Slow load speeds possibly explained

Hi all, I may have found one reason why loading data into the 4k is so damn slow: while loading, the mpc still reacts to incoming MIDI data. You can play *while* you load stuff into it!

So a lot of power of the main CPU is probably reserved for handling incoming MIDI events, and the data load process may have been throttled down quite a bit because of this. GUESSING of course, but it's a nice thought.

While this is a *very* cool feature, and I appreciate it quite a lot, it is not always needed, especially in studio environments. Also, when loading data into the mpc when it is cleared (after a boot, or after a CLEAR), there's no need to go slow, since there's nothing that can be played anyway.

So unless someone can kill my conclusion, I'm gonna send an RFE to Akai with the request for two new features:

1. A global switch to boost load speed at the cost of not being able to play while loading. (Perfect for most studio setups.)

2. Boost load speeds when memory is empty and nothing can be played anyway while loading. (Get the best possible speeds for live setups.)

Maybe I'm totally wrong, but if I'm right, this could maybe half the load times.

The slow loading time is due to the fact that the MPC first double checks the wavs for corruption.

ikke wrote:The slow loading time is due to the fact that the MPC first double checks the wavs for corruption.

Ah. Any more details on that?

nope

Rob wrote:while loading, the mpc still reacts to incoming MIDI data. You can play *while* you load stuff into it!

So a lot of power of the main CPU is probably reserved for handling incoming MIDI events, and the data load process may have been throttled down quite a bit because of this.


While this is a *very* cool feature, and I appreciate it quite a lot.

Hi Rob,
The MPC probably inherrited this from the Z8/Z4 series. As one of it's
features (actually my Akai S-950 has this same feature, so it's been their
for a while), is the ability to load data while still playing.

When I was using my Mac Plus to do my sequenceing of the S-950 back in the day, I used to love this feature, as I could get the most out of my
S-950's 2.25M of RAM. Though I was doing the floppy disk shuffle

I may actually be purchasing a Z4 to be able to load up Sample sets (that are still compatible with my MPC 4000's programs) in my live show
while the MPC 4000's sequencer is running (as the 4000 is designed and programmed NOT to allow samples to be loaded while the sequencer is playing), and I will probably need the feature that you described where
it will Play while still loading samples. This is the only way that I can
see to get around the 512M RAM limit, if I wanted to use full 24bit/96khz
multisamples and do non stop djlike sets.

I agree that this should be a feature that is able to be toggled on and off.


I would file the RFE with Akai and you'll probably get an answer back
stating whether your hypothesis is true or not and whether they plan
on trying to implement it at sometime.

If the checking of corrupt wave files is true, I wish their was a way to turn
that off, if you are using a known good Multi/Program/Sample set.


Cheers,

Dave

Okay, I'll file an RFE for all of the above.

Btw Dave, I read in a couple of Z4 reviews over at HC that the Z4 has a thin, metalic sound. Do you know if any of this is true?