Questions about the mpc 5000: shoot

Hi, I am new to this forum and am interested in the 5000.

One thing I do not like about the 2500 is the sound is harsh and thin compared to my XS I have done test loading the exact same samples with no processing, bypassed master and normal FX through the same monitoring chain and cables and the XS always sounds better regardless of the material. Ditto through the headphone outs. I know the XS has good 24 bit DA converters and that alone can be the difference but it could be other internal quality differences as well.

My question to scd is if the converters or other sound improvements where made to the 5000 over the 2500? This excludes the improved filter and FX along with the new VA synth since I know these will improve the sound.

Also, could you do sound comparisons between the 4000 and 5000 on the same dry samples at 44k? Does the 4000 sound better to you?

I ask because I was about to upgrade to the 4000 but if the output is improved on the 5000 I will wait.

scd wrote:Here is an improved version of the synthsong:
http://www.synthmusic.info/mp3s/SynthMPC.mp3

More sounds, better mixing (well, to *my* taste) and oh, I turned on the bassline that I had muted by accident in the first version

Oh yeah, that's nice The bass reminds me of the kind of bass sounds I used to get from the K2000 I had back in the 90s.

soulscientist wrote:Hey scd, im very curious about if the 5000 reads 1000/2500 project files without problems. I'll pm you a project and you could try it out.

Thanks for sending the file. For now I can say there are a few bugs, but nothing that can't be repaire easily.
I have to notice though that used effects will sound different because the effects on the mpc5000 are different.
Also, the envelopes are a bit changed, specially in the attack phase to make them more snappier. Not sure if Akai will build in a convertion table for that.

So in short, loading those 1k/2.5k projects will work, but one will need to do some finetuning.

geneur wrote:hey scd, i´m very interested in the new timing features!

mayby you can upload some different timing/swing settings, so we can hear what this strenght/windows function does?

Hi geneur,
I think uploading examples don't make much sense, since the possibilities are endless. You just can adjust the timing correct parameters to your personal taste, to get a tight sequence, a groovy sequence and anything in between.
Page 25 of the manual (akai website) explains it all very accurate.

NguoiDuc wrote:Hey Boele,

this is a very informative thread. Makes me really excited about the 5k. I guess with the VA it's gonna be a bit more versatile right out of the box than any other previous MPCs.

It does. I normally use the mpc only as midisequencer but the synth can add indeed. By coincidence I was recording this afternoon some synths. Here is a little mp3, where the arpeggiated sound comes from the MPC. The rest is outboard gear (808, V-synth, Blofeld, SH-7).

http://www.synthmusic.info/mp3s/5ktest.mp3

I love the collaboration between the synth, the arpeggiator and the synced effects (in this case a delay). It works very fast and inspiring.

earwolf wrote:hi scd.

what other mpc models do you have to hand to test program cross-compatibility with the 5000?

thanks
e

Having the MPC 4000 here.
Other betatesters have the 1000 and 2500 around.

Mantis Beats wrote:I'm quite particular when it comes to recording a clean sound out of my current MPC 2000 XL, so the idea of having ADAT out on the MPC 5000 really interests me although I'm still very apprehensive about the price ( £1449 in the UK ). Adat would help my work flow as I could track 8 outputs at the same time.

Have you tested the ADAT out feature and what is the output quality like ? Is it also possible to assign an ADAT channel as a stereo monitor like through output 1 + 2 ?

Also I've been told end of Feb or End of March for the first batch of MPC 5000's the UK does anyone know when the MPC 5000 hits the US market ?

Hi Mantis Beats,

Must admit that I have no experience with ADAT, so I can't tell anything about the output quality. Since that is digital and specified according ADAT specifications I don't understand the question: what could be wrong with it?

As for your second question (hope I understand it right): you want ADAT channel 1 and 2 send out the complete mix of the internal mixchannels, correct? If that is your question, the answer is yes (see page 176 of the manual).

Can't tell anything about delivery dates. Only thing I know is that we are very close to V1.0 of the software, so it won't take months I guess.

Joidi wrote:--NEWBIE QUESTION WARNING--
- Can you use the pads of MPC 5000 as a Midi Controller for PC software?

- What does NON-Destructive chopping mean, and does this feature excist in 5000?

- Does MPC 5000 have a any kind of Tempo calculator on top of the tap tempo system (which is pretty antique in my op.)

I hate the fact that some MPC:s create spaces between samples when chopped equally in the correct tempo, and the whole sample is played in normal order and theres spaces between slices, can you test this ?

Peace

Hi Joidi,

Not sure what you mean with pads controlling PC software? The pads send out midi note on/not off, velocity and (poly!) aftertouch info. Or do you mean if they can send CC's? They can't. But the Qlink controllers can.

Non-destructive chopping? Not sure where you found that term, but on the 5k doing a "chop" can be undone after that. So it won't destroy your sample immediately.

Tempo calculator. Again, not sure what you mean. You mean software that is looking at incoming signals and calculates a tempo out of it? No, that's not on the mpc. The tap tempo system might be antique, but it works pretty good.

