Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
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By robthom Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:01 am
When I'm desperately trying to navigate the 500 various menues and sub menu's, or scrolling to edit points, or anytime I'm using the job wheel for input, I end up spinning it as fast as possible to get from 1-99 in sequence, 1-5,000,000 in edit mode etc.

But I've noticed that if I spin it too fast the numbers just go back and forth real jittery.
IE: 3,4,3,4,5,4,5,4,6,5,6,5,etc.

This forces me to have to S L O W D O W N , which of course slows down the whole already slow workflow.

Does this happen on anyone else's 500 or just mine?

If its not just mine, does anyone know if this would be described as a software fault or hardware?

Hopefully its software in which case I'll add it to the bug or wish list.
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By robthom Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:39 am
Cold Snap wrote:It's a OS issue... Basically your going to fast for the mpc's computer to process the data... doubt it's something that will ever be fixed on the 500... Your home computer will do the same thing if you exceed it's processing abilities.


Theres got to be a way to fix that. Its not like I've got it hooked to a power drill or using a bionic finger.

I mean I REALLY have to slow down.
The cpu isn't busy doing much else when I'm scrolling an edit point in trim mode, dont see why scrolling the jog wheel should be to much for it to handle.

So if its software then I'll just go ahead and add that then, just to make sure they're aware of it.

Maybe my other wishlist item to use the q-link as an alternate data scroll could help.
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By BLiTzZD Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:59 pm
robthom wrote:When I'm desperately trying to navigate the 500 various menues and sub menu's, or scrolling to edit points, or anytime I'm using the job wheel for input, I end up spinning it as fast as possible to get from 1-99 in sequence, 1-5,000,000 in edit mode etc.

But I've noticed that if I spin it too fast the numbers just go back and forth real jittery.
IE: 3,4,3,4,5,4,5,4,6,5,6,5,etc.

This forces me to have to S L O W D O W N , which of course slows down the whole already slow workflow.

Does this happen on anyone else's 500 or just mine?

If its not just mine, does anyone know if this would be described as a software fault or hardware?

Hopefully its software in which case I'll add it to the bug or wish list.



YEAHYEAH, same thing happens to me.... I go Zzzzzing with the wheel, but the data in the field goes slower than a snail on qualudes. I noticed that on both the original OS and the newer 1.31. Just gotz to take your time (which can be annoying when you have a great idea stuck in your head) but oh well. Its all good
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By DPM Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:27 pm
seems just fine to me. the only thing i can say is when your trimming a sample, i hope your not scrolling 1 at a time if the sample is say...25000. you know you can use the cursor and go left and scroll every 100 or 1000, etc.
By SNMTK Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:02 pm
yeah annoying as heck. i either move up 1000s or 10000s if possible or just type in the number
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By robthom Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:51 pm
No I definitely click the cursor as close to the increment that I need first (although the sensitivity of the cursor buttons is another issue).

What blitzzed is describing is pretty much my exact feeling. I've got an idea in my head and then I'm forced to go slowly to implement it because the highlighted field scrolls so jittery and spins in place.

But also like Ill-green said I've recalled a few times where it would jump forward, usually when scrolling sequence numbers if I remember correctly (that hasn't happened in awhile).

So if its jumping forward sometimes and then spinning in place sometimes, then its definitely sketchier than it should be.

Another thing that it does is when I'm scrolling through a sub menu like to delete a sample in editing for instance, Delete being the last command I just have to scroll all the way left and I should be there.
But when I spin the wheel all the way to the left it will reach delete and then jump back a selection or two when I stop spinning. The wheel is not spinning backwards because its got that soft ratchet action in it, its not a floating wheel. But the value floats backwards. Or forwards, or back and forth in one place, etc.
Its just jittery as hell!

But I'm thinking it must be an OS glitch since I dont see how I could have harmed it physically.

I keep it stored in a protective sleeve, I wash my hands before using it, and I've only made 3 beats with it so far!

Unless its got the crappiest wheel mechanism on earth inside there, which would kind of defeat its portability if it falls apart just sitting on a shelf in my house.


Sinamatik wrote:yeah annoying as heck. i either move up 1000s or 10000s if possible or just type in the number


If only the little bugger had a proper number pad!
But your right, I've found myself being forced to pick up the awkward Numerical button scheme. Because as big of a pain as that can be, the scroll wheel is turning out to be worse in ways.
Specifically in the sequence field. Theres just no way to get from 1 to 99 with the wheel without slowly coaxing it along for 30 seconds.
By SNMTK Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:22 pm
robthom wrote:I wash my hands before using it


Well if you have done that, then I can't possibly see where else the problem could come from??????
:lol:

haha just playin homie
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By robthom Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:39 pm
Sinamatik wrote:
robthom wrote:I wash my hands before using it


Well if you have done that, then I can't possibly see where else the problem could come from??????
:lol:

haha just playin homie



I just dont want to get my buttons goobered up or discolored with finger shmutz is all (oils, food, dirt, etc.). I figure I should give it every opportunity to run to its best capacity, plus I like for it to look nice.

You should see me fussing at my partners when I let them hold it to hear something. I wonder if they just think all white people are totally anal?!
By SNMTK Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:05 pm
hahaha nah youre all good bruv... i also make sure my fingers arent dirty before banging on the pads.. especially if ive just eaten some greasy sh!t too. its all good... the mpc is a relic it should be treated as such :)
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By inflict3 Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:14 pm
So I started having this issue and found a easy nice fix. Go to radio shack and get deoxit. Take the case off ur mpc and spray some in the encoder and turn the knob, spray a lil more let it work into the encoder and then let it dry, or try and blow the excess out. Put ur shit back together and Bam, shit yourself to sleep at how good ur **** jog wheel works.. try this with new mpc500s cause u don't know how long they sat around in the box before u bought it. The problem sometimes isn't cause the part has worn out the problem can be from oxidation, like if it isn't used things can do that. The damn air, the temp changes. U know.. this goes for tacts too...