So...As of now, what are your thoughts on the MPC 500?

I was just wondering how everybody likes thier 500 at this point. It's been out for a little while, and I'm thinking about adding to my collection...Please give me your thoughts. And if you have owned any other type of MPC, please state which one, and how the 500 stacks up...

PEACE

i know i don't own it but i've read the manual and have followed the 500 forums to some extent...

and i would have to say that if you already have an mpc it's just not worth all the money just for something that portable. get an sp404 and save a lot of money. the limitations of the 500 as of now really make the price of the thing absurd. i bet a lot of people who buy them love em to death, but for me, going from a 1000 to a 500 would be like moving from a castle to a cabinet.

people are gonna say "oh you don't need xxxxxx software capabilities or a larger screen to make that HOT FIRE LOL!!!!!!!111111" but whatever - i really advise you not to buy a 500 unless it's used

or any akai unless it's used for that matter since so much of the sht that's inside these boxes is soooo easy and cheap to replace/repair....you really can save so much money.

unless you can buy it cheap brand new...

also look on eBay as there being sold for about $700ish new in box...

I can get them for REAL CHEAP right now. Brand new in box for 550 USD, I can ship it anywhere. Let me know if your interested:

[email protected]

thats not cheap

Hamzter wrote:unless you can buy it cheap brand new...

also look on eBay as there being sold for about $700ish new in box...

PERSONALLY, I HAVE A 2000 CLASSIC, A 2500 & I JUST GOT A 500 FOR TRAVEL & I LOVE IT! THE BEST THING ABOUT IT IS THAT ITS PORTABLE... PLUS YOU CAN EXPAND THE MEMORY TO 128 MB. & ON TOP OF THAT, IT CAN READ THE MPC 2500 FILES & THE COMPACT FLASH CARDS ARE FULLY TRANSFERABLE THEREFORE I CAN MAKE A BEAT @ HOME ON MY 2500 & TAKE IT ON THE ROAD WITH ME ON MY 500! & ON TOP OF THAT, I CAN CHOP UP ALL MY SAMPLES IN MY 2500 & THEN USE THEM IN MY 500 SO I DONT HAVE 2 WORRY ABOUT BEING LIMITED 2 CHOPPING BY EAR ON THE 500 IF I DONT WANT TO! MY MAIN REASONS FOR GETTING THE 500 WERE THE PORTABILITY & ENDLESS COMPATABILITY WITH MY 2500!..... THEREFORE I WOULD SUGGETS A 500 FOR ANYONE WHO OWNS A 2500 AND/OR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO HAVE A PORTABLE PRODUCTION CENTER!

THE DRAWBACKS ARE THE SMALL SCREEN.... & THE 12 PADS AS OPPOSED TO 16 (ITS KINDA WEIRD @ FIRST COMING FROM 16 BUT YOU JUST HAVE 2 GET USED 2 IT!)

Antonym wrote:going from a 1000 to a 500 would be like moving from a castle to a cabinet.

Antonym wrote:people are gonna say "oh you don't need xxxxxx software capabilities or a larger screen to make that HOT FIRE LOL!!!!!!!111111"

LOL, Classic.

I haven't heard any good things about the 500.. maybe if JJ put out an os that made it grow an extra couple pads and larger screen, and features, itd be dope. The best thing about it, is its portability.. but that comes with limitations

Waste of money!!! Why pay $600 on a 500 when you can get a 1000(not to much bigger in size) for $500-700? Unless you spend a lot of time traveling on planes and buses, where that battery operation future would come in handy, other than that waste of money.

also look on eBay as there being sold for about $700ish new in box...

still steep...

WELL I GUESS I WAS LUCKY CUZ I GOT MINES 4 FREE.... SO I CANT REALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT NUTHIN!... LOL

you stole it?

LMAO!.... NAW BRO I JUST WORK @ A MUSIC STORE SO I WAS ABLE 2 SELL 5 & GET 1 FREE THROUGH THIS SPECIAL RETAILER OFFER FROM AKAI!

I'm an MPC4000 user with an MPC500 that I've had since they first came out. Great little unit. Only problem I've ever had is limited polyphony.. But I can work around by not playing so many chords from the pads.

Portability is the main thing. It's so small, you can take it anywhere. You can even create beats whilst walking by holding it one hand and tapping out beats with the other. The flash card works well too.

The screen size is not even an issue. Seriously, I don't know why people who have never used a 500 keep dissing the screen size. They have no idea what they're on about! Truth is, it's well designed and gets the job done. I'm normally used to the big screen on the 4000, but can get tracks down on the 500 just as quickly. The whole process is totally transparent. At the end of the day, that's all that matters. Plus, the colour of the screen.. gotta love that bright blue!

When you think about the MPC500 has more features than the older MPC60 / 3000. Well, excluding the 8 outs, extra tracks etc. Plus, you can bang out beats wherever you are.. in a bus, on a train, up a tree, etc.

Lastly, if you're into creative sampling it is the perfect tool. Hook up a mic, go out and sample some live sounds directly into it and edit them on the spot. Hell, it could even be used as a multitrack recorder as it allows you to sample new sounds while a sequence is playing. That's the thing, if you're creative enough you'll be able to do some crazy stuff with the 500.. Take it out, make it do things it wasn't designed for.

JAISTAX wrote:LMAO!.... NAW BRO I JUST WORK @ A MUSIC STORE SO I WAS ABLE 2 SELL 5 & GET 1 FREE THROUGH THIS SPECIAL RETAILER OFFER FROM AKAI!

hahah. what a deal!

i wouldnt waste my money on this..

$700? for a fraction of that you can get a SP404..