Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By spiral Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:57 pm
Is there a way other than with the data wheel to specify start and end points? Say i am previewing the sample in the Trim mode and i want to hit a button at the correct moment in the sample to specify the end point. It only mentions data wheel and numeric entry in the manual. Is this possible?
User avatar

By Dj Proces Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:17 pm
i know that the zoom st224 has this kind of function, but the 500 does not have that. I agree it would be a nice function. but i'm sure you can work with what you have.

By spiral Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:22 pm
I am getting along decently without it, but it just seems like such a basic feature of a sampler. My little Boss SP-303 had it and trimming samples was pretty quick (with no visual interface).

Thanks for the reply. I will add it to the OS update wishlist.
User avatar

By Contra Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:28 pm
spiral wrote:I am getting along decently without it, but it just seems like such a basic feature of a sampler. My little Boss SP-303 had it and trimming samples was pretty quick (with no visual interface).

Thanks for the reply. I will add it to the OS update wishlist.


this may seem asinine , but can an os update do all this?(including a "chop shop" like feature, hi pass filter etc etc)
User avatar

By Dj Proces Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:35 pm
Contra, who knows? we can sugest it right? anyway, I see you all over this forum, did you finally get that mpc 500?

By spiral Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:25 am
Contra wrote:this may seem asinine , but can an os update do all this?(including a "chop shop" like feature, hi pass filter etc etc)

Potentially.

I don't have a deep understanding of the MPC hardware but at a very basic level it is a simple computer which runs an operating system like your Mac/PC which has built in functions like calculator, file browsing etc, except the MPC has utilities like time stretch, reverb, sample triggering, etc.

To add functionality to your Mac/PC you can install apps to extend the functionality. The MPC is similar in that all the little apps are built in to the operating system. This is why it is possible to run a 3rd party OS like the JJ OS which has functionality beyond what Akai originally shipped. So in theory, Akai could add things like beat chopping in the future but i see it coming sooner from JJ (if at all) since Akai doesn't want to make the MPC500 "too good" to detract from the sales of the MPC1000.
Last edited by spiral on Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar

By 4000is1monster Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:39 am
They could probably easily do some of the things like the ablity to "Grab" start and end points by hitting a pad while listening to the sample play or the ablity to set regions manually if for some reason the 500 cant have a chop shop feature added to it.


I think they wasted some valuable real estate by painting both pads 2 and 3 with Save and Load when pressing either allows you to access both functions. They could have used one pad for both functions and have it say Save/Load and used the other pad for some other feature yet to be determined.

this thing would be awesome if it had chop shop and some other stuff and like the other guy said, I think they intentionally cripple their machines so as not to harm sales of their other machines. Anyone know if this JJ people are interested in working on a 500 os?
User avatar

By Dj Proces Tue Jan 30, 2007 4:01 am
4000is1monster, you talk smart man !
User avatar

By rydan Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:29 am
I HOPE akai is smart enough to realize that the 500 is crippled in hardware already (small display, no extra outs), so that they try to make it as good as it can be, since battery power, and not low price, is what's selling it...

If they made a 1000 with battery power option (and reliable pad construction), I would switch in an instant...
User avatar
By 4000is1monster Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:25 pm
To Rydan:

...yeah its also a shame that it doesnt have a built in mini CD-RW drive and firewire connection and SMPTE i/o and spdif inputs a built in hard drive.

Extra outs? what the hell do you want, its not supposed to run your entire studio. its a stripped down PORTABLE mpc, if you want extra outs get a REAL MPC then.

yeah you are exactly right, battery power is exactly is only selling point, I dont think that is news or a surprise to anyone.



on secondy thought..., a mini cd/rw drive would be cool as HELL!!!! and an Ipod hard drive built in, say like 10 GB, those are dirt cheap. Damn!!! thats a good idea, maybe they'll put them in the MPC 550 when it comes out in 3-4 years, with of course a biger screen that shows wave forms like on the I-DJ 2 (also by numark) and chop shop feature and better preamps and a LITHIUM ION BATTERY. It'll cost almost as much as a MPC 2500 but damn that'll be a sexy lil machine.

and while they are at it, they can put some "lips" on that CF card opening to protect it from dust. I usually just keep a CF card in it to protect it from debris anyway.
User avatar

By Contra Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:33 pm
Dj Proces wrote:Contra, who knows? we can sugest it right? anyway, I see you all over this forum, did you finally get that mpc 500?


nah not yet dood.
User avatar
By rydan Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:02 pm
4000is1monster wrote:To Rydan:

...yeah its also a shame that it doesnt have a built in mini CD-RW drive and firewire connection and SMPTE i/o and spdif inputs a built in hard drive.

Extra outs? what the hell do you want, its not supposed to run your entire studio. its a stripped down PORTABLE mpc, if you want extra outs get a REAL MPC then.

yeah you are exactly right, battery power is exactly is only selling point, I dont think that is news or a surprise to anyone.



Yes, well, that kind of was my point. No need for AKAI to keep OS features out of the 500 just for the sake of keeping it from competing with it's bigger brothers. The 500 can't compete with say the 2500 in a studio situation anyway, even if it had the exact same feature set in the OS (but the hardware limitations it has now).
User avatar

By Upright Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:47 pm
If I don't see some serious bandaids to this OS real soon I'm gonna pull my hair out!!1......just kidding......but seriously whats taking an updated OS so long?? The first OS released like 2 or 3 weeks after the launch of the 500....what gives?? :?
User avatar

By Dj Proces Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:35 pm
4000is1monster, No, i was not sarcastic, i think those ideas are great. didn't thought of the capability of the save button since it has a load button,
AKAI PEOPLE WAKE UP! get us that OS update or I will go to Yamaha.
User avatar

By Upright Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:19 am
^^LOL :lol:

Wait yamaha?? Do they have a portable sampler I don't know about??