in the mpc world, so so many producers use the 2000 or 2000xl. why not 1k or 2500 (cf, jjos)? maybe a dumb question but it puzzles me. separate filters for pad layers? position of buttons? nostalgia?

number of pads

It's the quality of the pads, so I heard. And the overall build quality.
They all have the same number of pads (16) except the 500, which has 12.

that's exactly true.
the 2000xl pads are the best in the mpc world.
i've tried the mpc500 and the pads are terribly hard.
the mpc 1000 (black) got better pads (but not better than the 2000/2000xl).
the 2000 and the 2000xl got also a nice and warm sound compared to the 1000 and the 500 (wich are more "modern" in sound - so a little colder - , the 500 got litlle lower sound too 'cause it runs also on batteries).
the 2000/2000xl are similar in sound to the akai s3000/3200.

Yeah it's the sound def!

I got a 1K nowadays but the first pad is half broke, damn
i used to had a classic 2000 those pads are a lil bigger to

you too got this problem? mine it works of "full", but if i'm not on "full" you have to push it hardly...

yeah, thats a 1K thing many has that....

just checked, it's not the number of pads
sorry for the confusion

interesting, thanks for schoolin me

correct if im wrong but i think the 2000 has the same bit rate as the 1000/2500, also lower bit rate isnt what makes it sound "warmer" if anything it just makes it sound nastier, and they all sound "like" computers because they all ARE computers, some are just more powerful than others.

i think that the difference stands in the A/D converters...

Best MPC pads period are on the 2kxl. Also it has the best workflow, just enought features to keep it stremlined with minimal menu diving. Once you know how to get around its cerebral. 1000 and 2500 there are too many menus and its not as well thought out. That being said I now hate mpcs period give me an sp and a computer any day.

2000xl is a much much doper machine that the 1K, it's just warmer sounding and a lot easier to use IMO, more practical, great workflow as someone said. the pads are incredible

2K is a classic, period. All the big name producers used them at one time or another and most of the dope Hip Hop beats were made by one. And because of that everyone's got to have one and why not? Its the best sampler/sequencer ever made and its a piece of Hip Hop. Thats why those heads at mpc-forums are flame-ready at newbs (though some can be little bitches), because the newbs don't know what they got.

Are the quality of pads really that important? Maybe so but it never made me think I shouldn't give up my 2000xl. The "pads" on my sp1200 are like bad computer keys but never have I thought this was an impediment. In fact I found the mpc style of workflow more of an impediment than anything else. But I guess that's why we're on this forum and not the mpc one