MPC2000 Mods by vubeatz: Unlocking Hidden Powers of the MPC2000 and MPC2000XL
New Superpowers for the MPC2000 and MPC2000XL
Hot new features for two vintage sampling legends: Take your MPC2000 or MPC2000XL to another level with these MPC2000 Mods!
MPC2000 Mods: New Features for the MPC2000 and MPC2000XL
The AKAI MPC series enjoys a legendary reputation. However, not all MPCs are equally popular. Of the many models released over the series’ decades-long history, a few stand out above the rest. No matter how powerful current flagship models such as the MPC Live III and MPC XL may be, they’re unlikely to achieve the iconic status of the classics from the ‘80s and ‘90s. The MPC2000 and MPC2000XL in particular seem to hit a sweet spot: they’re just about modern enough to be used productively even today, yet old enough to have been spared the ‘advances’ of the recent MPC history. Some even claim that the MPC2000XL, produced until 2004, was the last ‘real’ MPC.
Whatever your opinion on the matter, if you’re lucky enough to own an MPC2000 or 2000XL, you can now make them even better! vubeatz has released a package of free MPC2000 mods that add a whole host of new features to these two classics. Some of them have the potential to take your MPC workflow to another level!
To install the MPC2000 mods on your MPC2000 or 2000XL, you’ll first need to get the latest official firmware version for your machine. For the 2000 Classic, that’s OS 1.72; for the 2000XL, OS 1.20 was the final version. Next, download the updater from the vubeatz website to patch the OS and create a disk image. Depending on your hardware configuration, you can then transfer the new OS to your machine using a suitable boot medium (e.g., floppy emulator + USB drive, floppy disk).
The MPC2000 mods are packed with great ideas. For example, there’s now a Double Stop function: Pressing the Stop button twice cuts off all voices still playing, ensuring complete silence. Another handy feature: Events can now be moved to a different bar without deleting and reinserting them. Also new is an Input Thru function, which ensures that the audio input signal remains audible even after exiting the sampling menu. You can also now start and stop the active sequence while sampling without leaving the menu.
However, I reckon most users will be most excited about the Lazy Chop function, which the MPC2000(XL) doesn’t offer out of the box. It lets you quickly chop a sample while it’s playing by marking new regions using the pads. Alternatively, you can now split samples into 16, 8, or 4 regions of equal length.
Other new features introduced with the MPC2000 mods include an expanded tuning range (±36 semitones), a new transpose function, mute groups, longer delay times for the EB16 board, sorted file lists, and much more. An absolute must-have for all MPC2000 or MPC2000XL owners!
The current AKAI MPC series is available from our affiliate partners Thomann* and Sweetwater*.
More about Sampling and the AKAI MPC Series
- MPC2000 Mods by vubeatz
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- 5 of the Best Samplers for Music Production and Live Performance
- Standalone Beat Makers: 5 Best Groove Machines
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