MPC1000 pads

Hi,
This is my first post, lets get to the point.
I want to buy an mpc1000 and I did some research,
the thing that worries me the most are pads.
After I read the forums I decided to think it all over again and got one question to ask -
Is the MPC1000 v2 (black) the same? are the pads the same kind as in the first version?
I don`t want to buy the hardware that is going to last for few months.
What should I do after that period?? where to get spare parts in Poland?
does anyone know?

Pads are currently the same in both versions.... people are making too big an issue over the pads. Yes, they're bad in 1k, but not that bad.

people are not making too big of an issue out of the pads. the fact that there hasn't yet been a lawsuit is evidence of this.

4 dots of hot glue is not enough to sustain a drum machine's pressure sensors.

history lesson:

when akai released the 1000, they built it with components similar to the other mpcs at the time - all except Interlink Electronics FSRs, the most expensive component of the MPC series. these are pressure sensors invented by Roger Eventoff, formerly of Interlink Electronics.

during the production of the mpc, akai was losing it. result: they skimped on FSRs and replaced them with pressure sensors made by Inaba rubber, same company who makes that silly little robot puppy you've probably seen.

the technology used by Inaba was a great idea (pressure conductive rubber) but the engineering was just plain hurt. rather than creating a self contained sensor like the SR-D18-S or the IESF series (see www.cui.com) akai/inaba opted for a really rickety design - a square of pressure transducing rubber which rests on four dots of silicone glue over a copper coil active area.

problem - the PT rubber sloughs and peels away from the glue, resulting in a "broken pad."

like i said - this technology COULD have been implemented flawlessly and NOBoDY would have bugged out about the lack of IE FSRs - IF ONLY AKAI/INABA HADNT PUT IN A SENSOR THAT BROKE SO EASILY.

http://excommence.com/thepadfix/flaw.htm

go here for pictures, but not for the fix for now.

NOW.

after talking for a while with NICK from VST, i have this to say.

first, Nick is a really great reference and contact. I've got nothing but good things to say about Virtual Sounds Technology. In my experience, Nick has helped me find everything i need - be it a rotary encoder, tact switches, or information about the pads. YES, VST parts cost much more than they should/would if you were buying from a retail store like Kensington or Mouser, but that's not their problem. YES, in my opinion, fixing pads/buttons/sliders and rotaries is easy enough to do yourself without costly labor, but again, not really my business how folks wanna spend their money.

nick gets the 4 star rating.

now, to the meat of the subject - AKAI'S PAD FIX.

yes, there is a pad fix from akai on the way.
yes, it appears to be composed of Interlink Electronics FSRs, and yes, the pads are on 1 single solid rubber sheet.

it looks like a 4 part fix:

1, a new pcb
2, the sensor sheet
3, the pad holders
4, the pads.

now read closely - in other mpcs, the pcb and the sensors have been joined. since i have not seen the mpc1000 akai fix yet, i don't know what's the deal with the sensors/pcb coming as separate parts. maybe they were just listed as separate and come put together? maybe you stick it on yourself? i dont know.

but we need to TREAD CAREFULLY here. remember: separate but equal is not to be trusted. we want the TRIED AND TRUE INTERLINK ELECTRONIC FSR PACKAGE without anything being skimped, on sensors OR pcb - this means no more dual eight channel multiplexers (product number 74HCT4051) which reads/details each pad. no. each pad must have their own reader, similar to older mpc pad models. as jj said months ago, "The problem of only a sensor does not have the bad reaction of PAD of MPC1000."

next - price. nick said akai originally quoted the fix to be close to 200 dollars. THIS IS TOO MUCH. nick said akai has recently dropped it to 150. THIS, IMO, IS STILL TOO MUCH. i asked nick whether this was due to the pad fix competition (ahem) and he said that very well may be the case. likewise, distortedtekno had a "good talk" with nick about the price as well, and this may have had an impact as well. i plan to do what i can to introduce a cheaper (25-75) dollar fix to drive the price down even more.

