Post your views and questions about the Akai MPC2500
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By jahrome Tue May 22, 2007 11:22 am
LivePsy wrote:
Its not reasonable to say its OK to have bugs in hardware like software. And yes I know that hardware gear is just dedicated computers which run software. If there was ever a justification for buying a piece of gear, it would be that it didn't have a continual upgrade cycle and the whole 'we'll fix it in the next update' mentality. Only a few years ago digital synths had to have the code right because there were no downloadable updates and rom chip replacements were expensive to the manufacturer. Somehow they got the code right the first time.

Hardware buyers should expect rock solid reliability and I don't think comparing hardware to software makes sense. Some of the bugs in the MPC2500 official OS simply should not have existed in the first place. Like many here the bugs don't stop me making music - I'm not complaining that I can't make music because of bugs. On the contrary, the MPC2500 releases a whole world of creativity I didn't know I had. But destructive bugs like freezing on creating a folder are unacceptable and deserve concerned discussion.

Cheers,.
B


The MPC is a computer and nothing more. It runs on software...without the software, its doesn't work just like the computer you are using now. Is it reasonable for MPCs to have software issues? Its as reasonable as any other computer product that runs on software. Should the MPC have rock solid stability? Its as stable as any other similar product on the market. As far as concerned discussion, the freezing on creating a folder has been talked about to death and there is a solution. One you do a forum search and find the solution, you will not have this problem ever again like the rest of the guys in the forums that have used the MPC 2500 for the past year. So while you are frustrated with things you can work around in the official Akai OS, you have the option to use the un-Official JJ OS. JJ has been at it for a year now...and guess what? There are multilple new bugs with each release. So if a dedicarted programmer that releases multiple updates every month can't debug an OS, what does that tell you? It tells me that if I am unhappy about this product, I would switch to something that works better....but then again, there is nothing on the market that works better besides another MPC :wink:
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By dablunt Tue May 22, 2007 3:54 pm
So when's this new OS coming out Coles Underscore Brandon?

:roll:
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By Lampdog Tue May 22, 2007 6:17 pm
jahrome wrote:I would switch to something that works better....but then again, there is nothing on the market that works better besides another MPC :wink:


jahrome wrote:Akai will most likely continue to have a strong following....but for all the kids that just started using MPCs within the past few years and want to do everything in one box..the MV is a much better option.


:oops:
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By taxman806 Tue May 22, 2007 7:26 pm
Well, I for one don't worry/care that much for a new OS. I have had my 2500 for a year and a half with no problems. I know I shouldn't say that because i jinxed myself once and got the SYSTEM TEST error after saying that. But that was easily fixed. I have had the "Wrong File" thing happen a time or 2 but I just had to learn to work around it. And I know to make new folders everytime I save a project. So really, I have had no probs with AKAI 1.22.
An update would be cool if there are extra features i could use. If not, no biggie. I got all I need to do what i do in the 2500 right now.
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By jahrome Tue May 22, 2007 10:29 pm
quote:
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Originally posted by jahrome:
I would switch to something that works better....but then again, there is nothing on the market that works better besides another MPC
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quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by jahrome:
Akai will most likely continue to have a strong following....but for all the kids that just started using MPCs within the past few years and want to do everything in one box..the MV is a much better option.
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:oops:


Meant everyword. While I will continue to use MPCs (and believe they are the best option for me personally), I am fully aware of the fact that many here don't share my beliefs based on all the complaints/Akai hate mail. That is why the MV may be a better option for them.

By LivePsy Tue May 22, 2007 11:01 pm
jahrome wrote:Is it reasonable for MPCs to have software issues? Its as reasonable as any other computer product that runs on software.


No, I don't think so. The MPC is proprietary hardware and software, it is not a general purpose Windows or Mac. Akai has total control over everthing. Its a missed opportunity when they don't get it right because it is possible to release a product with no crashes or hard drive corruption.

jahrome wrote:Should the MPC have rock solid stability?


If Akai wants to compete in a world of software, it would be wise to make sure it is :) Personally I am knocked out at the solid timing I am getting. No complaints here! If it wasn't as good as it is, I would not have bought the MPC2500, I have plenty of toys already...

jahrome wrote:As far as concerned discussion, the freezing on creating a folder has been talked about to death and there is a solution.


My point in mentioning is that you seem to argue that there's no point in complaining about a bug because you should expect software to have bugs. All I am saying is that as a hardware buyer you have a right to be outraged when the MPC disbehaves and doesn't get fixed for months. The save new folder bug is not new, of course, but I didn't buy software, I spent the equivalent money of a very good computer on the MPC. How stupid am I to do that and say "oh well, you gotta expect bugs"?

I love the MPC2500, I just think that if hardware is to survive it has to do better than software.

Cheers,
B

By jimmie Tue May 22, 2007 11:54 pm
Me-thinks coles_brandon is pullin ya legs.
What on earth are you on about with the 'Akai Professional New Product Guide'?
MPD24... right... . .. . MPC500... yes... . EWI40000s wind ting.. hmm...
not exactly bleeding-edge

We haven't even got a section in the FAQ's!
That's cause every question would be 'when are you going to release an OS update ya numpty's?'.

Akai aint going to release a new OS
I'm fine with JJ.
2500 rokKs
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By THE ADVERSARY Wed May 23, 2007 1:13 am
LivePsy wrote:
I love the MPC2500, I just think that if hardware is to survive it has to do better than software.

