Mac Users: CF Usage In MPC1000 - Any Corruption Workarounds?

Hello, my fellow lady and gentlemen beatmakers!

I should preface by saying, I've done quite a bit of research on my problem, and have come across clues and blatant answers to parts of it...but am a little stuck as to where to go from here.

Recently acquired secondhand MPC1000. Loaded up a brand new compatible Transcend 16GB card - same one I've read others were using. I was able to successfully load in and update the MPC1000 to JJOS 3.15 and eject / dismount it from my machine (MacBook Pro, running OS X 10.5.8 Leopard). I turned off the MPC, and later came back to transfer samples to the card. To no avail, have had consistent trouble since.

Files have DOS-compatible names, no pins are bad on the MPC reader, the MPC recognizes the card and its full capacity, and the MPC will actually show and play about 10 MB of the 500MB test samples I attempted to transfer, even though the Mac shows it to be an empty card (a root folder appears, but looks empty). The little bit that the Mac looks like it's doing anything, is either extremely slow (like, an hour for things which would normally take seconds or minutes to do) or leads to a freeze of the Finder window, or of the MPC. I've had to unplug without ejecting and then reformat the card numerous times - starting fresh, with the same results.

I know that Macs plant hidden files and that this is the likely culprit. I starting thinking, "Well, I'll get a CF reader..." but then I'm seeing posts here, indicating that there are still problems with that, unless using a PC or Windows portal software such as Parallels... which isn't an viable option for me, at the moment. I also tried some of the software that was recommended, which deletes hidden files from the card, but that doesn't work, because the Mac will then freeze, again, upon dragging the MPC CF to the destination for cleaning and ejection.

Is there any Mac user out there who is using the CF card without the use of Windows? Is getting an internal hard drive and drive adapter the best / only option here? Have you found a good approach which promotes a decent workflow and meets your backup needs?

Thanks so much, for any help you can give!

- J

I am using same mac OS and MPC with CF card and it works fine here.
Did you FORMAT the CF card with the akai or JJOS while it is in the MPC1000?
You do not mention it.

Hi! Good point!

Thanks, for your response! Yes, I did format it with the Akai OS when I first got it, then later have re-formatted several times with JJOS 3.15 to be able to start over again.

Interesting, that you have the same setup, with no problems. I don't have any issues on the Mac with any other gear, or any other devices connected by USB or Firewire, and the MPC seems to work great otherwise... maybe I need to send the card back to Amazon and try another?

artmechanix wrote:Hi! Good point!

Thanks, for your response! Yes, I did format it with the Akai OS when I first got it, then later have re-formatted several times with JJOS 3.15 to be able to start over again.

Interesting, that you have the same setup, with no problems. I don't have any issues on the Mac with any other gear, or any other devices connected by USB or Firewire, and the MPC seems to work great otherwise... maybe I need to send the card back to Amazon and try another?

I was gonna try and repeat your errors on my setup. (normally do all MPC CF/HD stuff on Windows). But it really does sound like an issue with that card in particular. The OS hangs and freezing of a mounted disk are almost allows corrupted Flash memory or bad sectors on a magnetic HD.

I see what you're saying - that makes a lot of sense. I assumed that since others had used this brand of card and it was brand new, that the problem was the Mac hidden files thing (freezing), combined with the MPC using USB 1.0 (slowness). I'll try a new card! Fingers crossed!

I appreciate the help, and the swiftness of your reply! Thank you!

I have a Transcend card here but it's a 2GB one. Also I think you can make OS X show the hidden .ds store files, maybe delete them if the card doesn't freeze up? I have to look up how make the files viewable, I may have already my set up my OS X that way. (I use it almost never).

I'm on the latest Mountain Lion version though. I have a USB reader too, I'll take a look and let you know if I figure anything out that could help. But yes definitely try another card when you're able to.

