New user with some issues...

Ok, I just got my first MPC 1000 and this is quite a daunting piece of equipment. I currently use Maschine, but wanted to try out the classic that everybody knows and loves. I want to be a professional producer, so I figure knowing as much equipment as possible is a good thing.

Well I got my MPC 1000, and installed JJOS 3.12 the free version. I'm so glad I came across the thread about the pads not triggering correctly because that's exactly what they are doing. They are triggering like 10000 times in a second (motorcycle engine) if you hold the pad for more than a second. At first I thought my MPC was busted, but I found a thread that says the new pads dont work with 3.12. It is the black version, with new pads.

I was curious to see if anyone here could upload the 3.08 version for me? I read in the same thread the pads worked fine in that version.

Another thing I've noticed....I'm trying to copy about 1gig of samples to my card via USB. It is going INSANELY slowly. Taking 3+ hours to transfer. It's ridiculous. I'm not sure if it's another OS issue, or if this is just the way the MPC is considering I've never used one before and don't know wether this is normal or not.

Also the scroll wheel I'm not sure about, because I have to turn it an insane amount of times just to get it to click up or down by 1 integer. It seems like every click should change the setting by 1 value. Perhaps there is something I'm not doing right here either.

I know I had a couple other questions, but at the moment I cannot think of them. When I do, I will post them, and thanks for any responses or help I can get on this.

Numark, in their odd wisdom decided to implement the already outdated usb 1 protocol (instead of usb 2 which was already available), so transferring a huge amount of files takes a while. You're better off sticking the CF card in your computer (with an adapter) to transfer that many files.
Also, a heads up - make sure that all your files are 16 bit or the mpc won't play them at all.

Thanks for the tips.... Yeah I'm just kind of finding out about the whole wav file thing...after transferring a ton of samples half of them won't play...pretty impressive (/sarcasm)..

I also think the whole pad issue may be a sensitivity thing...cause after upping the sensitivity settings it doesn't do it anymore...but I have to hit the pads fairly hard to trigger them...and I have to hit them REALLY hard to make them hit at full velocity...

Coming from Maschine I don't know how I feel about it so far...the pads really suck compared to Maschine and make it difficult to record...

Gonna give it a little more time and see what all it can do I guess...havent played around with chopping samples and stretching and editing them or anything yet so we'll see....but currently I feel like just selling it back cause Maschine is better...I'll give it a little more time..

Anymore tips or advice appreciated.

One big word ---> JJOSXL; makes it a completely different machine.

Regarding the pad sensitivity, aside from adjusting it in the PAD screen, many people here have stuck things under their pads to get better response (mpcstuff now sell "pad corx" for this and 'thick pads' which include the extra under-dimensions already). Just search for that.

pr0j3ktmayh3m wrote:Thanks for the tips.... Yeah I'm just kind of finding out about the whole wav file thing...after transferring a ton of samples half of them won't play...pretty impressive (/sarcasm)..

I also think the whole pad issue may be a sensitivity thing...cause after upping the sensitivity settings it doesn't do it anymore...but I have to hit the pads fairly hard to trigger them...and I have to hit them REALLY hard to make them hit at full velocity...

Coming from Maschine I don't know how I feel about it so far...the pads really suck compared to Maschine and make it difficult to record...

Gonna give it a little more time and see what all it can do I guess...havent played around with chopping samples and stretching and editing them or anything yet so we'll see....but currently I feel like just selling it back cause Maschine is better...I'll give it a little more time..

Anymore tips or advice appreciated.

I'm coming from the opposite side, I have been a long time MPC user, and I played with Maschine a few months ago at Guitar Center but really didn't get a chance to get the hang of it with Guitar clerks hovering around. I am seriously thinking about picking up Maschine not to replace, but to implement it into my current setup, and see what I can do with it. One thing that I have been reading though is that I see a lot of people saying that the Maschine is NOT like an MPC, and is not meant to replace the MPC. But it seems like every MPC user that I have read about who has picked up a Maschine says that their MPC is now collecting dust. I am intrigued by this Maschine, and want to formulate my own opinion however, so I will probably be buying one some time soon.

Let me know how your progress is going with the MPC. I can try to help you out if you have any questions about the MPC.

One more thing, as previously stated, you REALLY need to be using JJOS XL.

maschine or mpc, you're NOT going to be good at it your first time around.

we forget that the innovation of today's technology still doesn't do away with practice and muscle memory.

Nym wrote:maschine or mpc, you're NOT going to be good at it your first time around.

we forget that the innovation of today's technology still doesn't do away with practice and muscle memory.

You are spot on with this, nicely put.

