New Here

Technical questions for the MPC2000xl and the MPC2000
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New Here

By doughnutSpaghetti Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:10 pm
Hey, long time reader, decided to join.

Just got my second MPC. Had an MPC60 MK2 (wish I still had it :( ), but got my first 2000xl. Something I have wanted for a long time and decided it was time to get one.

It's bone stock. Just ordered some new pads, ram upgrade, shine new buttons, a new rotary encoder. Getting her back up and beefing her up at the same time while she's apart.

I'm looking into getting a zip drive or possibly a CF reader. Probably a zip. I'm pretty tech savvy as I'm a web developer and have build and maintained many computers, so working on an MPC isn't a problem and I look forward to learning more about it.

What do you guys recommend? Seems the zip is pretty cheap and easy to find. Either can be hooked up to a computer. Was thinking of building a internal zip for it or maybe a CF reader. Just can't see a reason why one of the other. I guess the CF would be less storage. Just seems pricey. I saw some stuff on youtube to build a cheap reader.

Are there another upgrades your recommend? The floppy definitely has to go.
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Re: New Here

By Lampdog Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:13 pm
Welcome.

CF > Zip > Floppy.

Several threads here detailing problems, solutions, pro and cons of all of them.

Me, ATAPI CF on my 2kxl all day every day for years now.

Went from floppy -> 250zip -> CF and SOOOO glad I did.
Zip click of death is a pain.
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Re: New Here

By Star One Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:49 pm
ZIP is unreliable. CF is far more cost effective considering the price of ZIP v.s. CF card.

The CF is not less storage. I don't think the 2000XL can write to the 750MB Zip but can read. Can write up to the 256MB Zip disks. (highest storage capacity they have)

CF cards can go up to 1GB I believe. ZIP's, both the drives and the disks go bad over short periods of time. Depending greatly on usage.

As Lampdog mentioned, there is an entire thread on CF Readers for the 2000XL you should read though. There are a lot of options, many to choose from. Ranging in price, hot-swappable, non-hot-swappable, requires drilling, does not require drilling.

You mentioned new pads and RAM. Just to make sure for your sake, that you know any standard old PC RAM (72-Pin is it?) will work. No need to buy any "Offical Ram" or anything like that.

Also for the pads, lots of others mention the "Fat Pads" on the 2000XL are awful. Let them chime in on that, or do a search in this forum.

And yes if you are comfortable building a computer, the 2000XL is esentially just that on the inside. With an open power supply, so watch out for that :wink:
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Re: New Here

By doughnutSpaghetti Thu Jan 09, 2014 7:47 pm
Awesome. Thank you for the advice.

I'll start looking into CF drive.

Yeah, I'm all about the regular pads. The fat ones just dampen to much for me. I guess if you wanna hit hard they would be good. I always loved the feeling of my MPC60 pads.
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Re: New Here

By doughnutSpaghetti Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:02 pm
I saw this one dude on youtube make a CF reader out of parts. Looked pretty easy really. Would want something that looks clean though.
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Re: New Here

By Star One Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:59 pm
doughnutSpaghetti wrote:I saw this one dude on youtube make a CF reader out of parts. Looked pretty easy really. Would want something that looks clean though.


Mine is pretty clean. Just had to drill two holes to mount it in. Others come with an actual mounting bracket, already has holes. Swap in swap out style.

If making your own tho is your thing, go for it. Sounds fresh!

Image
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Re: New Here

By Lampdog Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:06 pm
Damn hubba bubba pads, I wanna pop one in my mouth, shit looks juicy. :lol:
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Re: New Here

By Star One Thu Jan 09, 2014 11:03 pm
SimonInAustralia wrote:16GB, I think, maybe up to 32GB with 26GB used?


Wow! I didn't know that. I thought it was a limitation by the OS of what it could see. Nice one.

As for the link, that's a killer price for being in a bay like that, with that many options for media cards.
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Re: New Here

By SimonInAustralia Thu Jan 09, 2014 11:08 pm
StarOne wrote:
SimonInAustralia wrote:16GB, I think, maybe up to 32GB with 26GB used?


Wow! I didn't know that. I thought it was a limitation by the OS of what it could see. Nice one

There is a 1GB formatting limit introduced on OS 1.20 that applies to only the IDE port.

