MPC virgin! Should i get the 500?

What up peoples?
Aight here's da deal...

I've been making beats for about 2 yrs... been serious about it for a couple months now... im currently using Reason 2.5, Sound Forge 8.0 with a Roland PC-70 MIDI Controller. I'm very comfortable with what i use, however i want to venture out into the MPC world... i've never used the MPC to make beats... so when ppl compare the 500 to the 1000 or the 2000, it means NOTHING to me.... anyways, i like the idea of the MPC 500, it being portable and making beats on the go... i think that's kinda cool... i was thinking about gettin that... it's very affordable for me... what do yall suggest? coming from my perspective?

should i get it? or not?
and please state your reasons why?

respect!

http://www.myspace.com/relzmakinbeatz

I thnk if portability is a big factor to you, then go ahead and get it. I’ve had my mpc500 for 8 days now. This is my first mpc also. I got it because I’m always on the go. The only time I spend at my house is just usually 2-3 hours at night then I go to bed, then wake up and go to work. When lunch time hits I just mess with my mpc500. That’s what its like for me anyways. It’s a nice machine, and from what I’ve read in the forums portability is the biggest factor to get the 500. If you want more stationary then I’ve read that the others like the 1000 are not too much more $$$. Aside from having more features and pads along with more of a viewable screen, they are not too far off. But I like my 500 so far. And the 2 line lcd doesn’t bother me I’ve never done any production stuff so its all new to me. I’m used to spinning the music not making the music. Actually almost returned it the other day cuz I was getting frustrated. But just decided to stick it out and now I’m determined to try and do this. So go to the store and mess with it a little if you can. Keep reading the forums also, there is a lot of helpful people and info on here.

Good luck.

I would go for the 1000 as your first MPC...

It is a perfect blend and used they are the same $ as the 500.

The 500 can be frustrating with the small screen and cumbersome menu system.

I have the 60, 3000, 2000xl and 1000.

If I had to choose only one I am afraid it would be the 1000.... I have used the 500 but it is kind of like using a Roland SP or other low end unit and really to me does not have the workflow that has made the MPC Popular...

1000 with the JJOS and you will be in beatmaking heaven...

The 1000 is pretty portable as well You just need an outlet or AC converter for your car if you are using it on the road... It fits perfect in a laptop case..

MPZ60 wrote:I would go for the 1000 as your first MPC...

It is a perfect blend and used they are the same $ as the 500.

The 500 can be frustrating with the small screen and cumbersome menu system.

I have the 60, 3000, 2000xl and 1000.

If I had to choose only one I am afraid it would be the 1000.... I have used the 500 but it is kind of like using a Roland SP or other low end unit and really to me does not have the workflow that has made the MPC Popular...

1000 with the JJOS and you will be in beatmaking heaven...

The 1000 is pretty portable as well You just need an outlet or AC converter for your car if you are using it on the road... It fits perfect in a laptop case..

I got an MPC500 as my first MPC ever, mainly because the MPC1000 is around $550 more than the MPC500 where I'm at.

I hardly find the menu system cumbersome, and the display doesn't bother me at all. I think people who are used to bigger screens may feel uncomfortable with the smaller one, but to me it was no problem. The only real limit with the 2 line character LCD I believe is that you can't see waveforms to easily chop samples, so I do this on my Mac instead.

After having had it for a few days I knew the machine inside and out. The manual is really good, make sure to read it!

But then again I have nothing to compare it with other than Reason and the M-Audio Trigger Finger, and I find the workflow of the MPC500 much, much smoother. No more pointing and clicking (except for chopping samples)!

I just wish JJ could cook up some awesome new OS with some of the few missing features.

Just my opinion on the MPC500. Good luck with whatever you choose to go with!

Lion of Judah wrote:I got an MPC500 as my first MPC ever, mainly because the MPC1000 is around $550 more than the MPC500 where I'm at.

