help, a virus in mpc 500

greetings, I'm new here as well as to mpc, but love it already; however, I recently plugged my mpc 500 to my computer, and ever since there seems to be a virus inside the mpc, because every so often the sound is overwritten. For example, if i'm working on a drum track the sound of the hi hat overwrites and erases the other tracks; and also (randomly) the sound of some tracks suddenly disappears in play mode. Is that a virus?? how do I know?? How do I fix it??
Thank you for your help.

How many pgms are you using? It sounds like you have one pgm that is mono mode(as in one pad at a time) so it doesn't matter how many tracks you have if they all have the same pgm on it that is in mono mode.

The problem happens even if I only have the internal programs loaded (even without a cf card).

This could be simply user error, however you have not really explained this very well, so we can't be sure.

MPCs cannot get a virus. I suggest you turn off your MPC500, hold down ERASE and turn the mpc back on again, holding down ERASE until the main screen appears. This will initialise the MPC and should clear up any OS corruption.

If problems still occur, f you have the RAM upgrade, turn off the MPC and remove it and reboot. Check for the errors.

That's going to rule out a couple of very common problems, but perhaps explain your problem in more detail, step by step and maybe we can pinpoint it as either user, software or hardware problems.

binchukka wrote:.. the sound of the hi hat overwrites and erases the other tracks; and also (randomly) the sound of some tracks suddenly disappears in play mode.

Seems like a classic polyphony overload (with a hi-hat machine gun).
Just change some sounds (hi-hat for a starter) to MONO overlap.

MPC500 Manual wrote:Normally, when you hit the same pad several times, the same sound will be overlapped [..]

1. While in PROGRAM mode, hit the pad you wish to edit.
The pad number display in the 'Pad' field will change according to the pad you hit.

2. In the 'Edit select' field, scroll to 'Voice overlap'.

3. In the 'Parameter' field below, select from one of the choices below:

POLY - The MPC500 overlaps the sound.
MONO - The MPC500 does not overlap the sound

If you select MONO, when you hit the pad several times, the sample will play up until you hit the pad again.

The 500 can't get a virus, its just reading wave data anything else and it will refuse.

Thanx for the answers!! However i tried everything to no avail!! However I'm glad to know that the mpc 500 doesnt get no viruses, thanx god. I tried turning on the unit while pressing ERASE (no good), and also tried changing the pad sounds to MONO (no good either!!) I still get the same problem:
I open an empty sequence, choose track 1, choose a program, start laying a drum beat (bass drum, hi hat, snare, even in different tracks each), lay a bass in a different track (in MONO instead of POLY), and boom!!: after the sequence is played a couple of times some sounds (say, the bass drum and bass) suddenly disappear and only the hi hat (for example) is played!! After this happens it's impossible to lay any other tracks in a different sequence , or in the previous one, for that matter.
Also, when this thing arrives, the sounds of the pads sound kinda chopped, or cut, very strange.
If I turn off and on the unit the problem disappears for some minutes, but comes back again after a while (thats why i thought it might be a virus).
I love this machine and i'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but what is it??

ps. The problem started only after I loaded the programs in the included cf card. However, even if the card is not loaded the problem remains.

a big shout to those who can help out,
thx

If you switch a program to MONO it will mute the other samples in that same program.
If you switch it to POLY you can play all the sounds simultaneously up till 32 voices.

Turn your program which contains all your drum sounds to POLY.
Use a different program for the bass. Only turn a program to mono if you want one sound to mute the previous sound (in that same program) that's being played.

Thanks for the answer, but I tried it and no good either. I think there might be a problem with the unit, because the sequences start playing fine and after a minute or so some tracks simply disappear (without any previous manipulation).
How is the deal to get it fixed, any ideas??
thanks again

Problem solved!!! It was the weirdest of things: just by chance, while a seq was playing I went to the efx mode and switched the REVERB off, and now everything works!! Why is that??
Question regarding RAM and CF card: in Europe (belgium) where can I find an affordable CF card and RAM upgrade, because I went to some stores and they were impossible to find (what must be the specificity of the RAM?? any brand in particular?? range of prices??)
Thnx yo!!

Please share what RAM would you recommend. Thanks

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=26775

It's a sticky in the MPC1000 forums. The 500, 1000 and the 2500 all use the same type of RAM and CF cards.

CF cards are getting harder to get by. 5 or 6 years ago you could pick them up at every electro/ photo shop. This summer I really had to go out hitting different shops in town to get the right ones.