Technical questions for the MPC2000xl and the MPC2000
User avatar
By nogginj Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:30 pm
it would be worth it to throw it on a machine that is running windows, show hidden files, and see if they are really there. what you are describing sounds like the hidden files issue.
User avatar
By DUNE Thu Jul 07, 2011 6:07 pm
I have tried and i still get the same result....When i convert the samples and try it i make sure they 44100 in 16bit sample rate...? Im freegin puzzled
By JVC Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:31 pm
djdz1 wrote:I have tried and i still get the same result....When i convert the samples and try it i make sure they 44100 in 16bit sample rate...? Im freegin puzzled

First, make sure that you are using DOS file name rule (8 character maximum length before file extension) MPC cannot read files otherwise.

(Off topic)

About 16 bit & 24 bit audio files
On Compact disks, audio data is recorded in 16 bit / 44.1kHz. On DAT (no longer used widely), it is 16 bit / 48kHz.
Please refer this for more info (very good read):

http://www.tweakheadz.com/16_vs_24_bit_audio.htm

In a nutshell, 24 bit depth audio is much better than 16 bit depth audio. (but, please read the article above.)

But most likely the sound files you have is in 16 bit / 44.1kHz format. You said that you have iMac HD (I am not sure which iMac model you are referring to, I assume you have current Mac), which can record and play audio in 24 bit depth audio files. So it is possible that audio file you made in iMac may have to be down converted to 16 bit / 44.1kHz WAV files, before exporting to MPC-2000XL. I think audio files used in Logic and GarageBand are in 24 bit audio files (I am not sure, I could be wrong about this.)

(Back to the topic)
At this point, you should try other CF cards (I recommend Sandisk CF cards only.) I use Sandisk 2GB CF card, formatted with MPC on non-hot-swappable CF reader. It's been working fine.
User avatar
By nogginj Fri Jul 08, 2011 5:31 pm
everything you are describing sounds like the hidden files from a mac screwing things up...the fact that it worked until you plugged the card into the mac seems pretty obvious. the folder renaming is the exact same behavior I saw when the os x hidden files were there.

did you try that clean up smb mess program? i'm not sure if it actually works, because I ended up plugging it into a windows machine, erasing the hidden files manually, and then never plugging my card into a mac again.

it would be worth it to get virtual box and run an instance of xp just to transfer files between the computer and the cf...i think you can have VB 'intercept' usb devices if they are plugged in while VB is running.
By JVC Fri Jul 08, 2011 5:53 pm
nogginj wrote:everything you are describing sounds like the hidden files from a mac screwing things up...the fact that it worked until you plugged the card into the mac seems pretty obvious. the folder renaming is the exact same behavior I saw when the os x hidden files were there.

did you try that clean up smb mess program? i'm not sure if it actually works, because I ended up plugging it into a windows machine, erasing the hidden files manually, and then never plugging my card into a mac again.

it would be worth it to get virtual box and run an instance of xp just to transfer files between the computer and the cf...i think you can have VB 'intercept' usb devices if they are plugged in while VB is running.


Actually, I use Windows XP to connect MPC's CF cards. I use MacBook Pro, but I have VMware Fusion installed on my Mac, so that's what I use to move files from MPC CF card. I know I don't have to use PC to do this, but since I have Windows environment on my Mac, I use it.

OS X creates and leaves hidden files in folders, once it is opened on OS X. There is clean up app available (free) called SMB Mess:

http://faqintosh.com/risorse/en/sys/cleansmb/

It's easy to use, just drug the disk icon to the SMB Mess' icon. The CF card will be unmounted. The app would delete all the hidden files before unmounting the CF card from desktop.
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By nogginj Fri Jul 08, 2011 11:25 pm
Sorry, i wasn't talking about what you (JVC) use...I was talking to the op.

Glad to know it works in a VM. thanks, you cleared that up.

I'm not sure if Clean up smb mess actually works (linked earlier in the thread)...I tried it once, and now, like you, I simply use windows. Again, thanks for explaining that it DOES work in a virtual machine.
User avatar
By DUNE Fri Jul 08, 2011 11:35 pm
So it seems i will have to run parallels or bootcamp on my Imac ..? WHatever it takes i need to get this going. Thanks for the knowledge budros
By JVC Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:15 am
nogginj wrote:Sorry, i wasn't talking about what you (JVC) use...I was talking to the op.

