IDE Flash reader and OS 1.14C ?

Hello

did anybody successfully installed an IDE compact flash reader on a MPC 2000XL using OS 1.14C ?

i've read the new MPC2000XL-MPD use an Addonics IDE flash reader and its support is allowed with OS 1.14C. Does it mean any other brand would work ?

an IDE flash reader is way easier to be found where i am than an old SCSI one.

thanks for any info
chakbull

just an added question to his.. If the new OS makes the MPC capable of recognizing an IDE flash reader, does this also mean it will recognize an IDE harddrive????hope so

"If the new OS makes the MPC capable of recognizing an IDE flash reader does this also mean it will recognize an IDE harddrive?"
Don't know, it hasn't come out yet AND that's a very speculative question.

"i've read the new MPC2000XL-MPD use an Addonics IDE flash reader and its support is allowed with OS 1.14C. Does it mean any other brand would work ?"
What brand did they use for that, at least you know that brand could work, if you are reading the truth.

> Don't know, it hasn't come out yet AND that's a very speculative question.

in some thread here somebody said that vstservice.com (who does MPC2000XL to MPD upgrade) told him they use an IDE flash reader with OS 1.14c. the MPD might come with an IDE reader as well as these are much cheaper these days than SCSI (can be wrong of course).

i'm ready to try the whole thing. but my idea is even more complicated :

i want the flash reader to also support USB too so that i can drill a small hole in the back of my MPC and adding a USB port to connect the reader directly to my computer so that it appears on my XP desktop for direct sample dragging (so no need to move the flash card).

MPC1000 style :)

so i would need a :

IDE + USB flash card reader (does it exist ?)
an IDE flash card reader and a USB TO IDE adaptater (will it work? the reader would need TWO usb port : one i would convert to IDE, one that would be used for the MPC USB port)
or a SCSI + USB flash card reader (heard it exist)

anyone can give me a light on this ? :)

thanks!
matthieu

i'm continuing my investigation ...

i sent an e-mail to VSTSERVICE.COM to know if their drive is ATAPI, IDE or SCSI ... we'll see if they share the secret :)

another idea would be to upgrade my MPC to OS 1.14C, and try to plug an IDE hard drive in place of my ZIP. i would need to buy an IDE "big to small" adaptater because the IDE port of the hard drive is bigger... and i don't know if there would not be power plugs/voltage issue.

well i already have a headache let's forget about it, cross fingers and wait for VSTservice.com answer :)

chakbull

None of the OS's, 1.14C or 1.2 support IDE hard drives that I am aware of.

"i want the flash reader to also support USB too so that i can drill a small hole in the back of my MPC and adding a USB port to connect the reader directly to my computer so that it appears on my XP desktop for direct sample dragging (so no need to move the flash card).

MPC1000 style :) "

There are no IDE readers that support this, but the SCSI one's do. See my threads about using USBXchange with an internal SCSI card reader. MPC1000 style already been done. I find SCSI readers for as little as $10 all the time and thus have lots of them.

"Is this thing worth the investment?"

I have done dozens of data recovery from Zips and have had to turn away Zips that were unrecoverable. I have never had to recover anything from a CF card. It has no moving parts. I've even washed a couple cards. Try sending a Zip disk through a spin cycle.

You tell me how much your data is worth?

The CF readers are PCD-15, PCD-17, PCD-19 or PCD-25. The MPC2000XL can use the PCD-47, but I think it is the only MPC that can. They are made by either Intermart or Microtech. I find them for as little as $10 each.
I know it's an old thread, but I failed to follow-up in a timely manner.

"What brand of USB-SCSI adapter and CF card reader did you use?"

Adaptec

"Is the USB port a 1.1 or 2?"

I use the Apdatec USBxchange which is only 1.1 since that model is compatible with the Mac and PC (USB2xchange is USB2 and PC only).

"How did you wire in the power for the CF reader? Tapped in from the transformer?"

From the floppy power cable.

thanks !

there are still some things i don't understand :

how do you connect a SCSI card reader on a ATAPI port ?
is there enough space for this USBxchange thing inside the MPC ?
how do i connect this USBxchange adapter since it's already connected to a MPC port ?

i'm sorry i don't get it :)

i want the SCSI reader to replace my internal ZIP and to have a USB port which i would place on the back of my MPC.

i've watch your pages at www.mpc2000xl.com and couldn't find an answer to my questions

thanks for your time
chakbull

"'ve watch your pages at www.mpc2000xl.com and couldn't find an answer to my questions "

Umm, that is why I said, "see my threads". Try the search. I am not about to retype something just for someone else's convenience. If you had searched in the first place you would likely not be asking the questions anyway.

ok here's what i've learned with a few searches :

I'm not a specialist so don't take every word i say as true i'm just investigating

1. the back of a SCSI card reader looks like this :



so you don't need an adapter to replace your internal zip/floppy with this reader. maybe one for the power port but i think i already made the mod when i switched my floppy for a ZIP (which is very simple).

2. the SCSI to USB adapter needs to be plug to the back SCSI connector of your MPC. then if you connect the USB to your computer you should see the flash reader displayed as a drive.
i don't really get it as i don't know how the data goes from the card reader to the external scsi port.... but i'm ready to believe MPC3000.

Note : I already have a 9gb SCSI hard drive connected to the back SCSI port of my MPC so i won't use this method.

3. i still couldn't find an used microtech unit on ebay but i've found this message (from Oct 2002) on the akai list :
http://www.midicase.com/akai/archive/2002/oct_dec/msg00044.html

where you can read :
If anyone is looking for a SCSI CF card reader, there is usually at least
one available at the popular auction site. I bought the PCD-47's from IMS
there, who usually always has one listed.

http://stores.ebay.com/imsstore

seems like this store isn't actually selling any SCSI microtech unit. i couldn't find anything on ebay and i've tried quite a lot of search possibilities.

4. In the same message from Mike Goins (aka MPC3000 am i wrong?) you can also read this :

I've had some frustrations with the PCD-47 SCSI PC Card reader for the past couple of months. [...] Turns out that the PCD-47 had a read-only firmware installed. Richard promptly emailed me a new firmware. After installing, it now works great with all my Akai gear. [...] I will be glad to supply the updated firmware if you get one of his.

so there may be an issue with the PCD-47 but hopefully it seems MPC3000 is ready to share the updated firmware.

it's cool but do the other Microtech PCD models do also need a firmware upgrade is it the only one ?
And are the older Microtech models slower or just the same with different options ?

I'm in france so i don't want to bid on an unit that wouldn't work completely.

5. i couldn't find how MPC3000 did his mod for installing the USBXchange inside his MPC and leave the SCSI back port available.

The big questions is : where did you connect the USBXchange SCSI side ??
Seeing this pic of your installation of an internal SCSI HD :



I guess you used a single special ribbon cable which connects MPC to SCSI Flash Reader to USBXchange (may not be the right order) ? Problem : the USBXchange port and the SCSI reader port do not have the same shape!

Also did you find enough space for the USBXchange thing ? I guess you placed it at the place of the removed angle bracket for the 8meg flash board.

----

I'm sorry to annoy you MPC3000 but it seems you're the only one to have done this mod (if you've done it!) and it's quite complicated. I could only find fragment of informations with all my searches.

Be sure that if it's working and if i manage to get my hand on a SCSI reader + a USBXchange thing i would then post a step by step guide with photos to share with everyone on this forum that would end all of this.

And hey, i've bought your MPC2000XL MPC Editor software :p

thanks
chakbull

"seems you're the only one to have done this mod"

Step 1:
Install some sort of removable SCSI drive (SCSI Zip, Reader, etc) inside the MPC and get it working.
Step 2:
Connect USBXchange to the back of MPC and the USB end to computer (tested both Mac and PC)

This effectively puts two SCSI masters on the same bus so follow all the warnings against this (more info is found everywhere about this).

weeeeeeeeeeelllllllllll.....


thanks
chakbull

About those MCD upgrade at VSTservice

here's the mail i did send :

i'm interested in your MCD upgrade

i'd like to know which type of drive is inside is used ? an ATAPI, IDE, SCSI one ?
which OS are you using ? 1.14c ?

just got an answer

We use drives that are compatable with the MPC with currrant version of software. : )

so no OS 1.14C

chakbull

...edit

I have been searching for the 2 scsi masters on same bus warning, and unfortunately have come up with little. http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?p=173634

I am no novice on the mpc, or building computers, but have little scsi knowledge aside from my external zip for my XL. I have begun assembling the pieces for an internal scsi microtech and usbxchange, and would greatly appreciate any help with boot-up procedure, etc. for not making a dreadful error with the 2 scsi masters on same bus.

Thanks
James