85-89 Hip Hop Fan MPC Advice

Newbie Alert!

Happy New Year to you all.

I'd like to get away from my computer and make some hands on music with an MPC. The stuff I like is 85-89 hip hop as they were my favourite years for music (I'll be forty next year).

I'd like to use samples from drum machines of this era with old breaks. I've been collecting a lot of files in mostly WAV format that I want to use for this purpose. I like the beats used by LL Cool J, MC Shan/Marley Marl, MC Lyte and a few others (any info on what gear these artists used in this era would be really interesting).

Can anyone point me in the right direction MPC wise? Maybe MPC's weren't used in a lot of these tracks and it was rack mounted samplers with MIDI keyboards? I haven't got a room I can dedicate to a studio and so I thought an MPC might more practical.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and sharing your knowledge.

Many thanks.

You've got a few popular drum machines from that era: The Oberheim DMX, the TR-808 (and 909 to a lesser extent), and the LinnDrum. Perhaps a few people used a Drumulator. You also have the Casio RZ-1, which I suspect Marley Marl used a couple times; you can hear some of its stock sounds on De La's "3 Feet High and Rising."

As far as samplers, you're looking at the SP12, even the RZ-1, the Emulator, early Akai S series samplers, and of course the MPC 60.

The Oberheim stuff goes for a reasonable price, as does the Drumulator and RZ-1. The DMX is the only machine of that group you'd really need to create the mid-80s sound, along with the 808. 808s and 909s go for insane prices though. SP12s are less expensive than SP1200s, but still not cheap.

It really depends on how much of a purist you want to be. If in your search for this sound you want to own the actual hardware, it's going to be a long and expensive journey. That is, unless you can narrow it down to a few key instruments. If I were in your shoes and wanted to recreate the mid 80s sound I'd probably get:

An Oberheim DMX (cheaper than the 808 and used on just as many or more songs of that era)
A Yamaha DX7 (probably the most used synth in those days)
A sampler of some sort (if you want to keep the whole nostalgia feel maybe an MPC60 is in order -- it's cheaper than an SP used -- usually).
A Technics SL-1200MKII and maybe one of the carts popular back then (Stanton 500AL or 680EL).
A Mixer

Remember that certain machines' looks can sort of inspire you and transport you back to a certain era. That's one of the reasons I have my Oberheim DX and my Drumulator

Now, if you're not interested and/or financially able to be a purist -- buy an MPC 500, PM me for all the classic drum machine sounds, track down Ultimates Beats and Breaks and call it a day. You'd probably want to throw a turntable into the mix.

Just remember, there was a lot of different hardware to choose from back then; people were even using crap like Casio SK-1s on records. Producers usually settled on something that worked for them, or just acquired stuff out of chance randomly and used it.

Thanks for the reply bedouin. The information and advice you have given me is much appreciated.

I remember the word "Drumulator" being said/rapped during a track which I think was by T La Rock or Just-Ice.

Talking of Just-Ice, 'Cold Gettin' Dumb' is one amazing track IMHO. I love Mantronix stuff as well - 'Music Madness' - unbelievable.

Anyway, back to topic, I'll never be a total purist because of money and time really. I live in a small bungalow where I use a laptop and headphones for my music because space is really limited. My daughters toys and my wife's clothes have taken over the place!

I've got one 1200MKII, a mixer and some KRK monitors stored away. If I take up your kind offer of some classic drum machine sounds, is there an MPC that would serve me for the next couple of years? I could incorporate my laptop into the equation but I'd rather not if possible.

Would you mind explaining to me how the RAM limitations on older MPC's might hold me back, bearing in mind I would like to complete a track on them? Is an MPC4000 overkill for a newbie like me?

Thankyou.

mpc1000 with jjOS (third-party operating system) would probably suit you well.

Thanks beach_break. Would I be right in thinking that the newly sold 1000's come with the pads upgraded?

You would be fine with a 500. The 500 is way more powerful than anything that was around back then and you'll be able to pick it up for the same price or cheaper than most of the vintage MPCs.

4000 would definitely be overkill. The 500 or 1000 is where you want to be.

Cheers you guy's. I think I'm going to go for a 1000.


Nice one.

pretty sure they all would by now.

Rhubarb wrote:Thanks beach_break. Would I be right in thinking that the newly sold 1000's come with the pads upgraded?

yeh ul go well with a 1000 but remember if u want that sound ul need to dig so u get the warmth n feel of samples from vinyl and ul also get the knowledge and enjoyment of findin that sample.

Use the 1000 for sequencing, and buy a second hand s950. or an emu rack sampler with that