OVERVIEW
Now in black. The MPC 1000 is a fully re-designed MPC series. It maintains the key features that made the orignal series the industry standard, but also integrates new features to make it more portable and easier to integrate to computer-based studios.

USES
• recording + sampling
• audio + MIDI sequencing
• audio manipulation
• drum programming
• portable sample trigger/performance instrument

FEATURES
The MPC 1000 features a 16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo sampler with 136 seconds of mono sampling time standard (expandable to 24m28sec). Sound wave patterns are displayed as wave forms, making it possible to edit samples both visually and aurally. Effects including pitch, LFOs, envelopes, time stretch and resample are available for use with all sounds. A new addition to the 1000 series includes two stereo effects and one master effect each of which are assignable to all sounds. These stereo effects include chorus, flanger, bit grunger, 4-band EQ (also available in master), compressor (also available in master), phase shifter, tremolo, flying pan and reverb. Another improvement over past MPC's is the inclusion of a high pass filter, and both the low and high pass filters on the 1000 are 2-pole per voice.

The sequencer section is where the MPC has really derived its great reputation. With a 100,000 note memory and a capacity of up to 99 sequences that can be recorded in either linear or pattern-style, the 1000 is an extremely powerful machine. It also features a step edit mode, a loop recording function and 16 level, full level, tap tempo, auto punch and undo sequence features, making it extremely fast and intuitive to work with.

The hardware on the MPC 1000 offers enough connections to satisfy the most demanding recording applications. 2 new hardware features on the 1000 make it more compatible with computer based studios than its predecessors. The first improvement is the Compact Flash port which takes cards that range from 32MB (included) to 2GB. The second is the inclusion of a USB port that supports storage on MAC and PC via the Mass Storage Class USB standard. Basically, M.S.C. is a file management system that allows you to drag and drop sound files from the MPC to your computer's hard drive and vice versa, via the USB port. These 2 features negate the need for those slow floppy and zip disks, a weakness of previous MPC models.

The back panel of the 1000 is equipped with stereo 1/4" INs and OUTs, four 1/4" individual OUTs, digital S/PDIF IN and OUT, two MIDI INs and OUTs, a headphone OUT and two footswitch INs. The dimensions of the unit are 13" by 8" and it weighs less than 8lbs. Its sample reading capabilities are compatible with the MPC 2000XL, MPC 4000, Z4, Z8 and the S5000/6000.

OUR OPINION
I can remember when the MPC 60 cost $3200 brand new out of the box. We've come a long way in these 15 years and as advancements in technologies are made, the consumer is the real winner in the end. The 1000 is a real deal production center, equipped with most of the features that made the MPC so legendary.

Some of the new features included with the MPC 1000 should be especially appealing to today's musician. The addition of a 2-pole high pass filter gives the user a new range of sound design possibilities previously unavailable to the MPC. On previous models, the internal effects were either limited or cost extra to buy the expansion boards. The different effects that come standard with the 1000 allow the user to more fully shape their sounds within the MPC, lessening the need for outboard gear or upgrades.

In our opinion, the greatest improvement with the 1000 is the inclusion of the Mass Storage Class USB standard and the Compact Flash port. For CPU users this will negate the need for floppy and Zip discs that can be slow and difficult to manage. The speed of being able to drag and drop sound files as well as the convenience of having all your samples at your finger tips, displayed on your computer screen, will save a lot of time and creative energy. The new methods of memory storage (Compact Flash card and USB) will ensure that the user's data doesn't get lost as formats change and that the MPC 1000 will be able to communicate with new equipment as it is released in the future.

Overall the most important element the 1000 retained from its MPC lineage is its ease of use. Its layout and sequencing section is intuitive, making it a fast learn. The trademark trigger pads and sequencing features make it a powerful, realistic drum programming tool. Portability is no longer an issue with the 1000's new compact size. Take it to djing gigs and trigger sound effects or homemade creations into the mix. For live bands the 1000 can add anything from more powerful drums to atmospheric sound scapes, all at the touch of sixteen buttons. By no means a lightweight, the 1000 will probably end up dominating the hardware based production market for years to come.

- sampler, drum machine and multi-track MIDI sequencer in one instrument
- USB port with drag and drop copying
- 44.1 kHz, 16-bit stereo sampling with 32-voice polyphony
- 16Mb RAM standard, expandable to 128mb
- built-in Compact Flash slot (32MB-2GB cards supported)
- 16 levels function giving you one sound on all pads with varied level, tuning, attack, decay or filter per pad
- 2 x MIDI IN and 2 x MIDI OUT
- 32 MIDI channels
- Step Edit mode for fast recording, viewing or editing of any event in a sequence
- 2.97" x 12.99" x 8.985"
- 7.6 lbs

- 32MB Flash memory card

reviewed by the mgmnt