Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By peter Sat Jul 04, 2009 6:12 pm
Hi there!

I'm new to the MPC500 and I wanted to save my sample/program. So I pressed "Mode" and then the "Save" pad. But when I'm pressing "Do it" nothing happens. Whatever I press, it just doesn't do anything.

It could be possible I just forgot about something or so, but I checked the manual but couldn't figure it out. Help!!
ByTr1pl36ix Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:56 pm
You really have to read the manual of any MPC from cover to cover at least 1nce. It seriously is going to teach you ALL the basics so that you can grasp this piece of equipment's capabilities. And so that you wont be as frustrated when u are starting out.

Saving is simple tho. There's is a whole chapter dedicated to the SAVE/LOAD mode in the MPC500 manual. Anyways, you simply press 'Mode' -> 'Save' (PAD3) -> then make sure you scroll to 'Save:' and click the right cursor arrow to enter the field next to 'Save:' and and scroll to "ALL sq&song" which is short for All Sequences & Songs. This saves all of your sequences and songs you may have made using those sequences. After you select you press 'Do It' which should be blinking. It'll ask the usual, ie, where do you want to save it and whatnot. In which case, you could make a new folder to put that file in.

Also, you might want to save any PROGRAMS you may have made while the MPC was on. As those will be deleted once you turn it off (just like everything else). This is also do-able through the 'SAVE' mode and scrolling around.

So yeah.... really, read the manual that came with your MPC. If you don't have it you can simply download through this site I believe, or definitely through Google.
By peter Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:37 pm
Thnks for the response. You're so right, but i read the manual and tried it that way and it didn't work. Now i placed another CF card and it does work. So i ques that the card needs to be formatted or so and that the card was the problem, that it just couldn't save to that card.

Thanks again!!
ByTr1pl36ix Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:03 pm
Yea sometimes there's some issues with the flash cards. You should always format them using the MPC500 (also do-able through the SAVE/LOAD mode, I believe).

Also, you wanna make sure you have the latest firmware/ operating system on that 500. I think it comes with 1.13 installed, but 1.31 is the latest. You can check what you're at by pressin 'Mode' and then 'Other' [PAD8]. And you scroll a little to the right to eventually see firmware version.

And you can obviously get the latest firmware through the official Akai site. Check through Google, if you need to. But yea, make sure you're on the latest to avoid possible problems in the future.
By beetle Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:51 am
I also save my project too.

I've seen lots of different youtube clips on how people save their work and it's strange that there seems to be so much confusion over something so essential!
By brazeca Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:28 am
Beetle: There is no confusion dude. There is always lack of understanding. When one has a firm grasp of what's going on when they press a button, select a function and press "Do it", then nothing would confuse them. The machine is straight-forward, it does what its operator wants it to do. It's nobody's fault that so many people who post questions here fail to read the manual or do before they think, so to speak.
By annieviolette Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:41 pm
The thing is : we don't all speak or read english very well so that even if the notice is well written, we can't understand some of the subtleties. I have problems saving my sequences and songs and I can't resolve this even if I read ten times the book ! So that's why I come here.