BUG REPORT: MPC1000 MIDI-THRU can't keep up?!?

Heyas,

I'm running the MPC1000 as the master sequencer in my live-PA techno rig. When I go out to perform, the MPC is the master clock, and a bunch of other synths are attached to the MIDI-outs; a MIDI'd Roland SH-101, Simmons SDS-800 analogue drum brain, Korg ER-1 drum machine, Waldorf Pulse, and a Nord Micro Modular.. plus an Ensoniq DP/4+ for MIDI-sync'd effects. In this capacity, the MPC works perfectly, and is a joy to use.

When I'm in the studio, however, I run my computer running Logic Audio Pro for Windows as the master clock, and sync the MPC to it, while leaving everything still connected to the MIDI outs on the MPC. I have the MPC set to sync to the clock from Logic, and soft-thru set to OMNI-AB. As a performer, I need to have the gear hooked up in the studio exactly as it will be on stage; also, this setup makes it very easy to write new material.

My problem is - the MPC doesn't seem to be able to keep up with the amount of MIDI I'm throwing at it! If I send a lot of MIDI data (and by "a lot" I mean between two and five notes at a time - that's really not that much, when you consider drums, bassline, lead synth and a MIDI clock), I immediately get hung notes on the Waldorf Pulse and the SH-101. This isn't so bad for the 101, 'cause it's got a nice "MIDI Panic" button on the front - but the Pulse is racked across the room, and I have to get around behind the rack to unplug it when the notes get hung. Furthermore, when I send a "Full Panic" from Logic, which sends note-off messages to all notes (C-2 thru C6) for all channels, the notes don't stop.

Just to be specific - I am NOT using any pitchbends, CC's, or fancy sysex - just plain old note-on/note-off messages and the occasional program change message! My patterns are not even very fancy; I make stupid dancefloor techno. I can play, say, a bassline comprised of 1/8th notes from Logic just fine, but as soon as I add a 16th-note highhat riff and an offstep snare/clap, my bassline notes hang.

The newest OS, 1.04, fixed the problem with MIDI clocks and start/stop messages being relayed properly, but it sure didn't fix the problem of not being able to pass enough data through the "soft thru". This was never a problem with my Alesis MMT-8's "soft thru" function in exactly the same studio configuration (the MPC1000 replaced the MMT-8 as my live sequencer), and I'm really disappointed that I'm having this problem with a brand new piece of gear! I've been using the MPC for a few months, and have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong, but after many, many tests I have no choice but to conclude that this is a bug. Currently I'm forced to work around the problem using a MIDI-Thru box, which sucks because I have to recable the MIDI chain when I go between writing music and rehearsing my live show.

I wonder how the MIDI soft-thru function is handled - is it code that may or may not be optimized enough (in which case, a patch could possibly fix it), or perhaps is it a seperate processor that may be underpowered for the task? I'm hoping for software, 'cause if it's done in hardware, I don't have much hope of this being fixed. :(

Is anyone else having similar problems? Does Akai know about it? Does anyone know if there is an official email address for submitting bug reports to Akai, that'll get looked at by real people?

go to the midi filter page and filter all channel pressure and poly pressure and sysex. It may be that way as default, but maybe not.

elmacaco wrote:go to the midi filter page and filter all channel pressure and poly pressure and sysex. It may be that way as default, but maybe not.

Hey Elmacaco,

Thanks for your reply! But three things:

1.) I'm not currently sending any aftertouch (pressure), poly or otherwise, nor am I sending any sysex, however

2.) The MMT-8, in the exact same studio setup, had zero problems keeping up - even with aftertouch and control changes playing with filter cutoffs and such, and lastly

3.) The MPC1000 does not have a "MIDI Filter" page. That was the first thing I looked for, and scoured the manual - if I'm wrong about this, *please* correct me! :)

is it possible that you have a midi loop happening ? that's what it sounds like (though it's strange that the mmt-8 seemed to be working ok)...possibly the data is being sent back into the mpc, to the outs back into the ins and so on...round and round, basically. experiment with the soft thru settings to see if that makes any difference. i actually have a similiar set-up and it works ok...in fact i find the mpc to be very tight compared to other stuff i've used...

Hey Sunless, thanks for the reply!

That also did occur to me; I've tried rearranging the MIDI chain in a bunch of ways, sometimes using and sometimes not using a MIDI splitter (MIDIMAN THRU 1x4 and Anatek Pocket Thru tested). The computer usually has nothing connected to the MIDI-IN port (M-Audio Quattro and MIDIMAN 1x1 tested), and the MIDI-OUT port on the computer goes directly to the MPC.

I'm only really using one of the MPC's MIDI-OUT ports, though I have tested with having all but the Waldorf Pulse on OUT-A and having *just* the Pulse attached to OUT-B, and have still gotten the hung notes. The same test separating just the SH-101 from the rest of the gear gives the same response.

Admittedly, these two bits of gear are sensitive to hung notes - I've had problems in the past with software sequencers that don't properly send a NOTE-OFF message when the sequencer is stopped causing hung notes on both of these items (as well as a few other older synths that I'm not currently using).

With further tests last night, I'm *much* happier with how well the MPC syncs to an incoming MIDI clock, and it definitely now sends clocks and start/stop messages to MIDI sequencers further down the chain - but the fact that it took until the fourth public release of the OS before MIDI start/stop messages were relayed makes me seriously wonder about Akai's attention to the MIDI implementation.

Incidentally, have you noticed that "MPC" no longer stands for "MIDI Production Center", but rather "Music Production Center"? :( The MPC-60, MPC-3000, MPC-2000 and 2000XL all say "MIDI Production Center" on the front panel, but not the MPC-1000... I guess the focus of electronic music is off of MIDI and onto loops and computer-based musical instruments - I sure hope those of us who still love our hardware instruments aren't left out in the cold. :(