Akai MPC2500 user reviews ( 9/10) - 15 user reviews

• 10/31/08

  FP User Reviews's review

  Characteristics

  The features are good, I think AKAI dropped the ball on certin things such as the effects (They changed from having 5 effects as on the 2000xl to having 3 on the 2500) There is no more Auto chromatic tuning and no more stereo to mono conversion but some of those things people did not even use but they should have still been there. There are new features that are cool such as Chop shop and a few others.
  
  
  
  Price paid: $2100

  Utilization

  I feel that the MPC series is still the most user friendly sampler on the market, the interface did change, I am not sure it was for better or worse but I have no issues with it (Still easy)
  
  
  
  I think it is pretty durable, I mean I am not going to have the gorilla from the Samsonite comercial come and jump on it so it's OK.

  Sounds

  I think the sound quality of the 2500 is good (very accurate) One of the strong point's is what you put into it is what you get out of it.

  Overall Opinion

  I love it because it's easy to use, compact and it allows me to come in and put down an idea quickly and easily
  
  
  
  Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
  
  Posted by: The Invisible Men ( 1-, 2006)
  Did you find this review helpful?yesno
• 10/31/08

  FP User Reviews's review

  Characteristics

  The features on this machine are hot, there are some things I feel that AKAI could have improved on or done differently such as the effects, the effects in this new machine are hot but why change the layout? The way the layout was in the 2000XL was good, you could use 5 effects on 1 sound and you had reverb 1, 2 and Multi 1 and 2. Here on the 2500 you can only chain 2 effects together then you have one main effect. The machine has its good and bad parts, but who am I to talk, I’m just an Invisible man! All in all I like it.
  
  
  
  Price paid
  
  
  
  3 months teaching private gym lessons=1999.00

  Utilization

  If you are new to the sampler/sequencer lingo you will get lost of course but MPC's have always been some easiest machines to use, I have owned the ASR 10, MPC 2000, 2000XL, Triton and now the 2500 and the MPC's have always been the easiest machine to use. I think AKAI should have never changed the functions off of the number keys but it is something that all the new cats to MPC's won't have issues with all the old heads are still looking for the same layout but we will get used to it.
  
  
  
  I have only had it for a few weeks and it looks very sturdy. AKAI seems to make very durable stuff; I don't intend to put it in the cage with my Assonate gorilla so it's durable enough.

  Sounds

  I think the sound quality is better than the 2000Xl and I own both machines. Strong points-AKAI added new features such as chop shop, Grid edit, four MIDI outs etc. Weak points- some of the things like chop shop need OS system upgrades before the will work at full capacity (It works great on small loops w/ drums only but once you go beyond just drums and a certain length, you will run into issues) Due to experience I know how to get around the those things

  Overall Opinion

  I'm feelin it enough to know that I will have it for years to come, so the love is there.
  
  
  
  Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
  
  Posted by: The Invisible Men (January 2-, 2005)
  Did you find this review helpful?yesno
• 10/31/08

  FP User Reviews's review

  Characteristics

  The best MPC yet! CHOP SHOP is truly amazing and the grid edit it cool.
  
  
  
  Price paid
  
  
  
  $1,700

  Utilization

  If you already own an MPC you'll be okay but it's def. not for a newbie of anysort. They'll be LOST. I haven't encountered any bugs with the OS--I took the day off from work to just sit and fool around with it.

  Sounds

  Good sound quality--I love the effects and real time capabilities with the q-link faders and knobs. 4 midi outs! Got my JV 2080, Motif, and Ion all connected! Comes standard with BALANCED 8 outs.

  Overall Opinion

  Built Ford tough! It's not going out of my studio.
  
  
  
  I'll give my unborn child for one of these! The features are AMAZING--the 8 outs a effects are standard and I don't have a SINGLE COMPLAINT.
  
  
  
  Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
  
  Posted by: bhardman ( 9-, 2005)
  Did you find this review helpful?yesno

• 01/13/13

  RecKsSounds's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " The brain of the band"

  Characteristics

  Everything is there!
  
  The MPC 2500 is a complete production station.
  
  Eight separate audio outputs.
  
  2 MIDI IN, OUT 4.
  
  You can control your entire home studio with this bike.
  
  Much more pleasant to use than a computer (well, well, here it is only my opinion).
  
  
  
  The MPC sequencer proven.
  
  I, on mine, the JJOS XL, and frankly, it's just perfect!
  
  
  
  I also strongly advise the purchase of additional memory and why not, an internal hard drive.

