Set me straight on the 1000

Hey guys...

I just got my MPC 1000 last week and I'm trying to figure it out. I have a few questions here and I hope someone can give me a hand. I'll try to ask them in a very straightfoward manner which will hopefully allow for quick and easy answers.

1. Is it possible to save the track/pad parameters when saving a sequence to the memory card? (tune and velocity of track sounds + effects (flying pan etc.)

2. Can any brand of similar flash card be used to upgrade from the 32MB card that is included with the 1000? Can any cause damage to the 1000?

3. Where is the best place (on the web or otherwise) to get some great samples into my hands so I can load them on the 1000?

Help is much appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. There are various saving options, all of which are covered in the manual. Best bet: use the SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY option. That usually covers it.

2. a) Yes. Akai says up to 2gigs. Might work with bigger ones too. b) No. Unless it's the "trick" type w/ firecrackers wired inside them.

3. I dunno, I generally don't use other peoples samples, but doing a google search should be easy enough. Others on here might have some favorites they could recommend.

General tip: Read your manual before posting.

Thanks for the tips...

I did read the manual before posting on here. I think the manual is horrible. It almost seems like it was translated from another language.

For instance, the whole section on saving and loading is very hard to understand. I'm always hesitant to try different saving options because when the message comes up "saving will erase all sequences and songs" that doesn't make me feel good. The manual doesn't explain the "save" options very clearly.

If I come up with a new sequence/song/program etc....and I want to save it on the memory card, should I SAVE ALL everytime? Does this just save everything again and add my NEW sequences/songs etc?

Thanks guys...

Ryan

The only thing that section of the manual presupposes is a basic user's knowledge of how a computer directory hierarchy works -- otherwise it's probably the most straightforward part of the whole manual. It sounds like you never learned how to create separate directories and save a computer file. You should probably seek out someone more experienced with computers to show you how this works. That shouldn't be too hard -- it's pretty basic stuff that anybody who saves files needs to know.

I've got plenty of computer experience. I just like to make sure I am positive that I'm doing the right thing before I accidentally erase all the programs on the 1000 or something like that.

A perfect example of the shortcomings of the manual is that it doesn't answer my first question posted on this thread. (saving sequence parameters) I think the basic item that most users probably start with is c'reating a sequence'. So, you'd think that they would be very clear about how to save it AND it's parameters that you "tweaked" while building the sequence. I don't think that is too much to expect.

It seems like your time would be better served by 'helping a brother out' rather than just telling me to "read the manual" or "learn computers".

Ryan

Umm... Ok.

The reason I gave you the response I did is because the only people I've seen on the forum that have the kind of trouble you seem to be having are people who actually don't understand basic file saving and use of directories. I'm not making this up -- they're really out there, and alot of people on here wouldn't be nearly as nice about it. This isn't college.

If you are really so worried about overwriting something you don't want to overwrite, why not just create and use a separate directory?

As far as how to save a sequence, have you tried the SAVE A SEQUENCE option in the file saving menu? That just might do it. Can it get much simpler? It's also covered on pg. 91 of the V2 manual under the title (drum roll please...) "Saving a Sequence". Did you read it? Are you sure that's the MPC 1000 manual you're looking at there? Check the cover -- if it says something like "MC 303 User's Guide" you're probably barking up the wrong tree.

Bro...

Yes...I've read the "saving a sequence" portion of the manual (about 20 times) . I did exactly as the manual says for saving a sequence and then when I booted up the MPC again...the sequence was there...but guess what...all of the tracks played with NONE of the parameter tweaks that I made before saving the sequence. If you can find anywhere in the "saving a sequence" section of the manual that talks about saving the parameter changes with the sequence...then you are better and brighter than me. Or...I'm blind.

So....."drum roll please".....this is why I decided to post my question about saving sequences WITH parameter/effects intact!!!

You suggested "Saving ALL" in your first post. In response to that suggestion is when I expressed that I was worried about overwriting the preset programs and the few sequences I've created.

I guess I'm looking for a very simple answer to this "saving a sequence" issue....

WHEN I SAVE ALL AND OVERWRITE EVERYTHING, WILL IT RE-WRITE EVERYTHING AND JUST ADD MY NEW SEQUENCE (with parameter changes) OR NOT?

Stated differently...When I'm choosing SAVE ALL and it asks me if I'm sure I want to over-write everything else....will I lose anything if I do this?

Thanks,

Ryan

p.s. It seems like there were some sequences preloaded on the 32MB card that came with the unit. They are titled "nu skool beat" etc. When I load them into the MPC and try to play them, no sounds come out. Any tips with this?

Dood...

ryanswain wrote:Bro...

...the sequence was there...but guess what...all of the tracks played with NONE of the parameter tweaks that I made before saving the sequence.

