USB calculator/Numeric key pad with MPC 4000????

In another post that i posted about usb keyboards someone mentioned using a usb calculator with their MPC 4000. They said they would be able to use it for Shuttling back and fourth between certain sections of songs.

Yesterday i was at Best Buy and saw a USB Numeric Key pad, which is supposed to be used for Laptops, I wonder if this is what they were talking about and not a USB calculator.

In any event I still dont know exactly what someone would need one for with the MPC 4000. I kinda wanted to just buy it and bring it home to see what the advantage was, but I thought id come on here and ask you guys before i bought something I dont need yet.

Also, while I was at Best Buy I was looking to pick up a USB cable for my 4000 and was shocked at how much they were trying to charge for a FREAKIN USB CABLE... $16 to $30 depending on length. I was like... what the F**K!?!? Im tired of having to unplug the USB cable that came with my printer thats why I was going to buy one, but not for $30, thats crazy.

Anyone know where I can get a USB cable for like around $10 which i think is a reasonable price, I mean regular stores, not Internet stores... I know all about PriceWatch and all the others, If i bought one online It'd end up costing the same amount with the shipping included, I guess Im just a cheap SOB but i have a bit of a problem paying $30 for a USB cable.

4000is1monster wrote:but what does a usb calculator have to do with the MPC4000? would you just be using it to enter in numerals when you go to name files? I dont understand what a usb calculator is for in relation to the MPC 4000, or even in general outside of an mpc 4000, who the hell uses a usb calculator and what for??

Yes it is very quick and easy for entering numbers and moving around the pages. Mostly I use it in the step edit pages, program, multi, and seq edit for sequencing. Some producers use it for programming the data correction, going block by block and page menus. I use a keyboard for names in sample, save, load, and main pages too. Check out some of the online magazines to see how some of your favorite producers use it. Plus 960 ppq is the resolution of the MPC 4000 and the calculator helps out alot.