So i decided to sell all my midi conreller related stuff and go for MPC 5000. computer using only renoise sampler and record samples on decent hardware
any suggestions whitch MPC to choose? i had read about mpc5000 some really bad reviews and many people say that those who told bad reviews is just talking shit, because those users hands is growing from wrong place 
i am maschine mikro user is there huge difference in workflow and possibilities?
I haven’t used either the MPC5000 or Maschine, but I did cut my teeth on an MPC2000 back in the late 90s / early 00s and it was an incredible piece of kit. Nostalgia aside, there is something very inspiring and focussing about working on a dedicated music hardware device that doesn’t allow you to check your facebook or fire up call of duty on a whim!
Akai obviously have gone down the maschine route recently with the MPC renaissance / studio but I think have experienced a bit of a backlash from the faithful who love the stand alone, dedicated functionality of dedicated sampler / sequencer. That in mind I would hold your horses on investing in an older MPC because it looks like Akai might be about to revert back to units that can be used stand alone but no doubt with some fancy DAW integration:
I have Renoise and an MPC (4000). I made the jump to the MPC after changing jobs and being in front of the computer all day. I didn’t want to be sat in front of it during my spare time too.
Some things to note:
- Both Renoise and MPC are fairly similar, not in interface, but in features (sampler + sequencer)
- The MPC will be more limiting (no VSTs, much more limited quantity of DSPs)
- The MPC will be slower for sample editing
- The MPC encourages real-time performance recording, while Renoise encourages non-realtime pattern programming (imho)
- Using them together is probably a good thing (personally I’d use the MPC as the master sequencer and Renoise as a sample editor / VST host)
Personally I was happy to work slightly slower (it gets quicker again) but much less visually, as I found I was making patterns look nice rather than concentrating on the sound.
Note that I’ve never used Maschine, but it seems similar to the MPC. There have been arguments about the clock timing on the 5000, but in fairness it’s probably not a deal killer.
Why in particular do you want to go for the 5000 model? Because of the built in synthesiser? Keygroups (only on the 4000/5000 or the 1000/2500 with JJOS)? Are you aiming for everything in a single box? Are you planning to use them together? If you have Maschine I’m not sure what an MPC will give you extra.
Some more details on how you’re planning to use it would help assisting you with choices.
i want 5000 because larger screen, synth and here is a good deal on it, 2500 is great unit too, im aiming about to have everything on one device, and im really struggling about computer, and i want get rid of it for music making, i generally dont use vsts, only samples and default dsps
Beware, after using software you might be spoiled about freedom of how to do sequencing and editing tasks. I have a MPC 1000 and it’s great to use it for looping and start a song from the scratch. I usually sample from my iPod songs or from a mic for guitar, tambourine, shaker and other live sounds. I can get something quick and dirty but when trying to refine things and mix them properly, you start finding lack of features. I don’t know in a MPC 5000 how easy it will be, it has more features than 1000. Usually I end up getting some loops and resampling to use them with Renoise.
In any case, there’s something more rewarding in using hardware to record and create patterns… and I don’t know why.
heh i am thinking in other direction, to get clean mixed samples with renoise and then record them on mpc. 1000 is great for its size and seems to be solid bulletproof unit for carrying around. i guess im aliitle bit tired of making patterns and mixing a track.
some time ago i started practice fingerdrumming with maschine mikro and i am getting some kind of great feeling just playing pads and sequence nothing
I had a 1000 with JJOS some years ago and it taught me a lot, but at the same time I hated how much slower I worked. What would take me 2 minutes on a computer took me 30-40 minutes on the MPC. As a computer user firstly and an MPC user secondly, there was a vast difference in what I could (not) do and how long it took me. I spent as much time as I could to learn everything possible about the machine and what I could do with it, hoping that would make me appreciate it but,… I grew tired and sold it. It did teach me things about making beats and I definitely see the value of that as something I probably wouldn’t have learned without buying it, so that was the positive I took from it. It also sounded very “clean” and nice, and the 16-levels of decay on the sounds are exactly that “MPC” sound I love.
I do own a 500, which I got for on-the-go beat making and get away from the computer. I was prepared to re-learn and take the music process slowly and try to “feel” what I was making instead of doing the old patter thing, but it’s such a princess of a machine. The unlimited bugs in the OS will come out 100% if your RAM and CF card aren’t exactly what it wants, throwing tantrums as much as possible and crashing at any random moment. Some users get it working without much issue but you’ll have to be careful and probably spend a lot of money in trial-and-error parts testing. Would not recommend.