third: OS. nick said that when this fix is released, it will be followed with "AKAI OS 2.2," which will allow for these pads to work. the question that immediately follows is this: will the IE FSR pads work on the MPC1000 JJ os? i emailed jj with this question last night. response was a little difficult to understand, but i think i got the idea - he will probably be able to do it, but he needs to have one of them first to see.

lastly: according to nick, this fix will not be included standard in mpc1000s when they are sold in stores. it will be described as an "upgrade."

though it is truly an admission of guilt.

it's really great that nick can be of any service, here in holland they don't have any information or whatsoever; when i called the akai holland they didn't even know about complaints on the mpc1000 pads.. what a joke.. i find it amazing that akai isn't planning to implement the new pads when selling it in store but just as an upgrade..

yesterday i received an email for the dude that he is going to ask for information about the fix in the us and in japan.. but thanks to mpc-forums information is much more accesable.. pretty funny that as an akai consumer you know more about the products than the actual workstaff here..

though i'm really curious about the akai padfix.. i really can't wait.. 2 of my pads are dead atm and it's really bugging me out

Nym, why wouldn't the padfix be compatible with the JJ ? I mean, your fix worked instantly..

different electronic involved, the way the chips on the pad board talk to the Os would be different if they changed them. i guess different chips is a requirement because of the different pads' method of operation.

the graphics are a little messed up, but here's a jj mail that describes the difference of the pcb of old/new mpcs

MPC3000, MPC2000, MPC200XL, and MPC4000 and MPC2500 (and M-AUDIO 16PAD Controlor)
these are using the same PAD sensor.
It is not rubber.( Sensor is Made in USA maker name INTERLINK )
This sensor has the struck natural feeling.
The problem of only a sensor does not have the bad reaction of PAD of MPC1000.

MPC3000 MPC2000 (XL) &MPC4000 is PAD apart from the main. It has CPU only for a sense.
It is as difficult as CPU for exclusive use is required for the sense of PAD.



The sensor of rubber does not have the linear relation between pressure and resistance.
The sensor of rubber has a late response after putting pressure until resistance changes.
This problem can be disregarded if it is 16 A/D converters and 16 rubber sensors.
However, MPC1000 is SCAN(ing).

Here is some problems.
The time of SCAN is short.
A peak cannot be caught if SCAN time is long.
The voltage of an A/D converter is low (3.3V).
Response of the rubber at the time of 3.3V? .
An amplifier is before A/D.
Amplification rate of an amplifier? .
Eight inputs are changed by Analog SW (74HCT4051).
Here is a cross talk and delay.

The problem of only a sensor does not have the bad reaction of PAD of MPC1000.



PAD1 -----------
| --------| ANALOG SW |-- OP AMP --> CPU A/D converter
PAD8 -----------


--
__| |____ PAD1 scan Voltage (Analog switch change timming)
--
___ | |____ PAD1 Responce Voltage (Delayd)
|--------Overlap this timming If this problem does not change hardware, it is unclearable.
|
--
____| |___ PAD2 scan Voltage (Analog switch change timming)
--
_____| |___ PAD2 Responce Voltage (Delayd)

It's kind of funny that the last name of the dude who made the pressure sensors is "Eventoff". haha I got a chuckle out of that.

the akai enginier who build the pads is better of with the name eventoff.. and roger eventon

excellent information in this thread

thanks nym

I have one of the first MPC 1000's to hit the stores, and mine has been running fine for years.

The pads work just fine.


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http://www.hoodlogic.com
http://www.kazidesign.com

one of my pads is finally dying after a year

i'm a little pissed

flipnile wrote:I have one of the first MPC 1000's to hit the stores, and mine has been running fine for years.

The pads work just fine.

same with me

im thinking of getting the 1k....but im not gonna be literlery punching the pads ima do it lightly will that effect it....like make it not wear out soon?