MPC1000: The Inside

I took my MPC1000 apart last weekend and took a few pictures. They didn't come out all that well, but it's worth a look. Click images for a closer look.



[url=http://stereoroid.com/sounds/mpc1000/images/internal1.jpg]
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The HDD connector. The "HD Connect" label was a giveaway...

[url=http://stereoroid.com/sounds/mpc1000/images/hdconn1.jpg]
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[url=http://stereoroid.com/sounds/mpc1000/images/hdconn2.jpg]
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The drive bracket with a 2.5" HDD inserted for scale. The connectors are not compatible.
[url=http://stereoroid.com/sounds/mpc1000/images/hdconn3.jpg]
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I thought I saw drive mounting holes before, but I was wrong about that.
With a disk inserted, you can't get to the screwholes for the drive bracket to screw it back in. That tells me that removing the bracket is not how they will do it:

[url=http://stereoroid.com/sounds/mpc1000/images/frontpanel.jpg]
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This shot shows that there is a hole in the chassis for inserting a drive, but it's covered by the front edge panel. So, when a drive arrives, you will probably install it by removing the front panel and slotting it in.

Lastly, here's a shot of the CPU - a Renesas SH3-DSP.


I'll put all this up on a page linked from the FAQ, later...[/url]

nice shots!

I would never be able to trust myself to do that.. lol

Guts everywhere

Nice Shots!!!!!!


So what's the white connector besides the expansion RAM for?

jelani wrote:Nice Shots!!!!!!


So what's the white connector besides the expansion RAM for?

I honestly don't know. It reminds me of ROM sound expansion as in the Roland synths or EMU -7 series, but I've heard nothing to suggest that's coming...

Boffs and techies.. ur time to shine! Anyone got any ideas?

I think the white connector was a SCSI or IDE interface for some sort of storage device....It could be a docking port (like a laptop).

Where would could I get a Replacement Cover?

This is very cool. Great job on the photos.

stereoroid wrote:I took my MPC1000 apart last weekend and took a few pictures. They didn't come out all that well, but it's worth a look. Click images for a closer look.

Code: Select allWarning: Though the MPC1000 is well-designed for serviceability, I'm trained in electronic repair, so I knew what not to do. Don't take yours apart unless you have a good reason, it's too easy to damage something.
I haven't mentioned warranty, because it is possible to open it up and work inside without leaving a trace, there are no seals to break. But, if something gets damaged...?


[url=http://stereoroid.com/sounds/mpc1000/images/internal1.jpg]
[/url]

The HDD connector. The "HD Connect" label was a giveaway...

[url=http://stereoroid.com/sounds/mpc1000/images/hdconn1.jpg]
[/url]

[url=http://stereoroid.com/sounds/mpc1000/images/hdconn2.jpg]
[/url]

The drive bracket with a 2.5" HDD inserted for scale. The connectors are not compatible.
[url=http://stereoroid.com/sounds/mpc1000/images/hdconn3.jpg]
[/url]

I thought I saw drive mounting holes before, but I was wrong about that.
With a disk inserted, you can't get to the screwholes for the drive bracket to screw it back in. That tells me that removing the bracket is not how they will do it:

[url=http://stereoroid.com/sounds/mpc1000/images/frontpanel.jpg]
[/url]

This shot shows that there is a hole in the chassis for inserting a drive, but it's covered by the front edge panel. So, when a drive arrives, you will probably install it by removing the front panel and slotting it in.

Lastly, here's a shot of the CPU - a Renesas SH3-DSP.


I'll put all this up on a page linked from the FAQ, later...[/url]

Thanks stereoroid from one elec. tech to another(you are an ET right ). When I get my 1K i'mma explore the guts too . They should've had a 64,000 color VGA liquid crystal display possible(maybe i'm misunderstanding). Maybe you can build and or find an adapter for that HD Connect. Great pics!!! Do you have any idea what the OS is written in???

The white connector by the memory is a service port used for testing only. No user installable components will ever be connected to it.

I have an adapter for the IDE port but the HD features are not fully supported in the OS. I am not sure of Akai will ever implement it. Akai has not made a promise to offer this functionality. Seeing how CF is getting pretty cheap, it is not hard to substitute a CF card as a HD. I would rather see other things implemented before a HD and my current project involves installing a rechargable battery in the HD bay that could power the MPC for 2-3 hours.

mpc3000 wrote: my current project involves installing a rechargable battery in the HD bay that could power the MPC for 2-3 hours.

R U serious? That sounds really cool! If it works out can you post how you did it? I'm sure a lot of people would want to implement that.

How would it charge? Would you be able to get a lith battery or something very robust that could work for a very long time? Are you going to put in a battery that is commercially available, or is it all custom made?

AMG wrote:Thanks stereoroid from one elec. tech to another(you are an ET right ). When I get my 1K i'mma explore the guts too . They should've had a 64,000 color VGA liquid crystal display possible(maybe i'm misunderstanding). Maybe you can build and or find an adapter for that HD Connect. Great pics!!! Do you have any idea what the OS is written in???

I was, kinda, I did electronic instrumentation work in an alloys factory in South Africa, installing and repairing all kinds of control systems under hellish conditions. (Molten metal, corrosive dust, PCBs under an inch of hot metal dust and still working... until you touch them.)

There are various programming kits for the SH3, it's probably C++. From what I'm reading, the CPU doesn't sound all that powerful by modern standards, it compares to the top model iPaqs with an added DSP section. Which goes to show just how under-used the iPaq CPU is, until you put something like Griff on it.

PS: you know, you don't have to Quote the entire message, pictures & all..!

mpc3000 wrote:The white connector by the memory is a service port used for testing only. No user installable components will ever be connected to it.

I have an adapter for the IDE port but the HD features are not fully supported in the OS. I am not sure of Akai will ever implement it. Akai has not made a promise to offer this functionality. Seeing how CF is getting pretty cheap, it is not hard to substitute a CF card as a HD. I would rather see other things implemented before a HD and my current project involves installing a rechargable battery in the HD bay that could power the MPC for 2-3 hours.

That makes sense - I imagine they just remove the memory cover and plonk the whole MPC1000 down on a test bench.

There was a thread here last week about the drive : http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=11664
Cell got an email back from Akai confirming that a drive is coming, he sez.

Thanks for shedding some light on the white connector function.

User MPC3000 said; "I have an adapter for the IDE port but the HD features are not fully supported in the OS."

Question: What feature are supported? Can you give us some details about the adapter and What other features would you want to see implemented before the internal Hard Drive

stereoroid: you did a great job, those pics and everything, realy gived a better idea of what is inside, and also few ideas of what can be changed

mpc3000: I had the same idea with the battery. I found thet the batteries for the older models of IBM laptops fitts the HD bay pritty well, but the only problem is that it is hard to find them brand new, and the used ones die after 30min. I'm still looking for other models that will fit.