128 MB Memory Upgrade (Sample Time Question)

Alright, so I read somewhere that you can actually get more sample time. But it's dependent on how much memory you have in the MP, obviously. However I read that often times it says that 128 MB of memory is loaded, but that doesn't mean that the memory has actually been fully expanded.

I guess I'm just trying to see what is the maximum amount of sample time I can get on it. How many minutes of sample time can you get after you fully max out the memory? Thank you.

from the mpc manual:
recording time - 136 sec. (16mb, mono), 24min28sec. (128mb, mono).
if you record in stereo then this times will be halved.

maxed out memory means that there is either an original akai exm 128mb module installed, or a third party so-dimm with 256mb of which the mpc can only read one side so the resulting memory is also 128mb.
if there is a memory expansion installed the default 16mb internal memory are not longer in use (that is not to confuse with the area of "internal" that you can see in the load/save screens - this area is like the cf-card or the harddrive for permanent storage, but you can only overwrite it in one pass. so it does not matter if you just store one sample there for quick access or some of your favourite drumkits or if you fill it to the last bit - each time you save to the "internal" it will simply overwrite all.)

peace, jo

so all i had to do was switch it to mono and i woulda had twice the sampling time all this time?

talk about sorry!

anyways thanks for the help!!!

twice the sample time!!!

now how do you switch it from stereo to mono

you just select the input you want to sample in the record screen - turn the data wheel until it says analog and then in the mode field change from stereo to mono left or mono right.

if you often run out of sampling time you also can use the "purge" function to erase any unused samples that are not attached to a program from the memory, to free up some sampling time.

if you don´t have the memory expansion then look for a third party so-dimm 256mb 144pin module, which can be found really cheap anywhere or even in an old laptop you might have already. you can also use smaller modules like 64mb or 128mb, but the mpc will always just read one side of it so you get only half the memory. but any expansion is better than just having those 16mb stock quantity.

maybe you should just read the manual for such basic questions - there you can find this kind of answers really fast and don´t have to wait for it, like on a message board...

peace, jo

The manual indicates that the stereo recording takes twice as much memory than mono recording. Yes you can have twice as much memory when recording in mono but the sound quality when playing your samples may be compromised. Although there is a solution for that if you have the time to convert your samples from mono to stereo. There are audio editor you can use to achieve this or just apply stereo effect on your samples.