MPC3000 w CF-Cardreader - not recognized...

Hello,
I have read through several threads about different issues with this, but have not seen anything about this specifically...

I have been using zip-drives for many years, mostly without trouble - I think I am on my fourth drive by now. I am on OS 3.11. I recently bought a used external CF-Cardreader, originally from SCSIforSAMPLERS, judging by the logo on the drive. The seller has previously used this on a 3k.

I have hooked it up, and powered up everything in the correct order. The CF-drive powers up, but as the MPC3000 is starting it is unable to find the new CF drive... I have tried to manually activate it by "Make a scsi hard disk active". I have tried to set the device number both automatically and manually. No luck.

Any tips? Blow SCSI fuse? (even though I have used the zip-drives without problems...)

(I am not in the studio right now, so I do not have any more specific detalis available...)

With regards,
Poppa Lars

Hi. Strange one. Funnily enough I had a similar problem with the card reader I bought from scsi. JD would be the best one to answer the problem as he is the man with the knowledge. My one was very temperamental. The common one I would get with my one was Error, files on disk are either damaged or corrupted etc etc. Sometimes it would work better with one type of card than another, but I must admit I wasn't very impressed with it.

I thought I had finally sorted it when I bought a sandisk cf card, but in the end that went funny aswell.

I believe jd changed the card reader and it's components compared to the older ones he used to sell. Probably due to the fact that he could no longer source parts from the manufacturer etc...

Okey, small update, as I am back in the studio...

Tried "formatting scsi drive", even though my MPC did not seem to recognize the CF-cardreader.

The usual "this will take up to 10 minutes" pops up, and stays for IDK 5 minutes maybe.

"enter number of partitions" up next. I am not able to change the number, it says 26 (A-Z).

I seem to be able to save a seq/song, but as soon as I try saving a sample it says "the file or disk contains damaged data", and that I should stop using this disk.. Error code FF10.

Any further tips?

Thanks,
Poppa Lars

I'm getting the FF10 error with mine too...

using Acard 3.75 firmware. termination: tried using with just 2 bottom pins covered, also with all 4 covered (recommended in scsiforsamplers PDF), same result ff10 error

running 3.11 OS

using 2GB transcend 133x card

checked my cables they seem ok and I CAN format the disk...

I figure its the CF adapter or the card...

Hmmm. Thanks for some insight, at least. According to the seller of my CF-cardreader (and included card), it worked on his MPC3000 (and I have no reason not to believe him) - he used the 3.50 upgrade I think... Would that matter?

I doublechecked that ordinary zip-disks works, and they do.

Poppa Lars

you may have seen my post on the other thread - but just got mine working...

the card was my issue, may not be yours. I got a Lexar professional 1GB 133x speed card working - saved everything, rebooted and reloaded it all up fine.

so your card or your termination settings maybe?

Cell kindly posted a link to this PDF that may help you, you can double check everything you've done - original scsiforsamplers PDF that came with the kits, kit may differ to the one you currently have
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3Z0J7PEX

Poppa Lars wrote:he used the 3.50 upgrade I think... Would that matter?

It might, that it broadens the scope regarding what drives and cards that can be accepted compared to 3.11OS. you can handle hotswap drives with 3.5OS, you can't with 3.11OS.

Didn't think to ask what drive it is - is it a Spyrus MCDisk?? if it is its NOT gonna work unless you have 3.5OS - I have a Spyrus tucked away, and with no 3.5OS currently available for sale (that may change fingers crossed) I had to find another solution. the CF to IDE trays used with correct Acard bridge (NOT yamaha) is the most likely bet, and you can chose to either have internal like I do, or external like Acid Mitch in the other thread.

only other drive that works with 3.11OS is PCD-25, and maybe PCD15 if you are VERY lucky... the PCD-25 comes in a few different brand names - ALL very hard to get hold of now, REALLY scarce. so if your drive is only gonna work with 3.5OS you need to pray that becomes available again, or go the Acard route.

Hello again, thanks for the continuing input...

I do not know what kind of CF-cardreader I have. No labels/names/numbers except for the "SCSIforSAMPLERS" logo on the front. How can I make sure what I do have?

The included card is a SanDisk Ultra II 1GB.

Poppa Lars

(So, worst case scenario is to hope for a return of Rohan and the 3.50 update...?)

hit up google bro...

does it look like any of these?

PCD_25


Spyrus RD300 MCDisk


Spyrus RD300 MCDisk2

Hello,
No, it doesn´t look like any of these. I do not have pic of mine. There are no buttons at all on the front, not even to eject the card - you just pull it out. It´s beige with red part around the CF "hole". SCSIforSAMPLERS logo on the left, and with small black print on the lower part of the front.

Tried to google it, found no similar images.

I saw somewhere (on this site, I think) that changing the SCSI number to (the presumably AKAI-standard) 5 worked wonders. I am not in the studio right now, but do you think this is relevant? It´s 2 now...

Thanks for the help, anyways,

Poppa Lars

I've got my ID set to zero - that way its the first thing it scans - I know there is a number you are supposed to avoid, 6 possibly, not sure.

sounds like you maybe got a standard IDE>CF adapter tray with Acard scsi bridge housed inside a enclosure to act as external, hence no buttons or brand. in which case it should work with either OS fine. you might have to take it apart to find that info out though.

try different IDs (inc 0), and another CF card, not done the research on the best ones yet myself, know my lexar works.

can't really suggest much more - good luck!

Tiny update,
Used 0 as the CF-cardreaders SCSI number, now my MPC3000 instantly found it. I seem to be able to save and load seqs, songs, programs - but as soon as I try to save a sampled sound I get the same error message... Gonna try another CF-card, see if that solves it. If not, I seem to be stuck with an unusable CF-cardreader. At least until OS 3.50 is available again. Oh well.

With thanks,

Poppa Lars

Poppa Lars wrote:The included card is a SanDisk Ultra II 1GB.

which is what scsiforsamplers used to recommend in their instruction PDF - try saving to several partitions? PITA as I was thinking baout getting some sandisk ultra II's, now I'm not sure if I should!!!!

the lexar 133x and transcend ultra industrial seem to get the tumbs up. I've not found any more lexars yet though...

I know Rohan listed card type on here at some point, having trouble finding that post though

Hello again,
I might have to post this in a new thread, but let´s start here...

Tried a new card yesterday, with the same result as the Sandisk one. But, I managed to blow my MPC3000 in the process! Well, it might not be related, as I have left my MPC unused for about a year now, and me "restarting" it of course happened at the same time as I tried this CF business...

After my unsuccessful attempt yesterday, I left the MPC on. I guess it stayed powered up and idle for at least an hour more, then I heard a low "pop", and the screen went completely blank. Not "black/off" mind you, but the opposite "light greenish/on". So it gets power, but something is obviously broken. A fuse? Which? Any other ideas?

With thanks,

Poppa Lars

Poppa Lars wrote:
After my unsuccessful attempt yesterday, I left the MPC on. I guess it stayed powered up and idle for at least an hour more, then I heard a low "pop", and the screen went completely blank. Not "black/off" mind you, but the opposite "light greenish/on". So it gets power, but something is obviously broken. A fuse? Which? Any other ideas?

The "pop" could be a fuse or capacitor. I doubt it's related to your card reader.