Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On James’ bench this week is the original MPC: the MPC-1 Music Percussion Computer by MPC Electronics.
This British drum synth/computer, designed in 1981 by Clive Button and launched to great acclaim a year or so later, was revolutionary but alas very short-lived.
Originally used by Depeche Mode, the MPC-1 failed to replicate their successes and hit the big time and sank without trace, unlike its later namesake - Roger Linn’s famed MPC series (no connection). It has an 8 bit processor and a massive 4kb of onboard memory to store programmed beats - these can be loaded/dumped via the tape in/out interface.
Not dissimilar to an 808 sonically at times - it certainly has some low end heft - but the appeal is that it isn’t an 808 - it’s a great-sounding analogue drum synth in its own right, and a less-used one at that.
It has a unique physical presence and serious wow-factor. Individual outs also make it very tweakable mix-wise, as do the various onboard tweaks for individual sounds.
On James’ bench this week is the original MPC: the MPC-1 Music Percussion Computer by MPC Electronics.
This British drum synth/computer, designed in 1981 by Clive Button and launched to great acclaim a year or so later, was revolutionary but alas very short-lived.
Originally used by Depeche Mode, the MPC-1 failed to replicate their successes and hit the big time and sank without trace, unlike its later namesake - Roger Linn’s famed MPC series (no connection). It has an 8 bit processor and a massive 4kb of onboard memory to store programmed beats - these can be loaded/dumped via the tape in/out interface.
Not dissimilar to an 808 sonically at times - it certainly has some low end heft - but the appeal is that it isn’t an 808 - it’s a great-sounding analogue drum synth in its own right, and a less-used one at that.
It has a unique physical presence and serious wow-factor. Individual outs also make it very tweakable mix-wise, as do the various onboard tweaks for individual sounds.
