Thinking about going Hardware!

Well somewhat. Right now i'm using all software. I use Logic and VSTs. I'm thinking about buying a 2500 and fantom to add them to the arsenal. I will still use vsts like Battery and other stuff but I will be sequencing into the 2500. I want a faster work flow and my friends who use both software and hardware tell me that the mpc will make your workflow much faster. Can you guys help me out in my decision please?

actually every new piece of gear will eventually slow you down at first, because everything new has a learning curve.
also everything new has new limitations - some of them are not helping the kind of workflow you are used to and some of them can be even good for creativity, because you have to think in new ways and sometimes out of the ordinary to get where you want to go musically...
if you have the chance to briefly tryout before you buy you´ll save a lot of money in the long run. don´t try to add too much new stuff at one time, because the problems might be double and keeping you off from doing music.
hardware is certainly more fun in terms of hands on while making music - even a little pad control for your vsts is better than hacking in the beats with your computer keyboard. music just flows better out of your body into a responsive device.
don´t forget that you need some kind of audio interface to connect to your mac - or you can use the somewhat limited conection if you hook up the mpc directly to the fantom and the fantom via usb to the computer using it as an audio interface.

and it looks just nice to have a room full of gear...

peace jo

truthfully..it depends on the person... i like to make beats with different equipment for the simple fact, i can hit a beat making stump and its most likely due to the equipment i'm using.... so lets say i'm not in the mood for the computer at that time, so i'll switch up and grab the MPC.... from there, your creativity can have a jolt...simply because you changed the scenario...its like working at the same job to long...at first you're excited about that check, but after a while...you're like "**** this place, i need a new gig"... same thing with me and beats... for weeks i'll make beats with the MPC and out of nowhere i'll be like "**** this" and jump on the computer...or the other way around.... same thing with a piano added to the arsenal..... but don't get me wrong... it can slow you down for the simple fact... if its not broken, why fix it?.... if you're successful at what you're doing now, should you really tinker with it? it can mess up the chemistry... since you're already a computer beatmaker, just pimp out your computer (MPD, midi keyboard).... i don't know, man.... do you... no one can decide this for you... whats good for the next person, could be your poison.... why don't you go by your friends house and try it out for yourself

I used to use software, but definitely have tighter sounding beats and a way better work flow on my 2500. I also integrate it with Logic and things couldn't be faster there. Myself, I can't endorse the Fantom G. I sell workstation synths at the music store I work at. I've found the Fantom to not be very intuitive (like most Roland products), and a tad over priced & thin sounding compared to it's competition. Trust me I've used them all back to back. If you're concerned with workflow...Yamaha Motif XS. Now that's an intuitive machine.