MPC X Not Recognised By PC (Not even as a External Drive)

Hi,

I,m new here but surfed quite some topics already on the issue I have, without succes. The issue I'm encountering is a little different than what most similar issues seem to describe.

I bought my MPC X at the end of 2020.

The problem I'm having is I'm not able to get my PC recognize it, not in controller mode, but not as an external drive either.

One of the first things I did after unboxing was updating the firmware to 2.9. I did this by downloading the new firmware from the AKAI profile page and directly connecting the MPC with the blue cable to the PC and running the firmware update. The strange thing is, the update went good and all, even though I was not able to see the MPC drive in Windows explorer.

After that, I used the MPCX a couple of days in stand alone mode to get to know it. I then installed the MPC X 2.9 Software, hoping I would be able to use the controller function on it. With the download of the software, there was a seperate folder 'drivers'. In it was the MPC touch 1.0.8. driver. Because it was the only driver in the software package folder (dl'ed from the AKAI profile page), I installed it (thinking the Live, One and touch would possibly use the same driver).

After this I couldn't enter controller mode. I tried uninstalling the software and drivers, reinstalling, rebooting, opening the software first, ... No succes.

The really weird thing is that if I put a USB stick in my MPC X and connect it to PC, my PC is however able to see the USB stick in the MPCX, but NOT the MPC X itself or the HD of the MPCX.

Could this be, because I upgraded the firmware first, instead of installing the software and drivers first? If so, can i roll back the firmware, and if so how?

I'm really loving the standalone mode and it's a great first MPC experience for me, but It's a bummer that I paid a lot for this great machine and not being able to enjoy the extra controller functions.

Any advice or guidance pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Lampdog wrote:Use the “USB 2.9 firmware update” for standalone X.

Using the cable method has not worked for many people.

Reset hardware preferences after firmware update.

When it’s all working correctly in finder/explorer you will see X’s sd card and extra internal hd. MPC’S own default internal drive is not accessible on computer.

I have reset the hardware preferences.
When i just connect with the cable nothing happens.
When i try to put it in controller mode, it stays on 'lookin for computer', but at the time the USB stick that is plugged in in the X becomes accessible in windows explorer. No extra internal drive nor SD card drive is visible though. My pc also states a message that MPC is using my PC microphone. In the MPC software I can see pads lighting up as long as I keep the 'lookin for computer' window open on the X, so it's definitely getting some signal through.

I checked the general info in the X: it is clearly firmware 2.9

Strange stuff. Since I'm getting signal, it can't be the cable or could it? Should I go find myself a regular USB 2.0 A tot USB 2.0 A cable instead?



Should I use another cable?

Make sure your motherboard firmware is up to date and be sure you have all the latest drivers in windows for your motherboard, though the latest versions of windows should auto install those. Then go to windows device manager and open universal serial bus controllers. Click the properties button of your usb hubs and go the power management tab. Uncheck the "allow the computer to turn this device off to save power". No guarantees that this solves your particular issue but the power saving feature does cause disconnects from the hardware in controller mode and freezing.

Another thing you could try if unable to get sorted is using a pcie USB card. I ended up going that route because my motherboard's usb bus did not like the MPCX for some reason and was losing connection every 10 mins but the card has been working well.

any luck,?

TBH it sounds like you haven't installed the MPC X driver (the one that handles the display communication), I doubt the MPC Touch driver is going to cause issues (I have all the various MPC model drivers simultaneously installed on my computer), but you certainly don't need it.

Run the full MPC Software installer again, select MPC X and make sure you install the driver(s?) that it offers on the right side of the install screen. Reboot etc.

And remember the internal 'factory' disk will never show on your computer.

The other reason for the 'looking for computer' message is a dodgy USB cable, Try a standard USB 2.0 cable, not the blue usb 3 one that ships with the X.

I believe it is installed are your USB ports set to turn off device to save power check device manager on windows under serial bus controllers also when your there check for any exclamation for a device there

OP using Windows 7 by any chance? In my experience the older computer OS Win 7 has been the issue, but only on certain computers...yeah I know, weird. For instance, only one of my laptops recognize the Live or X, and both laptops have Win 7 installed. My laptops and PCs with Win 10 (as much as I fcukin despise that OS), see the Live and X without fail.

What's good?

Been a long time since I have been here. Trying to get back to the MPC world and got an MPC One. I too ran into this issue on Windows 10. It works fine on my Win10 laptop though. It could be that my Windows is a locked down older version (1703). I get the dreaded looking for computer and it won't connect though everything else works fine including pad trigger and ASIO driver. Tried everything including reinstalls and the display drivers and still no dice. Sounds like some OS driver version it is relying on but who knows. I need to upgrade Windows on this rig but don't have the time and not sure it will fix given the randomness of this behavior. Akai needs to address this issue. Not a good welcome back experience. Was going to return until I tried on my other laptop and saw it work.

Good advice Lampdog.

Just reporting back that updating my Win10 from 1703 to 20H2 fixed it. If you go through all the basic troubleshooting and it still won't work, this is likely the solution. FWIW, I uninstalled MPC driver and software before I upgraded Windows. Reinstalled MPC after it completed and rebooted. Likely the latest drivers needs at least a 19x version of Windows to work.