Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
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By SMC Fri May 22, 2009 3:41 pm
I'm gonna put one of the compact flash card readers I manufacture in my 4K this weekend.

I'll take pics and everything if anyone cares to see it.

If there is any interest I'll put together a package for the MPC4000

For me it is gonna be useful.

For instance.....

For Drum Machines I have an MPC4000, MPC2000XL, 2 Yamaha RS7000's, and a ASR-X

Being I have a 4K and a 2KXL, and 2 RS7000's, it makes sense for me to play with the 2KXL and a RS7K at home, while the other machines stay in the studio, being my commercial location is not at home, but downtown minneapolis.....

MPC and RS7K are my favorites

So I can be at home messin with the 2KXL, Leav it at home, but bring my CF card, and then just throw it in the 4K

You know?

Makes sense right?

Might make sense for others as well? Unless you're only pluggin the 4K into the computer, or you're using a USB Jump Drive, or thatever other means.

For me it's practicle, just wondering if it makes sense for anyone else.

It is the same drive I make for the 2KXL, I just need to test it in the 4K this weekend.

In the 2KXL it is NON-HOTSWAP, meaning the machine has to be off while inserting or removing the card.

I expect it will be the same in the 4K..... unless the 4K's OS provides for it, cause the hardware does not.

Just lookin to see if there is any interest for this, as I may have to manufacture an entirely new bracket for the 4K model (Would be the same $60 including shipping)

Let me know guys. Thanx
By Von Sun May 24, 2009 12:26 am
Not to rain on your parade but a $10.00 usb card reader plugged in the the front of the 4k
work's great for me.

Too bad your 2kxl drives are not hot swappable I'm looking for one that is for my
new (used) 2kxl. The ones I have been able to find that are HS are almost as much $ as I paid for the mp :roll: what up with that?
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By SMC Mon May 25, 2009 3:42 pm
Mine doesn't work in the 4K, HAHAHAHAHA

Didn't know a USB reader would work. too funny. I overcomplicated. :)

Ummm...

as far as HS for 2KXL

The problem is this:

In order to hot swap you need one of two things.

You either need a control interupt circuit to disrupt when the cf card is removed or inserted,

or a combination of that and software on the machine itself.

This is why nobody makes em anymore:

This control increases the cost to make the card reader

Almost anything that calls for this anymore has it integrated into the machine,
ide is old technology
there really is not enough demand for this for companies to do it

crappy deal, gotta go
By TSR Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:37 pm
I tried several compact flash cards in the 4000 today, using a cheap IDE to CF adapter.

Unfortunately the machine doesn't work with cards that are FAT32:

SanDisk EXTREME III 4GB (FAT32): doesn't work
SanDisk ULTRA II 512MB: works if formatted as FAT16, doesn't work if formatted as FAT32
Kingston 512MB: works if formatted as FAT16, doesn't work if formatted as FAT32

It's strange that the MPC recognizes several FAT16 cards, but is not able to detect a FAT32 card, although the harddisks also use FAT32.

If using the SanDisk EXTREME III 4GB (FAT32) I cannot open the LOAD-Screen at all.

Usually, the maximum capacity in FAT16 mode is about 2GB.

Any ideas?

TSR
Last edited by TSR on Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:21 pm, edited 3 times in total.
By atestarr Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:10 pm
TSR wrote:I tried several compact flash cards in the 4000 today, using a cheap IDE to CF adapter.

Unfortunately the machine doesn't work with cards that are FAT32:

SanDisk EXTREME III 4GB (FAT32): doesn't work
SanDisk ULTRA II 512MB: works if formatted as FAT16, doesn't work if formatted as FAT32
Kingston 512MB: works if formatted as FAT16, doesn't work if formatted as FAT32

It's strange that the MPC recognizes several FAT16 cards, but is not able to detect a FAT32 card, although the harddisks also use FAT32.

If using the SanDisk EXTREME III 4GB (FAT32) I cannot open the LOAD-Screen at all.

Usually, the maximum capacity in FAT16 mode is about 2GB.

Any ideas?



TSR

I had an mpc2kxl with a cf card reader and mpcstuff told me it was only compatible with type 1 card, which i think the mpc2kxl could only read 1-2gigs worth. I use the same card with the same programs/samples, etc., with a usb card reader into the front usb port of the mpc4k. So I'd say, if you're committed to the internal cf card reader, maybe the sandisk type I could work.
By TSR Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:21 pm
Problem solved, 4GB SanDisk Extreme III runs fine now!

I tried several formatting options (still FAT32) under WIN-XP dos shell.
(sorry, can't remember the one which helped out, but could have been this one: "format X: /FS:FAT32 /A:16K" )

Finally, the card couldn't be directly read by the MPC, but formatting through the LOAD screen became possible.

At first, I thought I couldn't change the strange volume name after formatting, since I expected this function
somewhere under the UTILITY screen.
It is possible by pressing WINDOW while in the LOAD screen, cursor right on the DISK name.

Good day, today!




EDIT:
Some problems occured with 4GB SanDisk Extreme III.

After reboot, the first and the second letter of the volume name is changed and I get a
"bad format" message while trying to load saved samples.
Somehow, the samples still can be loaded under WIN-XP, so the saving procedure of the MPC itself works properly.

This does not happen if using the smaller cards mentioned above (512MB SanDisk and Kingston) - these are working flawless.

I will check out older series from Sandisk (Ultra II) 2GB and 4GB as soon as they arrive and report back.

TSR
By TSR Thu Apr 28, 2011 4:09 pm
Today, I received two brand new compact flash cards

1) SanDisk Ultra 2GB, 15MB/s (bar code 619659018634)
2) SanDisk Ultra 4GB, 30MB/s (bar code 619659021535)

which both work flawless in the MPC4000.

Some say these cards are replacement models for the SanDisk Ultra II. (the roman numerals "II" are missing now)

The 2GB card has already been recognised as a FAT16 volume prior formatting, so there was no need to format it.
The 4GB card has not been accepted prior formatting. After the MPC4000 formatting routine, it shows up as a FAT32 volume with 3.7GB capacity.

It's so nice for quickly swapping your data without the need of AkSys.

TSR


By the way, I am using this internal card reader:
http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/9748 ... .ASTPCCP13

It's very similar (maybe the same) as the one made by Addonics.


EDIT: Another one that runs fine: KINGSTON 16GB 133x elite pro