  Utilization

  The use of MPC is never easy.
  
  It can do so many things that is quickly lost in all the options.
  
  The value of 2500 is that it is more pleasant to use than 1000 or, worse, a 500.
  
  
  
  So there are several levels of use of MPC.
  
  To make a beat is just perfect!
  
  The pads are damn good.
  
  And to production, it will try different working methods before finding the right workflow.
  
  
  
  The thing is that the MPC will fit your way of working. You will spend more time to know how you want to work.

  Sounds

  Sounds are those that are returned.
  
  Management sampling is excellent. Do not forget that the basic GPA is mostly a sampler.
  
  On one branch external source, we will record, cut, assigning the pads, and hop on cheek.
  
  
  
  It's very fun, very nice.
  
  Have fun!
  
  But once you start to put it all sample and play with.
  
  It quickly becomes acros!

  Overall Opinion

  I use my MPC for a little over a year.
  
  I had read and seen many tutorial before I buy it.
  
  So I quickly understood the philosophy of the stupid. In addition, my experience in software Tracker helped me to understand many things.
  
  
  
  My MPC is the brain of my home studio.
  
  It controls my 2 MIDI synthesizers (a Ultranova and NORDWAVE). If necessary, I resample sounds directly into the machine (without loss of quality).
  
  It also controls my Analog Four freshly arrived in my set.
  
  It is on this that I finalize my mix (using the seq and the next track mute).
  
  
  
  Anyway, I never regret my purchase.
  
  
  
  The only fault that can find him is the short length of component life.
  
  I had to change my pad sensor. Me and some buttons are more lacking.
  
  She is very strong in her dress of black metal, but I have a feeling that time is still against it, and especially against its electronic component.
  Did you find this review helpful?yesno
• 10/24/12

  ink's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " perfect for MIDI!"

  Characteristics

  2 midi in, midi out 4, 8 mono + 1 stereo output motivated my purchase
  
  the sequencer is accurate quantization can be used in eighth (1/8), double (1/16) demisemiquaver, binary or ternary or without quantization (96 for 1 division time) which can be very accurate.
  
  Possibility of sending Control Change to connected devices noon.
  
  the effect section is passable and only works on the stereo output so I do not use it (I emissions separate outputs)
  
  Some practical function of the sampler as the reverse, time stretch.
  
  A lot of possibility to assign one to four sample to a pad with trimming envelope, 2 filter (lpf hpf bpf), trimming Velocity, LFO ...
  
  usb conection to a PC for backup and import / export samples, midi files ...

  Utilization

  The grip of the machine is simple if you read the manual, after a few hours or a few days, it was soon made to know by heart all the functions (yes I swear).
  
  ergonomics is correct, but it saves time if you can do some things on a pc as decoupage and editing sample example.
  
  I mainly use the sequencer to function composed of beat, fly via midi synth and rock samples.
  
  
  
  for mixing, sound processing and various other I do not ave the MPC is too limited (section effect passable example)
  
  The separate outputs allow me to mix the sounds of MPC and synths and instruments that external midi driver via a console and record my final mix on PC

  Sounds

  the MPC faithfully what he returned in memory (échantilonnage 16bits/44.1). you have to find / create samples that ou want to hear with the MPC or anything else
  
  some drum kits are supplied with, it helps to start (Oberheim DX tr808/909, acoustic drum kit, various perceived ...)
  
  You can do anything with my MPC for me KIFS are reggea dub digital and its west coast "gangsta funk"
  
  good musicie can really play what he wants to house the bagpipes!

  Overall Opinion

  For use in sequencer, this is perfect. The black dot: very limited memory that does not store long samples. But it should not be too bad if you made the hip hop beat with only two or three loops.
  
  to put melodic line recorded with a microphone it quickly becomes just
  
  128 MB memory expansion is indispesable.;
  
  I have no hard drive or cd player, JJ and bones
  
  the screen is not very big.
  
  
  
  what I like most is being able to dial without using a PC (stability, no glare screen ...) integrated in a home studio console, synths, fx unit, ... I have trouble doing without now that I'm used to
  Did you find this review helpful?yesno
• 05/27/12

  bakinzedayz's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Well, but fragile"

  Characteristics

  See the features

  Utilization

  Simple little we've used a sampler.
  
  All functions are fairly easy, just dig a little all menus.
  
  Everything is easily accessible, clear, logical.
  
  The manual is clear, but like most books it describes only some of the possibilities of the machine.
  
