Akai MPC500 MIDI Production System/Sampler
Small in size and completely portable, the MPC500 from Akai is great for making beats on the move. Compatible with other MPC products.
Overall User Ratings (based on 32 ratings)
Submitted October 21, 2008 by a customer from yahoo.com
"If you want to make REAL hip/hop......."
Overall I will dish out a perfect 10. Just because i had just about every other hardware & software available & this lil' BIG guy has surpassed everything that I thought it would & could do. AMAZING. JUST AMAZING product.
Sound
The sounds that YOU put in here could sound amazing. The quality is CD/HD quality. Very compatible with my music style since I am doing Hip/HOP, R&B & PoP.
Features
Compared to its brothers, your really not missing too much when you purchase this unit. Lets put it this way, if you have a computer with software already your already ahead of the game.
Ease of Use
Very very easy to use. I think people just think it's too hard to work with, but the truth is it's probably the most basic thing to learn.
Quality
I give this a perfect 10. No loose part, solid as a 70's Chevy.
Value
The value is a lil' high I think. But it's well worth it. Like I said before, as long as you have a computer with software that can do what the older brothers can do you can't loose.
Manufacturer Support
I have used some support. They're are on top of their business they know what your talking about & you dont have to deal with somebody from India that doesn't speak English. Straight out of Rhode Island.
The Wow Factor
I have it & dont regret getting it one bit. Very very satisfied.
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Hip/HOP, R&B, Pop
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Submitted March 8, 2011 by Juan
"Great drum machine for the price!"
Written by one of our gear experts!
Overall I give it a 10 just the fact it works so well with a pc and you can use it on the go is well worth it! If you cant get a mpc2000xl this is the way to go, any producer will appreciate the time and effort akai took to make this great product
Sound
The sound quality of the mpc 500 is top notch, love the original drum kits included and love the fact you can time stretch and eq each one. The fact that it includes a easy to use usb interface for loading sounds is great also. Just drag and drop new wav files and your set to go.
Features
Love the features on this mpc, the fact you can sequence on the go is best. Plus it runs on the go with double a batterys!! Its amazing to have something so portable with this much power, for production. Love also the note repeat for making drum rolls, also the fact that you can chop sample from within the mpc is a great feature as well.
Ease of Use
Fairly simple interface after using most sequencers or pc software, most stuff comes easily to user such as loading drums and making basic drum patterns. Once you get to more advance stuff like time stretching overdubbing and sequencing it takes a little extra reading to find the steps to do so
Quality
Overall quality is a 10 akai is known to make great drum machines, but this one is bar far the best bang for your buck. The drum pads are the best ive ever used to date. And the drum roll button is also the best ive used aswell. The os could use a little update but it surely can be used to make amazing beats out the box.
Value
Great selling price you can do almost everything you can with a mpc1000, for half the price. If your low on budget and dont have a pc this is the way to go to start on beats.
Manufacturer Support
Didnt have any issues so im going to give them a 9.
The Wow Factor
'' Its a mpc......enough said just with that statement'' industry standard for beat making
Musical Background:
Music Producer
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Submitted March 3, 2007 by a customer from yahoo.com
"This product right here, yo is MADD HOt!"
...a complete studio in my lab whenever, wherever!
Sound
the sound is madd professional and clear!..damn near like HD(lol)
Features
The sampler is what gets my attention on every MPC!..i love to sample!
Ease of Use
...im having a little trouble w/ the navigation!
Quality
the quality is nice!its real solid and u dont have to be afraid everytime u pick it up thinking it will break!
Value
yes!!!
Manufacturer Support
they really made me feel like a friend!
The Wow Factor
The look is HOt!It gives u a modern day MPC look like the others of their times!
Musical Background:
record exec/dj/producer/rapper
Musical Style:
hiphop/r&b/soul/POP/rock
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Submitted October 10, 2010 by a customer from mbira.com
"NOT for the Beginner DJ"
Overall, if I had been able to get the machine to do what the manual said it would, I think I would have been more happy with the outcome. It is likely just a case of me needing to spend more time with the machine along-side someone who can actually get it to make sounds for me (that was the hardest part, and I never succeeded, despite the directions I tried). Without making it play, it's hard to comment on the rest of the product.
Sound
I am sure the sounds on this are great, but I couldn't even get them to start up. I had the manual out and was trying to follow the instructions, but still no sound. This is not for the newbie DJ.
