Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
User avatar
By NorthernElite Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:29 pm
Eemo1 wrote:how bout no synth on a mpc please.


I think the synth on the 5K is really usefull for building grooves on the fly. It does need a preview feature though. Hopefully in 1.03
By renegadebliss Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:57 pm
NorthernElite wrote:
Eemo1 wrote:how bout no synth on a mpc please.


I think the synth on the 5K is really usefull for building grooves on the fly. It does need a preview feature though. Hopefully in 1.03



So's my DSI Evolver and it's much more flexible and a nicer synth...
User avatar
By Askia Shaheed Wed Nov 12, 2008 12:41 pm
renegadebliss wrote:
NorthernElite wrote:
Eemo1 wrote:how bout no synth on a mpc please.


I think the synth on the 5K is really usefull for building grooves on the fly. It does need a preview feature though. Hopefully in 1.03



So's my DSI Evolver and it's much more flexible and a nicer synth...


You still have the option to MIDI your flexible and nicer DSI Evolver to a new MPC 4000-like drum machine. I don't have one so I would like Akai/Numark to include this in future MPCs and throw Fusion type synthesis in the box. While they are at it, hook me up with expansion cards that will add Rom based samples/patches/presets...
User avatar
By hyena Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:50 pm
nah, no synths in mpcs.
absolutely no need for that extra circuitery to add weight.
letzz have GOOD samplersequencer controllers and GOOD synths separated please.
or if not, a macbook + ableton live is what one should buy.

i think the 4k is almost perfect.
the next TRUE flagship should :
-be smaller
-be lighter
-have more flexible q-links
-have more midi cc assignement opportunities
-have a better internal routing (those 4 multifx are damn hard to use combined with the 8 outs... they arent really usable in a "send" mode,i mean, lemme have opportunity to use the 2 inputs live to feed the internal fx from outside, or affect external audio with filters\amp realtime)
-better quality fx or delays only please
-better sounding filters(maybe less but better sounding)
-a less delicate machine.(it needs a lot of care, especially if you play live with em)
-sequencer editing capabilities in aksys(not necessary bt would be nice!)
User avatar
By LvngDead Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:46 pm
Could you expand on what you mean by "more flexible q-links". I am stuck between MPC4000 or LinnDrumII. I would like to know what your issue with the current q-links are.
User avatar
By Askia Shaheed Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:01 am
hyena wrote:nah, no synths in mpcs.
absolutely no need for that extra circuitery to add weight.
letzz have GOOD samplersequencer controllers and GOOD synths separated please.
or if not, a macbook + ableton live is what one should buy.

i think the 4k is almost perfect.
the next TRUE flagship should :
-be smaller
-be lighter
-have more flexible q-links
-have more midi cc assignement opportunities
-have a better internal routing (those 4 multifx are damn hard to use combined with the 8 outs... they arent really usable in a "send" mode,i mean, lemme have opportunity to use the 2 inputs live to feed the internal fx from outside, or affect external audio with filters\amp realtime)
-better quality fx or delays only please
-better sounding filters(maybe less but better sounding)
-a less delicate machine.(it needs a lot of care, especially if you play live with em)
-sequencer editing capabilities in aksys(not necessary bt would be nice!)


Overall..it sounds like you are talking about the MPC 5000....
User avatar
By hyena Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:22 pm
i simply dont see where i seem to be talkin bout the 5000....

the 5000 is only an upgraded 2500 with synth, what i'd like is an improved, smaller 4000.
does it make sense?

about q-links, i think the assignement setup is a bit confusing, all that receive\transmit part.
also they will be much better if they be endless dials. and a quick change button (example: q-change + f1 =qlinks set 1, q-change + f2 = qlinks set 2 etc etc) to store multiple assignement without needin to change multi.
User avatar
By kneebone77 Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:29 pm
Yeah, Fuq built in synths in the MPC. I'd rather have synth like functions and capabilities to manipulate the samples in the MPC.
User avatar
By Askia Shaheed Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:45 pm
hyena wrote:i simply dont see where i seem to be talkin bout the 5000....

the 5000 is only an upgraded 2500 with synth, what i'd like is an improved, smaller 4000.
does it make sense?


MPC 2500x2= MPC 5000. So I would agree with your statement. I don't think this is a bad thing. But what do you get with it?

1. More Q-links sliders/knobs w/automation
2. 8 Hard disk recording tracks (Import/export 24 bit tracks) w/ Mixdown function
3. 20 voice (Subtractive Synthesis) synth - no added weight to MPC
4. Chop Shop 2.0
5. Better effects (4 buss, 2 effects per buss) routable to any output
6. Better filters
7. 960 ppqn sequencer w/ enhanced swing parameters
8. Improved undo/redo functions
9. Can be used as a 32 channel multi-timbral sound module
10. Improved USB transfer options
11. Audio and Data CD burning..reads DVD Roms
12. 64 continuous sample tracks
13. Track Mute, Track Mute Groups, Pad Mute, and Pad Mute Groups functions
14. Track Mixer which sends MIDI CC messages to external gear
15. Arpeggiator for each track
16. ADAT output (as standard)
17. Change Sequence Lenght improvements
18. Grid Editor and Piano roll style editor
19. Cycle/Random sample switching function
20. Autochromatic assignment of samples
21. Simult pads (4 pads trigger by 1 pad)
22. ADSR envelopes for programs

I think these are respectable features. Maybe you disagree. Based on forum feedback, the biggest drawback of the MPC 5000 is that it doesn't have keygroup programming. Is that correct? Or is there something else?
By b-righteous Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:14 am
Not sure if you are saying that those are improvements to the 2500 or compared to the 4k. If it is the 4k then a few of those are on the 4k like grid and piano roll, ADSR envelopes etc.

The list you made on the beginning of the forum was good for what is missing in the 5000.

One more feature that is missing is the quantize can't be adjusted in real time in context of your song like the 4k. Instead you have to take a blind guess at your T.C. settings then exit and press play to hear the results. Not very intuitive.

I also hate that the 5k has no lit T.C. button. This gives you instant feedback of if T.C. is on or off and an instant one button on off toggle. I never want to quantize during recording so I want it off until I quantize or note repeat. On the 5k you may forget to turn it off and wind up recording with it on unintentionally. But the 5k does have a strength adjust.

Last, it really needs Global program edit like jj or how it is done on the 4k

If the 5000 had all these plus a few from the initial list along with JJ chopping and less bugs then I would already have one.
User avatar
By Askia Shaheed Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:35 am
This recent list is what the MPC 5000 currently has. More than half of them are improvements over what th MPC 2500 and 4000 has.
User avatar
By LvngDead Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:07 pm
Is there a workaround in the 5000 for not being able to route effect buses to individual sequencer tracks? I know you can route effects to HD tracks, but not sequencer tracks, correct?
User avatar
By Askia Shaheed Sat Nov 22, 2008 6:24 am
LvngDead wrote:Is there a workaround in the 5000 for not being able to route effect buses to individual sequencer tracks? I know you can route effects to HD tracks, but not sequencer tracks, correct?


You can only assign one program to each sequencer track. You can route one or more sounds of that program to an effects buss. So you are actually sending a sequencer's track to an effects buss.
User avatar
By dabmeister Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:07 am
I'd like to see digital inputs added again, both adat, optical & coax. I wonder why this wasn't implemented in the latest "flagship"?