weird sequence truncation behavior AND bootloader problem

here's what i am experiencing:

create a sequence 4 bars in length and set the last bar to 2/4. hit play and sequence loops just like normal. save everything, power off/on and hit play for same sequence. this time sequence plays through once and then stops when it should start over from the beginning. altering the time signature (just changing from 2/4 to 3/4 and then back) will return the sequence to normal loop.

so...i was gonna try reloading the os (already tried reinitializing to no avail) but i can't get the bootloader to work. holding down 2 and 3 while powering up just gives me a blue screen.

any advice? anybody else having the same issues? i've already emailed akai but have not heard back from them. i really do like my mpc but this thing is buggy.

- jim

It's a bug and it's been around for a long time, was in version 1.0.1 and Akai ignored it.
For some reason nonstandard TSig screws up the loop reference.
You will just have to do what you are currently doing to make the reference correct.

well that's just **** stupid. guess i'm making a phone call to sunny rhode island tomorrow.

- jim

jimfowler wrote:well that's just **** stupid. guess i'm making a phone call to sunny rhode island tomorrow.

- jim

Not sure who you were planning on calling but if it's Akai they are aware of the problem.

We have been reporting and complaining about this since Version 1.0.1 with no resolve.
If you do a search in the 5k forum for Time Signature that alone will show you some of the post and a time frame.

Have no idea why Akai has made the choice to ignore this problem.

given that it's a known issue i don't expect any resolution. i'd just like to hear with my own ears what they have to say in response.

- jim

We gave up on it being fixed after it was still in version 2 and time continued to pass.

Just typical Akai support.

talking w/ akai about this right now. does anybody know if this is a problem on the MPC4000? if this isn't addressed i might have an mpc for sale.

- jim

re: time sig issue - not that i have any reason to doubt you ntalec but the tech i spoke with seemed genuinely surprised when i sent him the .mid files and instructions on how to reproduce the problem - all 6 iterations of the bug - although he admitted to akai knowing about the bug to an extent. anyhow (and not that this means anything) but he claimed that a log file was created and sent to the "appropriate development parties" for further review.

re: bootloader issue - the manual is incorrect in stating that both type I and type II cf cards will work. according to akai ONLY type II is appropriate and they were surprised that i could get type I to work with my 5k (i successfully use it for backup storage).

- jim

Well unlike Akai and it's employees I don't have a proven track record for lying.

Here's just a few hits from dealing with the problem

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=138759

It's also in the bug report for this thread

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=96011&start=30

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=133846

man, this is utterly inexcusable. anyhow, i just bought a 4k and as soon as i manually recreated my programs and sequences this 5k is out the door. wish i hadn't wasted so much time and money and just went straight for the 4k. oh well...hindsight is 20/20.

- jim

Akai:5000 has bugs ?

it's not that the machine has a bug...it's that they've yet to correct it.

- jim

Akai has already proven their methods.
Fixing and/or correcting problems is not of high importance.
They also manage to also make people believe with every new product release that they are going to be more concerned with customer needs but it never happens.

EVERY MPC has issues if it's something you can't deal with then the right choice is to move to another MPC or something else that better serves your needs.

We all know that bug fixes aren't going to happen so any unit should be looked at as a done deal.

The only MPCs that get corrections of problems as well as new features are the 1k and 2500.
JJ is responsive to his user base and it has been my experience that if you can explain a problem in an intelligent way he will correct it.

With the new MPCs coming we are once again being giving the perception that they are listening but again this is what they have always done when they are trying to release a new MPC.

Getting rid of a 5k for a 4k will come down to does it do what you want without you missing some of the tricks the 5k offers.

We 5k owners have to at least be grateful that they did OS2 or we would be dealing with a true nightmare.

What bothers me is that those idiots from customer services always are surprised about 5000 problems and always ask what you want to change about the 5000 like they don't know.

Akaipro has to be the worst company in this branche. First the 5000 would be updated before release of the new MPCs. Know they have no idea what's going to happen.

Saying the 5000 is history and won't be supported is an answer too. Communicate!!

prior to purchasing my 5k i was a total neophyte and had no experience dealing with akai, so you'll have to pardon my naivete. now i can say with almost absolute certainty that i will neither purchase nor recommend them. there is a not-insignificant contingency who still prefer actual self-contained hardware over hardware/software hybrids. to leave them stranded is an unwise move in my estimation but what do i know. anyhow, here's hoping the 4K does what i need.

- jim