The primary way to connect an Akai MPC2000XL to a computer is via the "musical instrument digital interface" connector. These MIDI connectors are relatively large and round and rarely, if ever, come built into modern computers. However, many professional sound cards, available for both Macintosh and PC computers, include MIDI ports. Installing one of these is a key prerequisite to using an MPC2000XL with a computer.
Although the MPC2000XL has a built-in 3.5-inch floppy drive, users needing more storage can connect an external hard drive to its SCSI port. The Small Computer Systems Interface standard was a standard for Macintosh computers of the past but has since been superseded by FireWire and USB connections. However, a computer can share a daisy-chained SCSI drive with an MPC2000XL as long as the computer has a SCSI port, which can be easily added through a third-party add-on card.
There are other ways to use the MPC2000XL with a computer. It can both input and output a digital signal. While this had originally been meant for use with CD or DAT decks, it can also connect to a computer's S/PDIF digital audio output, or through a third-party adapter, to a computer's digital audio input. In addition, any computer with a sound card can connect to its analog inputs and outputs.
To take full advantage of an MPC2000XL connected to a computer, it should be used with MIDI sequencing software. Each package has its own requirements, but one example, Stenberg's Cubase, requires a dual core processor, 2GB of RAM and 8GB of free hard drive space. Adobe's CS5 Audition program requires just 1GB of RAM and 2GB of hard drive space and will run on a Pentium 4 or comparable AMD single-core processor, although dual-core processors are recommended.