I just wanted to add, before I ever used an MPC, I was a an ASR-X-PRO user. It was my only piece of equipment for like almost 10 years! lol. I can practically use it blind folded. But if you look at the general consensus of how people describe the interface of the ASR-X, the one word that comes to mind is, cryptic, or maybe bewildering. The ASRX for me is the most simple piece ever because I've been on it so long, when I jumped over to the MPC I thought it was very similar on a lot of things, so I picked it up pretty quickly. When I started to implement software into my setup it was a whole other story however because I knew nothing about it. I was like huh? wait, slow down.

Give it time, the MPC really is an excellent piece of kit.

pr0j3ktmayh3m> for the data wheel issue, I dunno about the free os but in the other versions you have a type 1 and a type 2 option in the other mode that should solve your problem.

Generally speaking, don't believe any hype. Just use audio gear that fit your workflow and is not limiting you in the current state of your knowledge.

Peace

pr0j3ktmayh3m wrote:Thanks for the tips.... Yeah I'm just kind of finding out about the whole wav file thing...after transferring a ton of samples half of them won't play...pretty impressive (/sarcasm)..

I also think the whole pad issue may be a sensitivity thing...cause after upping the sensitivity settings it doesn't do it anymore...but I have to hit the pads fairly hard to trigger them...and I have to hit them REALLY hard to make them hit at full velocity...

Coming from Maschine I don't know how I feel about it so far...the pads really suck compared to Maschine and make it difficult to record...

Gonna give it a little more time and see what all it can do I guess...havent played around with chopping samples and stretching and editing them or anything yet so we'll see....but currently I feel like just selling it back cause Maschine is better...I'll give it a little more time..

Anymore tips or advice appreciated.

I feel ya. I could never go back to MPCs. Maschine has spoiled me too much.

emptysea wrote:I feel ya. I could never go back to MPCs. Maschine has spoiled me too much.

Ignore this troll. He does nothing but post how great he thinks maschine is compared to the mpc.

He never helps, just advertises for NI in every single one of his posts. That is his only function on these forums.

Thanks to everyone for the responses.

@Jimmie...the whole pad tip was HUGE. I took it apart and took the pads out, and cut little squares out of a spare piece of cardboard I had lying around and put the squares under the pads....HUGE difference in pad response.

I banged out a test beat that actually came out nicely...I hooked the mpc up to my interface and just recorded the audio into Logic and then added the bass line and all my extra jazz with my vsts and whatnot like I would with Maschine.

I do like the master compressor/EQ on the MPC...gives it a really nice sound..

The only thing I have left to figure out pretty much is Sampling and editing/chopping samples. I haven't messed with that any yet...not even sure what menu it's under...gonna watch some youtube videos today and try and figure it out.

@Cicatrix - Maschine is exactly like an MPC...it's pretty much the exact same thing...just digital..the reason I got an MPC after getting Maschine is that I wanted to see what everyone means when they say the MPC just has 'that sound' and I wanted to learn the piece of hardware that pretty much every hip hop producer has in their arsenal.

@Nym - very wise words.

pr0j3ktmayh3m wrote:Maschine is exactly like an MPC...

No.

Standalone vs tethered to a computer...not the same at all.

That's the only difference. The computer is outside of the box (your computer) instead of inside the box (hardware). As far as its functionality is concerned...it is the exact same thing and more.

The only thing I have left to figure out pretty much is Sampling and editing/chopping samples. I haven't messed with that any yet...not even sure what menu it's under...gonna watch some youtube videos today and try and figure it out.

this is one of the few area where i know the JJOS is better than maschine. if i'm correct, maschine doesn't allow you to crossfade loop like jj does. also, sequencing on jjos (grid edit, midi and drum) is implemented in a way that is like butter. i'd imagine that's hard to beat anywhere, but that comes down to "# of hours logged" more than anything else.

yeah but chopping, slicing and arranging...jjos is not the most fully featured sampler out there compared to some soft samplers like kontakt, but it is the best ONESHOT sampler i have ever used, with no exception.

i don't know how mpcs became so popular for using large .wav file loops, especially before audio tracks. i absolutely hated working that way on the mpc. however, turn everything into oneshots and jjos = power.

Maschine is exactly like an MPC...it's pretty much the exact same thing...just digital..

they're both digital dude. they're both computers with pads. the difference is that maschine is integrated into a home PC while the MPC functions both alone and integrated. my setup at home uses MPC more like maschine users use maschine - that is, my entire computer + mpc + midi controllers + vstis = 1 huge powerhouse.

also, the mpc sound argument is hype in my opinion. at this point in time, THE ONLY reason to use an MPC is because of JJos or because it's your legacy and it's what you know. and that's what it boils down to. if the 2 machines will distract you from each other ditch one for some extra loot and grow attached to the other.