What else do I need please???!

Sup beataddix!

I'm getting my 500 on Monday with the 128mb upgrade and want to ask y'all what else I need, please.

Do I just use a male>male USB cable?

I have Wavelab to chop samples up in - is that sufficient?

I already have monitors, phones, 1/4"'s -is there anything else that I'll realise I need when I get home?!

Is the 128mb upgrade essential in the beginnings or am I better off buying a bigger CF card.

The one I'm getting is £325 down from £499 and the RAM extra is £58 down from £90........seeem good to y'all???

Respek + keep it chunky

Tex

Is the 128mb upgrade essential in the beginnings or am I better off buying a bigger CF card.

I think you are mixing up internal RAM with CF card here and these are 2 different things as you probably know. Internal 128 MB is a max you can get and yes it is enough! I'm dealing with only 32 internal mem on my 2kxl and I never run out of RAM.

I already have monitors, phones, 1/4"'s -is there anything else that I'll realise I need when I get home?!

If your monitors are active ones, meaning - they have built in amplifiers, then you should be ok with them directly connected with MPC's outs I suppose. However, make sure that MPC's outputs are balanced IF inputs of your speakers are balanced as well. You are not suppose to mixed them.

325 gbp for a mpc500? I think I would rather put a little more money into it and get a 2000xl model, used one of course. But that's just my personal taste + there's always small a risk of getting ripped of with damaged equipment of ebay for example.

Rather than rush out and buying all the kit you think you might need, just wait till you get home and get used to the machine? Read the manual, start laying down a few beats (practice makes perfect!) and read the manual some more. Money on the ebook (see links at the top of the page) is money well spent, most people agree. Then, after practicing and doing your research, you will be in a position to decide what extra gear (there is a lot of gear you can get believe me!) you need and make the right choices.

As for the CF card, it really does depend on what your needs are - you will soon know as you get started. I'd say you are best stick with the 128 one for now and wait and see if you need more.

Good luck with yer beats!

is the USB one of these 2 types, hard to be sure from the unit diagram and the akai site omits rear panel view?? (see pics)

i wanna sort things out now before i go away, I know I could make a mistake but thats why I'm researching. I won't go crazy and buy
additional modules but I do wanna know whether it's worth picking up the RAM expansion while I'm there as I have another 75 to spend. I know the CF's different but you can also upgrade that and I wonder if the RAM is an obvious priority over this?


Somewhere on the forum a guy said you struggle to get past program mode without the extra RAM but once you have it you can record 2/3
complete songs....if this is the case I'll get it straight away cuz I don't wanna mess about once I've left UK(goin' travellin)

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Arduino_usb_socket-1.jpg/800px-Arduino_usb_socket-1.jpg

[/img]http://help.bluebones.net/img/usb_port.jpg

thanks

tex

Which USB please?!

The back of the 500 looks like the first one you posted. Personally I haven't gotten the RAM yet, but I want it really badly. The CF isn't a big deal if you're a computer guy, but I like having all of my shit on cards.

Helpful comments - nice one. Why do you want the RAM so bad, how are you limited without it?

textyle wrote:Helpful comments - nice one. Why do you want the RAM so bad, how are you limited without it?

No problem.

As far as RAM, I don't if getting the upgrade would help this (but I assume it would), but for example, I'm working on a beat now and I had a few parts layed down and just added a bassline. Now when the bassline is triggered, one of the samples stops because there is too much going on. Also more RAM = more sampling time, which also means less trimming of samples/chops which is my least favorite part.

BTW, you don't need to buy the AKAI branded ram, there's cheaper alternatives that are stickyed on this forum around here somewhere.

Good man, you smashed it - thanks again!