Akai MPC 5000 review

I am sitting here unpacking my new Akai MPC 5000 as I type this. As written in another thread, it is smaller than what it appears in pics on line. The build is close to the MPC 5000 including the DATA wheel. I will be playing with it over the next few hours and be back to write about my first impression from a consumer's point of view that just spent $2700 on this piece (over $200 in taxes alone.... )....

Are the filters a good substitute for EQ on each voice? In your opinion of course.

And we know you love Akai, so don't give us no Andy Mac-type review. Pretty please.

Also, if you dont like it...can I have it?

Yes AS, I would be very interested in hearing what your early impressions are. And price wise it could be worse... you could be buying it in the UK!

one small step for man...



i look forward to finally reading a real user's review.

Nym wrote:i look forward to finally reading a real user's review.

me too, but in the meantime lets see what jahrome has to say

nah, on a completely serious note, i trust him. he'll give us an honest assessment as a user, not as a salesman.

Askia Shaheed wrote:I am sitting here unpacking my new Akai MPC 5000 as I type this. As written in another thread, it is smaller than what it appears in pics on line. The build is close to the MPC 5000 including the DATA wheel. I will be playing with it over the next few hours and be back to write about my first impression from a consumer's point of view that just spent $2700 on this piece (over $200 in taxes alone.... )....

I'm just curious where did you purchase yours from because per Akai sales department none have been released to the states yet. I preordered mine the first week of febuary and I have not yet received mine yet.

MARCODANE79 wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:I am sitting here unpacking my new Akai MPC 5000 as I type this. As written in another thread, it is smaller than what it appears in pics on line. The build is close to the MPC 5000 including the DATA wheel. I will be playing with it over the next few hours and be back to write about my first impression from a consumer's point of view that just spent $2700 on this piece (over $200 in taxes alone.... )....

I'm just curious where did you purchase yours from because per Akai sales department none have been released to the states yet. I preordered mine the first week of febuary and I have not yet received mine yet.

I pre ordered mine also... now they are talking about jun 28.
cant show anymore loyalty... im buying next oe that becomes availible

Guitar Center and Sweetwater are among the companies in the US that have a limited supply of MPC 5000s. Sweetwater shipped a few. I was #3 on the list for their next shipment. Today, I just happened to call my local GC and was suprised to find out that they just set up a demo unit and had one additional model in stock. I rushed there to pick up my unit during my lunch break Everyone else in my area will have to wait because they are not sure when the next units are coming.


As far as using the MPC 5000, I am not sure if the pad sensitivty menu is behaving properly. While in this menu, I press the FULL LEVEL key. When I hit a pad, it doesn't always register a velocity of 127 as it should no matter how soft you hit a pad. Also, when recording a sequence, some of the pads I hit didn't record although the pads are still set to FULL LEVEL.

Askia Shaheed wrote:Guitar Center and Sweetwater are among the companies in the US that have a limited supply of MPC 5000s. Sweetwater shipped a few. I was #3 on the list for their next shipment. Today, I just happened to call my local GC and was suprised to find out that they just set up a demo unit and had one additional model in stock. I rushed there to pick up my unit during my lunch break Everyone else in my area will have to wait because they are not sure when the next units are coming.


As far as using the MPC 5000, I am not sure if the pad sensitivty menu is behaving properly. While in this menu, I press the FULL LEVEL key. When I hit a pad, it doesn't always register a velocity of 127 as it should no matter how soft you hit a pad. Also, when recording a sequence, some of the pads I hit didn't record although the pads are still set to FULL LEVEL.

How about when the menu is set at main screen does Full Level work then?

On the main screen, FULL LEVEL sounds like it works and the recorded notes do register a velocity of 127. However, I have issues with pads not triggering sometimes. If I quickly strike a pad several times, periodically a sample will not trigger. But, if I keep my finger on a pad (never lifting it off the pad) and press several times, the sounds will trigger just fine...

Askia Shaheed wrote:On the main screen, FULL LEVEL sounds like it works and the recorded notes do register a velocity of 127. However, I have issues with pads not triggering sometimes. If I quickly strike a pad several times, periodically a sample will not trigger. But, if I keep my finger on a pad (never lifting it off the pad) and press several times, the sounds will trigger just fine...

Did you set the pad or pads up in programs to one shot??? Sounds like they are in Note on???[/quote]

How is the sampler for editing, program making, and matrix and can you play more than one program per midi channel or only one like the previous mpcs?

Blue Haze wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:On the main screen, FULL LEVEL sounds like it works and the recorded notes do register a velocity of 127. However, I have issues with pads not triggering sometimes. If I quickly strike a pad several times, periodically a sample will not trigger. But, if I keep my finger on a pad (never lifting it off the pad) and press several times, the sounds will trigger just fine...

Did you set the pad or pads up in programs to one shot??? Sounds like they are in Note on???

[/quote]

Damn....I get get more credit than that

The pads are set to ONE SHOT and not NOTE ON. What I realize is that the pads are not as responsive as my MPC 2500. I have to hit the pads a little harder to trigger the sounds assigned to pads..even when the FULL LEVEL is turned on.

Askia Shaheed wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:On the main screen, FULL LEVEL sounds like it works and the recorded notes do register a velocity of 127. However, I have issues with pads not triggering sometimes. If I quickly strike a pad several times, periodically a sample will not trigger. But, if I keep my finger on a pad (never lifting it off the pad) and press several times, the sounds will trigger just fine...

Did you set the pad or pads up in programs to one shot??? Sounds like they are in Note on???

Damn....I get get more credit than that

The pads are set to ONE SHOT and not NOTE ON. What I realize is that the pads are not as responsive as my MPC 2500. I have to hit the pads a little harder to trigger the sounds assigned to pads..even when the FULL LEVEL is turned on.[/quote]


Sometimes things are overlooked. But still you were in the main page along while hitting the pads right??? And if your 5000 isn`t fully responsive like you say they are maybe you got a faulty pad sensor or the pad sensitivity isn`t fully set right scd and that Andy guy tested with no problems. Check again and oh yeah, how is the sampler referring to the other questions I asked before?