Your feelings about Akai short changing the 1000 and 500

I posted this in another thread but I wanted to start a new one to find out your feelings.

Akai is getting ridiculous.

My story with Akai is that I had a MPC 2000 and gave it away to my then partner and replaced it with the 2000xl. I then sold the 2000xl to get the MPC 4000. This is when it was firt released I can't tell you how bad that machine was when it just arrived on the market. So I returned it to the store for my full refund. Funny thing is that they sort of expected it to come back. (They had plenty of these returned back then) I went strictly the software route and declined the 2500 because I still had a bad taste in my mouth regarding 4000. (Keep in mind I never had a real problem with the 2000xl so I missed it.)

So when I hear a portable MPC I read the forum and purchase Lithium's. I also pick up a used 1000 with JJ OS for tracking purposes. Now I know all of these MPC's can have the same features. (case in point the MTC Sync on the 1000) Akai is just not giving them to you. They are holding back the sofware. The hardware difference should be enough these guy's don't need to hold back the software.

Even though I need another sequencer like I need a hole in my head. If they don't add features and fix these bugs. I will sell both the 1000 and the 500 as well as my Padkontrol ) and pick up a MV8800. If I sell used thats just another item Akai won't sell new. (Akai's lost) and another
customer will at least not get screwed while paying the full price for the screwing. (Customers gain sort of.) Akai what happened to you ??/

I'm really p*ssed-off too. My 500 looses my work constantly.

It's not like this is a just a cheap toy, it's supposed to be good enough for serious beat-making.

All Akai have to do is write a new OS and iron out the bugs. How hard can it be?

The thread Snerg started is our best hope of forcing an answer out of AKAI.

I work in IT as a Network Engineer, so I am used to getting shafted by companies who exclude features in order to squeeze more cash out by offering an enhanced version. I am so used to it that it doesn't bother me really, I figure it's just the name of the game. It is their way of having a tiered product.

IMHO the way they exclude features is not really the issue, it's their lack of vision and quality control that has me pissed.

I am a bit upset about some of the issues with the 500. Right after I upgraded to 1.13 I was hanging out with some friends sampling vinyl. When I tried to save these samples I had spent an hour on it just locked up. That sucked and it was kind of embarrassing. The Polyphony issue REALLY sucks, I have no idea how they can just let that happen.

Akai's lack of response on the pad issues on the mpc1000 is damn near unforgivable, if there were a different product out there with the same functionality I would try that out, but there isn't just yet, so I am copping a used 1k and a Korg PadKontrol to save my pads some wear and tear (and to be able to control 32 pads at once

So, what am I going to do? Well for starters I am gonna send my 500 back until they can release a stable OS that fixes these issues. For my battery powered fix I bought an sp-404. I love the 404. And to tell you the truth it is a great in-line compliment to the 1000.


AKAI better watch it, Roland is a company with deep pockets and is proving what they can do with the MV-8800. They are getting big names (RZA) to help them promote it, they are playing hardball.

If AKAI or anyone else thinks that Roland is gonna stop with the big MV they are kidding themselves. Just wait and see what happens, they WILL release a smaller MV or an equivalent as an answer to the MPC1000.

If the SP-404 wasn't so limited in it's sequencing and pad sensitivity then it would be a MPC500 killer. It probably wouldn't still cost $400 bucks either, but my bet it is it wouldn't be $700.


The cool thing is about all this is that corporate competition and the thousands of new beatmakers is driving this new line of competing products. Kudos to Snerg, Antonym, and all the others out there who help keep AKAI and the other companies accountable. As a 33 year old just getting back into the game I am amazed at how powerful, portable, and inexpensive these things are getting. With any luck the next decade will be even better.

Sucks you guys have had problems. I love the 500 for what it is. There isn't a perfect machine out there that will make a beat for you.This sh*t we do is work. Whether it is for fun,hobby or to put food on the table,its work to make lovely music. If we don't love the grind,the positives and negatives that come with f*ckin wid this machinery,keep your day job etc. I don't really care for what Roland has. I have grown up on the MPC and won't ever switch up. On loyalty alone I hope the MPC line last forever. Rome fell and hell if I'll NOT stop tappin' away sequences on the 500 or 2kxl.If necessary I'd be the last person on earth totin' an MPC. As long as there is a loyal following,which there is ( look at all the crazy m*fckahs here) the MPC will forever live. F*ck with what you have and do the best you can with it. Rant over. Blood-sugar low. I need some grub.

SamOwen wrote:Sucks you guys have had problems. I love the 500 for what it is. There isn't a perfect machine out there that will make a beat for you.This sh*t we do is work. Whether it is for fun,hobby or to put food on the table,its work to make lovely music. If we don't love the grind,the positives and negatives that come with f*ckin wid this machinery,keep your day job etc. I don't really care for what Roland has. I have grown up on the MPC and won't ever switch up. On loyalty alone I hope the MPC line last forever. Rome fell and hell if I'll NOT stop tappin' away sequences on the 500 or 2kxl.If necessary I'd be the last person on earth totin' an MPC. As long as there is a loyal following,which there is ( look at all the crazy m*fckahs here) the MPC will forever live. F*ck with what you have and do the best you can with it. Rant over. Blood-sugar low. I need some grub.

so - does your 500 have the bugs mentioned in the bug thread?

wax808 wrote:I work in IT as a Network Engineer, so I am used to getting shafted by companies who exclude features in order to squeeze more cash out by offering an enhanced version. I am so used to it that it doesn't bother me really, I figure it's just the name of the game. It is their way of having a tiered product.

