Akai MPC 5000 Q/A

  • Thread starter Thread starter jahrome
  • Start date Start date
jahrome

jahrome

Diamond Member
Hello Future Producers,

I am an actual MPC 5000 owner/user. This thread was created so I can answer any questions you have about the MPC 5000. I am not here to debate whether it is the best sampler on the market nor will I try to convince you to purchase it (or not purchase it).

There is too much BS in these forums about this unit from people that don't have a clue about this unit. So to start things off, I will address the reported "52 bugs".

Akai just recently released the MPC 5000. Some retailers will only have 1 or 2 units. Others won't receive them for a month or so.

Akai released the first MPC 5000s to beta testers. OS 1.0 was presented 7 March 2008 (nearly two months before the MPC 5000 shipped to stores). The beta testers found approx 52 bugs. OS 1.01released 30 April, corrected these bugs. The MPC 5000 started to ship the first week of May. If you happen to find a retailer that actually have one in stock, it will most likely have OS 1.01 installed. If it doesn't, simply download OS 1.01 at www.akaipro.com. In the MPC 5000s Reference Manual, it clearly states to register your MPC at Akai's Website and to check for the most recent OS.


Now that I got that out of the way, please let me know if you have any questions about the MPC 5000. I will do my best to answer them in a timely manner.


Jahrome
aka MPC Kang!
 
Does it have a piano roll so that you can edit midi graphically instead of using numbers?
 
Fort Apache said:
Does it have a piano roll so that you can edit midi graphically instead of using numbers?
Click to expand...

Yes. It has a Piano Roll style editor for MIDI tracks, and a Graphic Matrix (Grid) Editor for DRUM tracks. It still contains the step sequence edit which displays note numbers and various other settings.

You can download the Reference Manul for the MPC 5000 at http://www.akaipro.com/mpc5000 . It will give you all the basics and specs of the latest MPC.
 
Pad responsiveness. Have you been able to fix this problem?
 
hmmm i love the mpc... but i am a mv user right now. the reason i got the mv was because of the sequencer. when will akai have a unit similiar to the mv when it comes to sequencer?
www.myspace.com/vmanwarner
 
lvngdead said:
Pad responsiveness. Have you been able to fix this problem?
Click to expand...

My MPC 5000s pads are not as responsive as my MPC 2500. But this could be my particular unit. I returned to GC and played with the DEMO unit. It's pads were more responsive. I am not sure if that is because they were broken in. But I have no intentions on sending my unit back to Akai just yet....30 day money back guarantee or 1 year warranty still in effect.


vman603 said:
hmmm i love the mpc... but i am a mv user right now. the reason i got the mv was because of the sequencer. when will akai have a unit similiar to the mv when it comes to sequencer?
Click to expand...
This Q/A is about the MPC 5000. You will have to ask Akai if they plan on making an MPC with a sequencer like the MV.
 
Last edited:
I may sound like i'm hating but i'm interested to hear. How is the workflow, with so many features, is it harder to work with than other mpcs? Or harder to concentrated with so many options? Second, it the synth actually worth using compared to a lower model mpc and a rack? Would you be blow away by any features over other mpcs? lastly, would you recommend it as an upgrade to someone who is already content with their model mpc?

You don't have to go too indepth here, i'm not looking to buy one, i just haven't been able to touch one and i'm just curious. More of a theoretical question than really wanting to know from a realistic one.
 
3D Beats said:
I may sound like i'm hating but i'm interested to hear. How is the workflow, with so many features, is it harder to work with than other mpcs? Or harder to concentrated with so many options? Second, it the synth actually worth using compared to a lower model mpc and a rack? Would you be blow away by any features over other mpcs? lastly, would you recommend it as an upgrade to someone who is already content with their model mpc?

You don't have to go too indepth here, i'm not looking to buy one, i just haven't been able to touch one and i'm just curious. More of a theoretical question than really wanting to know from a realistic one.
Click to expand...

If you are an MPC 2500 or 1000 user, you will feel very much at home on the MPC 5000. Most of the menus are very similar. You will probably not need the manual to operate the unit. The learning curve isn't steep so users of olders MPCs will be ok after a week of use. The MPC 5000 does have some additional functions, but you don't to use them to operate the unit. Since I have been a long time MPC user, I am not blown away by any MPC. They are just tools that serve a specific function...nothing more. The onboard synth is great because it is integrated in the MPC. There is no need for an external module.

If you are happy with what you are using, then there is no reason to upgrade. But if you visit www.akaipro.com and like what you see in the additional features...than maybe the MPC 5000 is for you.

My advice to you is wait for a few months before buying the unit. I would like other people test out the unit and facilitate bug fixes with the OS.
 
OS 1.0 was presented 7 March 2008....

That date merely states when 1.0 was designated as the actual release to released to the public. It is the same 1.0 used by beta testers. For two months this has been what they gave the public. For two months this OS was "good enough" for the consumer.

If you happen to find a retailer that actually have one in stock, it will most likely have OS 1.01 installed. If it doesn't, simply download OS 1.01 at www.akaipro.com. In the MPC 5000s Reference Manual, it clearly states to register your MPC at Akai's Website and to check for the most recent OS.
Click to expand...

"Most likely...." that's comforting. Thanks for at least conceding that buggy units were shipped.The fact is, you had no idea of what OS you were getting when you preodered or purchased . Your chances were just as good of getting 1.0 as 1.01. Being the first at register does not give you an inside track and does not release you from being bound by the facts and set chronology.

Now that we have that out of the way...
 
Tell me about the effects and filters. Akai said they reworked the engines for both of the. Are they better or is it still the normal akai's standard of suppar effects.
 
bhunt said:
Tell me about the effects and filters. Akai said they reworked the engines for both of the. Are they better or is it still the normal akai's standard of suppar effects.
Click to expand...

