I need advice guys. V-Synth or Akai MPC 1000

I know.. I know.. they are NOTHING alike. But here's my predicament. I mostly need something that I can program beats on. However, I would also like something that can create super unique weird sounds with samples and as a synth. If I go with the Akai, I'd get one of the best drum/sampling machines around. However, with the V-Synth I get the flexibility to make crazy weird sounds. What I need to know is this:

Can I make full multi-track drum patterns on the V-Synth and will they be able to compete with those I could create on the MPC?

I have the option to buy a used V-Synth for around $800 or a new MPC-1000 for around $999.

Can anyone help me out here? I just need to know what I can do on the Akai drum-wise that I cannot do on the V-Synth.

Oh yeah.. one other factor to throw in...

A Korg Radias is also in consideration. I guess that can only do synthesized drums though which is not really what I want. Can the V-Synth do sampled AND synth drums?

Maybe a better solution might be to get the V-Synth and a lower cost drum machine like the boss DR-770. I've seen them used for around $150US. I use my computer sequencer to drive the DR-770 to make complex arrangents.

Of course, I have two V-Synths. So I am biased towards it's kick ass sounds.

Have a listen to the new Linkin Park "minutes to midnight" album. There are many tracks that use sound effects for the percussion. It has given me a whole new appreciation of what can be done with the V-Synth's rythmic loops.

Mark

Roland MV-8800 may be something to look into as well...

Here's a very in-depth review of the V-Synth. It shoud make clear what you can or can't do. I like the idea of getting the v-synth and a separate drum machine for your beats, personally.

http://www.musicplayers.com/reviews/keyboard/2006/0306_RolandVSynth.php

I would get a V synth and a Yamaha RM1X. You don't necessarily need the drum sounds, you can find those for free on the net. You need a sequencer and the RM1X is one ofthe best and you might be able to find one for $100 or $150. I think that's you best bet. Also note the Akai MPC1000 doesn't have drum sounds, it uses sampled drums which like I said can be found on the net or you can buy some for really cheap on ebay. Search sample cd.

I don't want to throw any munky wrenches in this, but my concern with the V-Synth is it's too synthetic/digital when warping samples. Don't get me wrong, it's a sweet machine and I enjoy the sound, but some bands I've heard got insanely exreme to where their sampled Hi-hats for example are piercing my ears. But to me, that kind of thing is just a bad choice of sound/samples, it's not really the V's fault.

The V will be lots of fun. DO it!

V-Synth can be used as a drum sound module and as a loop player/mangler. It does have beat chopping for a single patch as well, but really only for breaking up loops for tempo sync.

As its a variphase+VA synth, then of course you can synthesis drum sounds on it. Actually - when used as such its a very punchy drum sound module.

If you specifically want beat chopping and sequencing, then you need to think about an Akai MPC or similar. I wonder if an Roland MC-808 would suit?

Get the groovebox ow - add a v-synth xt later?

Sound like you dont really need the keyboard v-synth, so might be able to pickup a v-synth xt cheap somewhere and supplement with a sequencer.

As for the Radias - PCM drum sounds on it are actually pretty decent, but its a synth - just a simple setp sequencer and the samples are fixed so no loading your own in.

Probbaly

800 for the vsynth is a steal.

go get it

it has a programmable arpeggiator for every patch that you can use a 2 bar sequencer that can either be programmed step by step or in realtime.

combine that with one of the drumpatches in the v-synth and you got a killer drummachine. and on top of that you can record all the realtimecontrols into the pattern as well!

if I had 1000 in my pocket to spend on those two choices.

I would buy the v-synth

dont get the mpc 1000 its a cut down version better try to get a used mpc 2000xl which rocks...

See, I wouldn't really get too deep into programming an MPC. I just want something that sounds good and is easy to use. Not sure that I would really "need" the extra features of the MPC 2000. What are the main differences?

Also, for those suggesting that I just get a $150 drum machine.. There's got to be a good reason why the Akai's cost soo much more. I really want something that's going to sound really good and be of high quality. I find it hard to believe that a $150 drum machine will stack up to the MPC's.

I am kind of leaning in the direction of the MPC right now just because it's really straight forward and specializes in what I need the most right now.. DRUMS. The V-Synth is also very cool, but I feel like it won't be as easy to just sit down and compose a drum track as it would be on the MPC.

One more question. On the V-Synth, would I be able to use sampled AND synthesized drum sounds?

Yes to an extent. There are a couple of ways you could do this. You could create a sample that has all the drum hits you need in it and then chop that. Some of those hits could be synthesized by the v-synth itself. You could also do that in combination with a few (1 or 2) synthesized drum sounds.

The v-synth is much more of a phrase sampler though than a traditional sample and works better when used that way even though it can be used as a traditional sampler in a limited sense. It also isn't nearly as straight forward to use as a drum module as something like an MPC is. The v-synth requires you to be more creative to get it to do traditional drum machine duties.

The v-synth does have a very distinct sound when using the varaphrase engine though and you may or may not like that.

I think your best off with both.

Interesting thread. I'm basically looking for the same, only in a more bang for buck package...hence the Electribe thread.

I need some quality time with my two V-Synths tonight!

Mark

V-Synth for $800?

Don't pass that up. There'll be plenty of MPCs popping up, but V-Synth deals are few and far between.

Well, first off a MPC 1000 doesn't have a sound per se, it needs samples... The MPC isn't a sound mangler either... compared to the V-synth.

As far as the RM1X goes, its cheap as its plentiful, under-rated, and most of all - its isn't an MPC.

So much is in the name.

But the V-synth + RM1X combo would be nuts... You can do very meticulous beat programming on the RM1X. You could also sequence an entire arrangement with it...

Look up RS7000 while you are at it...

Sure an MPC would be cool, but for the price, you could get a V-Synth and a powerful sequencer / drummachine (RM1X).

I second Stikygum's recommendation.

I had a good jam session with my Vs last night. I made one track that is quite revolutionary. It is amazing what can be done with two V-Synths. I currently considering adding a V-Synth GT to my arsenal. They have shipped this past week and are in stock at a few locations. Rolandclans has a first member with a GT.

Mark

VSYNTH GAS NOW.

So what exactly about the RMX1 makes it soo much cheaper than the Akai though? It's gotta be more than just the name.

I think I'll probably just go with the V-Synth and get a cheaper drum machine at a later time.

Does the RMX1 do good acoustic AND synth style drums?