gig goes.

Bong Sau wrote:You'll have to keep us posted as to how your gig goes.

hopefully better than the last one, literally had a usb hub EXPLODE during soundcheck.

ejectorset wrote:read your other thread (where you rambled HA)

seriously get the 500.

if you have only used a computer to make music you just don't even know the power of something that you can sit with on your lap and truly interface with and make music with.

i also use logic and it is nowhere as intimate as an mpc.

i owned an mpc 2000 (nonXL) for years, loved it, got really into doing things on the computer. i sold it a few years ago to buy a fender rhodes.

i picked up a 500 yesterday and i dont know what people are talking about saying "its intended to compliment other mpcs".

this machine is the real deal. it can do everything my 2000 could do, better, and then some. the only difference i can think of is that it only has 1 midi i/o (i never ever once used both on my 2000) and doesn't have an 8 output upgrade (which i never had anyways).

thanks for nice advice man.
your advice was just what I needed. Because what really bothering me was people saying MPC500 has to compliment other MPCs, since I do not have any other MPCs. But like you said, MPC500 seem very capable of standing on its own!