First MPC ever bought, but now what.......

I just picked up the MPC500 last week (1st MPC). The manual is good, if you know about MPC's I guess. A couple, probably simple things I can't figure out. I figured out how to assign samples and create a sequence. Then, I saved the sequence with a new name, to the memory card it came with, under a new folder I created on the card, right. but, when I turn off the power, turn it back on and look for it, the sequence will come up with the same pattern, but with the sounds of the pads that were on the Pad A Bank when you turn on the thing for the first time. What the hell?! Also, I have no clue on how to transfer files to the USB port, I'm doing what it tells me, and I get like 1 wave file samplef rom my computer and nothing else. Did I just waste my money or what? Anyone care to help a "newbie" out. Appreciate it. Sorry for the long note.

Galik-C

If this is your first MPC, unless you really like the portability of the 500 and the price is too steep for the 1K, I would encourage you to take it back (if you can) and spend the extra $2-300 on a 1000. The learning curve is a lot easier to overcome on the 1K versus the 500.

I had this exact problem when I first bought the 1000. When you save a sequence, the MPC saves the pad data (meaning it saves when you hit the pads, at what point you hit it in the sequence, at what velocity, etc). So if you save a sequence to your memory, it will not save the pad data (i.e. the program data) rather only the stuff I mentioned before. This seems odd, but then when you think about it, it makes sense, because you can use multiple programs and test which drum kit sounds the best for your sequence.


You must save a program and save the samples into that same folder. The easiest way to do this is to use the 'save entire memory' option. Then when you go to load again, just load the project file, and it will load all your sequence, program and sample data.

my messenger name on yahoo is geedawg1999 if you have any other ?'s

Hope this helps

thanks alot. when I loaded it, it said ok clear memory - so I hope the damn thing isn't messed up now. Anyways, I'll mess with it some more, got 60 days to bring it back, but I've heard so many people compare it to the 2000XL, and you really can't. So what there's only 1 input and 1 output, this is the first one, and I'm not about to drop a G on a 1000 just because of more inputs/outputs and better screen and 16 pads. I'll deal with it. thanks again.
Piece.

much of the learning curve of the 500 will apply to all of the mpc's.. including learning how to save, load, and transfer properly.

i can understand a degree of reserve about the 500 but nowhere near the epidemic levels seen within the threads of this forum.

in answer to the question of '..now what?' ..now you learn the machine and make some music!

bless,
p

Galik-C wrote:I'm not about to drop a G on a 1000 just because of more inputs/outputs and better screen and 16 pads. I'll deal with it. thanks again.
Piece.

suit yourself!

As mentioned, saving the sequence only saves the pad hits/MIDI data, it does not save the program (which assigns the samples to the pads and the related settings) or the sounds themselves.

To completely save what you are working on, you need to save the sequence(s) along with the related program(s) and sounds. Then to get back to where you were, you need to load all this up again.

There are a number of different options on which items to save, including entire memory which saves everything.

I would use the 'save all sequences and songs' option plus 'save all programs and sounds'.

With the USB, you are connecting it to the computer, and it shows up as an external drive. When you tranfer your data onto the external drive on the computer, does it show that everything has been copied onto the drive? Are you ejecting the drive properly from the computer before disconnecting the MPC500?

I would expect that if you can see everything on the MPC500 drive(CF memory card actually) from the computer, and if you eject it properly before disconnecting the MPC500 USB connection, that those files should show up on the MPC500.

What I was trying to do, and, maybe it's not even possible, was to transfer from the PC directly to the MPC. When I put a brand new memory card into the MPC, it freezes up. I'm positive that I'm ejecting the USB properly. Do you always need that CF card that came with it? and if so, how and when do you take it out to save the new data to a new card? this is pissing me off. at least I figured out how to save a damn sequence in a new program. can't be all bad. forgive the smileys.[/quote]

Your not alone Galik-C. Ive had my 500 for a whole week now. Its also my fisst mpc. Ive never had anything like it. Im used to spinning, not making beats, so this is all new to me. Anyways, I just kepp reading the manual. I must have read it 50 times now but still learning. I almost thought about returning it but I got it for $549 so Im still thinking. I have 7 more days to think about it. Im just determined to try and figure this out. Its kinda cool that I can take it anywhere. Ive read alot of good things and read bad things, but i never had anything before this so its all good to me. Just stick to the forums, there are alot of helpful people on here.

You do not need the CF card that came with the MPC500.

You should be able to insert a new card into the MPC500 and format it using the procedure in the manual.

Are you pressing the DO IT button after selecting to format the card?

Is it a type I or type II Compact Flash card?

You should be able to transfer directly from the PC over USB to a Compact Flash card inserted in the MPC500. So, you are not really transferring from the PC directly to the MPC500, but from the PC directly to the CF card inside the MPC500.

When you connect the MPC500 by USB to a computer, the MPC500 functions only as a CF card reader while connected to the PC. So you are saving data onto the CF card in the MPC500 as if it was an external drive on the PC.

You should choose to eject the CF card correctly from your PC before you disconnect the USB cable or turn off the MPC500. There should be an icon on your PC/WindowsXP(?) taskbar notification area (where the time is displayed) to allow you to disconnect the device before you unplug or turn off anything.

It says in the manual on page 100 at the bottom how to format it. Its also says it supports only up to 2 gb.