Akai MPC-2000XL

Latest version Software - very easy to use, very stable. Manual is very comprehensive. Almost everything i put into this machine sounds good. I use MPC editor on the PC to assemble my programs - which makes things very easy. I would say this software is essential ($20 us i think for the full download). Lots of resources out there to get the best from this machine. I tend to make a lot of House music, so i have a lot of stock programs with the TR x0x sounds etc. I also have a Drum Station rack - but no contest the MPC wins everytime with its punchy sound.

Polyphony is never an issue for me - i've programmed complex drum patterns and it handles anything you can throw at it. The timing is ROCK SOLID. The sequencer is good, but i tend only to use it for drums. I've used cubase for more years than i care to remember so end up sequencing everything from that. It only has 2x Midi outs and ins - so i guess would be good for sequencing in a small setup.

Expansion wise, you can get FX card (i havent bothered with this); 8 output card (i have this, but havent got round to fitting it); flash memory (only 8mb and very expensive).

If you buy an early model (like i did) it will have a 1.4mb floppy drive - you will immediately want either a zip drive - or preferably a card reader. I went down the card reader route (cost $50 dollars). The zips are reported to be unreliable long term.

The pads are one of the best features of this machine. Able to capture expressive playing. It really feels like an instrument rather than a boring drum machine.

I would say this machine is best suited to RnB, Hip-Hop and House/Techno. Sure you can do rock/country etc etc - but why not buy a cheaper Boss drum machine for that.

I dont play live anymore, but this is the kind of machine you can depend on. I've had mine 2 years and it has never crashed or faltered

AKAI in the UK are friendly. I tend to use cimple-spares or VST in california for my AKAI gear - both companies get 10/10

Id buy another in a heartbeat if mine went astray. Or probably spring for the MPC 3000.

Version 1.12. (December 4, 2000)

I actually own the Special Edition 2 (SE-2) you can see a picture of it here on harmony central, or check out this picture for more clarity:http://www.akai-pro.de/produkte/mpc2000xl_se.html
The MPC 2000XL comes with a floppy disc and a CD-Rom. They both feature the same sounds: A variation of drums, hats, snares and symbols. I don't remember any real samples, although there were 2 or 3 demo MP3s showing what the 2000XL is capable of.*The sounds must be loaded into the MPC every time you turn it off or on, unless you have the flash-rom option installed. *$400-$800*

In my personal opinion, the sounds that come with the MPC suck. The only good sounds or usuable sounds are the cymbals. The other sounds are garbage. I use my MPC for all music, mostly Hip-Hop & R&B along with various sound modules and keyboards.

The editing in this machine is awesome. A dummy can use this machine. It's extremely user friendly.

The manual is a 10 on being thorough. (196 pages long) It explains everything. As long as you're patient, you can figure it out.

Features: *First let me say the sampler is AWESOME, but make sure you get the SIMMS to expand it to 32 megabytes FIRST. $100.00

General

Large 248x60 dot LCD display with graphics
6 function keys under the LCD display
built in 1.44 floppy drive.
built in SCSI

Sampler
*16-Bit 44.1khz stereo sampling
*high capacity sound memory 2 mb standard (22 seconds mono or 11 secs *stereo) expandable to 32 mb with SIMM memory.
*Digital Sampling input for direct recording from digital sources *with IB-M208P (optional) board.
*256 sounds (samples) may be held in memory at one time
*32 simultaneous playback voices
*The envelope or filter can be set for each sound
*Optional Multi-effects generator EB16 for versatle effects.
*Sample files may be loaded from S1000 and S3000 disks.
*IB-M208P (optional) enables you to mix and output internal sampler *sounds from 8 individual outputs.
*A maximum of 24 programs (sound assignments and sound parameter settings) can be created.
*A maximum of up to 4 programs can be played simultaneously.
*A selection between polyphonic (multiple sounds are overlaid when *the same sound is played continuously) or mono (the second sound silences the first).
*It is possible to stop the playing of a sound with another sound. this is used to simulate the open close effect of the hi hat.
*It is possible to copy a part of a sound as a separate sound or paste a sound to a section of a sound. it is possible to mute or reverse part of a sound.
*One MIDI note can play three sounds. The sounds can be played simultaneously, switched by velocity or with the NOTE VARIATION slider.
*Loop Settings can be made to a sound.
*The velocity can change the playback pitch.
When phrase sampling, it is possible to calculate the tempo of the phrase from the length of the sound loop.
*Since the sound wave patterns are displayed, it is possible to edit the sound while watching the wave pattern. it is also possible to zoom the wave pattern.
*Reading and writing of PC compatible .WAV sound files.
*Timestretch, resample, wave pattern edit functions, etc. are also features.

