Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By brownsugarbar Tue Sep 08, 2009 3:06 pm
Hi folks!
Recently, I got myself a MPC 500. As soon as I could, I upgraded it to OS 1.31.

I use it for sequencing (record my performance on the keybord). It is plugged into my Keybord controler (MIDI IN)
and then to the Sinth (MIDI OUT).

It worked as I expected to. But then I got a problem. For no reason at all, my MPC stopped responding
the MIDI messagens incoming from my Controler. I managed to put it back to work only when I turn it off and on.

And It is occuring all time!

I also used another Sequencer to trigger Samples on the MPC (SLAVE). But, then again! It stopped working
for no reason at all.

Does any one here get the same problem? Is it a bug in the OS 1.31?

I read the manual, and it isn't seen to be a big deal to setup the MIDI on a MPC.

AKAI has a huge name on the market. But I am desapointed with this MPC 500.

I am thinking of get rid of my MPC 500 and move on to a MPC 1000.
User avatar
By 64hz Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:37 pm
Wait lets clear some things up since im confused..... If im right you are trying to record the notes you play on your keybaord in to the mpc right? So you do not use the pads to sequence, right? Is the MPC your main sequencer or do you have it slaved to another sequencer? If there is no other sequencer your MPC needs to be the master, where else will it get its midiclock from? Also which controller keyboard and synth are you talking about?

Also when you say it is plugged in to my keybaord controller (midi in) do you mean it is going from MPC midi in to Keyboard midi in? The way you describe it makes my head pound :P
By brownsugarbar Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:13 pm
Fist option: The MPC is the only sequencer here. See: Keybord --> (IN) MPC 500 (OUT) --> MicroKorg. Configured the MPC as MIDI "Soft thru". It worked. But in a few minutes it stop responding.

Second option: Korg Eletribe EMX-1 --> (IN) MPC 500. MPC as Slave and receiving only one Channel (5). IT worked at first, but I got the same result afterwards.
By Jamon Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:53 pm
Do your first setup, turn it on fresh, goto a new sequence, record a single note in a loop, turn off overdub, just let it play. Time how long it takes to stop working. Restart machine, repeat. Post both times here.
By brownsugarbar Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:15 pm
The problem seem to occur always with the MIDI IN at the MPC. So at the first setup above, it won't stop sending Midi messages through the MIDI out. But it will stop responding at MIDI IN (Keybord) if I go to Overdub after a few minutes.

I'll take notes of the times and post it here.
By Jamon Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:29 pm
Mine works. Recorded a basic loop, let it play for a few minutes, came back and overdubbed some more on top as it played. Seems fine. If you post your exact steps and track settings maybe I can reproduce it, but it might be faulty hardware.