Im still stuck between Maschine and an Akai MPC2500 or possibly MC5000.

The mashine is very good but not standalone and I need to play on one before I decide.

The Akai is excellent integrated or standalone but I am not clear on how well it integrates with Cubase5 and so.

I really need to demo the 2 :/

Get an MPC 1000(More compact and pretty much does what the 2500 does)......and the JJ OS.

Personally I dont see why anyone would want to use the OS Akia gives you, (kinda a gimmick in my book) and I'm sure if JJ OS didn't exist MPCs wouldnt be so popular still.

Haven't spent much time with the 2500's JJ OS but I'm sure it just as good.

Been using my 1000 with my TI for about a year now and haven't got one crash(Cant count how many times gAbleton has crashed my work!)

Hi BHG

Ive seen the website re jjOS and not being a user of MPC's what is the advantages of jjos in your experience, main features and benefits please.

I feel for you; its kind of a tough choice and also a very subjective one. I must admit I'm kind of over pattern sequencers with sloppy timing. That's why very tight, solid instruments like classic samplers and the MPC series appeal to me. Maschine is a great piece of kit IMO, but I'm not convinced that its midi implementation and timing is rock solid yet. I mean, its software so there are a lot of variables that can destabilise it, whereas dedicated gear does not suffer in the same way.

I pretty much agree with Choond, It's all about preference. Rock solid and reliable, and will sequence every knob motion on my TI without effort....MPC

I would only consider a Maschine when they build one with internal sound. Until then its an awesome piece of gear but kinda is useless since it's only reliable as your PC with load on it!

Thanks BHG think the MPC is going to be the way to go - more I think about it more I want an 'Independant' bit of kit that can also integrate with Cubase5.

The Mrs's isn't going to be happy lol.

x