MPC500- too buggy?

I have been looking into getting an MPC and the 500 seems like the one for me- small size, all the great sequencer functions of the bigger MPCs, and sample playback. Then I heard about all the bugs with the 500 and I hate buggy equipment, and so now I am considering going for a 1000, but my computer can perform most of the extra functions it has.

Are most of the major bugs on the 500 fixed? I am torn between a 500, a 1000, and even at this point I am considering software may be the best. How do you guys use your MPCs with DAWs if you do at all?

Thanks

The last firmware update has fixed most issues, and I can't remember the last time I've encountered a glitch.

I just buy my 500 2 months ago, and never had serious problems (never lost data or similar).
I know that in the OS before the last (1.31) there were a lot of bugs, but now the 500 seems a very reliable machine.
I use it mainly to play it live (record some sequences and add live other sounds), so I never use Song mode, or Step edit mode...and I don't know if there are issues there.


Elia

My 500 completely loses Data and triggers the wrongs samples randomly. The OS is getting better, now I dont have to reformat my card every time I use it because of those error messages, but its got a bit further to go. I dont even really like playing with it very much because I just lose everything that I do. Its disheartening and takes the fun out of it. Plus its a b_tch to work with, too many menu's for that tiny screen. The save hierarchy is a mess, access the CF card from a PC and take a look at the files and they're all over the place. The buttons are unresponsive so you have to slam on them to get a response, which will end up causing a problem sooner or later IMO.
But it is almost the only one of its kind if your looking for portable power. Its quite powerful and can do almost anything, which is probably part of its problems. I heard roland also has a portable beat maker, but personally I've had so many bad experiences with rolands bass ackwards designs that I wouldn't use another roland if you paid me.
If you dont really need portability that much, I would definitely recommend a used 1000 with the JJos for almost the same price on ebay, just dont slam the pads on the blue ones.
Of course this is only my experience and opinion, as you can see many people are happy with it. Maybe mine is just a bastard or I'm using it wrong.

People seem to have mixed reviews everywhere I look. The prices 1000s go for used makes them very enticing. Perhaps I need to reconsider how portable it needs to be. Thanks for the replies.

moog_man wrote:People seem to have mixed reviews everywhere I look. The prices 1000s go for used makes them very enticing. Perhaps I need to reconsider how portable it needs to be. Thanks for the replies.

Well let me just add that eventually there will be more upgrades to the OS that will make it a dynamite machine. Right now, the 1000 os is just more mature. And the 500 isn't unusable even if you have the problems I'm having, which is not the case for everyone anyway. Its just more time consuming having to resave everything 2-3 times manually and fairly often to make sure that you dont lose anything. Also this mostly applies to larger samples in my experience and I use quite a few in a single project. If your just using fewer or smaller samples and mostly tinkering with the sequences, I haven't really had any problem with losing sequences.

If you plan on using your MPC a lot, the 1000 does more and is more reliable. If your just going to use it in your free time and not so often, the 500's portability is very convenient but the OS can be delicate.

It really isn't that buggy at all. I can't say i've ever had an error. With the exeption of the ram clip breaking and the ram not being all the way in and causing errors. But that is easily fixed. The 500, for me, is very reliable.

in regards to saving, the way i found works 100% is to create a new folder for each project, then save using the save entire project option into that folder. Loading it back you MUST use load folder and it will load everything back no problem. If you try to load the whole project back like this it fails to load all the samples, thats a bug and akai are aware of it (i wrote to them)

anyway, save entire project, load folder method works, ive not had any problems since tbh

Virtually all hardware has some problems, nothing is perfect these days. The MPC500 used to have massive problems, but things are a bit better now.

I would base my choice between a MPC500 and a MPC1000 on the answers to these questions:

MPC1000

- Do I need multiple ouputs
- Do I need a bigger screen
- Do I have the money
- Do I want to run JJ OS
- Do I need a HD
- Do I need 16 pads
- Do I need a mixer
- Do I need visual sample editing
- Do I need chopshop

MPC500

- I like it to run on batteries
- I like to take it with me often
- I don't need a big screen
- 2GB CF will do fine
- 2 outputs will do
- 12 pads will do
- I'll cope without a mixer
- I don't need chopshop
- I can cut samples by ear

My 2 euro cents...

The MPC1000 is 'better' but the MPC500 might 'do it' for you, it all depends on what you (think you) need.

Snerg

snerg wrote:MPC500

- 2GB CF will do fine

Or 4, or 8 -- or whatever FAT32 allows. The initial limit Akai gave was based on when the MPC read/wrote FAT16 only. I've been using a 4gb card for months with no problem.

- I don't need chopshopp

Or have a copy of Recycle and chop it on a PC/Mac when needed.

phono wrote:... thats a bug and akai are aware of it (i wrote to them)

anyway, save entire project, load folder method works, ive not had any problems since tbh

Thats good to hear. I've just been too lazy to do much work with my 500 until they fix that because I dont like having to save everything the long way. And thanks for the tip on safe saving, because the beat making itch is gonna hit me hard enough pretty soon that I wont be able to resist it lazy or not.

hmmm good things to think about. that list is quite helpful.

decisions decisions decisions

I think I will be chopping most samples on the computer, so from that standpoint I don't really need the extra capability, though it will be useful if I want to do some field sampling. I'm not really sure if I need a mixer. It would be nice no doubt.

tradeoffs

Get your levels straight on the MPC. I don't know what's so hard about it.

moog_man wrote:... though it will be useful if I want to do some field sampling. ...

Hmmm, good point.
I always forget about that since I'm mostly into sampling from records. But that sure would be a cool way to expand your horizons, literally .