Upgrading my MPC 2500 // MPCStuff XL LCD First Impressions

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I post all of the music I make, including WAV stems; sample packs; Dirtywave M8 song bundles; collections of video textures; early access to videos; and a whole pile of other stuff on Patreon. I know I know, I hate doing this as well, but if you like what I do and want to get more of it, while also helping me offset some of my ludicrous gear purchases, this is the best place to do it:
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and a whole pile of other stuff...
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Get in touch for possible collabs/offers of large sums of money, etc: allmyfas at gmail

[@robokid13]

I love how repairable the MPC1000/2500 are. super simple to swap parts

[@StephenMcLeod]

Yeah! Wouldn't have that on the Force... that's for sure.

[@robokid13]

@@StephenMcLeod or on any modern electronics really, everything is so densely packed and/or glued in place :(

[@scottmcdiarmid8196]

I love those MPCs so easy to work with, just upgraded my second MPC1000 and loaded JJOS

[@StephenMcLeod]

Nice!! They are put together really solidly and dead easy to switch things out on. No excuse for not upgrading!!

[@jeffryarchambeau5441]

You're an inspiration to us all! Such a "can do" attitude. Or at least "that's good enough, leave it".

[@StephenMcLeod]

I can swing violently to both sides of this pendulum haha.

[@Jim_KYB]

My 2500 is the centrpiece of my studio. My music has improved massively since i move to an MPC in 2020. Such a versatile machine, which i really enjoy using. The SD card hard drive is well worth it for ditching the flash cards.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Yeah! It really improved my rhythms, and now I use it for lots of things. I've got a CF card, and an internal hard drive. I haven't replaced the internal drive with an SD yet, as part of the benefit for me is removability - but I suspect that'll be an upgrade for the future...

[@Jim_KYB]

@@StephenMcLeod have you gotten into Chord mode? Massively improved my compositions.

[@viennabonaparte]

Oooh that looks really good! I kinda like the old green glow but the new lcd screen looks amazing. That is one pristine looking MPC!

[@StephenMcLeod]

I do like the old green, but the new one is real good! The paint on mine is coming off (the chassis), but I've seen that on a few of them, so it seems like a common problem.

[@DaveDialect]

Thanks for the breakdown! New screen looks nice.

[@StephenMcLeod]

It is so much better!!

[@CRRollyson]

Thanks for this, have recently been on the fence with these swaps and I'm convinced. Love to hear that about the OS update too

[@StephenMcLeod]

Both have been great. Recommended!

[@bonafidebeatz20]

Good stuff brother - the large LCD screen looks really nice. 💯💯💯

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thanks man!! It makes such a difference too. I recommend it.

[@Two-Eyed_Boy]

Hey, this is awesome! I dont know about you, but anytime i bring any used gear into my home i always make a point to open it up for a deep cleaning and it's so satisfying. This is definitely going to help someone out down the road!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Oh man that is far more commitment than I have haha.

[@Two-Eyed_Boy]

@@StephenMcLeod I guess you've never seen those videos of bugs crawling out of old game consoles and laptops..

[@joserivera1054]

Great job brother. Enjoy!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thanks!!

[@_c_y_p_3]

Good video, beautifully shot actually , smart choice in gear. I would rather have this than a new one.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thank you! Yeah. There's something special about the 2500.

[@djgreenhornet2892]

I like the big screen. It makes the MPC look modern.

[@StephenMcLeod]

It makes a big difference!!

[@dankeplace]

I think I remember that you did the whole pad replacement on this too? If yes, then you pretty much have a brand new machine.

[@StephenMcLeod]

I did indeed. Replaced the original grey pads with the orange fat pads from MPCStuff. There are still a few old bits in there, but I am sure I will end up having to replace the rest at some point :'(

[@YouLoveItBiatch]

😍 I appreciate this video.. its encouraged me to finally pull the trigger and upgrade screen/replace my sticking rotary encoder

[@StephenMcLeod]

Oh nice! Good luck :D

[@TimH123]

Nice work! Have you ever tried the new gen MPCs?

[@StephenMcLeod]

I have. I've got an Akai Force, which runs effectively the same engine - but also mucked about with an MPC One, X, and Live II briefly. They are great and very capable, but just don't feel the same as the 2500 for whatever reason. That's partly down to the build - the 2500 is just much chunkier and more solid, but there's also something else. Perhaps the new ones are just too capable, with too many options, or maybe they just feel too much like a computer in a box? I'm not sure.

[@kenniferlopez1]

Rad Sir!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thanks for watching!!

[@kenniferlopez1]

@@StephenMcLeod Dude, Always!

[@MS-1]

I have the opposite inch in wanting a 2500 for JJOS. I have the 2KXL already and, not parting with that MPC especially because of the 2nd sequence feature that no other MPC has.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Tell me more about this second sequence feature...

[@MS-1]

@@StephenMcLeod You can play two sequences simultaneously. Tonelab did a video on the 2KXL's 2nd sequence feature here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npWznWpmd7ydpsk&si=Q9yb7oRmHb4Ekxe-

[@shermLarock]

How do the buttons feel with the new encoder board? the website mentions the board is thicker. Thus it feels tight?

[@StephenMcLeod]

They feel fine to me! The thicker board is a good thing as the older one was paper thin and much easier to crack (which was my problem).

[@futureworldmachines4407]

If you're thinking about buying a 2000XL, take into account how much you'll be spending on maintenance. I've got a Roland W30 and a Roland R5 drum machine and I must have spent a fortune keeping them going. Many people forget how much it costs keeping vintage going....and the stress!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Yeah, it's a pain. I'm a sucker for vintage gear (cameras, synths, all sorts) and they all end up costing me to keep em going. Hell, this MPC 2500 is an example!

[@MarcoFerreira-c6u]

Hey Stephen do you know where I can get The plastic buttons in Europe? Or only on mpc stuff? Thank you

[@StephenMcLeod]

I've only found them at MPCStuff I'm afraid!

[@MarcoFerreira-c6u]

@@StephenMcLeod thank you

[@GeorgeL909]

It took me a solid minute of wondering "why did he blur out some of the insides of the mpc. Did he have something in there with nudity on it? Like a weird skin or art. Or some kind of crazy illegal pirate synth component he can't show on KZbin? Then I realized it wasn't a censor blur, it was a plastic screen of some kind and I have no business opening and rummaging through an mpc with my t-rex derp brain.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Haha can you imagine if you opened up an moc and found some nude sticker on the PCB?

[@SlaserX]

Why not just get a modern MPC?

[@StephenMcLeod]

I have an Akai Force. The modern MPCs are fine, but aren't build as solidly as the older ones. The MPC 2500 just feels different. The workflow is also different - in a more focussed way. The MPC X for example would be an awesome tool to have, but it includes a pile of things I don't need or want, and which make me approach making music differently.

[@user-rv8wb1nl1b]

i don't dick about with these old mpcs anymore , the new ones are LIGHTYEARS ahead , and can do everything better quicker , better sound , or legacy crunch if thats your thing .

[@StephenMcLeod]

I've tried them and they just don't do it for me, even though they are technically obviously more capable. I'm not sure whether it's because of the build or the endless features or what, but hey! I would keep my mpc 2500 even if offered a swap for an X

[@user-rv8wb1nl1b]

you are a wacky guy , cos that is " illogical captain ! "@@StephenMcLeod

[@user-rv8wb1nl1b]

one thing i DO miss is the fader , i do NOT like the new mpc rotary encoders , Maybe it is possible to replace them with 9-5 rotary pots instead ? that would be awesome 16 pots instead of 16 encoders please ! @@StephenMcLeod