Improvements

Hey, would be great if we put down improvements we users think mpc500 could have in future os. I mean simple improvements akai people or JJ could do:

In example, I'd like a solo/mute feature that could work holding track mute and pressing a pad as a track, makin unnecessary going to submenu track-mute every time we want to mute something.

Or selecting the track in the same way holding track button and pressing the convenient pad.

INA wrote:In example, I'd like a solo/mute feature that could work holding track mute and pressing a pad as a track, makin unnecessary going to submenu track-mute every time we want to mute something.

Or selecting the track in the same way holding track button and pressing the convenient pad.

Huh, aren't mutes just as simple as hitting the "track mute" button and then hitting the pad that corresponds to the track? What am I missing?

yes, but then you go to a sub menu. I think it's unnecessary and annoying sometimes in performance. Seems stupid, but you cant mute a track and play a sound with a pad, you need to return to main screen. know what I mean?

1.I would like all tracks without data on them to read 'unused'. When I have ideas in my head the last thing I want to do is stop and name my track.

If all tracks without data read unused it is really easy to keep up with which track I can record on next.

You guys feel me on this one?

For now, whenever I start a new project on the 500 I just load up empty sequence and program data from my 2500. After loading this up, all tracks read unused and all sample volumes are at 100 instead of 70.


2.A delete function to remove the samples from the internal ram.

I can't believe that they didn't make this an option. You can save over the samples in the internal ram, but you can't delete them. Kind of silly if you ask me.

Ok, I think I can clear up issue number 2 for you

The internal memory structure of the MPC500 comprises of 16MB volatile sample RAM (data lost at power down) and 5MB of non volatile Internal Flash Ram (data retained at power down). These are two separate entities.

The Internal Flash RAM is where the factory presets are generally stored. If you want to add anything to the Internal Flash RAM, it is wiped first, then the new stuff written to it. You can't add to it or take anything away from it. It's a simple WIPE/WRITE process. It's purpose is to store data that can be kept after power down. You can restore the Internal samples/seq/pgm's from the supplied CF card.

This Internal Flash RAM is totally separate from the sample memory and will not affect the capacity of the sample RAM, unless, of course, you have the Autoload feature activated. This will then load up the data stored in the Internal Flash RAM to your sample RAM. To prevent this and get the maximum space from the sample RAM, turn autoload off.

You can have the Internal Flash RAM loaded up to 5MB but this does not encroach on the sample RAM.

I guess if you wanted to free up the Internal Flash RAM, just save an empty seq or pgm to it. Doing so will wipe the RAM, then write your seq/pgm which will take up a few kb. This would be pointless though as it doesn't affect the sample RAM at all and it is this RAM that you use when doing your work on the MPC.

The whole purpose of the Internal Flash RAM is to allow users to store up to 5MB of data internally, that can be loaded up at any time. This is in addition to the CF card storage, which is more versatile as you can add, remove and manipulate it, a task that is very limited on the Internal Flash RAM.

I have verified this with my colleague who programmed/assembled the internal sample data along with most of what you find on the CF card.

Hope that helps

^Thanks for the reply Lovesign.

Very informative.


Your statement here sums it up for me

"I guess if you wanted to free up the Internal Flash RAM, just save an empty seq or pgm to it. Doing so will wipe the RAM, then write your seq/pgm which will take up a few kb. This would be pointless though as it doesn't affect the sample RAM at all and it is this RAM that you use when doing your work on the MPC."

My whole purpose here is to set every aspect of the Mpc to my liking(i.e. midi notes,program data,sequence data, no samples in memory)and save these settings to both areas of the internal ram(sequence ram and sample ram). I would then have the convenience of turning on the auto load function so at boot-up everything would load to my liking. The only thing that is preventing me from doing this is the sample ram and judging from your post it is impossible to WRITE empty sample data to the sample ram. I'm I understand you correctly?

....well like you said the CF card is my best bet for accomplishing this.

-Thank you

Upright wrote:^Thanks for the reply Lovesign.

Very informative.


Your statement here sums it up for me

"I guess if you wanted to free up the Internal Flash RAM, just save an empty seq or pgm to it. Doing so will wipe the RAM, then write your seq/pgm which will take up a few kb. This would be pointless though as it doesn't affect the sample RAM at all and it is this RAM that you use when doing your work on the MPC."

