How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
 Reply Share on Facebook

How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By mpc3000 Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:40 pm
Out of some recent models for the MPC's: MPC1000, MPC2500 and MPC500, the MPC500 was designed by Ya Horng Electronic Co Ltd, while the other two were designed by Akai M.I. (Japan). I'm not sure about the MPC5000, but maybe someone can chime in on that model.

"Ya Horng Electronic Co Ltd:
Leading companies like Philips and Numark come to Ya Horng for audio products such as CD changers and turntables. These OEMs know that we balance low-cost production with high-grade materials. Our facilities are located in Taiwan, Malaysia and mainland China. And we utilize pickups and ICs from Japan, for optimum levels of products performance."


That makes the MPC500 quite the different machine and it is likely running a different update cycle (if at all). If someone is familiar with Numark's upgrade history, then they may be able to infer if anything is coming. Two years now, I would not hold my breath.
User avatar

Re: How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By BLiTzZD Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:15 pm
That makes the MPC500 quite the different machine and it is likely running a different update cycle (if at all). If someone is familiar with Numark's upgrade history, then they may be able to infer if anything is coming. Two years now, I would not hold my breath.[/quote]


MPC500 runs on batteries. Has 4 less pads as Gertie mentioned.

Chance of update OS = next to zero. I've been running 1.31 for a year now. I have a computer genius co-worker looking at building a 3rd party OS for the 500, but it's not a guarantee it will work.

Chance of AKAI building a new MPC model = next to zero, but I hope to eat my words. They seem to have been focusing on the controller market lately. It's like a new one is released every other quarter.

Of course, I have no idea what they are doing behind closed doors. At the same time, no teases of new MPCish product have been released.

If you look where the majority of the market is headed..... the MPC family looks like they won't have any kids to carry the name along.

Only time will tell.

Re: How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By mpc3000 Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:25 am
"I have a computer genius co-worker looking at building a 3rd party OS for the 500"

Looks a bit easier compared to the MPC1000. The MPC500 actually has a JTAG port which the MPC1000/2500 do not. You could fashion a custom JTAG for the MPC1000, just compare the two schematics. At least the MPC1000 has the connectors pinned out to TP's (test points).

If one does not want to buy the expensive Renesas toolkit for the Sh3, codesorcery makes a toolchain for the very platform:
http://www.codesourcery.com/sgpp/lite/superh

I'd love to do it myself, but I am pretty swamped already with embedded systems design and development.

I looked over the MPC500 binary and it looks like they started with the MPC1000 OS and gutted the non-related components and reworked the display handling. For as many bugs as it seems to have, I doubt Akai MI in Japan did the port. I'm trying to image Numark taking the MPC1000 design handing it over to their favorite design company to rework into the MPC500 and then sending the MPC1000 source to them or some other outsource company for hacking up the code. The end is the MPC500 as we know it. I'm not surprised.
User avatar

Re: How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By BLiTzZD Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:28 pm
Looks a bit easier compared to the MPC1000. The MPC500 actually has a JTAG port which the MPC1000/2500 do not. You could fashion a custom JTAG for the MPC1000, just compare the two schematics. At least the MPC1000 has the connectors pinned out to TP's (test points).

If one does not want to buy the expensive Renesas toolkit for the Sh3, codesorcery makes a toolchain for the very platform:
http://www.codesourcery.com/sgpp/lite/superh

I'd love to do it myself, but I am pretty swamped already with embedded systems design and development.

I looked over the MPC500 binary and it looks like they started with the MPC1000 OS and gutted the non-related components and reworked the display handling. For as many bugs as it seems to have, I doubt Akai MI in Japan did the port. I'm trying to image Numark taking the MPC1000 design handing it over to their favorite design company to rework into the MPC500 and then sending the MPC1000 source to them or some other outsource company for hacking up the code. The end is the MPC500 as we know it. I'm not surprised.[/quote]

Jeez you sound like my co-worker lol..... ish is beyond me.

I believe the MPC fam is actually built in Malaysia or some nonsense, so your theory is pretty sound.
User avatar

Re: How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By BLiTzZD Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:29 pm
mpc3000 wrote:"I have a computer genius co-worker looking at building a 3rd party OS for the 500"

Looks a bit easier compared to the MPC1000. The MPC500 actually has a JTAG port which the MPC1000/2500 do not. You could fashion a custom JTAG for the MPC1000, just compare the two schematics. At least the MPC1000 has the connectors pinned out to TP's (test points).

If one does not want to buy the expensive Renesas toolkit for the Sh3, codesorcery makes a toolchain for the very platform:
http://www.codesourcery.com/sgpp/lite/superh

I'd love to do it myself, but I am pretty swamped already with embedded systems design and development.