Sequencer:

*Loop recording function enables quick recording by looping short phrases.
*Sequencer memory equivalent to 300,000 notes (including note and other data).
*99 sequences may be held in memory at once. Each sequence contains 64 individual tracks.
*2 independent MIDI output ports permit 32 simultaneous MIDI output channels.
*2 mergeable MIDI inputs.
*The optional SMPTE IC chip (IC-M2TC) enable synchronization with SMPTE time codes.
*MTC (MIDI time code), MMC (MIDI machine control) compatible.
*Data can be exported to or imported from standard MIDI files.
*Step edit function enables you to edit individual events.
*The velocity of each track can easily be modified.
*It is possible to record 32 MIDI channels at one time.
*Tap tempo feature allows the playback tempo to be set by tapping a key in the time of 1/4-notes.
*Programmable tempo changes in mid-sequence or mid-song are supported.
*Auto Punch features enables you to punch in or punch out automatically in the designated sequence.
*Swing feature enables you to add a swing-feel to rhythms.
*16 velocity-and pressure-sensitive front panel drum pads and 4 pad banks provide a total of 64 pad/band combinations.
*Track mute can be turned on or off and sequences can be selected using the drum pads.
*The NOTE VARIATION slider controls the decay or filter value of the sound in real time.
*Since it is possible to convert MIDI sustain pedal data to note duration data, you can place sustain effects independently from the note data within a track.
*The note repeat function and the after touch function pads enable you to easily enter drum rolls and hi-hat beats.
*The UNDO SEQ key enables you to undo sequence records or edits.
*The 2nd sequence function allows a separate sequence to be played at the same time that another sequence (or song) is being played/recorded.

Awesome, no complaints. The best sequencer/sampler units are Akai Units in my opinion. Roland and the rest are just imitators of the original Akai MPC 60 designed by Roger Linn.

Very Dependable. I had a situation with it freezing a few times in 16 levels, but when it does i just turn off the power. i suspect it's because i leave it on constantly day in and day out, as well as the fact that I've opened it and installed the SIMM myself.

Customer Support was pretty much garbage...I can't remember how i found the outfit I found to actually fix my MPC. I looked up certified people on their website in my state (GA) and drove out there.

I was disconnecting the SCUZI cable (always buy a SCUZI ONE TO SCUZI 2 cable and make SURE you have an EXTERNAL ZIP DRIVE. WITHOUT IT YOUR ARE VERY LIMITED IN LOADING AND SAVING SOUNDS. I have a 250 MB ZIP drive) and wasn't very careful tearing the connectors in the back. It cost me $65.00 with parts and labor *rip off* but they fixed it well. Akai claimed that the way i messed it up was not a warranty issue, so i had to pay.

I will never lose it...it will never be stolen...but I bought a second one that was used, for about $600.00. I've been using the MPC 2000XL since 2002 and I love it. I started out with the MP, a turntable, mixer and a Yamaha PSR-280 and I did just fine.

Up against all of Roland's drum machine, this machine burns the competion. PERIOD. The feel, the easy to read display, easy to understand controls the features the design, style...i can go on and on as to why Akai leads the market in drum machines. check out the MPC 4000 and show me a better machine compared to it.