  In short, it's almost like everything, it takes some getting used to the setup, search, search the net and is taken in hand rather quickly.

  Sounds

  Its level is Akai is an MPC, therefore, is necessarily good.
  
  
  
  It sounds very clean, very good dynamics, nothing to add on that side.
  
  I usually prepare my songs on the computer, then I decompose the whole and I export everything to go back into the machine, and the difference is just incredible: the sounds eat up much less of them, it really sounds differently from the computer is usually pretty surprising.
  
  Short, but good on that side.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for a year and I'm pretty satisfied.
  
  
  
  I had tried other samplers before, the 2000, 1000, as well as other makes and models.
  
  What I love most: sound, ease of use, ergonomics, MIDI capabilities and aesthetics (as it still has to face!).
  
  
  
  What I like least: fragility, because unfortunately this is his biggest weakness.
  
  I am far from being a nag, but still, most of the buttons are very fragile.
  
  Those used most often weaken rapidly (Main, Windows, Mode ...) and when you remove the hood to see what it is, you quickly understand: like many brand Akai scratching on components, and we are left with a machine components with € 1000 at 20 cents ...
  
  
  
  It's a bit of foutage of mouth, but the advantage is that at least there are easily enough to replace what is broken in any electronics store.
  
  
  
  Same for the pads, which let go very quickly (even if you are not a fan of drumming) and there on the other hand, this is not the same price to replace ...
  
  
  
  The other downside (if you can really talk about negative), the can of RAM you have on the beast.
  
  It is true that for some, the 128 of ram (after extension), are quite sufficient, but in my case, it is not nearly enough, so you have to think constantly scratching.
  
  After that, it also learns to operate differently, but still I would feel much more comfortable with the double!
  
  I think it's certainly an element of stability, but it would be really nice qu'Akaï think one day to develop them on that side, because when compared to what exists today (admittedly, in the middle of computer, so not really the same thing), 128MB, it does not really much!
  
  
  
  Value for money still very good (well, except on the quality of the smallest components of course).
  
  
  
  I would do this choice, because I see no real equivalent, but that's about it, do not expect perfection, although traditionally, the MPC series, Akai n 'is not far at all!
  Did you find this review helpful?yesno
• 03/09/12

  Webmusicprod's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " An improved 2000XL"

  Characteristics

  What connections (audio, MIDI ...)?
  
  
  
  Well I'll say like everyone else: look at the manufacturer. It is well stocked.
  
  
  
  
  
  He has an effects section? Yes, correct: EQ, reverb, delay, enough work.
  
  
  
  
  
  How many sounds, styles available? Are they edited? Through a utility for Mac / PC?
  
  
  
  Any style is the sample. editable, importable and exportable via Mac / PC.
  
  
  
  What caractériques the sequencer?
  
  
  
  A killing! That's what made the reputation of MPC's.

  Utilization

  The general configuration is simple?
  
  
  
  Childish.
  
  
  
  The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
  
  
  
  Ample see useless except for some clarifications and details.
  
  
  
  Common functions are they easily accessible?
  
  
  
  Everything is at hand.

  Sounds

  The sounds they are suitable to your style of music?
  
  
  
  Yes, I carry around my Mac to samples of MPC 2500/5000 and vice versa.
  
  
  
  Are they realistic? As far as can be a sample. It is neutral so we do what we want. Do not tell me grain, I see no difference between the new and the previous generation, and its dynamics are the same (I'm not talking about the 60 and 3000 I never had in hand)
  
  
  
  The expression is good? (Reaction to velocity, aftertouch to)?
  
  
  
  Yes, very good. The pad is good for playing drums.
  
  
  
  Are they realistic? Sample!
  
  
  
  The effects are they effective and responsive?
  
  
  
  Yes to what I did. EQ a lil here and a delay there. This is not phenomenal but that's enough.

  Overall Opinion

  How long you use it?
  
  
  
  2 days.
  
  
  
  Did you tried many other models before buying it?
  
  
  
  Yes: Akai MPC: 2000/xl, 500, 5000. Otherwise also Roland W30, S950, S3000xl, s2000.
  
  
  
  What is so special that you love the most, least?
  
  
  
  Pros: The size of the machine, easily transportable. The speed of work, a component every 30 min for the bitter full of inspiration. This is the workflow that best suits what I do and the sequencer is a killer of simplicity that allows me to play Reason live and forgetting the mouse (mouse I was pissed). The input thru (not in my previous MPC 2000XL). The eternal groove MPC and the dynamics that is quickly forgotten my favorite software: Reason that I no longer use at all to my beat's.
  
