I'm a stupid primate. Bashing on pads makes so much more sense to me than x0x style programming, clicking in MIDI edit windows or writing drum parts on keyboards.
That's why I have really enjoyed the MPC 500 after a few years of MPC-lessness.
The MPC 500 is the smaller and dumber cousin of the MPC 1000. It's a sampler/sequencer with only 12 small-format pads instead of the usual 16, limited editing possibilities, weak resonant (multimode these days, previous OS:s had only lowpass) filters, few effects, no separate outputs and only a two-line character-based LCD screen for visual feedback.
It used to suffer from some quite nasty bugs, but most of those seem to have been ironed out in the latest OS update (1.31 as of the time of writing).
What it does have is the familiar MPC workflow and surprisingly fast editing using the pads for navigation. It also runs on batteries if you want to be mugged for something other than your cellphone on the subway.
I'm gonna cut it some slack however. It's small, light, cheap and feels much more sturdy than the butt-ugly blue/red MPC1000 that I used to have. The rubber feet make it stay put during even fairly rigorous workouts. Just don't expect a tank like the older incarnations.
Got mine used for 3000 SEK (US $350-400 or so these days) with maxed (128MB) RAM and a larger CF card than the one provided by Akai.
Connections: Stereo in, stereo out, headphone out, midi in and out (no thru), USB for file transfer, compact flash port.
More info available here
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I prefer a Neurosis screamfest to a Moroder bassline any day of the week.
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Written December 23 2008 , Tags: sampler, review, mpc, mpc 500, hulk smash
Comments
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hmmmm....I'd still shell out for the MPC1000. it doesnt' seem to cost that much more. nice concise review though.
I like how everyone is doing reviews again...
dkarma: Yeah, if you can afford the space it's a much more capable machine, especially on the i/o front.
hell yeah, reviews are back! i'd review something if i had anything. damnit.
I've passed getting one of these twice because of all the bad reviews. Glad the OS seems to be sorted out now. Great review too, thx for posting it.
On a side note how's the pitch shifting work on this thing? Can you map a sample to all the pads and play it chromatically? 12 pads would be ideal for this sort of thing.
Roshi said: "I like how everyone is doing reviews again..." Wait til you see my review of this blog and upcoming review of teh em411. dpmtl said: " Roshi said: "I like how everyone is doing reviews again..." Wait til you see my review of this blog and upcoming review of teh em411." As long as there is not an interview of the reviewer. Thanks crabster
Just saw a MPC2000 in a second-hand shop... 399€ Seemed a bit pricey, no? Anyway, I've been tempted to get some MPC-type for a long time, and I like how compact the 500 is But I've read that the interface isn't as practical as the big MPCs, is that so? I've been tossing around getting one of these instead of an MPC1000- but now that I've been thinking for awhile I'm happy I have held off. My biggest beef with the whole mpc line so far is the bogus used prices I am seeing. Seattle-Tacoma craigslist has them for like $800 for a 1000 and $500 for an mpc500. Give me a break! I think a lot of people overestimate the value of the upgrades they put into the machines. Hard drives and RAM are so cheap and abundant. There's an ide hard drive on the floorboard of my truck, now that I think about it.
im spoiled. I only want the big dawg (4k), therefore ill never get it. cuz im hella poor.
i really did not care for the 500 at all i had it and took it back a week later.
has anyone tried the new akai drum machine? Ive been wondering if it would be like an mpc that cant sample.
hope this isnt hijacking- does anyone know an easy way to do looping with the mpc 500? is there any way to make it operate similarly to a boss sp404 for looping?
the good thing about the mpc1000 is the JJ OS.. from what i've read on mpc forums JJ is not planning on doing one for the 500
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