The MPC 2000XL is my main piece of equipment. The drums on the Korg Keyboards are all garbage, so I keep this as the skeleton...the very BONES. The keyboard sounds and samples are the flesh that complete the outfit.

I wish it had 8 outs when i bought it...you have to upgrade to that. *400-600* The effects processor would be nice as well, just for the echos on my claps and snares.

Easily Sequencable with 100 sequence patterns and song patches.

ok

Expresivess ness is too goodm, but effects is the Most poor. I feel not to buy any effect processor from MPC

Yes i do depend on it. I have a Korg Triton Rack... So without this it is very difficult...

MPC is too good instrument where i like the quality of the sample sounds it generating. I like the real drum tones that Mpc only capable to generate! so far i have used instruments.

The main thing with the MPC is that it's actually fun to make beats with! Im using software 1.2 I think. So easy to use.

The 2000XL is 32poloy-more then fine. The main feature is the 16 levels that make a pad have 16 levels of pitch, filter cut off, attack, decay and velocity. With the decay you can very realistically imitate the open close hi hat sound. Sequencer is the easiest to use, also unique a feature that MPC3000's and 60's didn't have is next sequence and track mute, where the pad double up as triggers, meaning you can do live arraingments.

It's a sampler. In my oppinion the optional FX sound shit as on most modules-use hardware or PSP nitro or waves plug inns.
However as bread and butter hip-pop, trip pop house and such it5's the shit!
The A-D are a bit dated now, so maybe sampling on a computer will achieve smoother results.

Rock solid, built like a brick shit house. Mine has frozen about 7 times since 1999, and crashed 3 time! Say the same for any mac or PC I'l call you a liar! The only reliabulity issue is the zip drives-not the mpc. SCSI technology is dead, and many MPC's come second hand with floppys! DONT LET THAT PUT YOU OF. Buy unscrewing the bottom plate you can remove the internal floppy or zip and replace it with a 6 in 1 memory card.

Never needed it

I had a nightmare that my girl friend sold mine and woke up in terro. I've seen hardcore software users buy MPC's-theres a reason, it's fun and inspiring to make music. Get one second hand put in a memory card IDE or ATAPI and you will have yourself a bargin, however they tend to hold their value quite well, especially for a clean example.

You can open up the box and get to work but realisticly unless you have someone close to learn from it will 6 months before you knock out real quality work on the MPC, if working with a sequencer/sampler is new to you. Study the manual if you can understand its full potential you will find it very easy. The manual is pretty straight forward and if just considering download it from the akaipro website. Patches in the MPC are not hard to edit but are done easily in wavelab or sound forge where you can use plug-ins to phatten your patches. Once you develop your on patches you can use a program MPC editor to arrange you patches in a program and load them directly into the MPC on the pads you've already determined.

MPC has the most flexible and easy to use sequencer period. It allows you to work change tracks and record your next part without stopping the sequencer. With the Triton every time you want to record to the next track you'll have to stop the music(sequencer)which for me interferes in the work flow "get it down while it's still in your brain". My MPC is connected to one rack roland module and to a computer module program.

You'll only get out of the MPC what you put into it. You'll need to purchase, trade and sample quality sounds to make quality music. You can tweak samples, plus their our techniques to phatten the sounds. It does not come with sounds other than a cd-rom of akai drums you can through staight in the trash. If you need quality drums search the web but you still won't find them in a Korg triton or Dr-550.

The MPC freezed on me one time just when I finished fully laying out a song. Three hours of work down the drain but no other issues. As always save often.... it turns on every time I hit the switch.

You better contact them by e-mail. They have always answed me in the same day not always as throughly as I would have liked.

The MPC 2000 xl is well worth the money once your max out your machine. You'll need to expand the memory, and also need to purchase a SCSI hard drive find it on ebay about $100. I sold the triton and motif (took the sounds and ran) we still have them for show in the studio. But if your serious about your craft you can't use standard patches from any drum machine. I have patches from everthing from the Linn 9000, Tr 808,to the DR-550. The mpc gives you the ability to customize and combine unique patches. Programing drums has never felt right to me on a keyboard and the sequencer on the MPC in my mind is unrivaled.

The MPC is a great machine. Entry level and pro level users will find some purpose for it. But, for me the "triton" is the best and the MPC2000xl is no match and never will be. The only feature I liked in the MPC is the next-sequence playback for live performance. Other than that I think the MPC is overated and I couldn't keep an equipment for liking only one feature.

If you already have a midi-keyboard or midi-drum machine like Boss dr-models, Roland R-8, Alesis Sr-, or Yamaha, or Zoom drum machines just get a "Triton Rack" and you'll have your keyboard or drum machine trigger the sounds from the triton.

In the triton you can do more stuff with your samples like adding efx before and after you record. Your sample can be used as a program or patch where you can have up to four ocsillators affecting it for example a hi-hat sound can sound different each time you hit it like a real drummer. Onboard you have more sample memory than the MPC, built-in efx, six outputs, killer synth sounds, 62 note polyphony, sequencer 200,000 note events (16 midi tracks internal/ or external control, or both) for the triton keyboard plus more...as standard...not extras that you have to buy like the MPC.

P.S> I don't work for Korg...I just love my triton, and I have both the keyboard and the rack. After I return my MPC2000xl the store I bought didn't do refund and they had the triton rack. Now the rack plays all the synth part while the keyboard plays all my samples, and my Boss Dr-660 trigger all my drum breaks live.

NO I WILL NOT BUY THE MPC AGAIN !

I'm at work so I can't remember the OS I'm using, but I think it's the one before the most current one. All you've read regarding MPC's Ease of Use is probably true; this is a machine that will slowly accommodate you, who you are, how you work - an extension of self and therefore a true tool. The manual is honestly one of the better ones I've picked through, but it's mostly needed for reference in a good way. A couple of times I've picked it up and discovered a handy trick I wasn't using.

64 poly, right? The pads are hard to describe and a dream come true, try them at a store. Responsive, velocity sensitive, yet non-gummy. My own MPC has been a little weird in this area though; sometimes I bang out a good pattern but a pad I didn't hit will sound out, and I'll have to rerecord the sequence (or hold erase to get rid of the unwanted sound). I'm almost positive this is simply a matter of cleaning my unit (which sounds naughty), but I haven't gotten to it yet. Sequencing is such a breeze I don't mind doing it twice over.

no built in effects, the add-on is supposed to suck balls but a good mixer or multitrack and you're golden. Oh yeah, and the 8-out expander with the right extra gear (I got a Korg d1600 and a crappy old mixer with some decent effects) may completely transform the capabilities of the MPC for you.

the menus will become a second language eventually. I've gotten to the point where sample-trimming, sequencing, programming pads, output-assigning, this is all accomplished without even looking at the buttons, just the screen. You know what would be neat? A screen magnifier like on those old green-black gameboys, cuz the screen can be a pain in the ass to read. I'ma google that up and see if someone had the same idea.

The sequencer has changed my creativity and my life. some other reviewer said it: get the zip drive and the 8-output (especially if you're not PCing your studio.)

I use the MPC for hiphop and atmospheric beat-based music and it's unstoppable. Once you invest the time to sample and sample deeply (this sample CD craze is a mess, lets get back to the basics), hiphop rhythms will follow and you'll be blasting beats out faster than steven king writes novels.

Something I like about the MPC is that your tracks are really as complex as you can imagine. It's great for simplistic boom-bap and complex nightmarish stuff, sky's the limit, etc...

Okay, everyone I've spoken to has never really had their MPC fry on them, but it happened the other day and messed my head up. The screen just started to fade, lights lit up, it went nutso on me for about ten minutes. I was able to access the screen-brightness window even though I couldn't see anything on the screen itself, brought the information back to readable, but the pads were unresponsive and my speakers spit a screeching whine. A quick power break and it was ready to go, and hasn't crashed since. I would probably attribute it to the cleanliness of the unit, again. I bought it off eBay and it's pretty nasty in there...for this reason alone I would have second thoughts about gigging with mine. build-wise, this thing is solid as all hell.

