First off, forget the Roland arguement : it shouldn't be taking place. The 4k is a dedicated sampler/sequencer for use beyond the "all in one" box drama.

If you've read the specs you know what you're looking at, the serious drawbacks to date :

Lag in the Qlink section : even with the new OS the system has an audible lag in some of it's knob/slider control. This is with 99% free CPU as well, something i hope they are able to remedy in future patches.

Also, the FX leave one wanting. Again, not an all in one box.

The TC M300 for $199 solves the FX problem and the Q lag doesn't translate to your recorded work and is somewhat of a "ghost" issue as it doesn't pop up all the time.

I've integrated my Kurzweil/Roland/Alesis and Emu gear(control them all on the 4K). Not playing favorites, this is the best buy on an outboard 24-bit sampler/sequencer hands down.

It's a 4.5 as I'm new to Akai and the manual leaves much to the imagination but with some tweaking and online research you can get it running full potential.

I've had my MPC4K for about a year now, and I have to say that for what it is made to do, nothing comes close. The fact that I can load in a 100+ meg sample and manipulate and tweak and play it all in real time, with NO lag is incredible. Though why I'd need a sample that large I don't know. I do often use multiple large files though, and MPC handles it like a breeze.

Okay, besides the really, really nice sampler section the other great part is the MIDI control and sequencing. I use a couple different synths and the MPC controls them like it's their daddy.

MIDI => 2 inputs and 4 outs. That's good enough for me. Though I'll prob end up experimenting with sending other devices through MIDI THRU and all that. Haven't needed to go there yet.

The sequencer is great. What it lacks in beauty it makes up for in pure speed. once you get used to using the pads and the interface, you can do a lot of cool tweaking, switching and muting parts/seq/multis.

Now, the main argument against the MPC is that you can do all of this on a computer. Well, you can, yeah. But you have to deal with software problems, lag, and the whole PC/MAC drama deal.

What separates the MPC from MAC/PC is its interface. You will get a different sound from the MPC than you would on a PC simply because the method of recording and performing are so different.

Now, you can use your PC/MAC to interface with the MPC and there are a few reasons this is good. It is a lot easier to manipulate the MULTIS and PROGRAMS with filters, etc through the AK.sys interface. Also nice to just upload your freshly sliced samlpes straight from the PC, no making discs/cds.

If you are looking for a lag-free, 24-bit 96k sampler along with a deep, robust sequencer and rock-solid MIDI control, definitely take a look at the MPC4000. It is a truly powerful, unique and fun machine to use.

I gave this a 4.5 and not a 5 because of the tough learning-curve (give or take a few weeks to really start using its power), and the lack of a smoother user interface. Kind of clunky in places (especially in setting up your pallete), although Ak.sys greatly improves functionality.

Who needs additional midi ports? ;-)

Full Mac support already. Less professional, huh?