  
  
  The -: .... it's slow, I prefer the 5000 on this issue (on others as well), the screen too small (the 5000 live yet)
  
  
  
  Price / quality ratio?? Ba I are not paid expensive so I find it excellent. Seriously if you look in the Cygnus: € 500 minimum is good. New: more than € 1000 to the lowest, one can abuse (at that price I buy a Mac if I do nothing to Tafer).
  
  
  
  Finally I would much rather work on 5000 but was not too portable I found a 2500 order to work around. Hop in your backpack! Otherwise fluidity level work when I went from 5000 to 2500 I felt I was finding my 2000XL, a flashback. Ok the 5000 costs more expensive but comparing with the 2500 I do not regret it. Long live 5000!!
  
  
  
  Oh yes I can not find the JJ OS super awesome. I'm used to the Akai OS even if certain features are longer to access.
  Did you find this review helpful?yesno
• 12/17/10

  esclave's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  level connectivity is fairly complete audio 2in 2 in 24:10 noon 4 out audio out, plus digital and USB.
  
  You can import sounds work on pc to mpc
  
  the sequencer is top, either correct or in free time ...
  
  effects is not his strong two types of effects and not very flexible ...
  
  Fortunately there are separate outputs for external effects to

  Utilization

  the configuration is not easy is what has the former.
  
  on the other hand we loop quickly and effectively no latency, tricks surprise clikte style map.
  
  not too need the manual for the beginning ...

  Sounds

  Me it's rather industrial experience, so cold side and square is not bad, and the samples are retransmitted (no aliasing)
  
  the expression is pretty well broadcast and I appreciate it;

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for 1 1 / 2 years before I was pretty pc and an old sequencer yamaha SU200.
  
  the thing that will not effect the section is not very powerful, but done with, and it would have been nice to have a graphical interface leads or progressive style editor on pc or VGA
  
  fortunately dd os3.10 is there.
  
  I hump more than that (and I play too) after I save and presto, the game is played.
  
  minimum: mix section, done more to make levels and effects section
  
  most: sequencer sampler and feel good about
  Did you find this review helpful?yesno
• 04/06/09

  my name is john doe's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  See more advice or visit the manufacturer!

  Utilization

  I offered this machine for the Fall 2008 Fast Fashion a soundtrack for a dance. I used up Submitted Ableton Live on a Macbook, but I needed a good ragissent orders on hand for a real live job. So I quickly replaced trs Live Controller hardware and a "all-in-one", easy transport, set up, use: MBM!
  
  
  
  I had no trouble using the sounds of my old projects (WAV), import them, assign the 2500. No bad either steal the sampler (Input Through gnial really!) And tweaking the sound flies with filters and effects included in the machine. Some of my sounds are in earlier Live passs Wave Editor or history of particular benefit from VST. But overall the machine is fiercely independent and allows a max of DLIR.

  Sounds

  So very easy to use, the possibility to sample sounds or use widely available - for free on the web, also paid on the web (I treated myself to a part of the catalog gnial Modern Beats , a killer!), MPC has become my time to this project the heart of my studio. I made a crazy place in my mini studio to compose: MBM, a pair of speakers!

  Overall Opinion

  This machine is not exclusively dedicates to hip hop, the proof of the soundtrack of Fast Fashion dance show I could do with intgralement! It's perfect all types of music. Grid Editor allows the function to work fawn prcise trs. The pads are flexible and well ragissent trs. I do not fault this excellent machine, though this may be the lack of certain FX, which I desire more. A machine must really work for an entire album without the need for much else ct: squenceur multitrack audio and MIDI Sampler, Controller noon, many inputs and outputs, sound quality irr prochable short, I am delighted!
  
  
  
  Malhreusement now I need money to work on another project and I have no way to advance money to m'quiper. So I must make a choice in this case, sell the MPC :-(
  Did you find this review helpful?yesno
• 02/18/09

  nours©'s review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  - What connections (audio, MIDI ...)?
  
  - Refer to the manufacturer's data sheet, everything is precisely detailed. if not two words that give the lazy, 2 analog inputs from 6.35 to 2 analog outputs from 6.35 to 1 input and 1 stereo digital SPDIF - 8 analog outputs from 6.35 to 2 MIDI IN, OUT 4 midi. just look at the picture above ;-) if bonus, a USB port.
  
  
  
  - How many sounds and styles available? Are they edited? Through a utility Mac / PC?
  
