Is the MPC1000 what I'm looking for?

Hi,
I'm very new to all this and I've read around, but I'm not 100% sure what I'm looking for yet, or if it exists.

My music consists of a drum machine, synth and an acoustic instrument (piano or violin). Though, I can't play all these things at the same time. I want to play my acoustic instrument, and have the drum machine and synth just playing.

The way I've been doing it is by, creating a drum track with reasons redrum.. exporting it as an MP3 file. Then, connecting my keyboard to my computer and recording it. Then, putting it together with Garageband. And finally, putting it on a CD so I could play along to it.

I'm looking to just get away from my computer completely for both production and live. This is where I get a bit confused. I need a device to record my synth parts on, and then play them. I also need some type of drum machine I can load my own samples into so I could play/make them over the synth track. Then I want to be able to play both tracks as a backing track so I can play acoustic Piano to it. (But, I don't need that acoustic piano recorded)

Really.. what I'm really looking for is to not use my computer at all. I need an alternative to Reasons Redrum as a drum machine, rewired to garageband w/ an audio interface to record a hardware synth. Then to be able to play the track w/ both.

Is the MPC1000 what I'm looking for? Does it do more than I need? Am I better off with something else?

1150A wrote:Hi,
I'm very new to all this and I've read around, but I'm not 100% sure what I'm looking for yet, or if it exists.

My music consists of a drum machine, synth and an acoustic instrument (piano or violin). Though, I can't play all these things at the same time. I want to play my acoustic instrument, and have the drum machine and synth just playing.

The way I've been doing it is by, creating a drum track with reasons redrum.. exporting it as an MP3 file. Then, connecting my keyboard to my computer and recording it. Then, putting it together with Garageband. And finally, putting it on a CD so I could play along to it.

I'm looking to just get away from my computer completely for both production and live. This is where I get a bit confused. I need a device to record my synth parts on, and then play them. I also need some type of drum machine I can load my own samples into so I could play/make them over the synth track. Then I want to be able to play both tracks as a backing track so I can play acoustic Piano to it. (But, I don't need that acoustic piano recorded)

Really.. what I'm really looking for is to not use my computer at all. I need an alternative to Reasons Redrum as a drum machine, rewired to garageband w/ an audio interface to record a hardware synth. Then to be able to play the track w/ both.

Is the MPC1000 what I'm looking for? Does it do more than I need? Am I better off with something else?

well from what i read the MPC is what you are looking for! now you can either record your synth into the mpc as samples or midi the two so that the mpc triggers the synth, depending on what type of synth you have. loop it or whatever and play along. simple as pie!

J WALES wrote:well from what i read the MPC is what you are looking for! now you can either record your synth into the mpc as samples or midi the two so that the mpc triggers the synth, depending on what type of synth you have. loop it or whatever and play along. simple as pie!

IS their anyway to have a step sequencer? With Reason, I was used to tapping out drum parts, as well as using the step sequencer. I've heard that the JJ OS has a step sequencer, is this true?

both AKAI and JJ OS have a step sequencer. JJ OS adds a grid sequencer as well

it sounds like an MPC would probably suit your needs very well

you can also sample yourself and chop it up and really make some sick stuff

thedvs01 wrote:both AKAI and JJ OS have a step sequencer. JJ OS adds a grid sequencer as well

it sounds like an MPC would probably suit your needs very well

How does the MPC's step sequencer work?

just go to youtube and type in mpc1000 synth

you'll see some beat making videos with synths midi hooked up to the 1000 which will show ya how it all works

but its exactly what you want for what ur talkin about

I just bought a mpc 1000 used for $500 dollars and I am blow away at how powerful it is. For that much money just buy it and see if it fits your needs you will not be sorry!

Thanks for the help everyone. I think I'm settled on an MPC over the electribe but I do have a few more questions if you guys don't mind.

For what I'm trying to do, would the MPC500 do fine? (I can get the MPC1000 for $799 and MPC500 for $599.. probably less if I haggle with the price a little) I'm not 100% sure what the differences are but, I've read that the MPC 500 is not worth the money, and that its hard to work with because the little screen. BUT, this will be my first MPC so I have nothing to compare it too. The reasons why I'm considering the MPC500 is b/c it's battery powered, which is a huge + for me, and b/c I can save a little money.

And also, my main use for the MPC is a drum machine. I've been doing my work in Reason creating some drum parts with pads, and some with the step sequencer. Here's a part of a song I'll use as an example..

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/tvi ... nippit.mp3

My main beat I used drum pads to make. I'm sure I can do this with the MPC no problem. But about 8 bars into the track (when the 16th note high pitched notes come in) the glitchy sounds come in.. and the way I did that was with the step sequencer in Reason. Is their anyway to do this with the MPC without slowing it way down and doing it on the pads?

you could get an MPC500 for as low as $300 in almost new condition these days... just check the sales section of the forum here. it will probably suit your basic needs, but like most people that bought the 500 as their first MPC, it will only make you want a 1000 down the line. so you may as well be a step ahead of yourself and just go all out with the 1000. it's worth it for being able to run JJ OS alone.

go to the 500 section and read up on it! i would go with the 1k if i had to choose, it just seems to have more functionality to me.

yea man scrap the 500. Run with the 1000. Once you upgrade the os and start learning how to freak it you see why a bunch of 500's are always for sale...lol

the 500 is REALLY not what you're looking for.

Antonym wrote:the 500 is REALLY not what you're looking for.

co-sign.

@ 1150A - buy the mpc1000 instead and make sure it's got the new pad design.
also, upgrade the OS to JJ OS 3.08 or higher.
everything you need in a sampler and MIDI sequencer is right there for you.
i've been through my share of software and hardware over the years, and i prefer not having to stare into a computer screen in order to make music. it gets distracting and hurts your eyes after a while.
the hands-on apporach to sequencing and sampling with an mpc just feels more rewarding to me. plus it's alot easier to bring an mpc anywhere with you than a whole computer. you'll feel more liberated with the mpc1000.

Hey,
Thanks again for the help everyone.

I was curious if anyone had a picture, or video clip of how the step sequencing works with the AKAI OS, or JJ OS?