@KrisM nice buy on the Parva 
Been keeping an eye on that for a while. Be cool to hear some demos/vids if you get a chance some time. Enjoy!
Allen & Heath AB168 to add 16 more inputs to my Qu-Pac, Akai MPC500, Musicthing Axoloti shield.
What’s your take on the MPC500 so far?
I’ve been thinking of small and handy alternatives to the Octatrack for trigging longer samples if need be, and maybe the 500 might be a good option…
What's your take on the MPC500 so far?I've been thinking of small and handy alternatives to the Octatrack for trigging longer samples if need be, and maybe the 500 might be a good option...
I’m constantly thinking of grabbing an mpc1000 to pair with my OT to get past the OT’s weak points (monophonic tracks, 64 Step limit…). But if you just want to trigger long samples and don’t want to do that on OT, maybe a roland sp404/555 would suit? Really fun/nice as an fx box too…
@Callofthevoid – you just named my other contender… But three things are putting me off, slightly:
-Price
-Size (I know, small compared to OT, but large for what it does?)
-MIDI is a question mark. I kind of got the idea the amount of control you get with CC’s is limited.
@josker Zoom Sampletrakk? Might be too limiting (sample size) but it's a heap of fun and sounds deliciously lo-fi. Or Akai MPX16?
@josker TBH my 404 and 555 have both been relegated to purely fx send/return boxes and manual triggered stuff since I grabbed the OT. So I’m not sure how well they play with others re midi cc etc. Probably quite minimal control like you say though… I keep meaning to connect everything but I’m a couple of midi inputs short with my current Kenton splitter 
The 404 is pretty small really. You can prob grab a used one for around £180. Agreed that their current price when new is a little steep for what they do. Except for the effects which kill every other sampler/synth I own for internal fx… But saying that, they’re also VERY quick to sample and jam ideas on. So in a way the fact that they are nowhere near as deep ad the Octatrack can sometimes be an advantage, depending what you wanna do at the time…
What's your take on the MPC500 so far?I've been thinking of small and handy alternatives to the Octatrack for trigging longer samples if need be, and maybe the 500 might be a good option...I’m constantly thinking of grabbing an mpc1000 to pair with my OT to get past the OT’s weak points (monophonic tracks, 64 Step limit…). But if you just want to trigger long samples and don’t want to do that on OT, maybe a roland sp404/555 would suit? Really fun/nice as an fx box too…
Interesting. I have a question if you’d be so kind to answer it.
How exactly will you use the MPC1000? Could expand on the info you provided. You mentioned monophonic tracks and a step limit so far.
I have an MPC1000 and I don’t use it anymore. I’d like to buy an OT and I was thinking of selling it. It’s my first sampler but at the moment it’s been easier to record everything into Ableton, bounce down the tracks, open up Logic and mix. I’ve also tried to get a second Op-1 (I’ve been haggling for months with this guy I know) as I’d like to record into that.
What could the MPC1000 offer that a second Op-1 or an OT can’t? I’d love to know!
@HisMostDarxxxellent – one biggie is polyphonic tracks. You can get more realistic rides and cymbals, for instance, with this. Along with things like chords built out of single-cycle waves.
Of course, you also have the pads to tap on, which is pretty much optimal
The sequencer is, if I remember right, more of an event list type deal, which allows for more flexibility.
As I remember, the 1000’s effects were not too excellent.
@HisMostDarxxxellent
The main thing for me is polyphonic tracks. On OT if you sample for example a piano key. You can’t play/sequence it polyphonically. No chords or having notes overlap. This also means you also can’t have a full drumkit on 1 OT track if you want any two+ drum sounds to play at the same time. For drums you can spread them over a couple of separate tracks easy enough and build/sequence a kit, but then you’ve eaten up those tracks and it’s kind of a messy solution.
The other thing is sequencing. OT has a great sequencer but if you like to do linear kind of stuff sometimes then the 64 Step sequencer limit can be a hassle to work around. Apparently the MPC is the total opposite.
If you search Elektronauts forum you’ll see a few users that really rate the OT + MPC1000 (with JJOS) combo, saying they cover each other weak points.
