500 Question, Please take noob pity

Hi. I'm a 22 year old who wants to get into making beats. I've wanted a MPC for years, but it kind of got put on the back burner while I went to school. Now that I'm back in the loop, I noticed the prices have dropped substantially! I just want to make some trip-hop instrumental beats(not for profit, just for fun). I have a friend with a large vinyl collection who will let me dig through for samples. I have a decent PC, but don't like most PC music generators. I've fooled around in Reason and FL, but have not produced anything substantial. I know how to use cool edit pro 2, and would probably use that to edit down samples to the clips I want.

I'm looking to buy a MPC500 to start making at first drum lines and eventually beats. I really like the portability the 500 offers, and since most of the negative feedback regarding the 500's features are from Akai pros, I figure as a novice I won't notice. I DONT want to get a MPD or and kind of MIDI controller for my PC- I want a hardware unit, not PC software to produce beats. Since I'm planning on making beats for myself, not to sell professionally, I don't feel I will necessarily need the 'studio' style bulky MPC. Am I wrong here?


Has anyone here used the 500 as their first mpc?

Do you think the portability and compact flash outweigh the lack of features?

And on a totally unrelated note- They seem to be selling for $500 on eBay at the cheapest. Anyone else score one cheaper?


Thanks for reading, sorry for noob questions (I've learned a LOT already reading the fourm)

Does anyone know what retailers pay for it? I remember someone saying they talked the guy down at GuitarCenter from the $699 price to $549, so they can't be paying more than $450 for them.

Thanks again

It's no secret that I'm no fan of the 500, so I'm obviously biased. But you have to ask youself, realistically, not like in a 'portability would be cool' kind of way, how often would you be needing to move around with your mpc. I bag my mpc 1000 up like 3 times a week and backpack it to my work. I'm never not near a power outlet, and so there are like the rare times when I would like to use it but cant.

For trip hop I really think a 1k would be good for you(that is, if truly you truly don't need the portability factor). You can get one used for around 500, and really with all the extras you get its a really good mpc to have for an all in one hardware mpc.

the 500 is my first mpc, i switched from a sp-404 and i love it, except, it doesnt have graphical waveform editing, or a grid sequencer like the 1k.
if portability is a big factor, which it is for me, then definetly get the 500!

Thanks, duly noted.

However- do I really want to buy a used MPC? I'm just worried it will s**t the bed and I'll be trying to replace parts to an older model. I am also thinking the JJOS might be a little too overwhelming for me.

And the grid sequencer- is that just a visual way to string the song together? (Not up to 100% on all the lingo)

I think the portability easily outweighs the extra features. A lot of people think you may not need a portable machine, but having it as a sole MPC, you'll surely find yourself taking advantage of the portability. Like if you're half way through a track and need to go somewhere, take it with you and keep working! If you have to drive somewhere, get someone else to drive the car so you can keep banging away at the beats. It's like switching from a home phone to a mobile phone.. You don't need to be stuck in the house anymore to use it.

Which reminds me, I need to contact some car audio places about getting an aux input for the car stereo so I can hook up the MPC500 to it..

By the way, don't believe the hype about grid sequencers. They're awkward.. Well, compared to the normal MPC500 step edit I think they are, and I've used both for years.

Lithion wrote:I'm never not near a power outlet

Haha, yeah, and I better you're never away from the internet either, always on here dissing the 500!

Thanks, Avene, I like the landline/cell phone comparison. I will get the 500. I saw a new one on ebay for $480! However, I promised my S.O. that I won't buy it until after the new year (or until I find a nice wad of cash). Still, I figure I have two or three months to read up on the workings of the 500, and start editing samples. That way I'm ready to roll when I get it, and may score one from an after-Xmas sale.