My whole purpose here is to set every aspect of the Mpc to my liking(i.e. midi notes,program data,sequence data, no samples in memory)and save these settings to both areas of the internal ram(sequence ram and sample ram). I would then have the convenience of turning on the auto load function so at boot-up everything would load to my liking. The only thing that is preventing me from doing this is the sample ram and judging from your post it is impossible to WRITE empty sample data to the sample ram. I'm I understand you correctly?

....well like you said the CF card is my best bet for accomplishing this.

-Thank you

I'm not quite sure as to what you mean by "empty sample data". Surely you can create a blank seq/pgm and save this ? I haven't had a chance to play around, but if you detail what steps you are trying, I'll try and replicate and see what I can find out

Glad I was of some assistance

lovesign wrote:I'm not quite sure as to what you mean by "empty sample data". Surely you can create a blank seq/pgm and save this ? I haven't had a chance to play around, but if you detail what steps you are trying, I'll try and replicate and see what I can find out

Glad I was of some assitance

If you want to try to replicate the issuse I am having here goes


1.erase all samples from the trim mode(mode)(pad5)

2.erase all sequences and all tracks(main menu)

3.erase all programs.

You should now have a totally empty mpc (excluding the internal ram)

4.Save to the internal ram(both All sq&song and All pg&smpl)

The problem occurs when you try to save 'All pg&smpl' as it will not let you save because there are no samples in the mpc at all.

Simply put is there a way to either delete the samples in the internal ram or save over them with no samples in the mpc as discribed above??

Currently when I try to do this I get the following warning

No samples in memory!!


Therefore it will not let me save. Are you following me??

Ok, I tried your steps and indeed couldn't wipe the sample data out.

How about trying to do everything you want and just save one sample, say a good metronome click sound, and setting it up like that. Otherwise, use an Autoload folder on the CF card.

I will ask the guys in tech about this. There may be a fundamental reason why you can't wipe it clean, or simply store pgm & seq structures without samples. As soon as I hear anything, I'll let you know

lovesign wrote:Ok, I tried your steps and indeed couldn't wipe the sample data out.

How about trying to do everything you want and just save one sample, say a good metronome click sound, and setting it up like that. Otherwise, use an Autoload folder on the CF card.

I will ask the guys in tech about this. There may be a fundamental reason why you can't wipe it clean, or simply store pgm & seq structures without samples. As soon as I hear anything, I'll let you know

Awesome!!1 Thanks again for the reply and thanks for trying.

I didn't know you could auto-load a CF card.I don't have time now ,but I will look in manual to find out how, but if you get this post before I have a chance to look what are the steps for doing this?

Thanks again

i think the best inmprovement would be a more logical saving/loading process like the jj os for the 1k has. after usin that i can never go back to the akai way of doin it.

Upright wrote:

lovesign wrote:Ok, I tried your steps and indeed couldn't wipe the sample data out.

How about trying to do everything you want and just save one sample, say a good metronome click sound, and setting it up like that. Otherwise, use an Autoload folder on the CF card.

I will ask the guys in tech about this. There may be a fundamental reason why you can't wipe it clean, or simply store pgm & seq structures without samples. As soon as I hear anything, I'll let you know

Awesome!!1 Thanks again for the reply and thanks for trying.

I didn't know you could auto-load a CF card.I don't have time now ,but I will look in manual to find out how, but if you get this post before I have a chance to look what are the steps for doing this?

Thanks again

Just create a folder in the root of the CF card called Autoload and fill it with the data you require. Switch the Autoload function ON in the MPC500 and make sure the CF card is inserted when you power up. The MPC500 will default to auto-loading the folder on the CF card whenever the CF card is in on power up and contains an Autoload folder. Try saving a blank seq/pgm with no samples to the card and see if that achieves what you want. I've only just woken up so I'll give it a go myself later on

Ok thanks I'll try it. Funny thing is that I don't remember reading that in the manual at all....huh, oh well.

Thanks again!!1

INA wrote:yes, but then you go to a sub menu. I think it's unnecessary and annoying sometimes in performance. Seems stupid, but you cant mute a track and play a sound with a pad, you need to return to main screen. know what I mean?

Got ya. So you want to be able to do it from any menu that happens to be on the screen?

Upright wrote:Ok thanks I'll try it. Funny thing is that I don't remember reading that in the manual at all....huh, oh well.

Thanks again!!1

Chapter 14: Save/Load Manual Version 1.0 P165