More than a drum machine
Drum machines became almost required for music production in the 1980s. With synth-based music like DEVO and Kraftwerk, the drum machine enjoyed success, but left some people wondering what had happened to human feel in music. Enter the MPC with its unique MPC Swing technology that helped transform what used to be a mechanical-sounding sequence of beats into a great-feeling groove.Drum machines come with preset sounds. What’s programmed from the factory is all you can work with. The MPC series introduced beat sampling and the music world was changed forever. Producers could now sample any drum sound they wanted and bang out pro-grade tracks in minutes.
Today, the MPC series is the industry standard for beat production. The current MPC line includes the MPC500, MPC1000, MPC2500, and MPC5000. You may be wondering which one is right for you. No worries: we’ve got you covered in this MPC Buyer’s Guide.
The MPC Advantage
The MPC was born in 1987, conceived to be an ultra-capable sampling drum machine, enabled beat makers to sequence their own samples as never before. On top of its forward-looking capabilities, it introduced what is now an iconic control surface: the grid of pressure and velocity-sensitive MPC pads. This MPC exclusive feature is often imitated but never equaled.
Today’s MPCs are all-in-one production studios that enable you to produce not only beats, but entire songs. MPCs offer stability without the crashing and file corruption that can happen when using a computer. MPCs also offer inimitable sequencing feel that far outperforms the experience of using computer software.
MPC1000
The whiz kid.
The MPC1000 has the best price-to-power ratio in the MPC series. It’s a great starting point with plenty of room to grow. The MPC1000 has all of the essential MPC capabilities: 32-voice stereo sampling, 64-track sequencing, 16 MPC pads, MPC Swing, MPC Note Repeat, and Q-Link assignable controls. All of that power fits into a compact, affordable package that’s the perfect choice for nearly any producer. Its small size makes it easy to take with you on stage or on the road.
The MPC1000 has a Compact Flash drive and USB port for use with your Mac or PC as a mass storage device. Analog and digital I/O makes it easy to connect the MPC1000 to all of your input and output gear with ease. Two effects processors and a main-output effects processor ensure that your creative manipulations are captured completely.
Great things come in small packages. Whether you’re just getting started, you’re short on space, you need a second MPC, or you just need an MPC to take with you, the MPC1000 has full MPC capability in a compact size. Find out more about the MPC1000 here.
MPC500
The on-the-go creative type.
The MPC500 is the first truly portable MPC thanks to its battery or wall-powered operation. You can sample and create music wherever inspiration strikes: on the subway, on the plane, or even at the beach! Whether you're traveling around the globe or just across town, MPC500 is a perfect fit in your backpack, messenger bag, or briefcase. Have you ever wanted a drum machine you could sample into? The MPC500 is the perfect solution.But don’t let its small size fool you: the MPC500 has a 32-voice stereo sampler, a 48-track sequencer, 12 MPC pads, Q-Link assignable control, MPC Swing, MPC Note Repeat, and a whole lot more. Like the MPC1000, the MPC500 has a CF card slot and USB mass-storage connectivity for flexible transfer. And just like its big brother, the MPC500 has two stereo effects processors and a master effect processor.
The MPC500 is compatible with the other MPC models, so you can drop your creations into your studio MPC when you get back from wherever creation strikes. The MPC500 is portable, yet powerful; rugged, yet lightweight; and it just might be the drum machine you’ve been looking for. There's even more to the story on the MPC500 page.
MPC2500
The platinum hit producer.
The MPC2500 steps up the capabilities and connectivity in a comfortable, familiar MPC workspace. For years, the MPC2000 and MPC2000XL were the serious producer’s choice, and many of the world’s hugest tracks have been built on them. The MPC2500 continues the MPC2000 lineage, containing many of the previously optional expansions, more features, more media capabilities, and just... more! If you’re a professional making beats and tracks, the MPC2500 is the machine for you. Just a few of the key improvements in the MPC2500 include 10 analog outputs, stereo digital I/O, a CF card slot, and USB mass-storage connectivity. Chop Shop slices loops into individual samples and automatically assigns pads for easy deconstruction and manipulation. The MPC2500’s Patched Phrase synchronizes phrase samples to any tempo without changing their pitch, and its Continuous Sample Track records long audio tracks into a sequence.
You can connect more, load more, and more importantly do more with the MPC2500. It’s real production power for professionals. There's even more under the hood at the MPC2500 page.
MPC5000
The Don.
Twenty one years after the launch of the first MPC, Akai Professional has learned a few things about MPCs. We know that producers love their MPCs for their great sequencing feel, and we also know that everyone demands more performance out of every piece of gear in their studio. We set out to develop the ultimate expression of the MPC and we discovered that today’s MPC isn’t just a drum machine that samples; it’s a complete music-production studio.For the producer who demands the best, the MPC5000 has all of the capabilities of the MPC500, MPC1000, and MPC2500, plus a whole lot more! The MPC5000 takes the MPC to new places with over 100 new capabilities, most notably internal multi-track recording, and onboard virtual-analog synthesis.
The MPC5000 has a new sequencing engine with the highest resolution of any sequencer on the market. This translates to incomparably realistic feel and control of note placement. The MPC5000 also has 64-track continuous sampling, a newly engineered effects engine, Random and Cycle sample playback, all of which enable you to unleash your creativity.
The MPC5000 has a turntable input with RIAA preamp so you can connect a turntable and sample from your classic vinyl and your performance scratches. The completely new virtual-analog synthesizer is like having a premium keyboard workstation inside the MPC, without those pesky keys. And let’s not forget the eight-track, direct-to-disk streaming recorder, which enables your to finally produce entire songs in the MPC.
But wait, there’s more! MPC5000 OS 2.0 contains more than 20 new features, functions, and shortcuts to make using the MPC5000 even easier and more powerful. Many of the features in OS 2.0 were developed directly in response to the requests of the producers who make hits on the MPC5000 every day. For more information on the MPC5000, be sure to check out the MPC5000 product page
If you’re looking top shelf, look no further than the MPC5000.
Wrapping it up.
If you’re looking to produce professional music, look no further than akaipro.com/MPC. If you’re on the go, grab an MPC500 and take your studio with you. Buying your first MPC? Check out the MPC1000. Need the professional’s choice? The MPC2500 is for you. When you need the most capable beat producer in the world, the MPC5000 is the only contender.
Here is a video that provides a little history on the MPC:
