Akai MPC-3000

Using final software version; no presets, this is a sampler and every time you shut it off, all sounds will be erased.

I bought mine and picked up 2 zips... a scsi zip and a usb zip. i also picked up mpc editor available thru midicase. this has a picture of a virtual mpc, and you just drag wavs etc to the pads, then save to usb zip.

transfer the disk to the scsi drive on your mpc, and you're flying. zip drives go for about $15 now, and the mpc editor is pretty cheap too.

i've only used the .pdf manual i downloaded, and still haven't read much of it... its pretty easy to use this machine.

32 voice polyphony and the famous mpc pad action. this is an area where the 3000 beats other mpcs i've tried, like the 2k and 1k... kind of like keyboard action, the feel of the pads is all important. mpc 3000 has the best, big, sexy but solid pads i've tried.

ram is cheap, it only takes 32mb, which is easy to install. it excels in the midi dept. 4 seperate midi outs gives you a TON of control over your studio...

do yourself a favor and do NOT buy this to use with your computer. buy it to REPLACE your computer. it really is amazing how much more accurate, timewise, this is than a computer running a fully tweaked windows xp.

computers are great, but timing wise, the mpc3000 puts it to shame and your computer will just frustrate you by comparison.

don't know if it does velocity or aftertouch since i only use it for drums... but, you could do a whole album on it... it could actually be your entire studio, and there are still lots of cats who use ONLY the mpc3000 to produce entire tracks.

of course, its the standard hiphop piece, 90 bpms etc., but i use it for deep house, broken beat... i'm always using it between 120 and 136... using steep swings and it gets me what i need... don't forget to turn the timing correction off every now and then!!! put your own feel on it...

you have to spend a little time experimenting w. the swings, but believe me, once you get going on it, you can put the drums pretty much right where you want...

it doesn't make me want to try for a live drum sound. it has its own sound... in fact, live drummers like questlove, chris dave, etc. sound like an mpc! that shows you how influential its groove was.

yes... the only thing that could go wrong with it is your zip could save a sequence or program wrong, and it might cause the mpc to act wierd. but its not the machine itself.

i used to start my mpc and computer at the same time... mpc loading from the zips, pc loading in the sequencer. the mpc was always ready to go before while the windows sequencer was initializing asio drivers!!!

never contacted akai... i doubt they support it, but you can get the manual online...

forat in cali does all mods and repair... he will make your mpc look like it belongs on "cribs."

i bought mine used... mine is not totally clean, but it works great. you can find clean ones if you're patient. the se is black and grey and costs quite a bit more.

it is worth what i paid, but i think i paid about $200 too much. as of this writing (nov. 06) you should be able to pick up a clean one for $1100 or so.

if someone broke into my house, i BET this would be the first piece they would grab out of my studio, because it looks the business. so long as they didn't take my zips, i'd be cool, because i'd collect the insurance and pick up an even cleaner one the same day.

would NOT want to be without it for one day.

Amazingly easy.. i used mostly an Emu 5000 sampler before this...but what a breeze just sit down for a few weeks and get into it and you will have it down in no time!!

Well the 3000 is a few y ears old so some basic functions you wish it had..like the ability to find a specific sound in a sequence, or small things...but in the end you are buying it for the programming an dthis thing is absolutely amazing...awesome groove, easy to use, the not repeat key is amazing

Dont buy an mpc to run effects off of it...u should be running effects in your mixing stage...so id on't even bother with the effects...aftertouch velocity are tight!

NEVER EVER CRASH ...NUFF SAID!!!

never needed it but this model is soo old now i doubt they would support it much

I paid through the nose for the LE...and I'd do it again!

version 3.11 MPC 3000 LE model, the last of the greatest drum machine/samplers. works like it should, doesn't crash, and sounds incredible. try that with your computer.

32 poly, 2 midi ins, 4 midi outs. hands down the best hardware sequencer i have ever used. the LE is the last run of these machines, and looks the business with its flash black and grey colour scheme. comes standard with everything you need..unlike the 2000, the 4000, the 60, etc. 8 outs...STANDARD....SCSI....STANDARD...etc

there is something about the converters in these machiines. not as crusty as a 60, for sure. but the 3000 is DEEP and FAT. makes drums sound better. just warm and full. and it is always inspiring to use this machine to make the beats, much more fun than dinking around with a computer mouse, or tapping on a MIDI keyboard. this is the intuitive and FUN way to make beats.

i have owned several 3000's, and they have all been oustandingly reliable. i had a 2000 that dies on me, but what do you expect. and don't even ASK ME about the 4000....

well, akai has never been known for great support. but luckily, this machine (using OS 3.11, SCSI ZIP for storage) works perfect. they don't have to support this one. unlike the 4000....grrrrr....so when will people be actually able to USE that CDR burner in the 4000? :-)

these are the best at what they do. none better. period. save yourself a lot of time, money, and frustration...if you want to make beats, use a great hardware sequencer, and feel the most amazing SCHWING in your beats, get a 3000.

Using the latest os, 3.11, and fully expanded memory....if you got even the slightest bit of rhythm and good taste in sample material you'll be getting busy within minutes, bangin out 4 bar bangers. On that level its easy and fun to use, not to mention if you play around for at least 10 to 20 minutes youll be pleased with the results. Then its time to hit the manual, after all you dont want to spend all this money and use this as strictly a drum module because of the sound and swing...this is a sampling/sequencing monster and its a breeze to use when you dig into the manual a little, TRACK>CREATE SEQUENCE>COPY EDIT FIRST SEQUENCE> SONG MODE>ARRANGE...boom instant funk with that professional sound. Be warned this is a super intuitive machine, but if your strictly a soft-musician you might have to come to grips with the non-visual style of interface, the graphics are minimum =) , the editing is numerical, etc....no waveform editing here, but if you have an attention span of more than 1 hour, you'll have no problem cruising around the interface. MIDI is also not a problem neither is setting MTC with your DAW tracker. Like all excellent designed music problems its easy to pick up and get busy but really opens up when you spend more time, ex. fine tuning the swing and shift options, playing live notes with the variation slider, using 16 note/note repeat features, erase button, etc, etc......simple stuff.

See above...i forgot to mention the velocity sensitive pads....love em, cant be re-created anywhere else, it comes out nicer than changing velocity notes on something akin to Logic, etc.. Other that that it has four midi outs and two ins, I've ran three synths off it once, no problems there. The delay and resonant/frequency filters are also way above average and easy to use. SCSI out, I use a external zip to to save material, no problemo. I have to back them up soon before I eat my words =)

Using it for hip hop & I always play around when no one is around and bust little four on the floor patterns, so I know for dance/drum oriented tunes music its punch cant be beat, the clarity and puch sound great, not transparent like the new 32-bit samplers or too crusty to make money without overdoing the compression of your music like a 12bit like the 60 (got one of those to)...the 3000 is awesome. I also trigger phrase samples and multiple instrument, percussion chops, they sound excellent as well.....it will take your source material and juice it up, no doubt about it. I love it. My favorite sound out of my Akai stuff, s1100, 60, and a 2000XL (sold)

I dont gig but this thing is built like a tank and is nice and weighty...heavy =good. i also bought it second hand and am having no problems after a half year of usage, in contrast my 2000xl would black out during usage.

If lost or stolen it would be the first thing on my list to recover. In this world of Logic, Cubase, Fruit Loops, and Reason (I do love Reason though) based sequencing this remains the centrepiece of my studio of both the sequence and sound, everything else feeds of the 3000 and will be built around the 3000s groove at the moment. I compare it to the 2000Xl, while the XL will give you instant gratification the 3000 will pay off in the long run, comparable to the 60, its not a overpriced groove box, it is professional item....i run it through my solid mixer into either a PT session or straight to DAT, no playing aound with programs.... Not to mention it sounds alot better and is built way stronger.

I bought the MPC 3000 when it came out in 1995. In the UK at that time everyone was on Atari's but I knew I didn't want to go the computer route particularly as I was into hip hop and R&B. My choice has been justified because subsequently the machine has become a classic and whatever they do with software sequencers they still don't have the funk of an MPC.
The great thing about this machine is that it only tries to do so much (unlike its software equivalents) but does it very well. As a result you can learn it quite quickly. Sure it has it's limitations and annoying blind spots but it will definitely give back to you what you put in. The manual's good but as with all manuals it's no substitute for hands on use.

The sample memory is relatively small and to upgrade it totally you have to buy one of those ludicrously expensive Akai memory boards. Better to chuck a couple of extra Simms board in. As I only use it for beats and loops I've managed to get by on 16MB fine.
One absolute necessity is a Zip drive to save things to. You can use the SCCI to connect it or if you're adventurous replace the floopy drive with a Zip one.
Unlike later MPC's, the 3000 has four mid outs rather than two which is a real useful and its eight analogue outs come as standard rather than as a rip off extra. There's only a terrible delay by way of FX but who cares????

