MPC60 Memory Expansions - No more hack jobs

mikedean wrote:Once these sell out can we have (or purchase) the CAD files for the PCB? We could do a coop thing here in the states and make them up and offer at cost.

I don't think Colin that's making these expansions is active on this forum.It would be best to email him any questions at [email protected]

skylab001 wrote:
That's funny, 'your friend'..... why didn't you just mention it was Colin that made these up in the first place. .

Not sure why it's so funny,do you know him also ?

I am not part of Sequentix or an associated company.Colin sure acts friendly when he's munching his way through all my chocolate Hob Nobs. What was I suppossed to say ?
Is that whats so funny ? Colin only befriends people for free chocolate biscuits ? lol Dam. Why didn't you warn me ?

skylab001 wrote: Good price if your in the UK and Colin does great work, but honestly in the states I think its high, .

Where in the USA can you get them cheaper ?

Forat lists them for $150 + shipping
http://www.masterbits.de lists them at 89.95 euro($120) at todays exchange rate + shipping .
Colins boards are currently $120 (£80) at todays exchange rate including shipping

Seems like the Sequentix boards are currently the cheapest no matter where you come from.
Do forat and Masterbits even have them in stock ?

skylab001 wrote:I know there is a member here that is currently prototyping a board and is trying to set it up to be a low cost solution. These boards in small qty cost about $30-$50 to build, depending on where/if you can find the memory chips and for how much. I know because I went as far as sourcing parts and mfg, but stopped short because I was just too busy to take on another project right now..

So basicly there might be cheaper ones in the future if you and the other board member(that's funny, why aren't you naming him. ) aren't too busy to get the project finished, can do it within budget and people can source their own parts cheaply enough and can do there own soldering work ?

I don't think the price is bad at all. If I were in the market for new RAM, I would bite.

For those interested in making their own board, an illustration of the PCB layout is in the service manual. It will take some time to convert it into a Gerber file, but all the information you need is there.

Not sure why it's so funny,do you know him also ?

Sorry, I meant it in a friendly 'cool you know Colin' way, but I don't think thats how you took it. I've talked to Colin a couple of times, own 3 production P3's and am eagerly awaiting the Cirklon. Is he a friend, well no, but he is well known in the music circles I run in and I own his stuff. Like I said before he does great work, but the british pound is not good to the american dollar these days.

Forat lists them for $150 + shipping
http://www.masterbits.de lists them at 89.95 euro($120) at todays exchange rate + shipping .
Colins boards are currently $120 (£80) at todays exchange rate including shipping

Seems like the Sequentix boards are currently the cheapest no matter where you come from.
Do forat and Masterbits even have them in stock ?

I don't think they have them in stock. I just was commenting that they don't cost much to make, even at the proto scale from the quotes I recieved and parts I bought, and like MPChunter mentioned the layout is in the service manual. My opinion is that $120 is too much for me personally to spend on 1.5MB of ram these days, but others may not agree and thats fine, isn't this what forums are about, sharing knowledge and opinion. I would rather spend $120 on something else.

that's funny, why aren't you naming him.

because I'm not sure what his intentions are, if he wants to sell a kit, full memory, or just release the gerbers, maybe he's dropped the project altogether but he was farther along than me. I actually haven't seen him around on the forum much lately. I gave up my project because I have a new record coming out and had to finish up work on it. Maybe I'll get back to it in my downtime, since all I need to do is layout the gerbers, I've got everything else.

Look...I just made a comment on your post, it was my opinion, and to let people know there may be another option on the horizon and it may be cheaper for people in the states, but if they need it today, they should def buy from Colin, and if they don't know him he's awesome to deal with. I'm sure Colin will do plenty well and sell all of these as he does with all his stuff and I will definitely continue to support him.

I agree with MPCHUNTER, the schematic and other pertinent info for the memory expansion is at the end of the service manual...which made me wonder why others who are more technically inclined had not rolled out there own boards before this?

This was a project I also started looking into before I got my MPC 60, however when I got my MPC, I was pleasantly surprised to find it already had the memory expansion so I didn't look into it further...I lucked out in that department but I know others have not been so fortunate...

This subject to me is an interesting one that would be beneficial to everyone if we got it straightened out...especially if we can set it up so that even noobs could tackle it if they felt adventurous enough...

skylab001 wrote:
Sorry, I meant it in a friendly 'cool you know Colin' way, but I don't think thats how you took it.

I wasn't sure how to take it because of the way you worded things.. Thanks for clarifying.

skylab001 wrote:I don't think they have them in stock. I just was commenting that they don't cost much to make, even at the proto scale from the quotes I recieved and parts

If your a business that's selling stuff there are other expenses also. I know for a fact that Colin has to pay VAT (and other business taxes)to the government for everything he sells (goods and services),and in business you have to.take into account the time it takes to develop and build stuff . So yes, if you can do the whole thing yourself it is cheaper.

