Akai Professional MPC5000

Bought this unit after a testdrive for weeks. It may have the name and purpose as a drum machine / sampler but it is much much more.

This unit replaces my apple when i'm on the road. It will be my recorder, sequencer,sampler and editor.

At home i use it in combination with standard studio gear and will be my background vocals, second voice, backup recorder and non destructive dubber.

I also took a good look at the " music production Controller" but you still in need of a computer which for me is a big Downside.

The positive side is that it is not only a drum machine like everybody is saying. It is much more. It is everything you need if you don't have a studio with equipment. it can handle everything from idea till the cd release which this machine can do too.

Downside for me personally are the buildin effects. They are acceptable but not excellent and i realy miss some effects in the audio editor but i can work arround those limitations.
Another downside is the fact that the harddrive recorder option is stereo only and not a direct 8 track. But hey, you can't expect everything in a machine that has so much to offer already.

Everything has been already said about this product

The left part with all the faders and knobs is perfect.

It simplifies things in relation to the 1000 I had before!

The 8 separate outputs are perfect, too, to be able to export a project in 1 or 2 turns...it's very practical.

However, you'll need a soundcard with plenty of audio inputs, otherwise you'll have to do it again track by track manually!

USE

It's not bad in terms of use.

I hate a bug that ends up making you crazy in the long run, especially when slicing a sample, a part that is very poorly achieved.

I run JJ OS on my mp1000, they could've done a better job at this!

A new OS or OS JJ is needed!

Otherwise, it has all the basics of an mpc, and I love it for that!! I LOVE IT!!

SOUND

It doesn't add any coloration. Forget about all the sounds with lots of lows like the ASR 10, the mpc 3000, etc ...

But, at the same time, you have enough tools to give sound your personal touch...

So this aspect is not that annoying.

I use very little the analog synth inside, so I can't tell you much about it.

OVERALL OPINION

2 or 3 years.

Perfect hardware, but AKAI seems to be mocking us with this shitty OS!!

Especially when you see its current street price! And this guys can't even make a software worthy of the name...

It's like having windows!

Sampler/sequencer/synthesizer, it's a comprehensive machine that can handle a complete production by itself.
Comprehensive and reliable connection options, I plug all my synths into it to sequence them.

I recommend it to people looking for a compact and all-purpose machine!

USE

It couldn't be easier to use!
The mpc feeling and workflow par excellence!
The big, readable screen is a + in relation to other mpcs!

SOUND

It's a sampler, so.................
You input blue and it comes out blue...the converters are very (too?) transparent, it's really faithful to the audio signal all the way to the end.

It has plenty of effects, some of them are good and some others are bad, there's something for everyone.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for 1.5 years and I have never had the slightest problem with it.
It is really sturdy and reliable, no bugs, no problems in terms of connections.

I've had an mpc 3000, an sp 12 turbo and an s950, but I only kept this one!
The workflow of an mpc but with all modern advantages (no diskettes, comfortable screen, internal hard drive, usb, faster loading...... ).

If you are hesitating between a 3000 or a 2000xl, the 5000 doesn't have a particular character, granted, but its modernity will make you quickly forget the pleasure of sampling with its older siblings.

The MPC 5000 is a premier machine for anyone looking to lay down some drums! Or you can use it as a sampler as well. The Mpc 5000 has everything you need to sequence your tracks and you can even lay them out in “song” mode. Which is basically like doing them in your play list in a program like fl studio. Though I have never completed a full song in my mpc 5000, just because I think its easy to track out your song and mix it in pro tools, but you can still complete a whole song if you want.


UTILIZATION

I use the MPC by its self, I don’t have any other instruments going into it, so I didn’t have to worry about setting anything like that up. I just record using the outs and take them into my audio interface to record the sequences then start the mixing from there. I hate manuals so I never read it. I looks like a thick book!


SOUNDS

It sounds great, MPC’s have been around for years and this one is probably one of the best ones because it has just what you need and the sound of the original MPC 2000. One good thing about the sound of the 5000 is that it keeps that old school sound that I love!


OVERALL OPINION

The MPC 5000 is great, you can even purchase different color pads. I purchased the red pads online and customized my MPC 5000 to how I like it. Also, the mpc 5000 has a lot more effects than the other models. The price tag on the 5000 is pretty is really up there. But its well worth the money you will spend. If you cant afford the 5000 check into the 1000 or try to get a 2000 if you can find someone that is selling them because MPC doesn’t make them anymore. But I say save up for this one!