CompactFlash

Is it possible to install a CompactFlash drive in the 3.5" bay? If so, are there any hardware requirements/limitations? Does it need to be ATAPI (like zip)? I am just looking for an alternate way to get wavs to my MPC4K that might be quicker. I have an external SCSI CompactFlash drive that works, but was hoping that I might be able to find an internal ("built-in") version.

Thanks in Advance!

Someone else will have to answer about putting a compactflash in the
Drive Bay, but if you are wanting an alternative way to load samples, programs, multi's and sequences on the 4k, why don't you look at using a USB FlashDrive or JumpDrive.

I have a 512M, but you can get ones up to 8G or more now..

You just put them in the front USB port and switch the disk in the Load and Save menus'.



Cheers,
Dave

Sorry.. i wouldn't say the USB method is necessaryily quicker.. I just re-read your
initial posting... sorry...

Dave

i have some usb thumb drives and have used those. i guess they are okay, but thought compactflash would be quicker. i could be wrong, but i'm not sure tbh... thx!

It should work, and no, it would not have to be ATAPI, it would have to be IDE. One thing to consider though, in the 3.5" drive bay is the internal hard drive.

ATAPI is actually a subset standard that is supported by IDE. It is typically used by CD-ROMs and tape backups. On the XL, the memory card readers must be ATAPI compliant since there is driver code for that standard and not generic readers. I can't say I've tried other ones, but there is a better chance an ATAPI drive will work since the 4k is the successor to the XL and supports ATAPI CD-ROM. The problem is that many 4ks already have a CD-ROM and hard drive and there is a 2 device maximum on the IDE bus. I personally stick with USB drives and ak.sys since they are easy and I'd rather not detach one of those 2 drives.

I haven't heard any evidence that one method is much quicker than others. In terms of workflow, ak.sys is by far the fastest way to get files over since it is a one step process, not 2 like it is with external storage.

McSmooth wrote:
I haven't heard any evidence that one method is much quicker than others. In terms of workflow, ak.sys is by far the fastest way to get files over since it is a one step process, not 2 like it is with external storage.

Yea.. I don't think the slow part of the loading issue on the 4000 is the hard drive.
Most harddrives including the ones installed in the 4k can load much quicker.

I think the weaker link here is either the StrongArm Processor that is used or possibly the 4000 OS if it's doing some kind of check and verification on what's loading...


For example, I take an external drive that is plugged into my computer via USB 1.1 protocol just like on the 4000. But the computer loads and saves and copies much quicker then the same drive plugged into the 4000's USB 1.1 port.


Dave

looks like the mpc4k only allows for two devices. i already have a cd-rom and a hard drive. oh well. i guess usb it is!