The 8-output installation was easy, so was the ram upgrade, don't let someone con you into being charged for the labor. A lot of patience and unscrewing. The zip drive's ribbon cable tends to get folded up pretty roughly in there which worries me, but no complaints yet.

The Akai newsgroup I'm on is fantastic, I'm sure you'll find your own.

I'm gonna give this a 10 because everyone and their mother will be wetting themselves over the opportunity to help you via message boards, newsgroups, whatever. There is a huge fanbase for this machine, therefore new users reap the rewards of these helpful gurus with years of experience.

If it were stolen I'd miserably reflect on what karmic output I had generated to be punished so viciously, followed by a citywide manhunt for the thief. Maybe a GPS tracker under the zip drive would help.

Going from an EPS 16+ to an MPC is honestly like a trike to a stealth bomber. I love the EPS's sound and its overall clunkiness/quirkiness. I don't think any beat I composed on that keyboard sounded professional, but definitely distinguished from the smoother stuff I make on the 2000xl. (I hear a 16+ plugged into protools or other comp editing software setup makes it unstoppable, but I've yet to incorporate software into my studio). Because the EPS 16+ seems to have more of a "signature sound" I haven't been able to sell it, so I use it in conjunction with the MPC. Some say the MPC flattens the sounds it samples, but I'd assume their just not sampling with a good mixer. It's less of a machine with a "signature sound" than a "signature responsiveness," uncovered through attentive practice.

their getting cheaper and cheaper so quit smoking dub for a few months and buy one why dont ya?

VERY!! i figured it out in about an hour and i had no beatmaking or hardware experience whatsoever (without reading the manual!)

64 polyphony, i think. i bought the effects board and its ok, i dont use it much, it could be alot better. wish i got the 8 outputs, they are supposedly quite useful. midi works well, but when you load a sound while connected to a live keyboard, my mpc plays a bunch of random notes and holds them, so i gotta unhook it, and it goes away. GET THE ZIP DRIVE!!! youd be a dumbass not to, upgrade the memory and youre set.

eveyone says this but its true- its only as good as what you put in it. effects are ok, im not a stickler for effects. filters are nice. this sounds the same as the 3000, i dont care what anyone says. pads react really well. 16, 12 or 8 bit sampling, how gritty you want it. sounds a little thin but that could easily be my setup.

this thing is ironclad. i left it on for about a month and the screen burnt out, then somehow came back. just only have it on when youre using it (duh). never froze on me and i work this thing pretty hard. had it for 3 years and other than the screen thing, it will last. i dont gig, so i dont know if it would work, cant see why not.

did all the upgrades myself, never dealt with the company but my friends say they are very helpful

if it were lost i would cry like a baby then buy a new one. i also use a triton le and they work real well together. i dont like how the tuning lacks precision, the time stetch could be a little better, like recycle or something, but it comes close. i love the 16 levels key, the step editing, note repeat function, sequencer, operating system. ideas can be quickly recorded and working on the fly is easy as hell. all in all, the effects board is sub-par, but buy it anyway, get the 8 outputs, zipdrive and up the memory and get going !

easy mpc style interface. you have to open window on everyhting to find the damn functions. you have to hold the shift key to use any functions. pretty wak. the nob is different than the 2000 i dont kno why they changed this jog wheel. they added a screen that moves but took away a better jog wheel. still really easy to use id have to say.

time stretch is a good feature not on any other mpc. i like the sequence mute window.

sounds decent. compared to a 60 or 3000 it doesnt sounds as good in my opinion. 3000 is a better 16bit sampler it sounds fuller. 60 is that classic 12bit. ive sampled the same records in the same environment into protools with all of the mpcs. if you cant hear the difference between them then you have poor hearing and id tell you to stick with an xl because its cheaper or has more sampling time. id recomend using another sampler with the xl or at least trying it.