  - Zero, since it is a sampler. we ignore the sounds contained in the card that came with the machine saw the incongruity of using such sounds in 2009 ... If the internal party sampler (USB for importing / exporting the audio from a Mac computer / PC and then edit them in advance if needed ... and so, we'll see ...), is worthy of an MPC, that is stuck in 1993 ... or almost completely obsolete section for use worthy of the name now, the display of wave forms are imprecise, treatment options limited post-sampling (and long ... what is it long ...) and not always of good quality. short, I will not dwell on that, my Ensoniq ASR-10, 1993 by increasing, far better, even today. So fortunately, the USB port is there any utility.
  
  
  
  - Has he an effects section?
  
  - Same comments as before, can we call the poor section filter, EQ, reverb and delay, a real effects section? Again, compared to a board in ASR-10, we laugh and we get bored ...
  
  
  
  - What are the characteristics of the sequencer? ...
  
  - Fortunately, you do not buy (well, I hope!) An MPC sampler for her, but for the sequencer. and its ability to store, read and play the samples as well as sequence of sounds from sound modules or external synths (virtual or hardware). the sequencer is damn convenient, simple and intuitive. the step mode, even if the screen is shockingly small, is very useful. editing is done quickly, accurately, briefly taking a little time to learn to master it, it is easy to separate from a sequencer "virtual" computer on and never come to terms with that of the MPC.

  Utilization

  - The general configuration is it simple?
  
  - You can not (too many) problems come to a simple song in less than twenty minutes (import sounds, patching sounds and sequences) barely unpack the box without having to open the manual. even without knowledge of other models in the range. the machine is pretty well thought, everything falls readily to hand, you do not spend three hours in the menus and submenus to find what you're looking (at the same time there are so few features finally ... it seems logical!).
  
  
  
  - The usual functions are they easily accessible?
  
  - I just said ...
  
  
  
  - The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
  
  - I still took the time to read it, and actually it is also damn good, well translated and full of tricks.

  Sounds

  - The sounds they are suitable to your style of music? Are they realistic?
  
  - Having once again that this is a sampler (ahem), so I'm not crooked enough to make sounds inappropriate to the music I play ...
  
  
  
  - The effects are they effective and responsive?
  
  - They are useless for most, so I do not use it. apart from time to time delay (a delay hard to miss anyway ...). the only thing positive, but that has nothing to do with the end section effect ... is possible to automate the internal table mix.
  
  
  
  - The expression is good? (Response to velocity, aftertouch to)?
  
  - The pads respond well to the touch regardless of the strike, the velocity of this game can really expressive as well as for all that is rhythmic and melodic. I forgot to specify that the primary interest of an MPC finally, despite its excellent (coughed simple practice because I have already mentioned) sequencer, it's still his pads!

  Overall Opinion

  - How long have you use it?
  
  - Almost since its release.
  
  
  
  - What is so special that you like most and least?
  
  - I like his sequencer, his pads, the size of the machine, the separate outputs of origin, its ease of use.
  
  - I regret not having a real sampler board (I do not speak the "grain" that is a debate here has no place) and a true range of effects used other than for the hip- hop for example.
  
  
  
  - Have you tried many other models before buying it?
  
  - If one dwells on the samplers, yes, a bunch (ASR-10, ASR-X EPS EPS16, Mirage, SCI Prophet 2000, SCI Studio 440, Emu III, K2000).
  
  if we speak of sequencers, Digital Performer Also I continue to use primarily for audio, can be traced to just about everything that has happened since Notator on Atari ...
  
  
  
  - How would you rate the quality / price?
  
  - Overpriced! the equivalent of a MacBook and a motu ultralite sound card type, for example ... it hurts, for the few things it can do ... :-)
  
  
  
  - With experience, you do again this choice? ...
  
  - Paradoxically so, because I like the machines that are full of faults, it gives them a certain personality ... and the MPC is out of date to 80% ... I feel like (re) work with my old machine late 80 early 90 but with a USB port and pads ... the machine can be completely autonomous work I love the headphone on the couch, feet on the table to build my rhythm and bits of melodies.
  
  
  
  if I have this machine at home is by now tired of having to work at a computer screen all day as well for recording / mixer that dial. is a luxury of around 1500 euro, it may not be worth it for many, an absolute who already have a computer, a sequencer / sampler software and a sound card, the MBM is not used much. if not use it ... :-)
  Did you find this review helpful?yesno

• Page: 1
• 2
• 
•