Akai did rework the effects which include various filters. The MPC 5000 also has an additional Filter/LFO for each pad. These are far superior than the MPC 60/1000/2000XL/2500/3000. They appear to meet or exceed the MPC 4000 in terms of specs. They sound great to me but I am not an expert on effects which is very subjective. If you find the MPC 4000s effects are subpar...chances are you may say the same with the MPC 5000.
 
i heard the 5000 can turn midi into audio so it doesnt have to be tracked out into a DAW is this true?
 
BussaNut said:
i heard the 5000 can turn midi into audio so it doesnt have to be tracked out into a DAW is this true?
Click to expand...

Not exactly. It's internal MIDI tracks/programs can be recorded to it's 8-track hard disk recorder. Then you can either export the tracks as audio files (16 or 24 bit) to load into your DAW, or you can record your tracks into your DAW via ADAT or it's 8 + 2 analog outputs.
 
What about the higher ppq to program a beat is it the diferent?
mpc 5k and 4 k have 960 ppq and the rest of the mpc's are 96 ppq, but the legendary swing of the mpc comes from 60 or 3000.
So why akai is making a higher ppq?

However, a 96 ppq with the quantization off(on any mpc 1K,500 or 2,5k) will record exactly like you play, right?
After that you can quantize, in case you have a higher ppq, the notes will move more subtle than a 96 ppq, right?
Specially when you deal with the shift timing you have 960 spaces to place a note vs 96 spaces from the other mpcs.
Is that information TRUE?
If it is a higher ppq makes the mpc more powerfull as far quantization, because will have more ppq to place the notes,right or wrong?
Or the magic swing feel works on those 96 ppq spaces BETTER?
 
ecsmix said:
What about the higher ppq to program a beat is it the diferent?
mpc 5k and 4 k have 960 ppq and the rest of the mpc's are 96 ppq, but the legendary swing of the mpc comes from 60 or 3000.
So why akai is making a higher ppq?

However, a 96 ppq with the quantization off(on any mpc 1K,500 or 2,5k) will record exactly like you play, right?
After that you can quantize, in case you have a higher ppq, the notes will move more subtle than a 96 ppq, right?
Specially when you deal with the shift timing you have 960 spaces to place a note vs 96 spaces from the other mpcs.
Is that information TRUE?
If it is a higher ppq makes the mpc more powerfull as far quantization, because will have more ppq to place the notes,right or wrong?
Or the magic swing feel works on those 96 ppq spaces BETTER?
Click to expand...

Legendary MPC swing? All MPCs have swing. Swing only works if quantize is turned on. If you turn off quantize so you can try to use those 960 ppqns, you will be programming your own swing. The higher the PPQ, the more accurately the sequencer will record your playing. But there are some that believe anything higher than 500 ppqn isn't really useful. I am not interested in testing that theory though.

I hope this answers yur question.
 
jahrome said:
Legendary MPC swing? All MPCs have swing. Swing only works if quantize is turned on. If you turn off quantize so you can try to use those 960 ppqns, you will be programming your own swing. The higher the PPQ, the more accurately the sequencer will record your playing. But there are some that believe anything higher than 500 ppqn isn't really useful. I am not interested in testing that theory though.

I hope this answers yur question.
Click to expand...

jahrome, thank you vey much for the answer,what i am trying to achieve is to get the mpc swing on my beats(i bought a 500 to test it) but i am inclined to return it to try something better(padwise).BTW I love it.
So I was wondering getting the new kid on the block the 5k, but I alreadu have several synths and the only diference between this unit and other mpcs are the ppq.
A higher ppq will give more swing or spaces on the swift timing feature(480 vs 96), or it is not a big deal and that is not noticable?
Because the old units that did the fame of the mpc was 96 ppq,right?
Besides the synth, does the hardware part has something special, because softwarewise they can give the same features to do 2,5k, right?
 
Does the 5k come with the Phono pre like the 4k? Compared to the 4K, if you've used one, is there any reason to make the jump? I don't need the hard disk recording or the storage options and it seems like I can add the ADAT and 8 out option for a lot cheaper than upgrading to the 5. How are the sample editing functions? Slicing? Does it still create prog/seq with the auto slice? Has that fuction gotten better? Is the time stretch/pitch functions any easier to use or integrated into the sample/slice menus?
 
Eswerve said:
Does the 5k come with the Phono pre like the 4k? Compared to the 4K, if you've used one, is there any reason to make the jump? I don't need the hard disk recording or the storage options and it seems like I can add the ADAT and 8 out option for a lot cheaper than upgrading to the 5. How are the sample editing functions? Slicing? Does it still create prog/seq with the auto slice? Has that fuction gotten better? Is the time stretch/pitch functions any easier to use or integrated into the sample/slice menus?
Click to expand...


i just bought one so i can answer the 1st question: yes
 
I actually had a chance to sit down and mess with one at GC today. Nobody way in so i just messed with it for about 1/2 and hour. Although i couldn't sample my own stuff, i had fun with it. I thought it would just be sort of a joke but it is very usuable, fairly intuitive, and it does have features that i never thought i'd applicate on an mpc until after using it. The grid feature is a big one. Although i sort of felt like i was using software, which isn't a bad thing but often makes me think, why not use just software-mv is a good example, but all the good stuff was still there. Not that it's for me but i was suprised that it was very usuable, and easy to use if you are familar with mpcs. I was hating on it when i first heard about it, i'm not convinced it for me, but it seems much more of a legit product after sitting down in front of one. And it's not ridiculous large either, like i thought. Just a bit larger than a 2k.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top