New MPC 500, some dim lights normal??

Hello all,
Just bought a new MPC 500 off fleabay and was noticing that when the red light next to the '12 Levels' (AKA 'DO IT') button is on, the green light right above the 'Q-Link' button comes on very dimly. Like wise if the 12 Levels light is blinking, the Q-Link light will be dimly blinking as well. I can tell its not because of the proximity of the lights because they're on completely different sides of the unit. This issue does not happen the other way around however, e.g. when the Q-link light is on, every other light is normal.
The red 'Rec' light also exhibits similar behavior (glowing dimly) when the Green 'Play' light is on, but glows normal when it is suppose to be lit, and does not make the 'Play' light glow dim. I can most definitely tell this is not a symptom of the lights being in close proximity to each other (IE an under-glow issue) because the 'Overdub' light that sits between the 'Play' and 'Rec' LEDs stays off and only lights when expected.

Unit is fine otherwise, and it doesn't really bother me. I Just wanted to know if this is normal, or if any other MPC 500 users have notice this about their units, or even worse, if this is indicative of some damage or an impending malfunction. Just shelled out some decent cash for it and want to make sure everything is tip top, ya know?
Thanks Much

the_vivisector wrote:Hello all,
Just bought a new MPC 500 off fleabay and was noticing that when the red light next to the '12 Levels' (AKA 'DO IT') button is on, the green light right above the 'Q-Link' button comes on very dimly. Like wise if the 12 Levels light is blinking, the Q-Link light will be dimly blinking as well. I can tell its not because of the proximity of the lights because they're on completely different sides of the unit. This issue does not happen the other way around however, e.g. when the Q-link light is on, every other light is normal.
The red 'Rec' light also exhibits similar behavior (glowing dimly) when the Green 'Play' light is on, but glows normal when it is suppose to be lit, and does not make the 'Play' light glow dim. I can most definitely tell this is not a symptom of the lights being in close proximity to each other (IE an under-glow issue) because the 'Overdub' light that sits between the 'Play' and 'Rec' LEDs stays off and only lights when expected.

Unit is fine otherwise, and it doesn't really bother me. I Just wanted to know if this is normal, or if any other MPC 500 users have notice this about their units, or even worse, if this is indicative of some damage or an impending malfunction. Just shelled out some decent cash for it and want to make sure everything is tip top, ya know?
Thanks Much

Might wanna either read a manual or check some videos of people using the 500 to see if they have the same issue. It sounds like a problem, I can't imagine there being dim lights on an MPC.

I've tried checking a few, and its something that would be extremely hard to see on a video. I have no idea what manual that would be in. I'm really just looking for another (or a few other) MPC 500 users with known good units to go check their's and see if it happens. Pretty straight forward.

the_vivisector wrote:I've tried checking a few, and its something that would be extremely hard to see on a video. I have no idea what manual that would be in. I'm really just looking for another (or a few other) MPC 500 users with known good units to go check their's and see if it happens. Pretty straight forward.

Okay might wanna bring this to the "MPC 500" section then. The manual would probably be the "MPC 500" one as well. You can get it on Akai's website here:

akaipro.com

The video's were just a suggestion, you could also google pictures to see if the lights are bright or not.

Dim lighting, in the manual??

If you are using batteries, over time the lights will dim. Also check if your AC adaptor specs match the power consumption on the 500. Using a low voltage AC can cause that too.

To answer your question, no. My 500 lights stay brightly lit.

Please read the first post carefully. The leds are fine, and brightly lit... EXCEPT when certain leds are on, other leds that aren't suppose to be on will be dimly lit. Specifics are in the first post.

the_vivisector wrote:Please read the first post carefully. The leds are fine, and brightly lit... EXCEPT when certain leds are on, other leds that aren't suppose to be on will be dimly lit. Specifics are in the first post.

Yeah thats normal. What I think it is, is that the little bulb inside illuminates very bright and shines onto other components internally. Like a lone vehicle on the basement floor of a parking lot at 12 midnight. Turn on the headlights and you'll see lights cracking through the broken pipes on the first floor. Same theory. Put a glass or a bottle of water on top of a illuminated cel phone and watch the entire content of water light up.

As long as thats normal, its all good.

the little bulb inside illuminates very bright and shines onto other components internally. Like a lone vehicle on the basement floor of a parking lot at 12 midnight.

The situation your describing is called under-glow(at least thats what the circle of technicians I ran with always called it) and I'm almost positive that its not the culprit. I've worked with machines like this for well over 20 years and there are some telltale signs to show that under-glow isn't whats causing the issue. Specifically, watch when the play led is lit. If your machine is like mine then the record led will be dimly lit as well. Now take a look at the overdub led. It may show a minuscule amount of leakage, but it will be much much lighter than the record led. If this was under-glow, then the overdub led would be dim like the record led, seeing as it is in closer proximity to the play led which is the one causing the record led to light up.
Also, the Q-link light is on the opposite side of the unit, so if it did glow dimly when the DO IT led was on (like mine does), why wouldn't it glow when the full level led is on (which is situated slightly closer)
I can see a normal amount of under-glow in the unit, which is of course normal, but this looks a bit different.

Honestly, I really don't care too much, as long as its normal operation.
Either way, thanks for confirming that for me I appreciate it.

P.S.
(Sorry, if I sound like a know-it-all jerk here, I'm really not trying to be. I just wanted to put in my two cents from years of experience )

You may be on to something. Once in a while the 500 would act funny and glitch and freeze, even trigger unneeded pads. Perhaps all that is the cause of Akai's faulty engineering.

I have always noticed that about the lights, but thought it was the underglow. hmmm.

Lol Idk I assumed if all MPC 500's were like this one the manual would mention it. Something like:

"When the **** button is pressed, surrounding buttons' lights may appear dim"

I'm just trying to help lol.

I was just concerned I got a dud off ebay, but if I'm not the only one with the issue, then I'm cool with it.
Besides that it is a really cool little machine. I'm coming from an S6000, and although some features aren't there (definitely wish it had at least a few assignable outputs, s6000 has 16!!, and an LFO, miss the S6000 screen aswell, but I used an s2000 for years with that tiny screen, and I made some of my best material on it) the size is awesome, can just bring it absolutely anywhere.(S6000 is atleast like %500 larger inside its single unit case)
Thanks again