MPC Tutor...Akai MPC 1000 The MPC 1000 is the latest in the Akai MPC range of samplers/MIDI production centers. The MPC 1000 is being touted as the most portable, cost effective MPC ever, and features a fair array of new features over it's closest relation, the Akai MPC 2000XL. We've already started making MPC 1000 compatible sample packs on our sister site, MPC-Samples.com, and will soon be expanding this range over the coming months.
What's New?
The main improvements of the MPC 1000 over the 2000XL are as follows:
-Smaller, lighter and more portable
-Re-sampling of the audio outputs
-Normalising
-USB connection to computers - allows easy transfer of sounds from computers
-More filters
-More memory capacity(128mb)
-Effects as standard
-More varied array of internal effects
-Total of 6 outputs plus digital as standard
-Compact Flash storage
On the downside, the following XL features are missing from the MPC 1000. -Sequencer capacity cut from 300,000 to 100,000
-No timestretch
-No MTC sync
-No SCSI port
-No way to hook up an external storage device like CDROM or Zip
-No sample reverse
-Velocity sensitive attack and decay params are gone (as far as I can see)
-Using 2000XL programs will only keep basic pad assignment, all other parameters will need to be re-programmed one-by-one.
-No support for any audio file type except WAV (MPC2000, MPC3000, S1000/3000 need to be converted to WAV first).
-Programs made on the 1000 will NOT load into an MPC2000XL (sounds will)
-No tilting screen
-Can only have 6 outs, not 10 like the XL.
Worth Buying? If this is to be your first MPC, then yes, it's great value for money. If you intend using commercial sounds with it (sample CDROMs etc) then you'll really need to have a computer as well, otherwise you'll have difficulty getting those sounds into the MPC 1000 - it doesn't have any way of connecting an external storage device, as the USB port can only be used to connect it to a master USB device such as a computer.
If you are an existing MPC2000Xl user, then it's a hard choice. I really don't see this as a replacement for the XL, it's too similar in features (it's basically got an XL operating system). Linking up to a computer is now nice and easy, so that's a plus, but the fact that all your PGMs will need to be re-programmed pad-by-pad is a complete nightmare! If you use sample CDs, the only way you can load the sounds into an MPC 1000 is to copy them to your computer first (if they are in Akai format, they'll have to be converted to WAV). And if you are wanting to share your programs with your friend who has an XL - forget it, they wont work in his machine (WRONG FILE FORMAT is all the XL has to say about this).
If you're trying to decide whether or not to get the MPC 1000 or an MPC 4000, it's not really a fair comparision. The MPC4000 is in a different league - it features a fully fledged sampler, a more robust set of sequencer features, AkSys support, use of external drives, plus dozens of other pro features. Basically these two machines are aimed at very different markets. I think the MPC 1000 will appeal to the live user due to its small size, the MPC 4000 is designed more as a studio workhorse.
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