I hardly find the menu system cumbersome, and the display doesn't bother me at all. I think people who are used to bigger screens may feel uncomfortable with the smaller one, but to me it was no problem. The only real limit with the 2 line character LCD I believe is that you can't see waveforms to easily chop samples, so I do this on my Mac instead.

After having had it for a few days I knew the machine inside and out. The manual is really good, make sure to read it!

But then again I have nothing to compare it with other than Reason and the M-Audio Trigger Finger, and I find the workflow of the MPC500 much, much smoother. No more pointing and clicking (except for chopping samples)!

I just wish JJ could cook up some awesome new OS with some of the few missing features.

Just my opinion on the MPC500. Good luck with whatever you choose to go with!

see, that's my point... i have nothing to compare it to... and it's portable and affordable (hmmm im gonna put that in a rhyme)

now my question is... (mind you, i dont have an MPC nor have i used one)
how do i load samples into the 500 if im on the go?
and is it compatible with Reason? ie. can i make a drum pattern with the 500, and then drop a bassline with my MIDI controller via Reason? basically, can i make a beat with Reason AND the MPC500?

ReLZ wrote:see, that's my point... i have nothing to compare it to... and it's portable and affordable (hmmm im gonna put that in a rhyme)

now my question is... (mind you, i dont have an MPC nor have i used one)
how do i load samples into the 500 if im on the go?
and is it compatible with Reason? ie. can i make a drum pattern with the 500, and then drop a bassline with my MIDI controller via Reason? basically, can i make a beat with Reason AND the MPC500?

If you are on the go, you could load samples from an MP3 player, and trim them in the MPC, but I'd rather prepare the samples on a computer, then transfer them to the MPC for use on the go.

The MPC500 is indeed compatible with Reason, but it can take some time to figure out how to get it to work. I won't go in to how to do this (I don't really have the time right now), but it's indeed possible and works good.

Lion of Judah wrote:If you are on the go, you could load samples from an MP3 player, and trim them in the MPC, but I'd rather prepare the samples on a computer, then transfer them to the MPC for use on the go.

The MPC500 is indeed compatible with Reason, but it can take some time to figure out how to get it to work. I won't go in to how to do this (I don't really have the time right now), but it's indeed possible and works good.

interesting... now what's better about preparing the samples on a PC before hand?

sorry for all the questions..

ReLZ wrote:

Lion of Judah wrote:If you are on the go, you could load samples from an MP3 player, and trim them in the MPC, but I'd rather prepare the samples on a computer, then transfer them to the MPC for use on the go.

The MPC500 is indeed compatible with Reason, but it can take some time to figure out how to get it to work. I won't go in to how to do this (I don't really have the time right now), but it's indeed possible and works good.

interesting... now what's better about preparing the samples on a PC before hand?

sorry for all the questions..

I just prepare the samples on the computer because I think it's easier when you see the waveforms as opposed to only seeing numbers and hearing the sample.

Lion of Judah wrote:

ReLZ wrote:

Lion of Judah wrote:If you are on the go, you could load samples from an MP3 player, and trim them in the MPC, but I'd rather prepare the samples on a computer, then transfer them to the MPC for use on the go.

The MPC500 is indeed compatible with Reason, but it can take some time to figure out how to get it to work. I won't go in to how to do this (I don't really have the time right now), but it's indeed possible and works good.

interesting... now what's better about preparing the samples on a PC before hand?

sorry for all the questions..

I just prepare the samples on the computer because I think it's easier when you see the waveforms as opposed to only seeing numbers and hearing the sample.

SEEN!

respect!

i would say go ahead and get it.....learn the thing inside out...I think chopping samples by ear would definitly help your production skills....It has for me

3rik wrote:i would say go ahead and get it.....learn the thing inside out...I think chopping samples by ear would definitly help your production skills....It has for me

ah... see... im stuck in somewhat of a pickle...lol redman...

but yeah... my boy's like "if the center of your production is gonna be the MPC, then dont get the 500, get at leasst the 1000"

so im confused... basically, is the 500 a good machine to get if i've NEVER used the MPC?????? or should i just get the 1000????

but the sampling by ear thing is cool... i like that