I looked over the MPC500 binary and it looks like they started with the MPC1000 OS and gutted the non-related components and reworked the display handling. For as many bugs as it seems to have, I doubt Akai MI in Japan did the port. I'm trying to image Numark taking the MPC1000 design handing it over to their favorite design company to rework into the MPC500 and then sending the MPC1000 source to them or some other outsource company for hacking up the code. The end is the MPC500 as we know it. I'm not surprised.

Re: How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By mpc3000 Thu Mar 04, 2010 5:46 pm
"I believe the MPC fam is actually built in Malaysia or some nonsense, so your theory is pretty sound."

The location where is it built has little relevance. Some MPC's were originally built in Japan, then switched to China and now maybe some other location while the design/programming was taking in Japan for most the MPC's. My point is that once Numark bought Akai MI, they took the layout from the MPC1000 and handed it to another company to redesign. The only unknown is who they handed the MPC1000 source code to for OS rework. Hardware design companies may or may not work on the OS (many don't since they do not know the intended functionality). I would think that if Akai MI (Japan) had done the port, then they would have released more updates and fixed many of the bugs. No updates indicates to me that Numark likely contracted the work out and once expired Numark decided (business decision) not to invest any more money in developing the OS.
User avatar

Re: How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By BLiTzZD Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:09 pm
mpc3000 wrote:"I believe the MPC fam is actually built in Malaysia or some nonsense, so your theory is pretty sound."

The location where is it built has little relevance. Some MPC's were originally built in Japan, then switched to China and now maybe some other location while the design/programming was taking in Japan for most the MPC's. My point is that once Numark bought Akai MI, they took the layout from the MPC1000 and handed it to another company to redesign. The only unknown is who they handed the MPC1000 source code to for OS rework. Hardware design companies may or may not work on the OS (many don't since they do not know the intended functionality). I would think that if Akai MI (Japan) had done the port, then they would have released more updates and fixed many of the bugs. No updates indicates to me that Numark likely contracted the work out and once expired Numark decided (business decision) not to invest any more money in developing the OS.


It has quite a bit of relevasnce if you stop and connect the dots.. It points out they obviously outsourced the actual production of the unit to somebody in Malaysia- most likely the lowest bider as is standard in this type of situation. Which coincides with your outsourced OS theory, and that was my point.
User avatar

Re: How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By Avene Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:34 am
According to Akai Pro on Twitter, there won't be any MPC500's. I asked about a year ago. Although I'm not sure that response meant there would be none in the near future or none at all.

Either way, it's reliable, sounds great and does the job, so I'm not complaining. I've been using MPC Maid software to create my programs and edit sounds straight to the CF card itself. Then just plug it into the MPC500 ready to go.
User avatar

Re: How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By BLiTzZD Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:33 pm
Avene wrote:According to Akai Pro on Twitter, there won't be any MPC500's. I asked about a year ago. Although I'm not sure that response meant there would be none in the near future or none at all.

Either way, it's reliable, sounds great and does the job, so I'm not complaining. I've been using MPC Maid software to create my programs and edit sounds straight to the CF card itself. Then just plug it into the MPC500 ready to go.


Probably meaning they won't be producing anymore... what is out on the market now is it.
User avatar

Re: How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By PadPusha Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:17 pm
its a damn shame that Akai dont look like they are going to try and develop anymore MMPC's or any significant upgrades. I would love and MPC500xl, with a larger screen, which would aid better workflow. That is my main frustration with the 500, i mean yeah its workable, but when i first received it through the post i was constantly getting lost in it, and thus i didnt even turn it on for a good 3 months after cos it just confused me!
I do love it now though, take it everywhere with Rechargeable batteries circulated every other day. I get so many questions and interested people asking me about it when im banging away at the bus stop, in college or about town. I named it Larry too! :lol:
User avatar

Re: How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By BLiTzZD Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:32 pm
PadPusha wrote:its a damn shame that Akai dont look like they are going to try and develop anymore MMPC's or any significant upgrades. I would love and MPC500xl, with a larger screen, which would aid better workflow. That is my main frustration with the 500, i mean yeah its workable, but when i first received it through the post i was constantly getting lost in it, and thus i didnt even turn it on for a good 3 months after cos it just confused me!
I do love it now though, take it everywhere with Rechargeable batteries circulated every other day. I get so many questions and interested people asking me about it when im banging away at the bus stop, in college or about town. I named it Larry too! :lol:


My number one complaint is only 12 pads. You could fully fit the other 4 on there no problem- just move some buttons around.

Co sign on a slightly larger screen, but only if it could display wav, which woul dnever happen cause they'd need a new os LOL
User avatar

Re: How MPC500 is different from the other MPC's.

By PadPusha Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:51 pm
Yeah, i think we would all agree with you on the 12 pads, its a hassle. I have kind of run my course with 500 now, i mean i dont know all the ins and outs of it, but i do know 100% of what i need and use. The 1000 or a 2000 are just staring me in the face right now!
 Reply
Return to MPC500