The MPC 4000 vs. 5000

Let's not lose perspective.
The 1k is a modded Corolla with features from the Lexus.
The 2500 is a modded Camry with features from the Lexus.
The 4k is the Lexus.
JJ has done an incredible job with those two machines but the problem is that they can feel a bit bloated because he has to make things fit and use background routines to add the functions.
With the added hotkeys he really improved things.
He has actually made the WINDOW and MODE keys viable ways to access functions.

The biggest difference with the 4k compared to the JJ OS, at least to me is that features and functions follow a pretty consistent flow and that's where JJ has been trying to take the OS.
The 4k just put so many options on the screen once you realize how easily you can get to another function or page using the dedicated buttons or F keys.

It's funny we have all those features on the 4k that Akai said people didn't want and removed from their flagship, JJ can get $113 for similar features.

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=QlPHKWOEC ... re=channel

MPC 5000 beatmaker beatbode nice production.


I post this and the previous were a MPC 4000 and 2xl guy.. It isn`t the machines but the people using the machines and the music they make.


What is important is finding one`s groove. You should be able to make music on any machine it is just a state of mind and
how much work you want to do on it.

Blue Haze wrote:
It isn`t the machines but the people using the machines and the music they make.

In a way I totally disagree with this.
This is an easy statement to make depending on how long you have been doing this and how much gear you have had the pleasure of owning/using.
The more gear you have been exposed to and actually learned on a real level the more you understand how gear helps your workflow.

DISCLAIMER: that is as long as you have a real level of functionality.

I can shoot ball in combat boots and have a good game or I can put on the right shoe and have a great game.
Gear is simply a type of tool, the better the tool the better your workflow.
The problem comes from people thinking gear will make them better, now if I look at it from that perspective then gear does not make the individual.

An example I loved the 3k and at one time thought it was the greatest MPC and it really inspired me.
I would reach for it before the 2k, or XL.
After I got the 2500 and JJ later gave us an OS the 3k started to show me the slow points of it's workflow, Rohan had not released his OS so there was no way to improve the 3k.
Now the problem was the 2500 didn't inspire like the 3k so I picked up a 4k, which gave a great workflow and inspired like the 3k did.

True as you say gear doesn't make the individual but it does influence the workflow and the desire to get the work done.

Sovereign wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:
It isn`t the machines but the people using the machines and the music they make.

In a way I totally disagree with this.
This is an easy statement to make depending on how long you have been doing this and how much gear you have had the pleasure of owning/using.
The more gear you have been exposed to and actually learned on a real level the more you understand how gear helps your workflow.

DISCLAIMER: that is as long as you have a real level of functionality.

I can shoot ball in combat boots and have a good game or I can put on the right shoe and have a great game.
Gear is simply a type of tool, the better the tool the better your workflow.
The problem comes from people thinking gear will make them better, now if I look at it from that perspective then gear does not make the individual.

An example I loved the 3k and at one time thought it was the greatest MPC and it really inspired me.
I would reach for it before the 2k, or XL.
After I got the 2500 and JJ later gave us an OS the 3k started to show me the slow points of it's workflow, Rohan had not released his OS so there was no way to improve the 3k.
Now the problem was the 2500 didn't inspire like the 3k so I picked up a 4k, which gave a great workflow and inspired like the 3k did.

True as you say gear doesn't make the individual but it does influence the workflow and the desire to get the work done.

^^^ Actually, good response and eloquently worded.

Also, I'm a very happy 5K owner, but if some of you katz want to stick with your 4Ks - That's fine by me to.

I like the features and implementation on the 5K and feel it will get even better with new OS updates. The 4K just doesn't interest me.

That doesn't make me right and you wrong, or vice versa! No hard feelings!

Sorry I need to jump back out of this thread quickly as I get very claustrophobic when I'm surrounded by a group of old ladies trying to hit me with their 4K manuals...lol

Carry on y'all.

NorthernElite wrote: I like the features and implementation on the 5K and feel it will get even better with new OS updates.