Not sure what my midi/sequencer/audio routing setup/workflow would be if I grabbed one. Part of the reason I haven’t already done it is reluctance to Learn MPC and have to juggle both sequencers/project files etc with OT. I still might pick one up at some point and try it out though. If you’re in UK and ever think of selling yours give me a shout 
My main gripe with the MPC was the inability to have different tracklenghts, it’s pretty conservative in that department. And the filters are absolutely horrific. Almost as terrible as the fx. Useless.
Other than that I really loved it, super easy workflow, best pads on the planet, sturdy, and the sound is very punchy. And the ability to really tweak everything per sound/pad, if only I could tweak the seperate trig buttons on the OT…
Yeah, and poly, if only to make a loop more seamless and let it decay a little bit over itself…
Also, workflow-wise the MPC is a lot more like the Rytm. Without all the great analog goodness of course, and great fx, and crazy sequencer, but both truly shine as drum-orientated machines. The Octa is a terrible drumsampler imho. Its more like a flexible multitracker.
Also, workflow-wise the MPC is a lot more like the Rytm. Without all the great analog goodness of course, and great fx, and crazy sequencer, but both truly shine as drum-orientated machines. The Octa is a terrible drumsampler imho. Its more like a flexible multitracker.
Yeah OT layout can definitely feel clunky when used as a drum machine/drum sampler. Except for when using slices of a full kit. Some insane results possible on one track then 
if one is in love with the OT workflow and wants more versatile drums on one track then a Volca Sample is a hell of a cheap, and useful, roll dog
Once loaded with the samples you want, of course. Not being able to sample on the fly is a bit of a bummer, but not so much in practice for my needs
if one is in love with the OT workflow and wants more versatile drums on one track then a Volca Sample is a hell of a cheap, and useful, roll dogOnce loaded with the samples you want, of course. Not being able to sample on the fly is a bit of a bummer, but not so much in practice for my needs
Agreed. And if you grab that cable that let’s you sequence Volca Sample from one track/midi channel (instead of the 8 channels it require normally) then for the $ it’s an amazing little beats companion for OT.
Thanks @josker @154 @Callofthevoid for your input… I love to know every detail and I can realize the full spectrum thanks to you lot!
1up SFX
One thing I shouldn’t underestimate, I “lived” on the MPC2000XL for years. It was the center of my everything. So I’m very biased, and despite the JJ, the HDD, the no more floppy I’m still mainly in love with the 2KXL. The footprint, the ease of use, it’s limitations, it may be the most intuitive piece of gear I’ve ever owned. Yes, in the end my musical direction(strange measurements and most of all, seperate track lengths as a core thing) drove me away from it. As did the floppy drive and even worse: Zip-drives and SCSi. Aaargh! But the MPC1000 never clicked that magically, and maybe I like it mainly because I loved my 2KXL so much. So nostalgia may be a factor.
When looking for drums and sequencer, including samples but not being able to sample not being a dealbreaker I say drop everything and buy a Rytm. And that and the Analog Keys are the perfect companions for Octa as your main daw.
And yes, Analog Keys over A4 every time forever. It’s just SO much more complete.
Anyways, hope it helps
I had all the MPC models except the 4k 1k and 500, and the 2Kxl was by far my fave too, I had a CF card reader in mine so never had any scsi or floppy issues.
@josker -still waiting for the 500 to arrive, but read the manual and looked at a bunch of videos before buying, mainly interested in using it as a sequencer and flying in longer samples than as a drum machine, much as I love my elektron gear the midi sequencing is often too limiting for me (not always though)
I am kind of an event list nerd because I can scroll through notes and punch in numbers to edit, I find it a very fast, precise and powerful way of working, piano roll and x0x style do not always lend themselves to more complex sequencing IMHO.
Yeah fixed track lengths is one of the major bummers on the mpc range.
4k still makes me go ooh when I see one for sale, but I shouldnt.
My 2K had the MFC42 mounted on top, made me look like a pikey but I loved it so much. Dangerous filter though, easy to kill any PA with it without even noticing you added more reso.
Swapped it for an 808 in the end, which made me pretty happy
@154 lol u from Essex?