MPC 3000 vs. MPC 2000xl

  • Thread starter Thread starter dr.anus
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2000xl
Sampler, drum machine and multi-track MIDI sequencer in one instrument

Storage: Multiple Memory Card formats, compatible with: Smart Media, SD card, MMC (multimedia card), Memory Stick, Compact Flash, Micro Drive

Dedicated buttons for the most commonly used functions

Informative graphic LCD on a hinged, tiltable panel

Extremely powerful sampling drum machine/phrase sampler

Extensive sample editing that includes cut and paste, timestretch, etc., with waveform display

44.1 kHz, 16-bit stereo sampling with 32-voice polyphony

Resonant digital filter & envelope per voice

Large, great-feeling, velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads for expressive programming

Note Variation slider for programming a wide variety of dynamics

Stereo Mix outputs & optional eight individual outputs

S/PDIF digital I/O

Built-in SCSI interface

Reads sample data from S1000 and S3000 series samplers, E-mu EIIIx, Roland S750/S760, .WAV

Powerful and easy-to-use MIDI sequencer offers a great alternative to complex computer-based sequencers

Supports both linear and pattern-style (looped) recording

300,000 note sequence capacity

Step Edit mode for fast recording, viewing or editing of any event in a sequence

Flexible synchronization capabilities: MIDI clock, MTC, and SMPTE (optional)

2 MIDI inputs with merge & 2 independent MIDI outputs (32 channels)

Technical Description

General
Display: 248 x 60 dot graphic LCD

Dimensions: 405(W) x 106(H) x 331(D) mm

Weight: 5.5 kg

Power Requirements: 100-240 VAC, 50/60Hz, 23W (13W without option)

Memory Expansion Slot: 2 / 72-pin SIMM (70ns)

Sound Generator
Sampling Rate: 44.1kHz (frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz)

Sampling Capacity: 2MB standard (21.9 seconds mono or 10.9 seconds stereo), expandable to 32MB.

Data Format: 16-bit linear

Dynamic Filtering: 12dB/Octave dynamic resonant lowpass filter per voice

Maximum Sounds in Memory: 256

Number of Sound pPograms: 24

Sound Assignments per Program: 64

Simultaneous Soices: 32

Sequencer
Maximum Events: 300,000 notes (maximum 50,000 notes per sequence) (notes equivalent)

Resolution: 96 parts per 1/4-note (ppq)

Sequences: 99

Tracks per Sequence: 64

MIDI Output Channels: 32 (16 channels x 2 output ports)

Song Mode: 20 songs, 250 steps per song

Drum Pads: 16 (velocity and pressure sensitive)

Drum Pad Banks: 4

Sync Modes: MIDI clock and SMPTE (optional). SMPTE frame rates supported are 24, 25, 29.97 drop and 30

Rear Panel Inputs/Outputs
Record Input (both L and R): 1/4-inch stereo phone x 2, balanced -40dBu, input Imp. 39kOhms; Max. input level +10dBu

Digital Sampling Input: RCA-pin x 1, S/PDIF (optional)

Digital Master Output: RCA-pin x 1, S/PDIF (optional)

Stereo Output: 1/4-inch phone x 2, unbalanced +11dBu, output Imp. 100 Ohms; Max. output level +17dBu

8 Individual Outputs: 1/4-inch phone x 8, unbalanced +11dBu, output Imp. 100 Ohms (optional); Max. output level +17dBu

Headphone Output: 1/4-inch stereo phone x 1, 200mW/32 Ohms

MIDI Inputs: 5-pin DIN x 2

MIDI Outputs: 5-pin DIN x 2 (independent)

SCSI Port: 50-pin high-pitch SCSI connector x 1

Standard Accessories
Power cable

CD ROM disc - Sound library disc

Operator’s manual

Options
8 analog output and two-channel digital I/O board

Multi-effects processor board

8MB Flash ROM board

SMPTE board

MPC Sound Library

3000
It's a great Sampler: 16-bit stereo 44.1Khz sampling with 2 to 16 MB of memory and full editing capability. In fact, its sampling specs are equivalent to most rack-mount type samplers, proving that the MPC-3000 is a professional instrument.

It's an excellent Synthesizer: Sixteen dynamic pads with velocity and aftertouch, great drum sets, analog-like VCF filter sweeping with resonance, analog envelope control and 32 notes of polyphony. Except for the drum sounds, it does not feature a built in oscillator or synthesizer engine. But your samples can be shaped and colored by the analog-style edit functions for creating lo-fi sounds, filter swept pads and drum loops, and other strangely modulated effects. This effectively makes the MPC-3000 as powerful and editable as any synthesizer.