As a 5k owner and a owner of many MPC's Akai has yet to deliver a lot in the way of OS Updates.
Really doubt if this will change with the 5k.

Unfortunately Akai doesn't seem to be trying to develope any of the MPC's or the MPD/MPK products, not really sure what their business model is all about.

Sovereign wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:
It isn`t the machines but the people using the machines and the music they make.

In a way I totally disagree with this.
This is an easy statement to make depending on how long you have been doing this and how much gear you have had the pleasure of owning/using.
The more gear you have been exposed to and actually learned on a real level the more you understand how gear helps your workflow.

DISCLAIMER: that is as long as you have a real level of functionality.

I can shoot ball in combat boots and have a good game or I can put on the right shoe and have a great game.
Gear is simply a type of tool, the better the tool the better your workflow.
The problem comes from people thinking gear will make them better, now if I look at it from that perspective then gear does not make the individual.

An example I loved the 3k and at one time thought it was the greatest MPC and it really inspired me.
I would reach for it before the 2k, or XL.
After I got the 2500 and JJ later gave us an OS the 3k started to show me the slow points of it's workflow, Rohan had not released his OS so there was no way to improve the 3k.
Now the problem was the 2500 didn't inspire like the 3k so I picked up a 4k, which gave a great workflow and inspired like the 3k did.

True as you say gear doesn't make the individual but it does influence the workflow and the desire to get the work done.

I agree that people thinking gear will make them better which is why I added.

What is important is finding one`s groove. You should be able to make music on any machine it is just a state of mind and
how much work you want to do on it.


Automation is what it`s all about these days. Timeslicing oppose to by hand, self contained synth rather than customized samples, pre stocked samples instead of private collection which all makes a easier workflow and gives a level of comfort to the user to concentrate on music.

But still looking at the video if anyone did you can`t dismiss the talent of the users neither individuals had problems working on their respective tools through they first did the all important things like SAMPLE selection, assignment and great fun exciting programming by hand and seq input.

All that counts in the end is whether you can develop your ear and make the music you want with ease or time save depending I guess on how long you do invest in sample editing, program making, and sequencing on your respective units.


We all know a new mpc will come out in the future will even more automations and comfort which we can apply our abilities too.

Sovereign wrote:

NorthernElite wrote: I like the features and implementation on the 5K and feel it will get even better with new OS updates.

As a 5k owner and a owner of many MPC's Akai has yet to deliver a lot in the way of OS Updates.
Really doubt if this will change with the 5k.

Unfortunately Akai doesn't seem to be trying to develope any of the MPC's or the MPD/MPK products, not really sure what their business model is all about.

Well let's just keep our fingers crossed that you're wrong and that future 5K support adds value for us 5K owners. I'm keeping faith in Akai.

It is well documented how I feel about the MPC 4K and MV. If I wanted them, I would have saved over $1000 not buying the 5K. Some of you need a keymap sampler and a MOD matrix to make your music sound...interesting, for lack of a better term. Others like Chop Shop and the onboard Synth w/ Arp. But none of this has anything to do with my skills as a musician or my lack of understanding how these machines work as some of you imply. So I ask that you humble yourselves because you music in the forums is not on some "next level sh!t"

As an MPC user, I believe Akai has and will continue to deliver. I base this on what my MPC 3000 had. The MPC 2.5K (with or without the JJ OS) and now the MPC 5000 are on some "next level sh!t". And even when Akai adds these user requested features, none of them will turn you guys into super star producers (even the MPC 4K and MV hasn't done that). But I suspect I will continue to be happy with the 5K. I will be right here reminding you of that

Sovereign wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:
It isn`t the machines but the people using the machines and the music they make.

In a way I totally disagree with this.
This is an easy statement to make depending on how long you have been doing this and how much gear you have had the pleasure of owning/using.
The more gear you have been exposed to and actually learned on a real level the more you understand how gear helps your workflow.

DISCLAIMER: that is as long as you have a real level of functionality.

