Yeah, even for half a grand, the MPC1000 (or even SP-606) looks like the better deal from the specs. This machine really has to prove itself when it comes to all of it basically.

I wouldn't buy too much into the rumors spread on the mpcforums though, those cats are just scared the Beat Thang is better than they hope it to be. For mpc's sake.

The Beat Thang Virtual is supposed to be free for those who ordered the Beat Thang hardware, so yeah, those folks over at mpcforums, must have the Beat Thang Virtual too. I don't think they are right about the sequencer thing though, there are videos on YouTube that show sequencing going on. Not preset patterns, although those are definitely in their stock too.

I was one of those guys at mpc-forums that gave the Beatkangz a chance and actually shelled out $500 as a down payment for the hardware just to prove those guys wrong, but the Kangz are a bunch of unprofessional scumbags that shiited on me when I needed customer service.

All I can say is this is a simple product aimed at kids and teens who think its cool to make beats. True, it is cool to make beats but the way they do it is in a Guitar Hero fashion.

Did you already get the hardware unit though or only their Beat Thang Virtual?

Also, their customer support doesn't surprise me, it took them 3 months to answer some of my very simple questions about their box.

Now I'm not usually a negative person when it comes to customer support thinking in most cases you're not ever going to use it, but 3 months it's pretty much the longest I've ever waited for a response. P-a-t-h-e-t-i-c.

All I received was the beta virtual and that crashes every 5 min, I asked for some help and they insulted me saying I got a shitty computer and that I should have gotten a mac, like I got money to spend. Thats when I ask for my refund and they wouldn't give that back until I threaten to get legal agencies involved. For 3 months this fiasco went on, but I did get my refund. They even emailed me an apology saying they was gonna send me a beta hardware for free, but that never came and they don't answer my emails either. These guys are shady for real.

I see. Yeah, customer support tends to be the problem with small companies like those. I'm starting to believe the whole idea of small company, friendly and good company is wrong.

There are some great small companies in music gear

Dave Smith Instruments is great, jomox and MFB have been pretty good with my nagging emails haha.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2010/01/2 ... #more-9227

Still watching the first video, seems like they've done some nice changes on this thang.

they're look more credible now...
but i miss their out-of-sense (false?) jokin...
this machine seems to rock guys...that's reality...

They were wrong about Roland's booth though, the MV8800 was there and was actually being showcased all the time. That was basically what Mike Acosta was doing from what I understand.

I also heard people talk about Akai and their OS 2.0 update, so I think the MPC5000 might have been there too, but they certainly focused primarily on their new Ableton Live controller line.

I still don't think Beat Thang is going to shake up the sampler market. It might become popular if it launches at a lower price, but the Beat Thang Virtual really suuuuuuucks. Only pro is the sound library, which if you're into Timbaland-style modern music, is pretty good.

Seriously though, if the hardware machine has the very same work-flow going, I'm not going to buy one in a million years and would really recommend an MPC or MV instead.

Also, for crying out loud, they've got button on their named 'bang' and 'blang' and 'freak'. Wtf?

I must say though, the machine looks a lot more solid than first. So who knows, this machine might be a surprise when it launches.