Features
Power supply and manual were in there, but I still had the problem of getting the machine to do what the manual said it would.
Ease of Use
Huge learning curve, probably fine for users who are more adept at products like this, but as I mentioned before, this is NOT for the beginner DJ or someone who is just trying to get their feet wet in sequencing. Some of the interface seems intuitive on the surface, but it turns out to be super complicated and not responding the way the manual said it would.
Quality
The casing and material used seem very durable. Of course, a World Tour Gigbag is helpful with keeping it protecting, but even without it, this doesn't seem like a flimsy piece of metal. Very sturdy...Nice to see.
Value
Seems like a good way to get acquainted with the MPC line, being smaller and cheaper than the larger versions, but as I said before, as an introductory item I was hoping it would be a lot more intuitive and user friendly than it was.
Manufacturer Support
I can't comment on this, as I haven't tried Akai's support yet.
The Wow Factor
I liked the look of this product enough to want to try it out, and I like the portability. Seems like a very versatile stand-alone machine or add-on to another rig.
Musical Background:
Gigging Musician but new to the DJ World
Musical Style:
Celtic, Techno (w/keyboard)
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Submitted January 10, 2010 by a customer from yahoo.com
"mpc 500 a rap/what ever music beat maker"
if it got stolen ,lost, or dident work any mor 4 sum reason.i would get another one.problm is at tha same price i payed 4 it.probly not....lol
Sound
payed 2oo 4 it so far so good .im juz barly knowen how to use it.like tha way it looked loven tha way it soundz.i use my vfx ensoniq keyboard for soundz.even tho when i got it(used) it all retty had some sounds....thiz thing is great.i take care of it n it does tha same 4 me....
Features
this lil guy is packed with thingz i barly myself juzt starten to know how to use....
Ease of Use
im learning....man when i first got it i spent like 6hrs on it lol .n made my first beat....
Quality
lets hope nothing i do goes wrong.what im tryen to say is that i hope i dont drop it.but to me it lookz tuff...i also added a clear coat slip cover to tha screen....so no sctatchez....smart
Value
payed 200 and so far itz worth every penny.i also have a korg padkontrol....that im just learning how to use too....but seems to me i spend mor time with my mpc 500
Manufacturer Support
no need yet....
The Wow Factor
lookz sexey....juz somthing that has a good eye catching appeal
Musical Background:
active musician
Musical Style:
rap/hip hop
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Submitted October 5, 2006 by a customer from yahoo.com
"Sexy Lady."
This my baby I ain't never gon' break up with it.
Sound
The sound is I should say number one. The sound responds even better than I imagined. It is a real easy device because it's just the same as other MPC's but smaller and portable. It has an incredible sequencer. It's design is simple and sexy.
Features
Find out for yourself before I make you bouncing off the wall so you can get it.
Ease of Use
Real easy, it is the most easiest MPC I have ever worked with. It's just like a PSP because the real PSP system is PS2 and the MPC500 is just like MPC2500/MPC4000 but same quality and same sound just smaller, the PS2 might have better graphics than PSP but that isn't how the MPC500 is, this MPC is the same thing as it's brothers.
Quality
You do not want me to get into talking about the quality so I will just say I give it a 10/10 - no actully I give it extra credit it's 15/10
Value
The price is expensive but I think it's worth, people think it's smaller so it must have less features - not true. It's smaller with same features, people should be happy it's this much because if they knew what the MPC500 had they would know it's worth more than $2000.
Manufacturer Support
Real nice company real friendly.
The Wow Factor
Damn! This thang is sexy. This thang got ass. It got curves. The looks attracted me when I first saw it. Love at first sight.
Musical Background:
Rapper/Producer
Musical Style:
Rap
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Submitted December 8, 2006
"Worth the money!!!!"
i use other programs like reasons, to make music as well, it links up well to my daw set-up, and the sequencing on the mpc is second to none...
Sound
Same MPC quality
Features
I love the fact, it's a portable studio on the go, about 90% of the features, the bigger units carry. Would like to have a bigger screen and chop mode for samples.
Ease of Use
Im still learning the 500, everyday i use it, i find something to be more useful ,in my productions.
Quality
Just like any other MPC i ever touched
Value
At first, i thought it was little expensive, but now that i had it for a bit , i think is worth it.
Manufacturer Support
Haven't needed it thus far.
The Wow Factor
looks good,feels good.
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