Akai MPC 500

Got this sampler around mid 2017 to use as a sampler and sequencer, got some use out of it, good for taking around as a portable beatmaking machine. Kinda limited however, there's no resampling function, every sample is at 44.1k, but this made me want to experiment with it more, made me want to try the old techniques of speeding up a record to 78 rpm then slowing the sample back down on the MPC to give it some grittyness. Sequencing works well, you have a menu that allows you to form full songs out of separate sequences, along with a "timing correct" function which can be deactivated if you want. You have plenty of MIDI functions such as setting the MPC's MIDI in Channel, you can also assign each track to a different MIDI out channel if you want. Anyway, if you want to start off with a good portable sampler/sequencer that gets the creative juices flowing, then this is the sampler for you.

Does everything I need with a small footprint/price and great portability. I'm using MPC Maid on my Mac to arrange the samples and cutting them before upload so I don't care that it has only 2 lines of display. It would be nice to have foot pedals like the 1000 but I think I can live without. Only problem so far is I have yet to figure out how to do program changes on my synths from this. Thinking about getting another 500 as part backup and to let me use them both to always have the next song loaded DJ style. Or maybe get the 1000.

Bought this instead of a playstation when I was 15 because I saw Chemical Brothers mention it in their webpage for their 'Push the Button' album.

I used it a bit here and there but it never seemed to make sense due to its non obvious menus which you basically need a degree in to understand, or at least 2 weeks of reading manuals.

Also, synchronizing the midi to Ableton took like 3 days.

Its an old piece of kit so its obvious it won't be digitised as well as other newer MPC's but I've only ever used this to make beats on the spot rather than create loops as I know is possible if you are some kind of genius.

It's great for outdoor work Built-in sampler - big torque You will take your drums to the SD card Headphones, batteries and you're free to go Creativity from now on! Wherever you want! YO!

I used my MPC 500 to play loops on it , also as a master midi clock. Just export my loops from ableton and use "MPC maid" to transfer nad program . It is 16 bit wav but it has unique sound . Everything you put into MPC it sounds better .

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had to switch the pads and the tact switches, but it was worth it! battery time not so good, but what can you expect. does everything it needs to do. I can bang out long triphop tracks on this.. doesn't have to be kick hat snare beats ;)