MPC 3000 vs. 2500

Hey i have the 2500 now and was thinking about copping a 3000 cause Ive heard that the sounds from the 3000 is unlike any other mpc... How true is this and Is it worth copping the 3000 if I already have the 2500?

3000 def sounds like no other machine. Maybe the 4000 is the closest in terms of the sound but the 4000 is like the 24bit 3000. The only down side to the 2500 and newer MPC's is that the build quality is pretty crappy. If you got the 2500 already just keep it and learn on it and then if you don't like it sell it. With the 3000 your gonna have to do alot of things the old school ways and longer ways but it's worth it in the end it will just make you better.

dont believe the hype...the difference is minimal. A different mpc wont make your tracks sound better. Once you realize that, gear lust will be alot easier to deal with.

not to mention you'll have to use floppys/scsi drives that are alot less reliable than you 2500's optional hard drive/compact flash. loading times will be slower.

the 3000 is more of a downgrade. You'll probably get the results you're looking for using the 2500's compressor (read up on compressors first).

There are several users on this forum using card readers with their 3K, both external/internal.
I own both of these machines.

I must say that my MPC3KLE with the Vailixi 3.50 os, has more quantize options and thus has a better sequencer. You could get a 2500 w/JJ, but unlike JJ, Vailixi does not remove any of the features that are already there. It just adds to the monster.

havent messed with the 3000, but i have with the 2xl, 2000, and 4k. now own the 2500.

I miss my other 3 for various reasons. But 2500 really can do whatever you want. I mean, if you really want a differant sound there are other ways to better invest.

I would probably say the biggest differance would be workflow, and how the mpc3k would be condusive to making beats a certain way that would effect your sound, more so than the actual electrical components.

I mean, when i made beats on the 2xl vs 4k vs 2500 the biggest differance that effeceted my sound was the workflow with chopping. I mean, especially if you are chopping, sampling from vinyl. Thier interfaces, although sometimes subtlely differant, can nudge you into certain ways of chopping which can have an impact on your overal sound and creative outlet.

If quantize and groove is what you are worried about, if you cant make it bang on 2500, 3k aint gonna save you. I realize whatever works for the individual, but you should make shit bang no matter which mpc you have, they are all good.

I know piece of mind sometimes can go a long way.......knowing you have a bad ass drum machine can definately inspire you to make bangers, but 2500 is bad ass machine.

in the end, i would factor workflow to be your deciding factor, if you want to deal with zip drives, and chopping without waveform, etc. go for it.

1 thing for sure is that the 3k kills 2500 on build quality, thing is a friggin rock

anyways, something like that.

respect_mbs wrote:the 3000 is more of a downgrade. You'll probably get the results you're looking for using the 2500's compressor (read up on compressors first).

How do you use the compressor? on the Master? or just on certain parts like the kick? What are your typical settings

1 - Music is a business of sound. S_O_U_N_D !!!! not features. Th3 MPC 3000 has a superior sound point blank. Great sequencer. Sampling another story, I still use my asr10 for that and got a 950 also. the 1000 and 2500 are weak sounding.

dmarz45 wrote: How do you use the compressor? on the Master? or just on certain parts like the kick? What are your typical settings

The compressor is only on the master so if you want to isolate the kick you'll have to route the other sounds thru the individual outs. I personally do not use the compressor (i use an external multiband)but im sure if you're looking at getting a 3000 you've been influenced by the "sounds warm/vintage/'phat' talk. EQ + Compression can give you that sound if you know what your doing. But like i said read up on it because there are no standard settings.

firework wrote:1 - Music is a business of sound. S_O_U_N_D !!!! not features. Th3 MPC 3000 has a superior sound point blank. Great sequencer. Sampling another story, I still use my asr10 for that and got a 950 also. the 1000 and 2500 are weak sounding.

When a song as gone thru mixing and mastering phase the "sound" of a 16bit 44.1 sampler will not be noticable when compared to another 16bit 44.1 sampler. Wheres that mpc sample comparison site when you need it?

An ASR has a sound of its own because of filters
An SP1200 has a sound of its own because of its 12bit 22khz engine and compressor on the outputs

see where im going? the difference is minimal because the audio specs between the 2500 and 3000 are to similar. but this arguement is old as hell...its the OP choice on who to beleive and he'd benefit more from his own research.

The 3000 was and is a great machine. However, there is a lot of bs talked about it and other legacy samplers. In the wrong hands it's useless. Give a true great like Dilla or Premo a 1K and a no hoper the 3000 and you'd end up thinking that the 1K was far superior.

The MPC is a tool to get a job done. The big mistake that many people make is to think that they have to make every track using just an MPC. With decent outboard, pretty much any machine can be made to sound good. In my opinion, the newer MPCs colour the sound less and this can often lead people to call them weaker sounding.

G4s

respect_mbs wrote:

dmarz45 wrote: How do you use the compressor? on the Master? or just on certain parts like the kick? What are your typical settings

The compressor is only on the master so if you want to isolate the kick you'll have to route the other sounds thru the individual outs. I personally do not use the compressor (i use an external multiband)but im sure if you're looking at getting a 3000 you've been influenced by the "sounds warm/vintage/'phat' talk. EQ + Compression can give you that sound if you know what your doing. But like i said read up on it because there are no standard settings.

I just bought a Presonus Eureka EQ\Compresor off ebay, ill be getting it any day now.. does anybody know if the sound quality of this is any good? Also whats the best way to use this with my mpc? would i just plug the stereo out from the mpc into the in the Eureka and then go back into the record in of the mpc? Ive been just recording sounds out of FL and then into my mpc instead of just loading everything on my flash drive so I could eq my drums inside of FL before sampling.... Whats the best way to use this external EQ\Compressor with my MPC??

g4s wrote:Give a true great like Dilla or Premo a 1K and a no hoper the 3000 and you'd end up thinking that the 1K was far superior.

One of the most sensible comments I've seen on this forum

g4s wrote:The 3000 was and is a great machine. However, there is a lot of bs talked about it and other legacy samplers. In the wrong hands it's useless. Give a true great like Dilla or Premo a 1K and a no hoper the 3000 and you'd end up thinking that the 1K was far superior.

The MPC is a tool to get a job done. The big mistake that many people make is to think that they have to make every track using just an MPC. With decent outboard, pretty much any machine can be made to sound good. In my opinion, the newer MPCs colour the sound less and this can often lead people to call them weaker sounding.

G4s

This is the best response I have heard so far.