I did try that, too. Found the commands for the Terminal, to show the hidden files. I was able to see the files there, but the entire machine would hang again, as soon as I tried to drag them to the trash. The times when I could actually get the files to the trash, then it would freeze during the trash emptying process.

You've helped a lot, at least getting me narrowed down to starting with the cheapest thing to replace! I'll start with a new card, if that doesn't work, I'll try a CF card reader and lastly, look into internal hard drive options!

I just tried the 2GB Transcend on OS X in my 1000/JJOS2XL 3.22 everything worked normally but of course at slower USB 1.1 speeds. Same card worked fine in a Belkin USB reader as well.

The freezes or insane delays on file deletions/move to trash are usually a sign of corrupted flash too. You wouldn't expect it on a new card though, more one that's been through a few 100 write cycles. So maybe manufacturing defect is the issue. Maybe you can mount the 1000 on a friend's Windows computer to be 100% sure your USB/Memory card stuff is all working on the MPC itself.

Hopefully you test a new one soon. If you go internal HD you need an HDM 10 mounting kit. (they come standard on 2500's but are rare that someone leaves one in a used 1000 sold with no HD.)

B&H Photo has them for $25 right now.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4 ... Drive.html

You'll need an older IDE laptop drive. There's lots of threads with specs and models. Don't bother buying over 149GB, they format at maximum 125GB regardless.

Thanks, so much for doing that. I really appreciate it! It's great to know what to expect of normal operation.

I've had that adapter bookmarked for a while, and am going to place an order tonight. Also, FYI, Adorama seems to have similar pricing as B&H on MPC stuff. (B&H is offline tonight until sometime tomorrow). I forgot that I have an old hard drive laying around which might still be functional.

This MPC is a blue one - I was surprised that there were no upgrades at all. It didn't even have the last Akai OS update. But it was way under normal prices, even from Guitar Center no less, so I'm not complaining!

Thank you all for chiming in. Looks like you were right, that it was simply a bad card.

Got the replacement card from Amazon, today (they were fast and hassle-free on the exchange)... made sure to format, before doing anything. It's going slow, but it's working without freezes and hangs - I'll take it! In the future, I'll stick to 2GB and 4GB cards (this one is 16GB Transcend 133x) for projects and most crucial samples, and use an internal hard drive for the entire sample library - being sure to back up all on other drives.

I've read on the forums that faster cards do make a difference, so I may try the Sandisk Extreme III, when it's in the budget. Meanwhile, I ordered the HDM10 from Adorama and am also looking into Parallels, Bootcamp, VMWare and VirtualBox to run Windows or Linux later. Besides the MPC, I have other late 90s/early 2000s gear with software components which were never perfected/made for OS X.

Thanks a bunch!

hallo, im new to this, but i have a MPC1000BK, it has 128mb ram, and is running JJ OS 4.87.

it came with a 32MB CF Card, and i have now bought a 4GB CF card. when i insert the 32MB card and connect it to the Computer, it pops up on my computer, or on mac's finder.

but when i do the same thing with the new 4GB card, there i can see the card in device manager or in the Disk utility, but it doesnt show up on my computer or the finder.

i have formated the new 4 GB CF card in the MPC, this must have worked, as the file name changed after this in disc utility, i see there that the card if formated to FAT32. The old card has the format FAT16 as i can see.

because the old card is recognized i think that this is not an issue of the Card slot.
I have checked for driver updates.

when connecting the new 4GB CF card via a card reader to PC, pops up a message to format the CF card and when trying same on mac it just shows up in disk utility but again not as a removable device in finder.

what is it actually with this OS version 4.87, is it JJ OS Version 1 or Version 2 or is it even the free version ?

Any Tip what i still could try out ?

fundo wrote:what is it actually with this OS version 4.87, is it JJ OS Version 1 or Version 2 or is it even the free version ?

It's OS1, and you can download and use final version 4.99L of jjos site. I doubt it will help you with card, beside I'm not on Mac, can't help you with this.

thx, i think the CF Card issue is fixed.