MPC 500 vs 1000

I can't decide on which one to buy, is the 1000 that much more powerful than the 500? Is it worth the cost difference? I don't have that much to spend but I don't want a limited machine.

Ask yourself this question...

Do I absolutely need portability and an independent power supply ?

If the answer is yes, get the 500.

If it's no, get the 1000.

Apart from a reduced LCD and 4 less pads, they'll do much the same job.

Choices...

I think a lot of MPC500 users have thought about this one!

My oppinion:

+ MPC500 runs on batteries
+ MPC500 is truly portable
+ If your not used to MPC with a bigger screen there is no problem

- MPC500 only has 1 low-pass filter (MPC1000 has 2 hi/lo/bp-filters)
- MPC500 slider can't be used for atack/decay
- MPC500 can't use pads to switch sequences

The MPC500 is unique machine:

MPC's in general are meant for drum sampling, so if you try creating complete songs on a MPC you have to be creative (but it can be done).

Playing long samples (loops) doens't work to well on MPC's because of the limited polyphony the loop stop playing. (because it was meant to play drum/percussive samples) Get a MPC1000 so you can chop sampled loops easer, it's not very practical on MPC500 (unless you pre-chop them on a computer)

If you plan on creating more than simple beats on a MPC you wil need to put in a lot of effort and patience. Composing complete tracks with only an MPC is hard work! Today's software packages are far easier to use! (but then, an MPC is that much sexier on stage than a laptop)

So if you wan't to use hardware because it's cool and wan't a box to take with you. Go get the MPC500. (or the MPC100 if you need the extra features).

My 2 cents,

Snerg

big con: There is no JJ OS for the MPC 500!