I agree it's still expensive for 1.5 mb compared to modern RAM prices .I'd rather not have had to pay it myself but if you want the extra sampling time there aren't too many options. My soldering skills are crap ,so even with a DIY option I'd have to pay someone to build me a board anyway and I didn't want the hack job done on my machine.

Memory expansions and other accessories for Akai (and some other)samplers have historicly been priced on functionality rather than cost of parts + labour. It's something you have to take into account when choosing to use them.

that's funny, why aren't you naming him.

skylab001 wrote:because I'm not sure what his intentions are, if he wants to sell a kit, full memory, or just release the gerbers, maybe he's dropped the project altogether but he was farther along than me.

Lol. I was joking when I wrote that part in brackets. I didn't expect you to answer. Maybe I need bigger smilies.

skylab001 wrote:Look...I just made a comment on your post, it was my opinion,

It didn't quite come across like that(to me anyway). I read it as "Colins boards are too dear,wait on mine and buy my extrra chips" which would be fine if you had some boards made or a release date.
Anyhoo, thanks for clarifying things. Sorry I took stuff the wrong way.

Edited due to double post. Doh!!!

Rey305 wrote:
This subject to me is an interesting one that would be beneficial to everyone if we got it straightened out...especially if we can set it up so that even noobs could tackle it if they felt adventurous enough...

This is precisely why it hasn't been done.

It's not a project for beginners since the RAM ICs for the current design are tricky to find. Not impossible to find, but you have to do a bit of legwork to find them. If all the parts were readily available at electronics distributors it wouldn't be a big deal.

The only way to offer something for beginners would be to design a new board that uses available parts and those of us that are capable of doing it would rather spend time making music...

MPCHUNTER wrote:

The only way to offer something for beginners would be to design a new board that uses available parts and those of us that are capable of doing it would rather spend time making music...

LOL...I agree....LOL

[quote="elmacaco"]Do It Yourself Akai MPC60 Memory Upgrade
For under $20 in parts (and 2-3 hours of your time) you can max out the RAM in your Akai MPC-60. The following parts are available from Jameco and other electronics suppliers:

(6) 514256 80ns DRAM ICs [20 pin DIP package] ~ $2.50/ea
(6) 20 pin DIP IC sockets ~ $.60/ea
Remove the voice board from the MPC60 then perform the following steps:

Desolder the six 514256 DRAM ICs installed on the voice board.
Install IC sockets.
Bend pins 3 and 16 on the new DRAM ICs outward at a 45 degree angle.
Solder the new DRAM ICs on top of the old DRAM ICs leaving pins 3 and 16 unconnected.
Install new double stacked DRAM ICs into sockets.
Connect pin 3 (WE) of all three top DRAM ICs in the left most bank together and to pin 2 of the adjacent 48 pin euro socket.
Connect pin 16 (OE) of all three top DRAM ICs in the left most bank together and to pin 5 of the adjacent 48 pin euro socket.
Connect pin 3 (WE) of all three top DRAM ICs in the right most bank together and to pin 10 of the adjacent 48 pin euro socket.
Connect pin 16 (OE) of all three top DRAM ICs in the right most bank together and to pin 11 of the adjacent 48 pin euro socket.
Reinstall the voice board, boot up the unit, go to Sounds then Sample new sound and verify maximum sample time is now 26.2 seconds.

http://www.retrosynth.com/gear/mpc60


Any body nows any think about this????
How good this is???
I just got the parts from the US Jameco... and dont now if its worth to try???

By the way My SCSI Card its just a fu**ing 232c port that dose nothing with my Shi** v2.02OS....
MAN HOW I WAS DISAPOINTED!!!

I did the home memory upgrade on my MPC60 MKI along time ago and it has been working perfectly for many years. Which MPC60 do you have? My MKI had the 20 pin Sockets already on the Sound board, the memory chips were not solderred. I also had an MKII and that had the memory chips soldered onto the board unlike my MKI.

If you have an MPC with the 20pin sockets already on the board, the upgrade is much easier. Before I did the hack I searched for the genuine memory upgrade but could not locate one, I also called VST in Pasadena California inquiring about the memory module and the upgrade. One of the guys told me that they could do the upgrade but what they do is just solder the chips on top of the ones already installed. They do not remove the old memory chips and install the sockets.

rtech

rtech wrote:I did the home memory upgrade on my MPC60 MKI along time ago and it has been working perfectly for many years. Which MPC60 do you have?
rtech

Thanks for the info “rtech”…much appreciated

I have a MPC 60 Mk1 with the standard OS v2.02
(But this is about to change as v3.10 it’s on is way)

I’m not sure if it’s soldered or not I will check on Thursday…

Hmmm…VST you saying?
Well I don’t want to spend cash on something that I can do my self, and if it’s going to work as good as the real thing then I won’t think twice…

However, there is a chance that I can get really cheep expansion from Germany…
(Same place I got my OS chip’s v3.10 from…)

Any way Thanks for your help man!

Peace!