to all the production/gear heads

[decypher]

is a mpc2000 worth it? have u tried one out.. im aware its widely used, and heard lots about, and heard lots productions made with it. I know it gives certain nice analog sound, but in ur opinion would the sound quality be worth it to buy one? or to just go the software route and learn to make that sound with software? cuz i have heard many mixed opinions about this and that.. what are ur opinions? and what do u feel would be a more important hardware purchase to integrate with software, in a home studio setting. Take into account that i'll be starting bare bone with just studio monitors, something like a motu 828 and a computer full of software. Im just trying to see what would be the wisest next purchase.

[stringbeans]

i recommend asking such a question on future producers hehe

[decypher]

lol i know i copied and pasted this same question into the home studio forum at FP... but i thought i'd throw it over here to see what any local people thought.. or have tried

choosing what to go with is really a pain, cuz its a lot of money ur investing, so u gotta make the best choice.. i think using a mpc for sequencing would be dope, but then u gotta start thinking about a mixer to track from the mpc, and maybe a tube compressor, mic's, etc.. trying to do alot of research and gain lots of various opinions

[mux]

Originally Posted by decypher

I know it gives certain nice analog sound, but in ur opinion would the sound quality be worth it to buy one?

o_O

How do you get a nice analogue sound out of a digital sampler? :)

I kinda know what you mean tho - old Akai gear has *fantastic* Digital-to-Analogue converters; the chips that turn... well, you get the picture. Anything with good DAC's will "flavour" your sound a bit. Soundblaster DACs just aren't gonna cut it - you can buy a DAC for a few dollars, or for thousands... there's a REALLY wide range of quality there.

Take into account that i'll be starting bare bone with just studio monitors, something like a motu 828 and a computer full of software. Im just trying to see what would be the wisest next purchase.

Ok - basically, you're asking this:

"I have a sweet car stereo, and some driving gloves, and a steering wheel cover, and a travel mug, and I'm about to start driving professionally - what kind of vehicle should I buy?"

You're forgetting one big part of the equation - if you take the above question, the missing part is "wtf kind of job are you doing? Long-haul trucking? Drag racing? Taxi driver?"?

So yeah, with regards to your description above, it's very difficult to give you an answer that isn't just my opinon without knowing more about you - what kind of music are you planning on producing? Are you going to be strictly production, or are you planning on performing? Do you have any musical background?

I have an MPC3000 and an MPC1000, and I've h - the 3000 is currently lying unused, while the 1000 is being used every day, more than my computer. The 1000 is the newest member of the MPC family, and IMHO it's awesome - the 2000's smaller, cheaper brother, with some nice upgraded features (and a few features missing, but probably not ones you'd notice; I haven't).

I'm happy to answer any questions you have about the MPC, but "is it worth it" is a VERY subjective question. For my uses (playing live, building trax0rz), the MPC1000 was a bargain at twice the price.

[decypher]

yeh i know its digital :).. i've just heard people say that it can produce a nice warm analog sound... i'll be making hip hop and DNB, strictly production, and some performance, and i do have some musical background..

[mux]

Originally Posted by decypher

yeh i know its digital :).. i've just heard people say that it can produce a nice warm analog sound... i'll be making hip hop and DNB, strictly production, and some performance, and i do have some musical background..

Ok then, there you go. Yes, an MPC would likely be a good purchase for you. Sure, there's nothing the MPC can do that your computer can't do just as well, but it's more of an interface kinda thing - to reuse the car metaphor, people that ride motorcycles don't do it because it's a better way to get from point A to point B than a car, they do it because they like the ride. :) A computer is a tool - in the right hands, an MPC is a musical instrument. It's not easy to bang out beats on a computer - the mouse doesn't like it when you try to beat out rhythms on the buttons, and neither does the keyboard. The MPC loves for you to get your groove on and hammer on it.

With that in mind - RENT FIRST! Give it a try. $1500 is a lot of cheese to drop on something that may or may not be your new best friend. Renting an MPC1000 for a month will likely run you about $90 at Long&McQuade, and month is *more* than enough time to figure out if you get along or not - and really, when you're talking about interface, that's the only reason to choose an MPC over a computer anyway.

If I were going to recommend you buy some studio gear other than an MPC, the first three things I'd tell you would be a decent set of monitor speakers (which you apparently have), a decent computer (which you apparently have) and a decent audio card (and the MOTU 828 certainly fits this bill). In fact, you're the first person I've ever come across asking "should I buy and MPC" who it's possible actually SHOULD buy an MPC. :)

Try it out by renting first, but sounds like you might have a case.

Another option, btw, is the Akai MPD-16 - the same big rubber pads as the MPC, only in a MIDI controller. About a third of the cost of the MPC1000, and tho I haven't tried them, they're apparently pretty wonderful - so long as you already have your software sequencer all figured out.

Give'r. I'm here if you have any questions.