http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/ Engadget Comments for Music Thing: Akai MPC-2500 Sampler http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
Teve Torbes: same answer.

~f]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
I had an MPC2000 a while back, before I got into software very heavily, and now I can't justify paying that much money on such a box. Especially since it's not as dynamic as I like my samplers to be.

16/44.1?]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
Software does not rock]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
Oh, and for all of you not in the know, definitely check out Reason 3 software. Together with an MPC (or even a MIDI controller), you'll be on your way to advancement.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Both the 3000 and 4000 are too huge to justify portability. But if you want rock solid live performance/incredible sound and sequencer/sampler; I couldn't recommend a better box. And I am a reason 3.0 user. Reason is an entirely different beast; you cannot sample directly into reason; you cannot directly chop a loop in reason (the mpc 4000 does have a mediocre slicer but very usable) Reasons strength is it's synths and pre-programmed soundbanks; the sequencer is outstanding as well and the quality of effects rivals some of the most expensive plugins out there. The mastering suite and combinator that were added to 3.0 make it the killer software app to beat. Use this with pro tools, Digital Performer, Cubase or Logic as a rewire device..........OMG. You have to have a pretty powerful laptop/desktop to run reason.
There are good arguments for both but as far as hardware/reliability/ease of use; sequence programming and live use ; Akai and it's mpc series wins hands down over anything out there. I've seent used mpc 4000's for 1800 bucks; THAT'S A STEAL FOR WHAT THIS MACHINE IS CAPABLE OF!]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
Native Instruments BATTERY 2 BLOWS AKAI MPC AWAY!

I use the MPC as a sequencer and battery for the sounds]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
I think the best software alternative would be Ableton Live (must-have for chopping beats), plus a drum machine app -- I'd suggest FXpansion GURU, because it's the more friendly app out there. Native Instruments Battery is also pretty amazing, really deep, but for what people are describing here GURU is likely to give you the workflow you want.

And for that matter, just starting out with Live isn't such a bad idea, if you're a beginner. An incredible wealth of features, and for recording in audio and slicing up beats, you'll have plenty to keep you busy.

As for hardware, I've just gotten in both the Akai MPD-16 and M-Audio's Trigger Finger. The M-Audio kit has more faders and knobs, but let me test them out and tell you which pads feel better.

By the way, total price here:
Live 5 = $400
Trigger Finger or Akai MPD-16 = $200-$250
FXpansion GURU = $250

Hey, nothing against the MPC, but let's put this another way -- if you buy this software combination for your laptop, you will be very, very happy. The LAST thing you're going to be thinking is "boy, I sure can't do what those MPC owners can." Speaking of which, even if you buy an MPC, you'd need something to record into -- like Ableton Live.

The MPC is great hardware, but there is truly nothing wrong with going the software route. And if you're making music at the end of the day, that's all that matters, anyway.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
But yeah, 'Don't You Want Me'. 'Dare' was the first album I ever copied onto a C90 cassette, so I really should have got that right.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Now I have a MPC3000 which is the ONLY Drum >Machine that is actually a instrument (Roger >Linn)


Huh.... What ... Huh ...

Even if I was agreeing with your logic above (that only Roger Linn makes drum machines that are instruments) are you NOT aware of the MPC 60 that he created before the MPC 3000?

I guess it's not an "instrument"....

argh....]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/multi track, a few more than the mpc, effects, last time i checked there were hundreds if not thousands of vst efx, all of which can be controlled in real time by the control surface. power and flexibility... my powerbook has a bit more grunt than the brain inside the mpc and i'm sure i've got more ram that the current crop of mpcs!!!!!]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/its an akai killer in my eyes]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
All this talk about how you can get a better deal with software... Yeah true, but please don't forget to factor in the cost of the computer and sound i/o like some people here have.

I have an MPC3000 and an SP-1200, as well as LIVE, Reason, ProTools, the whole deal... I have the MPD-16 as well. Add while I primarily work in LIVE and Reason, and the machines will go months at a time gathering dust, I must remind the good people that not everyone owns or even likes to sequence on a computer. You turn a drum machine on, load some sounds and away you go. It is different. At the end of the day, it may not sound different from a song put together in Logic or Reason, but the drum machine process is a lot of straight-forward fun, and that's a big factor in making music.

Akai drum machines are rock solid and there is no latency or mayhem that can occur with software. The drum machine does not lock-up or crash. It is a very direct experience. It really boils down to how you like to work, and if you find yourself more comfortable on a drum machine, do your thing.

It's all personal preferrence, and drum machines are a very straight-forward way to get some beats happening.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
Main PC:

Hardware: 1) AMD Dual-core Socket 940, 1GHz FSB Processor 2) Foxconn Motherboard w/the works 3) ATI X800 TX All In Wonder Video (for TeVo like video recording) 4) SB Audigy2 Platinum Audio 5) 400 GB SATA Hard Drive (Multi-booting with DOS 6.2, WinXP X64, Suse Linux 9.3 Pro 6) 4x1GB (PC-3200) Ram Modules 7) DVD/CD-RW 52x32x52x16 Combo disk drive 8) DVD +/- 16x8x16x48 DL RW disk drive.