havent used it nearly as long as any older mpc..but the thing has frozen on me and there was scsi disk errors a bunch of times even with trying different drives. screens burn out on 2000s easy. dont leave it on.

never dealt with customer support for an xl

good piece of equipment. my negativity only comes from comparing this with past akai mpcs. id recommend it to somebody who doesnt want to drop 3000 money and needs sampling time or really wants 16bit. its alot smaller than a 60 or 3000 even smaller than a 2000. nice for carrying around. ive lately carried alot of samplers and i wish they all were as light as the xl. mpcs are great for hiphop production and id reccomend any of em hands down for most people as their primary piece of production equipment. there are a couple other things that would fit into the list but akai mpc is the reigning heavyweight.

I got the Latest, Pretty sure its 1.14

It came with a disk of presets, They sucked, But its a sampler, You're not supposed to use presets

I havent read the manual. Ive had my MPC2000XL For 1 Week, I looked through the manual yesterday and I didnt see much In the contents that I hadnt already figured out myself!!!

Im pretty sure its 64 Polyphony, The Pads are pretty cool, Velocity sensitive so I can do like a hihat pattern and it will sound more realistic and less robotic and computer

It doesnt really have any effects no, You can use low pass filters, thats it

Yes it does have expansion capabilities, theres the 8 outputs, the effects board, flash rom, smpte output. My MPC came with an internal ATAPI ZIP DRIVE 100mb instead of a floppy, I couldnt imagine using a floppy drive!!! The Max Memory is 32mb, Although this may not sound like a lot, it is more than enough for a sampler, the MPC1000 may have upto 128mb but thats just because it makes it sound good, You're never gonna fill up 128mb with a sampler.

The sequencer is great, You just hit record and play, bang the pads, play the keys via midi, whatever! And then you just choose how many times the sequences play, and where, etc. Its sooo coool, and i havent even made a beat yet! ive just been messin around

The only downside is there are no effects as standard, But if you got the 8 outs then you could mix in a mixer, and that will be sooo cool!!

Well its a sampler, It doesnt have any Presets, It sounds as good as what you make from what you sample.

The MPC's are used alot for hip hop production and dance, etc. But I heard it can do almost anything, Except Classical. or could it....?

Ive heard that the AKAI effects suck, I dont have the effects board so i cant tell you myself, But a lot of people say they are bad, If you get an mpc I wouldnt suggest paying out for the effects board anyway.

The pads are velocity sensitive like i said before, the note repeat function is crazzzeeee!!!

I dont know whether I can depend on it, Ive only had it for one week!!!

I dont gig, But If I did I wouldnt have a backup as I am a poor poor boy

Ive never dealt with Akai, Ive only had it One Week

After a while the mpcs develop screen lines which eventually render the screen unreadable, I have had a used mpc2000xl for a week and can see some very faint lines, The Replacement LCDs can cost a Lot although im not sure, If you get a Used MPC2000xl Ask about/Check the screen

If it was stolen Id get it back from insurance hopefully... :D Id tell the insurance company that I had a blue mpc2000xl, I mean 10 blue mpc2000xls

I have been using software for the past year and just switched to hardware, I have nothing but an Edirol PCR 30 and an MPC2000XL
I love the MPC2000xl, Ive had it a week but its cool, And Ive been samplin cds and just messin around so far, i aint even got everythin i need so i havent started making beats properly! but i still love it
I compared it to the MPC1000, But The MPC1000 was more expensive (but new) and I dont see any 1000's on ebay used for cheaper than the MPC. Plus I probably woulda gone for 2000xl anyway, dont know why... somethin about it!
It lets me make beats differently, Im not sure about this yet as ive not had it long...
if you got a question then email me, Ive only had it a week but ive done so much research i know a lot about it

also try the following sites:

www.futureproducers.com
www.mpc-forums.com


scott