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[RockAustin]

Originally Posted by Tam o' Shantie

I think I want either an MPC 2000/XL or MPC 1000 but I can't decide.

The former is possibly more advanced, stronger built and potentially cheaper.

The latter is modern, still supported/developed (especially the JJ OS) and has full USB/PC integration which I like the sound of...

Both would be ace. The good thing I can see with the 1000 is that it is smaller. Maybe it doesn't have the same connectivity as the 2000/XL but is that why you'd be getting it? Make sure that when you buy one it has the RAM maxed out as you will only get very small amount of sampling time with the small amount they come with (it's quite expensive as it is Akai specific)

Once you have worked out how to work with the MPC you may discover that PC connectivity is not required. Despite some of the earlier posts in this thread suggesting that it's cumbersome and not flexible, believe that is what Stripey was getting at, it really isn't. You will be able to do things really quickly and if there is anything you want to use effects from your computer, just do all your processing on the computer and export as a 16 bit wav file and save it on the flash memory card that you pull all of your samples from.

Watch out though, I've had problems with mine, they can be very fragile on the inside. The part which has buggered up for me is the stereo output. The left channel failed which means that you can't even do a mono workaround. The stereo out is also linked directly with the headphones out so you can't even do a workaround using the phones output. Going to be a bit pricey to send this off so probably just going to order the part and do the fix myself, may add in a hard drive while I'm at it (not sure if this is possible with the 1000). Moral of the story is that they are more fragile than they look so no dropping/rough handling and you should be fine.

Check out Boon Doc on youtube, he uses a 1000 really well. Not sure this is the best one but shows how you can build up a track.
YouTube - BOON DOC: From Scratch pt. 2

Also check out Lamplighter (used to live in Aberdeen) as he does all of his recording and production on the MPC and it sound ace. LAMPLIGHTER on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

[RockAustin]

Just listening to Lamplighter and forgot how good his stuff is, it's got real atmosphere about it.

[Tam o' Shantie]

Originally Posted by RockAustin

Both would be ace. The good thing I can see with the 1000 is that it is smaller. Maybe it doesn't have the same connectivity as the 2000/XL but is that why you'd be getting it? Make sure that when you buy one it has the RAM maxed out as you will only get very small amount of sampling time with the small amount they come with (it's quite expensive as it is Akai specific)

Once you have worked out how to work with the MPC you may discover that PC connectivity is not required. Despite some of the earlier posts in this thread suggesting that it's cumbersome and not flexible, believe that is what Stripey was getting at, it really isn't. You will be able to do things really quickly and if there is anything you want to use effects from your computer, just do all your processing on the computer and export as a 16 bit wav file and save it on the flash memory card that you pull all of your samples from.

The computer would be more for ease of use taking wav audio from CDs for my melodic music plans (everyone knows hip hop samples have to come from original press vinyl)...did you mean that this would be EASIER with a 2000xl?

[RockAustin]

Originally Posted by Tam o' Shantie

The computer would be more for ease of use taking wav audio from CDs for my melodic music plans (everyone knows hip hop samples have to come from original press vinyl)...did you mean that this would be EASIER with a 2000xl?

It shouldn't matter which MPC you use, I presume the 2000xl uses SD cards too so all you have to do is put it in your card reader and transfer the wav files you have been working on to it. Probably best to read up on any comparisons of the machines you can find, some people have preferences to the type of MPC they like best and its often very subjective.

For me, memory is probably the biggest thing, I'd want the machine that could handle the most RAM. The larger the RAM the more samples you can have loaded at one time. You have 16 pads, each pad can take at least 2 samples and you have 4 sample banks that you can switch between. That's a lot of spaces to fill but if you don't have the RAM you can't fill the space. I record parts straight onto the MPC from keyboards and drum machines, from youtube too. You can plug in a CD player and take you samples directly into the MPC, same with vinyl.

I'd say when you make a decision it should be cost to the number of beneficial feature. I got the 2500, partly cause I saw one going for a reasonable price on here (I had already decided I wanted an MPC by this point so was very fortuitous) but most because of the connectivity it has - USB, MIDI, Digital and Phono inputs. You can run several MIDI instruments at once which has huge potential as a hub for any electronic type project. The 1000 isn't far off the same specifications really.

[Tam o' Shantie]

actually I don't think the xl had a card reader by default...maybe it's not important though.

[RockAustin]

Here is a good comparison of the two Akai MPC1000 Vs Akai MPC2000XL

What sort of thing are you planning to do?

[Tam o' Shantie]

i have read that numerous times...unfortunately having never used either I don't know how important they both are. i'd say 2000xl is marginally cheaper, and better built than the 1000...it's supposed to sound better too. but the 1000 is more modern and doesnt cost much more.

[RockAustin]

Originally Posted by Tam o' Shantie

i have read that numerous times...unfortunately having never used either I don't know how important they both are. i'd say 2000xl is marginally cheaper, and better built than the 1000...it's supposed to sound better too. but the 1000 is more modern and doesnt cost much more.

I know what you mean, if you haven't seen one in action or used it the list of features doesn't mean much. I'll see if I can get mine working enough to get some sound out of it and you are welcome to come and have a look see how it works. It's a bit bigger than the 1000 but the basics will be the same.

[Tam o' Shantie]

maybe storage is the issue... the 1000 seems to be easily upgradable to have one big hard disk where all your sounds are stored...i like that idea

[RockAustin]

Originally Posted by Tam o' Shantie

maybe storage is the issue... the 1000 seems to be easily upgradable to have one big hard disk where all your sounds are stored...i like that idea

I'd agree with that, you could have a card and hard disk so you always have a backup of your working samples. Remember to get a fully maxed out RAM when you do go for it.