Cheers,
B


But that's not really the case.
Things always go full circle.
The change that software had to make to compete with hardware was to become more like hardware.
Now hardware is facing the same challenge it has to be more like software to compete with software.
So hardware noe inherits many of the problems of software.
True they use proprietary aspects but they are they forced to find/create teh means to make their world co-op with the standards of the world.
Sometimes is kind of a hack job because they want to retain control and play nice at the same time.
Then to make things more complicated buyers today expect hardware to do everything that the computer does even though on the computer it takes 4 different programs to accomplish it.
Yes hardware of yesterday had pretty good reliability on a whole but they also had far less ability and defineitely didn't play nice with others.
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By jahrome Wed May 23, 2007 1:25 am
LivePsy wrote:
My point in mentioning is that you seem to argue that there's no point in complaining about a bug because you should expect software to have bugs. All I am saying is that as a hardware buyer you have a right to be outraged when the MPC disbehaves and doesn't get fixed for months. The save new folder bug is not new, of course, but I didn't buy software, I spent the equivalent money of a very good computer on the MPC. How stupid am I to do that and say "oh well, you gotta expect bugs"?



Outraged? No, I don't think so. You bought it..if it didn't perform or wasn't worth the money you paid..you take it back.
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By jahrome Wed May 23, 2007 1:25 am
I wonder when the MPC 2500XL will be released?
Last edited by jahrome on Wed May 23, 2007 11:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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By Upright Wed May 23, 2007 2:18 am
....still waiting.............................................................................................................................................................. :?
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By maramice Wed May 23, 2007 4:41 am
i think Akai will release JJ's free os to us. :D
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By madbeets Wed May 23, 2007 8:22 pm
They probably should.

There is no way someone could just hack something as complicated as an MPC. He had to have worked for them at some point.
If so, he has basically stolen software they paid for and own and modified it.
They would have every right to cop it and post it.

The whole software and hardware debate......

Writing software for hardware is a lot harder than writing a Windows or Mac application. The OS and compilers hander a lot of the screen issues and other sub functions like USB and disk issues. In hardware, someone has to write all that stuff from scratch.

I think the bugs would be about equal between hardware and software, until Windows or Mac changed OS and opened up a new can of worms. The difference being when a bug is really fixed in a piece of hardware, it's fixed and not prone to new bugs like computer software with a constantly changing OS.
The hardware that a music company can afford to put in a product is a lot less powerful than the hardware in a PC. It requires more intelligence and optimization than some bloated softsynth.
Getting someone who is good at hardware and software for music specific operations is probably pretty hard to find.

I buy a piece of gear for what it does today, not what it might or might not ever do. If you do that then you won't get your undies in a bunch when no new features are added and you can relax and not go through life so angry.
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By jahrome Wed May 23, 2007 9:11 pm
madbeets wrote:
I buy a piece of gear for what it does today, not what it might or might not ever do. If you do that then you won't get your undies in a bunch when no new features are added and you can relax and not go through life so angry.


I have to co-sign that even though I am always asking for new sh!t in an OS. Unlike many others in the forum, I am actually happy with my choice on MPC.

Zukon wrote in a previous thread:
The JJ os is a hard one as it is not a supported os and therefore no support or customer care can be provided for it by Akai. For this reason I do not want to encourage users to install it, have potential problems and get no support for it from Akai. Any problems caused by the os would also render the warranty null and void.
I would be irresponsible if I catered to this situation.

I personally do not endorse it as I know the history and circumstances that led to it's development, and I also know of what is in the pipeline for the future
.


With that said, he basically implies that something went down behind the scenes at Akai and JJ that lead to its development. I have always speculated how the JJ OS came to be. I wouldn't be suprised at anything that happens in the future..even if Akai releases a free OS that gives away all the features of the JJ OS.

By LivePsy Wed May 23, 2007 10:44 pm
madbeets wrote:Writing software for hardware is a lot harder than writing a Windows or Mac application. The OS and compilers hander a lot of the screen issues and other sub functions like USB and disk issues. In hardware, someone has to write all that stuff from scratch.


In the old days, there was only assembly code which had to write to the screen and sub systems as well as do whatever the device was supposed to do. Harder or not, it is very specialised and the sort of skill which hardware manufacturers all need. Personally I think its far more interesting than some high level language abstraction nonsense. After a teenagehood of microprocessor evaluation kits, we've stepped back if programmers only know Java - and maybe C++ if they are old enough :)

Funny how people can see the same thing and come to the opposite conclusion. Which is basically what we are all arguing about: we're defending MPC hardware amd somehow disagreeing on the difference between hardware and software.

BTW I know I used the word 'outrage' and jahrome and medbeets, you probably assume I am angry about things. In truth I am not, I said that you had the RIGHT to be outraged, if you so wish. I am extremely happy with the 2500.

The whole "JJ OS is so closely based on the official OS that I can't believe it is a complete rewrite" is intriguing. And no emergency update for the freeze on save issue from Akai is baffling. Particularly if is it true that JJ OS fixed it some time ago. Perhaps Numark are outsourcing software development but its the strangest way of showing it. In any case JJ has my money just like a lot of us and only Akai, Zukon and JJ really know what is going on. How can that many people keep a secret so well ? :shock:

Best regards, because we are really all on the same team
B