Comments on: Akai MPC5000: Beyond Reviews, Dave Dri Reflects on MPCs Past and Present

By: Starving student

Starving student — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:01:59 +0000

An mpc-1000/kaosspad 3 combo will change anyones Life.
its all you need.

By: dptronz

dptronz — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:46:53 +0000

“Avoiding buggy software.” HA!

Running JJOS2 on the MPC1000 + Ableton Live + FAW’s Circle synth is a modest yet robust synth/sampler creative toolset.

Price-wise: if you already own a laptop, it would be cheaper to go this route rather than shell out for the 5000.

By: Brigend

Brigend — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:53:40 +0000

I have the 500, had a 2500 but now have the 5000. The 5000 is a lot better. The higher resolution sequencer makes live stuff sound live. The quantize strength is cool. The synth is very cool but it would be nice to have more programs onboard. It has a lot more voices so things don’t cut off like they do on the 500 and 2500. I am using the Q-Links a lot more because they work as MIDI controllers now. Most of the effects are good. The reverbs suck but the distortions, compressors and filters are really sweet. The bigger display makes it much better to use and going back to the small screen of the 2500 or 500 is a pain. There are more features I’d like to see like better automation editing, a way to edit all the program filters and envelopes at once, using the Q-Links on sample programs like it does on the synth but the 5000 is a big step up from the 2500/1000 with or without JJ.
I want to check out the Linn II but it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be an MPC. It looks like it’s just going to be a drum machine. The analog drum stuff look tight though.

By: chris23

chris23 — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:46:16 +0000

I recently bought an MPC1000 used hoping to port some of my Logic work out to a portable pad interface. As interesting as it is I can’t believe it only has 16MB RAM (expandable to a whopping 128MB). This is absolutely mind-boggling to me. I swear, my toothbrush has more RAM. The machine is near useless for my needs because of this limitation.

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:41:29 +0000

Well, I’d say some of this is an argument for the underlying importance of the MPC … and, in turn, why indeed you might want a LinnDrum II more than a new Akai. ;)

By: regend

regend — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 06:17:07 +0000

i bought an akai s1000 for 60 bucks and having the two XLR pre-amps was worth that price! now i just have to hook it up to a cheap midi sequencer.

By: Damon

Damon — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 06:03:42 +0000

I have the 2500, and it is heavy, and ponderous, and pretty, and a bit absurd in the routing, and way expensive, and very limited compared to many other such units, but it does have a feel and an immediacy that feels classic and timely and historic. The fact that it does not have a lot of features has forced me to be more thoughtful about creating songs. I could never manage an honest base line until I got the MPC. What it cannot do is consistently annoying, and what it cannot do is consistently inspiring. Point 2 of that being rather silly. “I love it cause it sucks enough to make me have to try.” Guess you could say it is the Harley Davidson of music devices, though, some might argue that is more a mini moog.

By: xonox

xonox — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:13:16 +0000

Is the LinnDrum 2 has mutliple midi inputs and outputs like the MPCs and can sequence, i don’t see why i would risk it buying an MPC since Dave Smith and Roger Linn have a far better track record at releasing updates for their products than Akai. It’s a shame that Akai can’t put more ressources on polishing up the OS of the MPCs…

I’ve seen the MPC 5000 in a store this summer, it was big but didn’t feel overly big. I mean if you spend this much on a box, it’s most likely to use more than just the basic features. In my opinion the size makes sense so that the panel layout is comfortable. The panel layout seems good at first glance.

By: lilith

lilith — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:38:00 +0000

I miss the Yamaha Rm1x + RS7000. I always wanted them to develop those further, like make a portable model or let them take the PL-AN and DX cards which would let it be a real synth. Or one with a Tenori-On-like interface or just regular drum pads – the mere 2 pads on the RS were kinda crappy.

I’m really anticipating the LinnDrum II however, especially the Analog. I’d rather it used the 4×4 layout too. I’m guessing Linn is copying the 2×8 layout of his old models, plus he said it made it useful for “techno people”

By: Will

Will — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:51:05 +0000

I’ve used an mpc 1000 for about two years now (since i was 14) and i switched over to JJ OS and subsequently JJ OS 2, last January. so I’ve been running that OS for almost a year. And from what i can see after being a early adopter of JJ OS 2 is that the MPC 5000 is a direct response to OS 2 and really just JJ OS in general.
Here are some examples:
-the synthesizer in the MPC 5000 is almost a direct copy of the instrument programs in OS 2
-the greatly improved mixer of the MPC 5000 and the track mixer is a direct copy of the track mixer and mixer window of JJ OS 2.
-the grid edit is enhanced on the MPC 5000, but i’m pretty sure still doesn’t have the graphical effect automation view, or “q-real” view that the JJ OS 2 has.
the list goes on and on, as far as i see it, the only thing that the MPC 5000 offers are physical things, or hardware limitations of prior MPCs, especially the MPC 1000 with JJ OS 2 installed; or just JJ OS 1 for that matter. Things like, more sliders, knobs a bigger screen, more assignable outs, and more effect buses. These are legitimate pros to this device, but as one who has worked on an MPC for a relatively long time, i would take an MPC 1000 with JJ OS 2 on it anyday over this brand spankin’ new MPC 5000. Akai needs to get with the times and start working to make new products, that aren’t rushed, and aren’t solely dedicated to competing with the alternative OS that will ALWAYS be there as a competitor. They need to do this while also keeping the same MPC feel, grit and grime that users have come to know and love.