That's because "Sequence" in MPC terms doesn't mean what you want it to mean. You need to go all the way back to chapter 1 pg 6 and read the "terminologies" section.

ryanswain wrote:You suggested "Saving ALL" in your first post.

(Cue game show wrong buzzer) Nope. You better re-read that. I suggested using the SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY option, which is not the same as SAVE ALL. Check it.

ryanswain wrote:In response to that suggestion is when I expressed that I was worried about overwriting the preset programs and the few sequences I've created.

In response to which I asked why you didn't consider what I thought was an obvious solution -- except perhaps to someone who didn't understand the purpose of using separate directories.

All of the other questions you are asking are directly related to the understanding of saving and retrieving an entire PROJECT as opposed to saving it's separate components. Complete projects are always stored with the SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY command -- not SAVE ALL, not SAVE SOME, not SAVE MONEY, not SAVE THE WHALES etc. but SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY and loaded back as a PROJECT file from a directory that includes only the components of that project and no others.

Seeing any light at the end of the tunnel here yet?

wow.....all that quibbling and here is the answer that I was looking for.....

"SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY and loaded back as a PROJECT file from a directory that includes only the components of that project and no others."



Just to help you in your "future teaching endeavors", this would have been a great way to answer this question from the beginning...

"Welcome to the MPC1000 community. You'll be glad you bought this piece of equipment because it has some awesome potential for creating and producing beats and bass lines. The manual touches on your questions but I'll give you a few tips here because the manual isn't very clear in some areas.

When you create a sequence and want to save it so that the parameter settings are intact you need to choose the "SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY" option. Be sure you are saving to the memory card (the removable flash memory). "SAVING ENTIRE MEMORY" will save the sequence as a project which will include the sequence itself and all of the effects/parameter chnages that you have added to make your beat/bassline sound super phat. You will then LOAD this project when you turn the MPC1000 on next time.

I hope this makes sense to you. If not, let me know. I'd be happy to get you set straight...just be sure you've studied that manual hard.

Keep it real!"






Ryan

ryanswain wrote:Just to help you in your "future teaching endeavors", this would have been a great way to answer this question from the beginning...

Heh heh...Trying to save face eh?

Just to help you in your "future reading comprehension" -- I did answer your question "from the beginning", and it should have become painfully obvious in my last post when I wrote:

(Cue game show wrong buzzer) Nope. You better re-read that. I suggested using the SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY option, which is not the same as SAVE ALL. Check it.

If you had read my first post correctly from the beginning, you would have performed the correct operation and everything would have worked the way you wanted it to, but noooo....

Quite a gift of selective recall you've got there! Now get a towel and wipe that egg of your face.... they make a much better breakfast than a fashion accessory...

The key information was the bit about saving a project. You snidely told me in one of your posts to read the section about "saving a sequence" as if this section had the answer to my question.

Also, you've said a few times....something like..."anyone who knows how to use a computer should be able to completely understand the save options for sequences etc.". Well smart guy.....tell me this. When do we EVER choose "Save entire memory" to save a simple Word Document or Spreadsheet? And when we're saving a word document or something similar....when does the computer ever tell us "this will erase all of the memory"????

And if the MPC1000 is so "easy" and "computerlike".....then why is there a SAVE ALL and SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY option. I think I have figured out that ALL is a filetype....but....gimme a break......how confusing is that!???

I guess my main point is this...

if you already know the answers....ofcourse it's easy. A good teacher/helper is able to look at things from a beginners point of view and not come across like an a-hole. Having said that....I still appreciate you taking the time to ...er.....help me.

Ryan

ryanswain wrote: You snidely told me in one of your posts to read the section about "saving a sequence" as if this section had the answer to my question.

Because you asked how to save a sequence -- and given the MPC manual definition of the term "sequence" that is exactly the right answer. If you want to go by your own personal definition of terms rather than what is laid out in the documentation, how is anybody supposed to know what you are talking about? How? And don't give me any stuff about "but I wanted the parameters too" because I already gave you the answer to that one in the first post that you didn't read and subsequently misquoted.

ryanswain wrote:Also, you've said a few times....something like...

"Something like" -- but not. Tell me, why don't you just insert direct quotes from the dialog above the way I did with your posts? Why do you keep misquoting me? Is it because it my direct quotes would cause your already weak arguments to sink down to the bottom of that vat of vain bovine doo doo from which they aroused? Don't blame others for your problems just because you didn't take the time to properly read their advise. It makes you look like a vain, finger-pointing whiner who can't admit his mistakes. That doesn't go over too well on here.

Thanks for the warm welcome to the community! Got any plans for New Years? If not, maybe I'll drive out and spend some more quality time with you!