Share your knowledge on these two classic MPCs
By Clint Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:18 pm
The MPC3000 deserves a FAQ/ BIBLE of it's own so lets try to do this.

As the final Roger Linn signature model and the most revered and sought after MPC this thread is long overdue.

As with the other 'Bibles' on these forums we want links to the really useful threads that are buried in the archives, tip's 'n tricks, tutorials and other useful stuff for both new users and educated hands alike. In particular we need some user info on what can be achieved using Rohan's Vailixi OS 3.50.

No questions or pointless comments here folks, just straight answers, information and other relevant links.

If necessary please edit your posts in order to keep everything together and easier to find.


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(Photo courtesy of CELL)


I'll kick this off with some essential points of reference:

Sound On Sound Review from 1994

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1994_ar ... c3000.html


MPC3000 Owners Manual Version 3.0

http://manuals.fdiskc.com/flat/Akai%20M ... Manual.pdf

MPC3000 Service Manual (thanks to oldgearguy for uploading)

http://www.oldgearguy.com/docs/MPC3000% ... ervice.pdf


MPC3000 Version 3.11 OS Software Download/ Manual + MPC Customisation

http://www.forat.com/service/##MPC3000

MPC3000 Version 3.12 OS Software Download

http://www.rogerlinndesign.com/support/downloads.shtml

MPC3000 Version 3.16 OS Software (Third-party maintenance upgrade)

http://www.mpc3000.com/updated_os.htm

Mansell Labs Vailixi OS (Third-party software upgrade developed by Rohan Mansell)

http://www.mansell-labs.com/


MPC3000.com (Useful information for anyone with this classic machine)

http://www.mpc3000.com/

MPCHunter Blog (Our favourite blog of MPC's for sale or auction online)

http://www.mpchunter.com/category/mpc-3000/

The MPC3000LE Roll Call (If you have one please tell us about it here)

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=142161


S'SWORKS RS-16x Program Editor/ Creator (Mac Only - Shareware)

http://homepage.mac.com/seishu/ssworks/rs16x/rs16x.html

MPC Editor Program Editor/ Creator (PC Only - Shareware)

http://www.midicase.com/mpceditor/


MPC3000 Parts, service and accesories

http://www.vstservice.com/ (US)

http://www.mpcstuff.com/mpc603000stuff.html (US)

http://www.cimplesolutions.co.uk/ (London)

http://synthrestore.co.uk/ (Bedford, UK)

http://www.synthrepairservices.com/ (Stoke-on-Trent, UK)

http://www.mpcstoragesolution.com/ (US)

http://www.forat.com/ (US)

https://en-gb.facebook.com/Jazzcats-Aka ... 503294538/ (South Coast, UK)

Updated: 24.01.2017
By Clint Sun Oct 23, 2011 8:39 pm
Innerclock Systems - Litmus Test

http://www.innerclocksystems.com/New%20 ... itmus.html

http://www.innerclocksystems.com/New%20 ... Watch.html

The Litmus Ranking scale indicates Event/Tempo Jitter within a device itself. If a sequencer or drum-machine has internal coding or hardware issues that cause timing irregularities, then no amount of Sync-Shifting will cure that.


Scientific test to show the internal timing accuracy of the MPC3000 and MPC60.

The test benchmark was set by a UREI 964 Digital Metronome which returned a maximum variation between any two consecutive quarter note intervals of Zero Samples [0.00ms] in other words PERFECT TIMING.

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UREI 964 Digital Metronome

Test Date:18.06.07


Note: Tempo on the 964 is set in Frames Per Beat rather than more common BPM and therefore precise decimal Tempo setting is not possible for some values. Again, what is significant is the interval variance rather than the numerical average value.

Number of samples [44.1 kHz] between consecutive quarter notes:
22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033/ 22033

Maximum variation between any two consecutive quarter note intervals:
Zero Samples [0.00ms]


Litmus Ranking: 5/5

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Akai MPC-3000/OS Version Vailixi 3.50

Test Date:18.03.07

This Test: Pattern Mode/Cycle - Internal Sync

Number of samples [44.1 kHz] between consecutive quarter notes:
22049/ 22051/ 22048/ 22050/ 22050/ 22048/ 22052/ 22050/ 22049/ 22048/ 22050/ 22052/ 22048/ 22050/ 22052/ 22051

Maximum variation between any two consecutive quarter note intervals:
4 Samples [0.09ms]


Litmus Ranking: 5/5

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Akai MPC-3000/OS Version Vailixi 3.50

Test Date:01.06.07


This Test: Song Mode with Slaved to Ultra Stable External Midi Clock to Midi Input B.

Number of samples [44.1 kHz] between consecutive quarter notes:
22051/ 22052/ 22052/ 22052/ 22053/ 22052/ 22052/ 22052/ 22051/ 22052/ 22052/ 22052/ 22051/ 22053/ 22052/ 22052

Maximum variation between any two consecutive quarter note intervals:
2 Samples [0.045ms]


Litmus Ranking: 5/5

Image

Akai MPC-60/OS Version 2.12

Test Date:20.02.08


This Test: Pattern Mode/Cycle - Internal Sync

Number of samples [44.1 kHz] between consecutive quarter notes:
22041/ 22030/ 22040/ 22040/ 22048/ 22041/ 22038/ 22050/ 22030/ 22050/ 22039/ 22041/ 22037/ 22040/ 22050/ 22039

Maximum variation between any two consecutive quarter note intervals:
20 Samples [0.45 ms]


Litmus Ranking: 4/5

Image

Akai MPC-60/OS Version 2.12

Test Date:20.02.08


This Test: Song Mode - Internal Sync

Number of samples [44.1 kHz] between consecutive quarter notes:
24004/ 24002/ 24003/ 24004/ 24004/ 24005/ 24002/ 24002/ 24002/ 24002/ 24002/ 24003/ 24002/ 24003/ 24002/ 24002

Maximum variation between any two consecutive quarter note intervals:
3 Samples [0.067ms]


Litmus Ranking: 5/5


These test results would appear to indicate that:

1. The internal timing of the MPC3000 is 'tighter' or more accurate than that of the MPC60.

2. On both the MPC3000 and MPC60 the internal timing appears to be more accurate when in song mode.

3. The MPC60 in pattern mode had the highest timing variation between quarter notes (20 samples @ 120 bpm).
By Clint Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:02 pm
How to open the MPC3000 casing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPjiKBFKuWU&NR=1

MPC3000 Screen removal video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRxPIrz3Ys0

How to replace your tact switches

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6XbdAAQj1s

http://mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=139292

How to clean your tact switches

Image

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=117622

MPC3000 Pad replacement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTeht1pi ... 38&index=4

Replacing MPC Pad sensors (All models)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhIOQZTdtwM

Installing MPC Stuff Pad Corx (All models)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck1nk1xBTfU

Installing MPC Stuff Fat Pads (All models)

http://www.youtube.com/user/mpcstuff#p/ ... XHh8PJnmic
By Clint Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:55 pm
The cable you need to make use of the digital input on the MPC3000.

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You'll need a single S/PDIF co-axial cable with RCA connectors (75 Ohm).

(Note that there is NO digital output on the MPC3000, INPUT ONLY)
By Clint Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:25 pm
How to Sync the MPC3000 with Pro Tools as MASTER



How to turn off the backlight on the MPC3000

By Clint Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:07 pm
Using Propellerhead ReCycle and MPC Pgm Maker (RS-16X) to chop, export and load samples to the MPC3000.



There is an error in the video, you must export the chops from ReCycle @ 16 bit NOT 24 bit as stated.
By Clint Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:13 pm
Saving the pad assignment with a program.

mpc3000le wrote:English manual, Chapter 11, Printed Page 209:

Assigning pads to note numbers is done in the following screen,
accessed by pressing the MIDI key then selecting option 1 from the
menu:

_______________________________________
====== Assign Pads to Note Numbers =====


Mode:PROGRAM
Pad:A01 = Note:37 (Gen MIDI:SIDE STICK )


===============================
________________________________________



The fields are:
• The Mode field:
This choice field allows you to choose one of two sets of pad-to-notenumber
assignments:

1. PROGRAM:
The active program’s pad-to-note assignments will be
used. These 64 assignments are stored within each
program (and saved in the PGM file). When the active
program is changed, the newly selected program’s assignments
will be used. This choice is useful if you want each
program to use a unique set of pad-to-note assignments.

2. MASTER:
A single master set of pad-to-note assignments will be
used. These assignments will apply to all programs and
will not change unless manually changed. These settings
are stored in the PAR file. This choice is useful if you like
the pad-to-note assignments to always stay where you
last put them.

Rohan.
By Clint Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:13 pm
What you can do with a footswitch connected to your MPC3000.

Image

The two footswitch inputs can be used to independently and remotely control:

PLAY/ STOP

PLAY-START/ STOP

ERASE

TIMING CORRECT

RECORD IN/ OUT (PUNCHING IN/OUT)

OVERDUB IN/ OUT

REWIND

FAST FORWARD

TAP TEMPO

JOG WHEEL LEFT

JOG WHEEL RIGHT

See pages 63-65 in your manual.
By Clint Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:38 pm
Innerclock Systems SYNC-LOCK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qufCoSpCCKQ

Tempo-Sync interface demonstrated using MPC3000 (master) and Roland TB-303 (slave).

The device takes two audio signals from the MPC and convert them into DIN SYNC, MIDI CLOCK and PULSE OUT.

Very useful in hardware based studios and with gear that has no midi input port, but has DIN SYNC.

Philip Rees also manufactured similar interfaces. Although they no longer trade their midi products can be found used on eBay. The website is still being hosted and provides valuable information on MIDI SYNC/ DIN SYNC/ SYNC 24.

http://www.philrees.co.uk/products/sync-if.htm
By Clint Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:48 pm
Compact flash cardreaders known to work with the MPC3000


ImageImage

MICROTECH/ SCM MICROSYSTEMS/ INTERMART PCD-15

MICROTECH/ SCM MICROSYSTEMS/ INTERMART PCD-17

MICROTECH/ SCM MICROSYSTEMS/ INTERMART PCD-19

MICROTECH/ SCM MICROSYSTEMS/ INTERMART PCD-25B

MICROTECH/ SCM MICROSYSTEMS/ INTERMART PCD-47B (Latest Firmware) ftp://ftp.sqp.fr/Microtech/PCD47Manu.pdf

SPYRUS RD-300 (McDISK 1/2) HOT-SWAPPABLE http://www.mpl.ch/t2300.html
By Clint Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:54 pm
A relatively cheap source of spare parts...

MPCHunter wrote:Seriously consider buying a S3000xl and using it as a donor machine. Besides the floppy, you'll get other useful parts like a spare LCD, backlight, inverter, encoders, and you can pawn off the 8outs and RAM to a MPC2000 or 2000 user. It never hurts to have spare parts for your 3000.