I know. Anyway, djdz1, you should try the app (clean up smb mess), before considering virtual PC apps.
User avatar
By DUNE Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:20 am
I will be getting smb mess in an hour or so,i will let you all know how it goes. Thanks mogginj
Last edited by DUNE on Mon Jul 11, 2011 1:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
By nogginj Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:48 am
djdz1 wrote:So it seems i will have to run parallels or bootcamp on my Imac ..? WHatever it takes i need to get this going. Thanks for the knowledge budros

No, you do not need parallels or bootcamp necessarily, you could do this with a 'Virtual Machine' like VirtualBox or VMWare Fusion.
Personally I use virtualbox because it is free, and it has really done everything I could ask very smoothly. It literally creates a virtual computer in a window, and you use it just like a pc box. You will need a windows install cd for this.

Link for VirtualBox - http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Still, try Clean Up SMB Mess first, because that would be a lot simpler and it'd be nice to know for sure if it works...I only tried it once.
User avatar
By DUNE Sat Jul 09, 2011 3:00 am
Tried Smb Cleanup, it didnt provide different results. The file is unloadable. I know installed
virtual box but i still cant find my CF Card ...? Any clue on locating the CF Card on Vista Home Premium..?

]
nogginj wrote:
djdz1 wrote:So it seems i will have to run parallels or bootcamp on my Imac ..? WHatever it takes i need to get this going. Thanks for the knowledge budros

No, you do not need parallels or bootcamp necessarily, you could do this with a 'Virtual Machine' like VirtualBox or VMWare Fusion.
Personally I use virtualbox because it is free, and it has really done everything I could ask very smoothly. It literally creates a virtual computer in a window, and you use it just like a pc box. You will need a windows install cd for this.

Link for VirtualBox - http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Still, try Clean Up SMB Mess first, because that would be a lot simpler and it'd be nice to know for sure if it works...I only tried it once.
User avatar
By nogginj Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:24 pm
Found this on another forum:
When you're running the VM, at the bottom of the VirtualBox window there should be various icons, one looks like a USB plug. Right-click on it and select the USB device you want to use.


Try that?

I seem to recall SMB Cleanup not working for me either.
User avatar
By DUNE Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:28 pm
Wow no way? Hey thanks for the VB info ;)
User avatar
By DUNE Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:51 pm
Thanks and sorry for not responding earlier. I am using Late 09 24" Imac w/ Mac Osx 10.6.7 Snow Leopard 4GB RAM 2.96 GHZ Duo Core. I have gone thru Audacity and converted any sample going onto the cf card into 44.1 16bit sample rate. Same issue though. I AM using a SANDISK Ultra CF 2GB 15MB/s It was bought brand new & guaranteed to work with Akai Mpc 2kXL from scsicardreaders.com In fact it worked right out of the box in the CF Hot Swappable Card Reader i bought from them as well. It worked that is until i formatted the card on my Mpc..... We've been working on this one for a while now. CHeck out the thread,lots of stuff we have tried already but still no luck...Now its time for some Virtual Machine action!! Hope this works, if not Lampinator may have to jump in...

JVC wrote:
djdz1 wrote:I have tried and i still get the same result....When i convert the samples and try it i make sure they 44100 in 16bit sample rate...? Im freegin puzzled

First, make sure that you are using DOS file name rule (8 character maximum length before file extension) MPC cannot read files otherwise.

(Off topic)

About 16 bit & 24 bit audio files
On Compact disks, audio data is recorded in 16 bit / 44.1kHz. On DAT (no longer used widely), it is 16 bit / 48kHz.
Please refer this for more info (very good read):

http://www.tweakheadz.com/16_vs_24_bit_audio.htm

In a nutshell, 24 bit depth audio is much better than 16 bit depth audio. (but, please read the article above.)

But most likely the sound files you have is in 16 bit / 44.1kHz format. You said that you have iMac HD (I am not sure which iMac model you are referring to, I assume you have current Mac), which can record and play audio in 24 bit depth audio files. So it is possible that audio file you made in iMac may have to be down converted to 16 bit / 44.1kHz WAV files, before exporting to MPC-2000XL. I think audio files used in Logic and GarageBand are in 24 bit audio files (I am not sure, I could be wrong about this.)

(Back to the topic)
At this point, you should try other CF cards (I recommend Sandisk CF cards only.) I use Sandisk 2GB CF card, formatted with MPC on non-hot-swappable CF reader. It's been working fine.