MPC 1000 Pad Upgrade

Hi all,

I brought the MPC 1000 last week, having done a lot of research i see that the earlier MPC 1000 models did not have very good pads factory installed, an issue which Akai addressed with the BK version.

I just wondered if there was a simple way to check if my MPC has the pad upgrade. If so, is this the upgrade offered by mpc-stuff.com - http://www.mpcstuff.com/akai--mpc-1000- ... x-upg.html

Many thanks in advance.

Glydez wrote:an issue which Akai addressed with the BK version.

I've heard this rumor so many times before; I wonder how it started...

Actually the BK-N version. (MP1000BK-N has the new pad design, MP1000BK does not). This only counts if bought new (I'd be surprised if there were non -N versions still available new, but then again, it is Akai...), because by now, many folks have installed the pad fix.

Glydez wrote:I just wondered if there was a simple way to check if my MPC has the pad upgrade. If so, is this the upgrade offered by mpc-stuff.com - http://www.mpcstuff.com/akai--mpc-1000- ... x-upg.html

Well the pads feel different, but if u haven't tried both, then that may not help much. The old 1k pads also feel different than other MPCs, whereas the new 1k pads feel almost just like the pads on other MPCs.

The old design was sixteen individual pads/sensors fused together, to where you could pop out one defective one and leave the rest in place. The new design has one sensor plate and a separate one-piece rubber pad sheet that sits on top (just like the pic in your link). Just like all other MPCs. If you wiggle one pad side-to-side and other pads move, then you probably have the new pad design.

The surest way to tell is to pop the top off.

Forget about the serial number as that is not 100% accurate. The 100% sure way to know is to move any of the corner pads. If the nearest pad moves with it you have the new style. The old style pads were individual units so moving one pad would not affect the adjacent pad.

poundaproblem wrote:Forget about the serial number as that is not 100% accurate.

Serial number is irrelevant. Model number: as I said before, if it has an -N at the end, it has the new pad design.

poundaproblem wrote:The 100% sure way to know is to move any of the corner pads. If the nearest pad moves with it you have the new style. The old style pads were individual units so moving one pad would not affect the adjacent pad.

Hmmm... That sounds familiar...

Thanks for the advice guys.

I gave the pads a wiggle and they all move together, so i'm guessing that would be the new version.

I know the retailer i got it from had to order new stock in from Akai, so it looks like a safe bet to say the upgraded pads are factory installed in the UK units then.

I have a 2nd hand mpc100 bk model and the corner pads on mine do move the adjacent pads except the bottom right pad dont move the other ones.

but the pads dont feel that great ive gotten used to it but if the pad upgrade feels like mine then dont do the upgrade if ur looking for soft pads.

best way to check which pads you got: TAKE THE CASE OFF

seriously, it's like 6 screws.