Software: 1) Cakewalk Sonar 4 Producer Edition 2) Sony Vegas 6.0 w/DVD 3) Nero Burning Rom.

Keyboard/Drum PC:

Hardware: 1) AMD Athlon 64 FX55 1GHz FSB 2) Asus Socket 939 Mother board ) Nvidia 6800 Video 4) E-Mu 1820m Audio 5) 180 GB SATA Hard Drive (WinXP Pro) 6) 2x 512MB (PC-3200) Ram Modules 7) DVD/CD-RW 52x32x52x16 Combo Drive

Software: 1) Propellerhead Reason 3.0.3

Sound Editing PC:

Hardware: 1) P4 3.0 Socket 478 800MHz FSB 2) MSI Mother Board 3) ATI 9700 Video 4) Sound Blaster Audigy2 Audio 5) 2x120 GB SATA Hard Drive (WinXP MCE) 6) 2x 512MB (PC-3200) Ram Module 7) DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive

Software: 1) Adobe Audition 1.5 2) Azerus (bit torrent file sharing program) 3) LimeWire (P2P file sharing program)

Music Devices:

Controllers: 1) Mackie Universal MIDI Control w/Extender 2) M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 Keyboard MIDI Controller 3) M-Audio Trigger Finger-16 MIDI Drum Controller 4) MIDI Interface Modules

Sound Input: 1) Any of my CD drives 2) Denon DN-S5000 Table Top DJ CD Player 3) The Internet (endless supply of sounds)

Audio/Mixer: 1) Behringer UB1002 Mixer 2) Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 Speaker System

Note: I use these PC’s like work stations. Everything is networked together and internet capable. The main PC can act as a server for the other PC’s. I use studio monitor quality surround sound speaker system on main PC. I run all audio outs through a simple audio mixer to play along and record in real time.
These PC's serve multi-purposes...work, gaming, banking...ect. That's the added value in using a PC over using dedicated hardware like an MPC#. In a nutshell, I can buy a PC with all the internal hardware I need to make music, (not including Keyboard..ect) and it would still cost less than any MPC, or the like hardware, above an MPC2000. And I would have the add bonus of a multi-purpose tool.

With the level of technology out there these days, I think you don’t need to buy expensive gear like Korg’s Triton keyboards, Akai’s MPC4000 sampler, and rack-mounted sound modules and the rest of that stuff. That’s what real studios are for. Not home studios. Besides you already know that gear can cost well over 10 G’s easily. For home use, that’s financial overkill...for me anyway.
It took 4 months, and less than 7 G’s to build this setup. I have everything I need to produce good professional sounding music.

MPC lovers...I can do what you can do and more.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
I want to make music. I have some gear that's like 20 years old. Every time i use it, it's the same as before. I don't have to worry how it interacts with my other gear, it uses standard midi cables.

This doesn't mean you have to use the same presets for 20 years. I see why someone would want an Akai mpc 2500. Once you learn it you can use it for years without having to bother with bugs or anything. No need to upgrade your midi interface drivers cause they have screwy sysex support or anything like that.

Well designed hardware has dedicated buttons for accessing most functions. My workstation lets me sample something and then map it out on the keyboard in a short time.

I have nothing against anyone who prefers software but i think that hardware is far from obsolete.

Didn't mean to offend anyone here.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
I've gone from software to hardware to software so many times!

and this is what I have come up with...

COMPUTERS;
Yes computers are more powerful and flexible,
but even with midi controllers you still find yourself mousing about and starring at a screen, and finding it difficult to commit to a sound because you have so many options. Still the most powerful and fastest option. I found my compositions always sounded bigger and more complex on computers.

MPC;
Dedicated music hardware lets you use two hands,& the buttons will always be in the same place. yeah browsing and naming samples sux on hardware..but its all about a spontaneous moment of creativeness. you can sample directly into the box who cares what the name is. I found myself listening and connecting with the music much more.

in the end your instrument whatever it may be should be transperent!

i belive a combination of the two wins hands down!

is there a price tag on the 2500 yet?]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/actrully the workflows are different.
on mpc (except 2500), everything must be recorded in, whether in realtime of steptime.
With SW, there is bigger screen and a mouse to quickly draw notes/automations into. And all the stuffs are displayed in the sametime.

It is little more harder to program a mpc than in e.g: FlStudio,Live,Protools. But HW really shines for live work.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Its a Techno Studio. Its not an MPC.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/
I really do agree with what you said about the software equipment but I'm alittle bit confused about purchasing any piece of equipment for right now. Right now I'm thinking about purchasing an MPC 3k for lets say at the least $750 and I already have a Korg Triton. Would this be a smart decision adding that the fact that I had never used a MPC? What you think?]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Dec 19th 2005 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/music-thing-akai-mpc-2500-sampler/Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM