For discussion about setting up your studio and advice on the gear and equipment within it.
By Paulitic Thu Jan 23, 2003 10:13 am
I'm purchasing an MPC2000XL with a ZIP this week. Unfortunately, I have a JAZ IOMEGA 2gig ZIP drive connected externally from my PC. The disadvantage to this is that ,physically, the disk is larger and wont be useful with the MPC's Zip Drive. The advantage is that the JAZ Iomega virtually has more space: 2 gigs worth..
Because of my circumstances, new to MPC connectivity, and not to mention budget crisis!.. what are my possiblities??
I guess the first question is, can i have my MPC2K connected to a JAZ zip drive? "I havent read any subjects that are subjected to JAZ zip drive connectivity". I want to make sure. Will it work with my MPC?
This is how i want my hardware to FUNCTION: ' Please let me know if this configuration will work".
1. PC: source of wave files. Editing tool..( anotehr subject)
2. JAZiomega: Store the wave files and load for sampling onto the mpc
3. MPC: :twisted: this is where i paint onto the canvas!

For orginization, would it be best to use the MPC's internal zip to store my sequences? And once i store my audibles, can i direct the same information by reversing it and sending the information from the mpc thorugh the JAZ and directly to my pc for sound forging and digital tracking. What i mean is.. will i have to reconnect the MPC--JAZ--PC? im thinkin a zip is a read and write tool, so it shouldnt be a problem, right?hmm im not 100 percent sure though.. i know hands on counts most, but im sure it will if something breaks on me..
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By -{n8}- Thu Jan 23, 2003 5:37 pm
Ok well is your Jaz drive SCSI?

I'm pretty sure that those drives only come in that format but I'm not sure. If indeed that is the case you will be able to use your Jaz drive on your mpc (mpc's can use drives up to 28gig according to the akai pro website).

If I were you I would use the zip drive to transfer samples to and from your mpc. I don't see you being in need of editing that many samples at one time (unless you want to re organize your folders, backup or dump alot of samples at one time).

I'm not totally sure about whether or not you can use a PC formatted/partitioned drive in the mpc. You might have to partition and format it on the mpc. If that is the case then your zip drive will really come in handy (hopefully someone else can answer that question for you). Once you get your storage problems worked out all your gotta do is record that ish on the computer (which is a completely different topic).

Good Luck Bro!!
By Paulitic Thu Jan 23, 2003 9:41 pm
The most important info. My bad, :? It is a scsi connection. Can I get scsi conversion connectors if they are different at the connection point.

I will use your advice for using the JAZ as a external sample storage. The thing is, if I wanted to save only a snippet of a verse from Resevoire dogs how would i do that?( PC to JAZ to MPC) I, mean i wouldnt want to record the whole movie on the ZIP. Despite the trimming function on the MPC, the sample will eat up the whole drive. Pardon my lack of research at the time. im at work! :x

-Peace
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By -{n8}- Fri Jan 24, 2003 1:48 am
Ok well longer samples like that I would save for the mixdown recording. Unless it's a musical piece don't think about putting it on the sampler (unless you wanna chop it up then that's kool).

I thought you said you had a zip drive? what I suggested was that you didn't need your jaz drive on your computer (unless you need it to store stuff other than samples). you can add/edit sounds via zip disk. When are you going to need to edit all your samples at once? That would just be kinda intense if you did. I'd then suggest you seek help.

Yah you'll need an SCSI converter to plug into the mpc's SCSI port. Technically it's called a "DB25 male to HD50 male SCSI cable".

Well hope that helps ya out.
Last edited by -{n8}- on Fri Jan 24, 2003 8:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
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By ksada Fri Jan 24, 2003 2:11 am
I'm not sure why I can't understand what anyone on this topic wrote, but I'll try to throw out what I think the answer is anyways.

I have a 1GB Jaz Drive. I connect this to my MPC2000xl. I do not need a 50-25 pin converter because the cable I use is a 50 to 25. I keep this connected to my MPC all the time. I also have an internal Jaz drive that I use on my PC. I can throw samples from the computer onto the internal Jaz drive and then pop that disk into the external drive I have connected to the MPC. The only difference between me and you is that you do not have an internal Jaz drive. So theoretically, if you were to get samples from PC to MPC you would need to connect your external Jaz drive first to the computer and then to the MPC after you firstly saved it from the PC. Get it? I'm hesitant about suggesting doing this as I have heard that repeated connecting/disconnecting of the scsi port may cause a blown scsi fuse that is rumored to be very very costly to repair. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
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By -{n8}- Fri Jan 24, 2003 2:34 am
yah that's partially why I suggested he keep the jaz drive connected to his mpc instead of disconnecting and reconnecting the drive. Use the zips to transferee data between..

By Paulitic Fri Jan 24, 2003 9:55 pm
The things is I got this 2gig JAZ drive and scsi card for free. I dont want to put it to waste. My JAZ drive has 2 scsi ports on it....is that for 2 devices connected to it at once? I dont have the manual! but on hte zip disks it indicates, " great for multi media!" Anyhow, where can I get the cable to connect the 3 devices. Also, im debating if i really need a internal zip drive on the mpc because i will be using an external JAZ one anyway. I dont want this more complicatiing as it already is. Thanks for the advice chico's...
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By -{n8}- Fri Jan 24, 2003 10:05 pm
Ok, your not really wasting your jaz drive by only using it on your mpc. You can just transfer stuff to and from the computer with zips. If you need to have that kind of access to all of your samples at once then you should really think about getting a jaz drive for your mpc. As far as I know you cannot connect both your computer and mpc to the same jaz drive at the same time.

Read this pdf file
www.akaipro.com/jp/global/download/drvshare.zip

It would be cheaper to use the zips but if you feel the need to have that kind of sample capacity (which I think might be a little over board) then go ahead it's your money bro.
Last edited by -{n8}- on Fri Jan 24, 2003 10:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

By Paulitic Fri Jan 24, 2003 10:09 pm
That's true i dont want to disconnect and reconnect my equipment. its annoying. N8, my only source of sampling at this time is through my pc.. If I still had my o6mixer and turntable i would use that first to sample stuff. oh yah this brings another quesiton up.. what's better to get a Micron korg keyboard or a used vestax o5 pro mixer and turntable. i have about the same amount of samples on both.. anyone??

By Paulitic Fri Jan 24, 2003 10:12 pm
if ill be using an external zip. what will the internal floppy drive be used for? I dont want the sales people charging me for an internal zip if i dont need that.
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By -{n8}- Fri Jan 24, 2003 10:28 pm
Get either an internal zip or an external zip. The floppy drive does the same thing (stores data and samples) except not as much space on a floppy as there is on a zip (only 1.5meg on floppy disks). It's up to you but for a guy who is so concerned about have a jaz drive on both his mpc and computer why would you care about a floppy drive?

By Paulitic Sat Jan 25, 2003 5:59 am
thanks for the link ! I think i ll just wait till i get the mpc then read the manual before i connect anything. I think im missing the points on the function of the SCSI and the internal drive ( scsi or floppy) on the MPC. One last try; if im understanding you correctly on your last reply, if i will be using the JAZ as an external ZIP to store samples then i wont even be using the internal drive anyway. It's sorta like having the external zip drive subsituting the functionality of the internal drive on the mpc.

By Paulitic Fri Feb 14, 2003 6:27 am
Thanks for the advice. i now have my MPC. I can now save files to the iomega via db50 pin connector. FYI, you do not need a terminator for the iomega jaz. It's self terminated.

Thank you all.
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By -{n8}- Fri Feb 14, 2003 6:39 am
that's dope bro! All of a sudden jaz drives are looking much more appetizing.

Glad I could help ya out. If ya don't know ya better ask somebody ;P

1-0ne
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By cybernaga595 Fri Feb 21, 2003 3:32 am
I just recently bought a 2gig jaz drive off ebay with no manual. It came with this cable but it wont connect to mpc properly. Should the clip part be attached to the mpc and the thumbscrews part connected to the jaz drive? I think it should work that way but i cant get the thumbscrews part to attach to the jaz drive...i feel like im breaking it.

Yo -{n8}- u said that the cable necessary was a "DB25 male to HD50 male SCSI cable" but it looks exactly like the one i have now but i cant connect to mpc 2000xl!! Can anyone help?? Please do, i'd much appreciate it.