Choosing an mpc

I was recently lent an mpc (a Roland SP 404) by a friend of mine, and I've been enjoying it quite a bit. I just graduated from high school, so I've got about $400 in free money from relatives and friends that I might like to put towards some equipment of my own. Any recommendations? A USB outlet would be a major plus and if I could afford a drum machine, that would be nice. $400 is an approximate figure, so feel free to give me all sorts of options.

Thanks!

Okay, woops, didn't realize mpc was a specific product. What I'm looking for is a sampler, in case there was any confusion.

sp303

Hey, I've got a 404 and really enjoy it, but the other guy who I make music with has a 555 and it's got tons of great features that the 404 doesn't have.. could be worth stumping up the extra cash for that! I also just recently got an electribe es1 mkii which I love.. was really cheap off of ebay and is great fun w/ the step sequencer - have a look on youtube!

The budget isn't such a big issue, I'll just need to start spending my own money after 400, so if any of these are markedly better than the 404, I'd be happy to consider them. Being new to this, could you spell out a little more explicitly some of their advantages/disadvantages?

the internet

MPC-1000 is a good one, but most likely more than $400.

  On 6/15/2010 at 12:44 AM, blicero said:

sp303

i didn't like the sp303 at all. slow, annoying, shit

  On 6/15/2010 at 8:06 AM, scones to die for said:

MPC-1000 is a good one, but most likely more than $400.

seconded. love the 1000. 500 seems too mickey mouse and 2000/4000 seems overkill unless you're entirely replacing the computer

mpc 1000. I see you live in the US. should be easy enough to find one for around 400 bucks.

Just checked ebay. I could definitely afford a used mpc1000 off of there. Could someone explain what its advantages over an SP-404 or 555 are, though?

  On 6/15/2010 at 2:09 AM, soundwave said:

That looks awesome and its like 100 quid. But you need to be an ableton user. Which I am

an mpc1000 would own an sp-303, 404 or even 505. It's a sampler, sequencer all together. That means you can basically build entire tracks with it. You can even hook up external synths down the road if you choose to. The Midi outputs and inputs mean you can use it as the brain of a production setup, + it's got a bunch of different outputs so you have a lot of flexibility in the mix. You can have the snare and kick go out one output though a guitar effect pedal and the high hats, synth and cymbal out another and then mix them all afterward using any type of mixer. TONS of possibilities in a tiny little package. I'd highly recommend. :) Plus the MPC drum pads are very well reputed.

My big concern with the mpc1000 is that I've read a lot of reports about the pads responding poorly or the entire thing crashing for no reason. Have any of you experienced problems like that?

mine was already a bit flakey when i got it (secondhand off ebay).... but it has not gotten worse, and i got used to it... subconsciously compensate without even noticing that the corner of a couple pads are flakey.

if you're THAT worried, just factor the cost of a re-padding into the price! or buy one new

My understanding was that the pad problems were more with the blue and red MPC1000s, and the black MPC1000s are fine.

Thanks for the help everyone, it looks I'll be keeping my eyes open for a reasonably priced mpc1000. If anyone else has advice feel free, of course, to speak up.

There needs more pix. Thats why Im here, to gawk at gear I cant afford.

apparently no one responding to this thread saw the part about the $400 budget.

i didn't suggest the sp303 because it is the best sampler on the market...

I'm a big fan of the SP 404, but it definitely has one primary use, that is to say chopping samples and making beats. As far as I know, MPCs for the most part are built like tanks, though- I have been tempted quite a few times to pick an MPC 2000 on craigslist, where they often sell in the sub-$500 range.

im selling a 1000 on ebay for 635 if anyone is interested.

its fully maxed and mint condition. has the upgraded pads and everything