Akai MPC-1000

I love the mpc-groove , its so easy , you need fresh samples , some time, talent and everything else makes the mpc. The presets sucks, but hey the first thing you should do is delete them,(i dont know why akai started to make presets,) The manual is a bit confusing, but if you had any mpc before it is no problem to bounce with this machine

The build in effect are ver very good, but there is no delay and time-stretch that sucks , but if you ve got a pc or mac you can do it with it, the mpc has got an USB PORT, that very cool you will never need a hd or cdr, it comes along with 16meg of Ram thats very good and enough for the beginning,the midi capabilitie is the normal mpc standard. The sequencer has a cap. of 1000000 , and that is very good and enough. show me another sequencer that that sound so tight like a mpc, IT RULES,IT RULES IT RULES and not ja rule (can you feel me)

The sound is good 44.100/16, Its a sampler !!!if you got fat samples it will sound fat,
Its a perfect hip hop machine the sounds are tighter and fatter like the 2000xl,
The effect are perfect but i miss a delay very much !!!!!!!
The velocity is perfect ,mpc standard

it looks very reliable, its a perfect gig machine cause it s so small.

i dont know

i would buy it again, it worth it,
i use this machine with my korg triton le, mo-fat, and my protool mac
and logic plat. and a lot of plugins it perfect fits in my project studio

I've previously owned several MPC 2000's. I've always liked how easy I could capture an idea without having to fire up a computer system at (eg) 2am in the morning. ;)

In terms of ease of use, I don't know of a more practical console and user interface. You simply hit record/play and you're off. Nice big, sturdy buttons that are laid out in such a way that it is nearly impossible to "fat finger" anything, too. If you screw up, there is a large "UNDO" button that illuminates after ANY operation. This may seem like a small detail, but trust me it's a BIG deal. Again, accessibility is key to productivity and brainstorming. Akai makes the creative process a breeze and always have.

The MPC 1000 adds a lot of cool features over the 2000. The 1000 comes stock with 3 effects (1 main, 2 insert), 4 outs, digital i/o, 4 midi i/o, USB (which allows you to plug into a computer and transfer data back and forth), Flash RAM (up to 2 GIGABYTES!) and a lot of other cool things you can read about here: http://www.akaipro.com/us/mpc1k.html.

As for the sequencer, in my opinion it is the best dedicated sequencer in existence. Why? First, the sequencer timing (i.e. zero latency between beats, etc etc) is superlative. Nothing comes close. Second, the methods by which you can mute and unmute tracks, step edit and perform other compositional operations is extremely easy to learn and even easier to execute. Third, the console is easier than using a "My First Sony" tape deck. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you can't go wrong.

Finally, the SIZE of this box makes it one of the most important things to happen in a long time in the gear industry. You can pack this thing in a LAPTOP bag no problem. And with the advent of Flash memory.. you could store a whole album on a 2 GB flash card EASILY.

One more thing, the unit can take 128MB of RAM memory.. problem is, no one has been abler to figure out what kind and it APPEARS as though Akai proprietary RAM sticks are the only option, which would be a HUGE drawback if you ask me since they charge WAY too much for RAM.

The stock drum programs (which autoload, by the way) are terrific if you're just starting out. A lot of the "classic" drum hits and scratches ( a la P Diddy, Timbaland, etc) are present. Also, there are about 30 demo songs and all of them are very well done. Yes, the effects are perfect for most applications. The unit's amplification and converters are (as always) hot and CLEAN with that classic Akai "punch" we all know and love.

In my experience, Akais are fairly bulletproof. The pads and sliders and buttons are exactly like the 2000's: robust and able. This unit is SOLID. One item to note though, the jog wheel feels VERY flimsy to me and it's edges actually even rub on the console if you spin it too fast. This is the ONLY cosmetic "issue" worth mentioning.

Haven't dealth with them but hear Akai USA is getting a lot better. Good private web site here: http://www.mpc-tutor.com/ Check out the forums at http://www.mpc-forums.com/

Wow, I'm cool for providing this information, aren't I? I just realized how thoughtful that was of me! :D I bet this will make SOMEONE'S day sooner or later. You're welcome in advance :D

It's AWESOME. I highly recommend this box for dance, hiphop, rnb producers. Only downside is having to compose music on the little tiny green screen :( Too bad they don't include a VGA output for a monitor hook up! :D

Email me if you find a good place to buy the correct RAM memory