I can shoot ball in combat boots and have a good game or I can put on the right shoe and have a great game.
Gear is simply a type of tool, the better the tool the better your workflow.
The problem comes from people thinking gear will make them better, now if I look at it from that perspective then gear does not make the individual.

An example I loved the 3k and at one time thought it was the greatest MPC and it really inspired me.
I would reach for it before the 2k, or XL.
After I got the 2500 and JJ later gave us an OS the 3k started to show me the slow points of it's workflow, Rohan had not released his OS so there was no way to improve the 3k.
Now the problem was the 2500 didn't inspire like the 3k so I picked up a 4k, which gave a great workflow and inspired like the 3k did.

True as you say gear doesn't make the individual but it does influence the workflow and the desire to get the work done.

Good Post^^^^

NorthernElite wrote:
Well let's just keep our fingers crossed that you're wrong and that future 5K support adds value for us 5K owners. I'm keeping faith in Akai.

Good luck with that, been an Akai user since the late 80's when I got my first S-950 all the way up to now with the 5k and it would be amazing if they did.
S-950-they bailed on it with no more updates and replaced it with the S-01
MPC-60 had to buy the R Linn OS to get update
MPC-2000 had to buy the MPC-2000xl to get update
MPC-3000 was the upgraded MPC-60 and never advanced much until the current OS from Rohan
MPC-4000 did some improving updates then they gave up on it during the fall of the company
MPC-1000/2500 had to buy JJ OS to fix bugs and add features
MPC-500 simplistic design and hardware leave very little room for improvemnt or growth. Akai did do some limited features and debugging just as they did with the 1000 and 2500.
MPC-5000 shipped with a ton of bugs so the first update was repair then they had their second wave of bugs. So that's 2 debugging updates instead of feature growth.

My personal history and path with Akai clearly says it's highly unlikely.
With Akai what you get when you open the box may be all you ever get.

Sovereign wrote:

NorthernElite wrote:
Well let's just keep our fingers crossed that you're wrong and that future 5K support adds value for us 5K owners. I'm keeping faith in Akai.

Good luck with that, been an Akai user since the late 80's when I got my first S-950 all the way up to now with the 5k and it would be amazing if they did.
S-950-they bailed on it with no more updates and replaced it with the S-01
MPC-60 had to buy the R Linn OS to get update
MPC-2000 had to buy the MPC-2000xl to get update
MPC-3000 was the upgraded MPC-60 and never advanced much until the current OS from Rohan
MPC-4000 did some improving updates then they gave up on it during the fall of the company
MPC-1000/2500 had to buy JJ OS to fix bugs and add features
MPC-500 simplistic design and hardware leave very little room for improvemnt or growth. Akai did do some limited features and debugging just as they did with the 1000 and 2500.
MPC-5000 shipped with a ton of bugs so the first update was repair then they had their second wave of bugs. So that's 2 debugging updates instead of feature growth.

My personal history and path with Akai clearly says it's highly unlikely.
With Akai what you get when you open the box may be all you ever get.

Yeah. Point taken - I can see how the above would affect your outlook.

But I'm still gonna 'keep the faith' that the fixes and feature updates will come - I think Akai have a roadmap for the 5K and as I said before - 'Time will tell'.

Personally, I believe it's a good time to own the 5K - so let's wait and see how things develop.

Peace - Elite.

A lot of good info fellas.

I was checking out the number of filter combos of the MPC 4000 and 5000.

The MPC 5000 has 55 filter combos (Filter + Pole type) and 13 additional parameters to edit.

It appears that the MPC 4000 has 35 filter combos (Filter + Pole type) and 12 additional parameters to edit. Is this correct?

Askia Shaheed wrote:I was checking out the number of filter combos of the MPC 4000 and 5000.

The MPC 5000 has 55 filter combos (Filter + Pole type) and 13 additional parameters to edit.

It appears that the MPC 4000 has 35 filter combos (Filter + Pole type) and 12 additional parameters to edit. Is this correct?

So in a case scenario like this, does more mean better?

Quantity over Quality, OR does the Quantity still HAVE the Quality?? Ha ha Just eggin' ya'll on