New 500 owner, first MPC

Hi all,

Well, I took the plunge and started a long overdue MPC journey. I've got the entry level 500 due to a) err, "entry level", b) price, c) size/portable.

Only had a few hours with the unit so far, need to carve out some time. Been reading the manual and checking youtube. First impressions..not unusual I'm sure..

- wow you need to really smack those pads! (finds "full level" button..)
- ..space..RAM and CF upgrades next on the list (I read the RAM thread btw so looking for non-AKAI RAM atm)
- built like a brick!
- good fun so far, very easy to get started, intuative
- menu system is no where near as bad as I'd read, its easy
- one box and no internet = creativity boost
- bit worried about bugs/OS updates (lack of) going forward so fingers crossed 1.31 does what I need

..I'll keep playing, so far so good

Cheers,
LW.

useful post for you here

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=136515

also, softer pads available from mpcstuff website - quite easy to install and much more sensitive when you're tapping out your drums.

otherwise I can certainly recommend

updating the OS
reading the manual
maxing the RAM
buying an extra one or two CF cards
buying the eBook by MPC tutor

Hi,

Thanks for the link!

"updating the OS" - it came with 1.31 installed, that looks like the latest on the akai pro site?
"reading the manual" - yup, I'm on it..
"maxing the RAM" - yup, I'm on it..
"buying an extra one or two CF cards" - yup, I'm on it..
"buying the eBook by MPC tutor" - ah, will take a look

Cheers,
LW.

I don't know any entry level sampler with 32 polyphony and 48 tracks (excluding software)

Yeah, the screen doesn't bother me, its kind of old school if you ask me. People are just spoiled by larger screens I think.

Since I do Boom Bap, this is perfect for me. I wished the effects could be assigned to the slider when adjusting but I hardly use effects anyway in my beats so its alright.

Enjoy the little beast.

Ill-Green wrote:Since I do Boom Bap

Ill-Green wrote:Since I do Boom Bap...

Amen.

Esquilo wrote:

Ill-Green wrote:Since I do Boom Bap

I don't get it lol!

Hi,

Ah yeah I meant entry level as in my first MPC, I'm not a stranger to music production, that might be why I've found it pretty straight forward so far.

I'm starting to wonder if my 1.0 manual is in step with 1.31 however, I'll have a look at revision C of the manual online.

I was following the time stretch steps, and the part at the end doesn't happen for me, when you hit 'do it' and the manual asks you to enter a filename, I don't get that appearing, also the effect didn't seem to have applied so I tried a different effect, - the reverse, and it does it to the sample directly, that worked, but again no option to save when you hit 'doit', the file as the manual hints. 99% likely a newbie error I suspect, I'll keep reading and learning!

Btw last night I converted a bunch of samples from Computer Music using AudioMove on the PC to 16-bit 44 and stuck them on CF, inserted, and loaded up, easy.

I think as the link above hints at, the main things for me now are about how to quickly reset the unit, reset the pads, that kinda stuff, purge a loaded sample. Extended CF and RAM should arrive this/next week hopefully, until then having fun inside 16MB

Cheers,
LW.

Well I've been using 1.13 OS since 2006 and now that I got another new 500 which comes stock with 1.31, I have to say the difference is noticable. It feels more slick and the jog wheel feels more precise and certain things feel different but I can't place my finger on it yet.

As for your timestretch, I never had it tell me to enter file name either, unless I'm saving that particular sample, so I guess its a 1.0 thing. Strange that my 2006 manual feels heavier than the 2010 one, IDK, it could be my imagination. Damn, I wish Akai would've put an index in that book, would've made my life easier.

+1 on that index, I was thinking the same thing. I've downloaded the pdf and can search that meanwhile. Good to know I'm not missing anything obvious on the file save..maybe the manual needs updating.

"With the Stretch parameter selected, pressing the [DO IT] button will create a new stretched sample from the existing sample. You will be prompted to name the new sample and assign it to a Pad and listen to the sample by pressing [PLAY], much like as if the sample was just recorded."

Cheers,
LW.

LamptonWorm wrote:
- menu system is no where near as bad as I'd read, its easy

I personally love the menu system, and once you learn it inside out, it will be cake.

The 500 is intelligently limited for optimum workflow, and less fiddling with things.

Hint: Use the PLAY TO, PLAY FROM, and PLAY LOOP functions while trimming samples to speed up the editing process. For me, those functions alone make up for the lack of view! Zip, done!

Good Luck!

Thanks for the tip yeah, starting to find myself whizzing around the menu now.

Currently tinkering with the various load/save options, not sure what I'm doing on that bit, seems to be no #1 newbie quest - clearing memory, autoload, save programs etc. I was tempted to use MPC MAID but that defeats the point of being in one box, I need to learn this thing inside out. I'll keep reading, it'll click soon.

Cheers,
LW.

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=136515

That should cover what you're looking for.

For AutoLoad, hold Mode and hit Load then scroll to AutoLoad where you can turn it On or Off. When you hold Mode and hit Save you can create an AutoLoad of your own sounds and sequences with Save Entire Memory and in the 2nd parameter select Autoload. Simple as pie.

Thanks. I need to do some memory zapping and more reading tonight.

Cheers,
LW.

hello guys my names mike out of las vegas i just got a mpc 500 and i was trying to load a drum kit and the mpc told me there was insufficient memory ?? and did not load it ...my mpc came with a 128 MB SOUND LIBRARY card....do i need to get a bigger one? if so how big should i get it ?