It's also a great Sequencer: 20 Songs, 99 sequences, 99 tracks, and up to 75,000 notes. It has total MIDI implementation, very sophisticated sequence editing, and SCSI + disk drive storage. The MPC can be the Master or just another sampler in your current MIDI studio. Professional MIDI, Sync and Time Code features are also onboard. Polyphony - 32 notes
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Sampling - 16-bit, 44.1kHz, Stereo
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Memory - 2MB RAM (22 seconds) to 16MB
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Filter - Lowpass filter with resonance and envelope
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Sounds - 24 Drum sets and 4 Pad Banks
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Keyboard - 16 soft pads (w/ velocity & aftertouch)
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Arpeg/Seq - Sequencer: 20 songs, 99 sequences, 99 tracks, 75,000 note capacity
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Control - MIDI, MTC, SMPTE

this should help you out a bit, try google for more info...
 
Here you go. Came from the mpc3000 site but I mean its comparing an 2k and 3k so this may be of help and it may not be(xl and 2k do have similarities)

Not sure about the groove of the sequencers, but here are some differences I put together for the Akai mailing list...

MPC60 only has 750KB memory, expandable to 1.5MB.

MPC2000 and 3000 expand up to 32MB

MPC60 is 12bit/low sampling rate, lofi sound

MPC2000 and 3000 are 16bit/44.1KHz, hifi sound

MPC60 and 3000 have 2 MIDI In and 4 MIDI out

MPC2000 has 2 MIDI In and 2 MIDI out

MPC60 and 3000 have built in SMPTE-pulse96-FSK24-1/4 click sync

MPC2000 has SMPTE as an option

MPC3000 has built in extra 8 outputs and digital in

MPC2000 has optional extra outputs and digital in/out

MPC60 and 3000 have good strong build quality/strength

MPC2000 has poorer build quality/strength

MPC60 and 3000 are all older styled text based screens

MPC2000 has more modern graphic waveform display/editing/menus

MPC2000 has optional onboard effects, 60 and 3000 don't

MPC2000 has track mute screen, 60 and 3000 don't

MPC3000 has optional VGA display output

MPC60 and 3000 have 2 footswitch inputs,

MPC2000 needs MIDI footswitch

MPC60 and 3000 sequencers may have different 'feel' with swing etc. to 2000 (not sure though) truth here

MPC60 and 3000 has 'echo' effects send/return

MPC3000 has s3000 sampling engine/filters

MPC2000 has s2000 sampling engine/filters

MPC60 has (?, maybe s900) sampling engine/(filters?)

MPC2000 and 3000 have SCSI as standard

MPC60 has SCSI as a third-party option

The MPC2000 has a lot more features than the MPC60 or MPC3000. The MPC3000 is sort of half way between the MPC60 and MPC2000, it has the expanded memory of the MPC2000, with the older style screens and features of the MPC60. It all depends on what features you consider important in your MPC. The 60 is very limited memory wise, so may be better suited to creating beats from single hits, rather than using full bar loops like some do with the 2000. The 60 has the 12bit lofi sound that some prefer over the 3000/2000 16bit CD quality sound. If you want more than two MIDI outs you may prefer the MPC60 or 3000. If you simply want the 'old school' beats feel then you would prefer the MPC60 or 3000.

The preference for the MPC60 may be a preference for the 'old school' way of doing things, but could also have to do with the lofi 12bit sound and maybe the feel of the sequencer and it's swing. You should try one out before buying it.

www.mpc3000.com
 
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The biggest differences:

- Display (text vs graphical)
- No time stretch on the MPC3000
- MPC3000 comes standard with 8 outs
- MPC3000 has 4 MIDI Outs as opposed to 2

But with regards to the first two major differences, if you're editing your samples on a computer, this won't matter.

I've got an MPC3000 and am enjoying it so far. Picked it up for $1025, fully expanded memory.

I see MPC2000XLs go for $800-$950 pretty often, and those are without the 8 outs expansion.

Try out both if you get the chance, and see which you like better. If you don't have that luxury, I don't think you can go wrong with either. Many a hit record has been made with both. If you decide you don't like it, you can probably turn around and sell it for what you bought it for.
 
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