That is what confuses most people.

If you use an IDE/ATAPI card reader that works with OS 1.14, or a SCSI card reader on OS 1.14 or OS 1.20, you can format over 1GB in multiple 'MPC' partitions.

Even on OS 1.20 with an IDE card reader, it is not 100% clear to me, it seems that early on in the card reader thread, someone was seeing 2GB on their memory card, not sure if that was formatted in the MPC or not.

An IDE card reader on OS 1.20 will still read a >1GB multi-'MPC'-partition card, it just can't format it that way, it forces the format to a 'PC' format of maximum 1GB.
Last edited by SimonInAustralia on Thu Jan 09, 2014 11:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: New Here

By SimonInAustralia Thu Jan 09, 2014 11:40 pm
Whatever you get, avoid 80 wire/40 pin IDE cables, I have had problems with those, get a 40 pin/40 wire IDE cable, with just the 2 black connectors, avoid IDE cables with multicolour connectors, or twists in the cable.

SanDisk CF cards seems to have the most success, but be wary of fakes.

If you DIY it, rather than buying a specific and more expensive plug and play setup, be prepared to modify/adapt the power connector for the card reader, if necessary, and to drill your own mounting holes for the mounting bracket, if it doesn't have drilled/tapped holes to match the MPC bracket.
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Re: New Here

By doughnutSpaghetti Fri Jan 10, 2014 2:25 am
SimonInAustralia wrote:
doughnutSpaghetti wrote:What do you guys recommend?

Zips belong in the bin, or that is where they will end up anyway, with your beats on them.

CompuApps ATAPI 741...
http://www.compuapps.com/index.php?opti ... Itemid=208


StarOne wrote:CF cards can go up to 1GB I believe.

16GB, I think, maybe up to 32GB with 26GB used?


That looks dope. Is it Hot Swappable? Really would be cool to have a Hot Swappable CF reader. If it is, $50 is a pretty good deal.

I know that Addonics one is about $30 shipped, but not H.S.

Yeah, the dude on youtube built one out of parts and claims it's hot swappable too and it looked like it was from the vid. Making a good mount would be the only downside. Just would have to find a cheap ass CF reader on eBay and for the frame.

I'm seeing the MPCstuff.com sold an hot swap unit, but are out and pretty pricey too. Wonder what they are using. It's just finding the part numbers and shiaat.

Couple more questions.

So if I upgrade to 1.2 I'm limited to 1gb? I'm seeing yes on this forum.

Can you run an internal CF reader on 1.4?

So much to learn LOL! Love learning about new gear though.
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Re: New Here

By Lampdog Fri Jan 10, 2014 2:34 am
Can you run an internal CF reader on 1.4?

I am on 1.14, never cared for 1.20. 521mb Lexar cf card, have had this 1 cf card since I first installed the reader. Use it for transfer to/fm pc and when working inside the mpc.
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Re: New Here

By doughnutSpaghetti Fri Jan 10, 2014 2:50 am
Lampdog wrote:Can you run an internal CF reader on 1.4?

I am on 1.14, never cared for 1.20. 521mb Lexar cf card, have had this 1 cf card since I first installed the reader. Use it for transfer to/fm pc and when working inside the mpc.



ATAPI 741 drive, Yes?

Cool, their site looks like they are out. :/
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Re: New Here

By SimonInAustralia Fri Jan 10, 2014 2:51 am
doughnutSpaghetti wrote:
SimonInAustralia wrote:CompuApps ATAPI 741...
http://www.compuapps.com/index.php?opti ... Itemid=208

That looks dope. Is it Hot Swappable?

Yes.


doughnutSpaghetti wrote:So if I upgrade to 1.2 I'm limited to 1gb?

1.20 limits you when formatting on the IDE port to a 1GB 'PC' format.

This can give better computer access compatibility, as the multi-partition 'MPC' format only allows access to the first partition from a computer.


doughnutSpaghetti wrote:Can you run an internal CF reader on 1.4?

1.14...some you can, some you can't, most(all?) of the non-hotswap cheap IDE-CF adapters need 1.20, I think.
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