As every one says it's all about the "swing". Just sample a nice kick and snare, tweak the swing setting and sit back and enjoy it. You'll soon understand the meaning of the term sit on a beat. Computers aren't even in the same ball park - when I've tried working on them I've always been shocked by how noticeable the difference is.
Obviously there are no actual onboard sounds as the MPC's essentially a sampler but the sound of the sampler is fine. It's not as grungy as an MPC 60 but you can simulate that if you're after that 12 bit sound.
The filter is limited but good. If you want that filtered Jay Dee Tribe Called Quest sound this is the machine.

Seven years on and still going strong. I've never had a problem and I didn't even know what a crash was untill I bought a computer. Many computer based musicans actually choose MPC's for playing live which tells you all you need to know.

Actually very good. There was a guy there called Erroll who was always very helpful.

The MPC 3000 is truly a classic machine and I love mine dearly. I've tried sequencing on computers but hated it - it doesn't feel or sound right. This is much more intuitive and when people try an MPC they're inevitably hooked.
I for a long time had many of the prejudices that MPC 3000 owners have regarding the 2000 and 2000XL. Having used a 2000 recently I have to say a lot of these are unfounded. I made direct comparisons in terms of sound and rhythm and couldn't detect major differences. Sure the later machines aren't built as well but then they're much cheaper. Also, they have a whole load of features particularly in terms of the OS that I would kill for on my MPC 3000. The obvious differences are time stretch, resample, a bit crusher, better sample editing features and loads of little tweaks to make your life easier. But for me the killer feature of the 2000XL is it's ability to play sounds from more than one program at the same time. THis allows you to load up four programs of samples (nearly 250 sounds) and have access to them. So, you could have a dedicated percussion programme, one for FX and another for snares and kicks, etc. and pick and match between them in the same sequence. Believe me this a great step forward and is the reason that as soon as I can a cheap second hand 2000XL I will.
Ultimately, if you can find a 3000 by all means get one they're brilliant. But you'll make equally great music with a 2000 or 2000XL (and believe me especially in terms of what it can do the 2000XL in particular is a real bargain at the moment). Remember the people who say do everything on a computer are probably the same type of people who would have sold their Wurlitzers and MiniMoogs to buy a DX7 in the 80's. If I was looking to start making music I would look at a MPC, or even an Ensoniq ASR 10 (that's what the Neptunes and Timbaland us) which you can pick up for #300. The point is these machines are easy to learn and get up and going on - can you truthfully say the same about Cubase or Logic Audio?

Everything is pretty straight forward. I got started without a manual and I got by without any problems. All the buttons are laid out in a simple way...Everything you need is at a touch of a button. I'll try to read the manual when I get some free time...

The unit has 32 voice polyphony and is easily expandable to 32MB with any 2 30 pin 16 megabyte SIMM memory modules. Any speed will do, parity or non-parity...It's very easy to install. There's no built in effects. Not too familiar with the FX for the unit...The sequencer on the unit is excellent. The feel of the groove is unmatched. Connect a 200MB Zip drive to it and you will be flying! Oh yeah, if you are looking to use it with a Zip drive don't forget to buy one with an OS version 3.11.

The sounds are phatt!!! Something about these old Akai samplers that blow the crap out of my speakers...The balanced outputs put out massive levels!!! Truly a professional machine!!! Please don't compare this with the MPC2000...This is the "real" thing...

I don't know much accept that this unit heats up like a motherfucker! I don't know if this is normal for all machines...I'm just afraid if I leave it on too long that all the soldering inside will melt...It hasn't happened yet, but I can definitely see it happening...Also, the display shouldn't be left on for too long...Otherwise it will dim out quick...Other than that, it's built like a tank!

Great customer support...I can't believe that Akai still supports this gear! You can still buy upgrades, manuals, etc...For more info check out www.rlinndesign.com or www.akaipro.com

Great unit! Truly a classic! A must have! If your thing is Hip Hop or R&B and you don't have one of these, you gotta run out the door and get one right away. Remember, this machine was responsible for many hit tunes for almost a decade...You can't go wrong...I'd give it a 10 if wasn't for the heating problem...