There are no spaces created between chopped samples. Again, I am not sure what you mean with that.
Chopping a sample is nothing more then setting markers. EQUALLY will divide the sample in the set number and AUTO will chop the sample in a number of slices determined by the settings that go with it.
After that process you are able to divide the slices over the pads or to create a so called patched phrase which can be played in various tempos without having pitch changes.
There is a "release" setting to add space behind the slices, but that can be set to zero.

foleycore wrote:please guys i really need to know if the MPC5000 has loopcrossfade in the sample edit list. Thanx!
the distributor told my retailer it will be here in Australia in March. yea haaaa.
I like that synth demo especially considering it was all done on the 5k.
This 5000 is definitely the best current box available for getting the job done, techno or hip hop, i can't wait for it to come out and those compressor selections are fantastic.
Does someone think it will be possible to offer 20bit 48khz as a recording option for the hardisk? is it just a matter of a software upgrade? and also do you think it's likely that eventually it will be upgraded to full sampling capability? can they upgrade the sequencer note capacity and amount of polyphony via software update do you think?

Hi foleycore,

There is no "loopcrossfade" in the sample edit list. What should that do if I may ask?

The recordings on the HD are 24 bit, 44.1 khz.
The sampler is 16 bit, 44.1 khz.

Polyphony updates through software seems unlikely to me. Sequencer note capacity could be done I think, but that is up to Akai.

fur*q wrote:One thing i would like to know about the synth section is: If the q links affect parametres of the synth, does it tell you when you are at the original value for a knob/button? It's really handy if you tweak a sound to much and wanna backtrack a bit.

Nope it does not. But when you are in synthmode you see the value of each parameter before you touch a controller.


I want to enter a feature request myself as well, because it would be handy to be able to switch between "jump" changing the values as soon as you touch a controller and "pickup" changing the values that only starts changing values as soon as you reached the original value with moving the controller.

Cheebatone wrote:

dasinsation wrote:The MPC 5000 is interesting to me, not only will it have 8 outs it will have 8 ADAT outs? Thats a possibility of 8 digital + 8 analog signals simultaneously into your DAW. Or will the 8 digital outs be copies of the 8 individual outs? A MPC first as far as I know, correct me if I am wrong?

Your second assumption is correct. It's just 8 outs, twice.

Yes, it is a copy of the individual outs, send to the corresponding ADAT outs or send to ADAT outs 1 and 2, so you can use it as a monitor signal or mixdown signal.

b-righteous wrote:Hi, I am new to this forum and am interested in the 5000.

One thing I do not like about the 2500 is the sound is harsh and thin compared to my XS I have done test loading the exact same samples with no processing, bypassed master and normal FX through the same monitoring chain and cables and the XS always sounds better regardless of the material. Ditto through the headphone outs. I know the XS has good 24 bit DA converters and that alone can be the difference but it could be other internal quality differences as well.

My question to scd is if the converters or other sound improvements where made to the 5000 over the 2500? This excludes the improved filter and FX along with the new VA synth since I know these will improve the sound.

Also, could you do sound comparisons between the 4000 and 5000 on the same dry samples at 44k? Does the 4000 sound better to you?

I ask because I was about to upgrade to the 4000 but if the output is improved on the 5000 I will wait.

HI b-rightous,

I have no idea about changes to the hardware, I will forward that question to Akai to see if I can get an answer to that.

The comparison between the 4 and 5k is on my to do list already. Hopefully soon, so little more patience please.

is there really a need for a three ocillator 300 patch synth?
i think sometimes less is more
the mpc should remain a beat making and sampling machine and let the likes of korg , moog novation etc concentrate on the synth side of things.

if its not careful i fear it will stray down the path of some of the roland gear -
amazing but far too over complicated and multi studio based.

i own an mpc1000 but still think the 2000xl range is the best of the crop.


if its not broke, dont try and fix it!

scd wrote:

dasinsation wrote:The MPC 5000 is interesting to me, not only will it have 8 outs it will have 8 ADAT outs? Thats a possibility of 8 digital + 8 analog signals simultaneously into your DAW. Or will the 8 digital outs be copies of the 8 individual outs? A MPC first as far as I know, correct me if I am wrong?

Yes, it is a copy of the individual outs, send to the corresponding ADAT outs or send to ADAT outs 1 and 2, so you can use it as a monitor signal or mixdown signal.

Would it be possible, via a code fix, to get the 8 HD tracks going to the ADAT outs and have the sampler/sequencer running in unison, but going via the 10 individual outs? I cannot tell you how helpful that would be!

Cheebatone wrote:

scd wrote:

dasinsation wrote:The MPC 5000 is interesting to me, not only will it have 8 outs it will have 8 ADAT outs? Thats a possibility of 8 digital + 8 analog signals simultaneously into your DAW. Or will the 8 digital outs be copies of the 8 individual outs? A MPC first as far as I know, correct me if I am wrong?

Yes, it is a copy of the individual outs, send to the corresponding ADAT outs or send to ADAT outs 1 and 2, so you can use it as a monitor signal or mixdown signal.

Would it be possible, via a code fix, to get the 8 HD tracks going to the ADAT outs and have the sampler/sequencer running in unison, but going via the 10 individual outs? I cannot tell you how helpful that would be!

I'll ask, but that will not happen in V1.0 for sure if it is possible at all. But not asking is not getting as we say here in the Netherlands