What Do You LIKE About the MPC5000...

Blimey this forum is getting a bit morbid. Yes, we all know there's loads of bugs, but just to keep things a bit more positive, list the features on the 5000 that you LIKE. The following are just from what I was using today, which was my first full 8 hour session on the machine (making a new samplepack). Didn't do anything outrageous, but had a few pleasant surprises

* Instant Track Mutes
* Being able to UNDO sample edits
* being able to edit samples in TRIM while playing a sequence and for those changes to be instantly live while it's playing
* Using all the Q-link knobs and sliders to make setting changes
* the effects - I like them, very usable - would like to see an exciter though...
* the big screen
* the + and - buttons (use these alot, especially as the jog wheel is buggy, lol)
* stereo to mono finally...
* enhanced amp envelope control
* increased sequencer resolution
* saving in MPC1000 format option

I hope to be adding more...

-I love how easy the synthesizer can be programmed. the way it's laid out with the qlinks and the screen settings makes it a piece of cake to think about a sound and just make it. It's a new experience for me in terms of synth programming, possibly the easiest synth I have ever programmed.


-Love the ADAT out... directly connected to my fireface it saves me a lot of time when recording into my sequencer.

-boucnign down to disk is also a breeze.

-routing the synth to lfos and effects is **** ACE.

-the pads feel a lot better than the pads on the mpc2500 they are bouncier imo.

still exploring it... it's kinda endless.

(im still not feeling how we dont have gigs of mem by now)

- the CF and DVD drives

- the screen as was already mentioned

- the standard 8 outs

- addition of more Q links

- the USB (which is more a like AND dislike)

- lot less of a learning curve than the previous models (at least for me)



(satisfactory, mr tutor?)

MPC-Tutor wrote:Blimey this forum is getting a bit morbid. Yes, we all know there's loads of bugs, but just to keep things a bit more positive, list the features on the 5000 that you LIKE. The following are just from what I was using today, which was my first full 8 hour session on the machine (making a new samplepack). Didn't do anything outrageous, but had a few pleasant surprises

* Instant Track Mutes
* Being able to UNDO sample edits
* being able to edit samples in TRIM while playing a sequence and for those changes to be instantly live while it's playing
* Using all the Q-link knobs and sliders to make setting changes
* the effects - I like them, very usable - would like to see an exciter though...
* the big screen
* the + and - buttons (use these alot, especially as the jog wheel is buggy, lol)
* stereo to mono finally...
* enhanced amp envelope control
* increased sequencer resolution
* saving in MPC1000 format option

I hope to be adding more...

Besides what was written above:
* Hard disk recording
* All tracks can be a continuous sample track
* Burning Data CDs
* Phono preamp
* Copy/Paste files/folders from one drive to to another
* Import commercial CD audio tracks
* Export 24 bit tracks
* Can be used as a multi-timbral instrument

I'm very happy with the chop and patch phrase feature because it's not on the mpc4k and I never use a mpc2500 or the 1k.

Having the same program selected when you select a new track is nice.

Instant Track Mutes as mention is very nice. I would like to have that when you press stop on the sequence. Those one shot sample triggers is a b*tch.

Mpc5k keep the new added samples or new edited samples to back of the sample list. Instead of putting the samples in alphabetical order, like the mpc4k. I find it easy to find those samples when I want to assign those samples to a pad.

- Intuitivity, simplicity
- Import 24 samples, export 24 bit ( internal 16bit is not a pb )
- HD, CF, USB !!! ( optionnal dvdr )
- OUTPUTS, ADAT, 4 MIDI OUT, 2 IN, PHONO IN !
- INPUT monitoring routable to effects busses
- Arpégiator !!
- PADS
- Sequencer resolution
- Graphical & qlink editing of the sample

After posting some bad news I'll also post some good news:

I'm not totally new to sample editing but until I bought the MPC5k it was a quite lousy job - just .wav editing with the computer. If it comes to sample editing there's nothing more fun than the 5k. Recording starts when the signal occurs, no need to chop off starting silence. Moving the selection with the Q-Links is great and Snap 0 makes it easy to create click-free loops. Time stretching is great and the other effects (Normalize, Reverse...) are easy to use.

My master keyboard has the same amount of controller knobs but the Q-Links are way more versatile. Depending on the active context they extend usability beyond turning a simple wheel. And as others said before: there are lots of interfaces ranging from memory devices (I also bought the CD/DVD drive) to a bunch of plugs and jacks. Until now I had to use MIDI boxes to hook on everything.

Hopefully software updates will be a thing I'll like, too...if bugs disappear and pretty cool features get introduced. (Maybe some readers can't remember the days when there wasn't even program memory *g*)

Guys, I played live gig with my 5k and completley LOVE how this thing sounds live. I used to play live with a 2k XL MCD, but the difference in sound just blew me away. I love the general compressor, it makes my beats sound really fat!!!! I love it!!!!!!

For my personal taste I like (in no particular order):
– The main compressor
– The abillity to convert a song into a sequence
– The midi stuff (4 outs, 2 ins, easy settings) (I am having a lot of outboard gear attached to it)
– the *synced* delays! And the tape delay emulation is really wicked.
– The overall sound of the 5k.
– The synthesizer. I find it a *very* usefull synth: full sound, fast envelopes, good sounding filters and the arpeggiator is a very inspiring tool.

I dont even have it but I like that blue screen, looks much better then the old school gameboy screen on the 2500

Coming up from the Mpc1000 (and S3000 samplers) I've had the unit about a week - so far the most immediate benefits are:

bigger pads (feel better too)

Numeric keypad and increment buttons (speed things up nicely)

Q-link parameter control

More complete Amp/Filter Envelopes compared to the 1000

Big Screen

Grid Edit

The track/pad groups recordable mutes and simultaneous pad play will give more options/control for live performance.


Gith

MPC-Tutor wrote:
* Instant Track Mutes

What are "Instant Track Mute's". I have an MPC 4000 and when I press a Pad in the "Track Mute" screen, it turns
on or off (accordingly) instantly. Is this just the same behaviour but on the 5000? DId the 1000 and 2500 not
have these?

MPC-Tutor wrote:* being able to edit samples in TRIM while playing a sequence and for those changes to be instantly live while it's playing

On the 4000, we can do this. Is this something that can't be done on the 1000 or 2500


Thanks for answering!


Dave

Renegade, long time no see!!!

I don't have mines yet.. just purchased off ebay for 1800.

When I demoed it at GC, I liked how it wasn't as bulky as the 4k and I feel in love with the big blue screen and how its all black.

It's aesthetic appeal makes it that more inspiring to create good music IMHO...

I dunno if anyone mentioned this, but I love the fact how ALL of the q-link buttons correspond to the Virtual Analog synth.

This is not a biggie, but if your trying to keep a simple setup and learn synthesis at the same time, this is it...

Right on Diego. The synth is basic and IS a great way to learn how to program and analog synthesis. And it's fun. I like programming while the sequence is running. It let's you create and tweak a sound in context with your beat.