Originally posted by Some Guy
"all the features"?? Please explain to me how you record vocals and live instruments into your MPC4000. Is there a score editor to input musical notes? How do you do surround in a MPC4000? Actually how do you mix anything down using just a MPC4k? How do you load a movie into a MPC4k to write a soundtrack? How do you load virtual instruments into your MPC4k? I can go on but, How the hell can you consider that contraption a "more serious level" when it does half what a computer does? And you wanna talk about expensive add-ons, most of the 4k's good features are optional. Plus factor in a nice digital 24track and a gang of synths and keyboards to that already expensive price and you'll have to add a few 10k to your new expensive toy. I rather spend that loot on a nice 2000xl + synths + a decent comp.
It's an Audio Platform, not a multimedia toy. It has both score/pianoroll, TR-step editor and ez 2 use event editor. Mixdown is ez, but don't expect it to convert shit to mp3, because ITS HARDWARE, you record on other media ( reel or dat ) after it goes through the mixer. That's how you perform a mixdown. Why the hell would I use Surround on an MPC console to make hiphop beatz or ??? movies ?WTF?! Do you know what they really use for that shit? If I would like to use SMPTE towards video I'd use a G4 dual with Protools HD, not a pc running running whatever. Virtual Instruments, Ill make it brief, I HATE EMULATORS! They really sux, the only alternative towards emu's would be Noah by Creamware ( check the site ) and with that rack I wouldn't even need a pc to run "virtual synths". For what cocerns the add-ons, There's a difference with supplied optionals between the US and Europe, but the last time I checked it didn't look to bad, plus the USB makes up for a lot. As for the other mentioned adds, you should be able to produce tracks very well with a 4k without having the other hardware gear, it would actually give you time to save up for more while your already producing on a " serious " level. By that I mean that you're not looking for all in one solution like a pc, but slowly creating a setup prior to the very basics of productions, IN AUDIO THAT IS !
It's a personal point of view, but it also depends on what your targets are, if you like to jam a bit and supply beats to your friends than thats cool, if you want to create recognizable productions you have to stick to a certain industrial format, a pc wont provide you with that unless you run a creamware powerpulsar + a16 and the Noah on top, if you have an alternative I would like to know, but so far this is pretty much the best combo yet when working on Hiphop soundtracks in dolby surround made by Virtual synths. In your case, it would make your life complete. In my life, hardware controls my setup, most of everything is hardware and the pc gives oppertunites for those who lack them as an alternatif, but its not better. Just think before you type something, you're not being reasonable or objective when it comes to the subject. Read some more about Electronic music instead of downloading plugins and stick with the mpc2k for what it's worth t you, just remember that the 4k is not to be compared with the 2k.
Smile MF