IMHO the way they exclude features is not really the issue, it's their lack of vision and quality control that has me pissed.

I am a bit upset about some of the issues with the 500. Right after I upgraded to 1.13 I was hanging out with some friends sampling vinyl. When I tried to save these samples I had spent an hour on it just locked up. That sucked and it was kind of embarrassing. The Polyphony issue REALLY sucks, I have no idea how they can just let that happen.

Akai's lack of response on the pad issues on the mpc1000 is damn near unforgivable, if there were a different product out there with the same functionality I would try that out, but there isn't just yet, so I am copping a used 1k and a Korg PadKontrol to save my pads some wear and tear (and to be able to control 32 pads at once

So, what am I going to do? Well for starters I am gonna send my 500 back until they can release a stable OS that fixes these issues. For my battery powered fix I bought an sp-404. I love the 404. And to tell you the truth it is a great in-line compliment to the 1000.


AKAI better watch it, Roland is a company with deep pockets and is proving what they can do with the MV-8800. They are getting big names (RZA) to help them promote it, they are playing hardball.

If AKAI or anyone else thinks that Roland is gonna stop with the big MV they are kidding themselves. Just wait and see what happens, they WILL release a smaller MV or an equivalent as an answer to the MPC1000.

If the SP-404 wasn't so limited in it's sequencing and pad sensitivity then it would be a MPC500 killer. It probably wouldn't still cost $400 bucks either, but my bet it is it wouldn't be $700.


The cool thing is about all this is that corporate competition and the thousands of new beatmakers is driving this new line of competing products. Kudos to Snerg, Antonym, and all the others out there who help keep AKAI and the other companies accountable. As a 33 year old just getting back into the game I am amazed at how powerful, portable, and inexpensive these things are getting. With any luck the next decade will be even better.

MPC 500 killer= http://www.rolandus.com/products/produc ... arentId=72

yo AKAI!!!

wax808 wrote:I work in IT as a Network Engineer, so I am used to getting shafted by companies who exclude features in order to squeeze more cash out by offering an enhanced version. I am so used to it that it doesn't bother me really, I figure it's just the name of the game. It is their way of having a tiered product.

IMHO the way they exclude features is not really the issue, it's their lack of vision and quality control that has me pissed.

I am a bit upset about some of the issues with the 500. Right after I upgraded to 1.13 I was hanging out with some friends sampling vinyl. When I tried to save these samples I had spent an hour on it just locked up. That sucked and it was kind of embarrassing. The Polyphony issue REALLY sucks, I have no idea how they can just let that happen.

Akai's lack of response on the pad issues on the mpc1000 is damn near unforgivable, if there were a different product out there with the same functionality I would try that out, but there isn't just yet, so I am copping a used 1k and a Korg PadKontrol to save my pads some wear and tear (and to be able to control 32 pads at once

So, what am I going to do? Well for starters I am gonna send my 500 back until they can release a stable OS that fixes these issues. For my battery powered fix I bought an sp-404. I love the 404. And to tell you the truth it is a great in-line compliment to the 1000.


AKAI better watch it, Roland is a company with deep pockets and is proving what they can do with the MV-8800. They are getting big names (RZA) to help them promote it, they are playing hardball.

If AKAI or anyone else thinks that Roland is gonna stop with the big MV they are kidding themselves. Just wait and see what happens, they WILL release a smaller MV or an equivalent as an answer to the MPC1000.

If the SP-404 wasn't so limited in it's sequencing and pad sensitivity then it would be a MPC500 killer. It probably wouldn't still cost $400 bucks either, but my bet it is it wouldn't be $700.


The cool thing is about all this is that corporate competition and the thousands of new beatmakers is driving this new line of competing products. Kudos to Snerg, Antonym, and all the others out there who help keep AKAI and the other companies accountable. As a 33 year old just getting back into the game I am amazed at how powerful, portable, and inexpensive these things are getting. With any luck the next decade will be even better.

MPC 500 killer= http://www.rolandus.com/products/produc ... arentId=72

yo AKAI!!!

wax808 wrote:I work in IT as a Network Engineer, so I am used to getting shafted by companies who exclude features in order to squeeze more cash out by offering an enhanced version. I am so used to it that it doesn't bother me really, I figure it's just the name of the game. It is their way of having a tiered product

The problem is Akai sells hardware not software. Think about this, I am akai people mainly buy my machine for it's sequencer. All of my machines can use MTC but I will only allow you to do it if you buy my 2000 dollar unit. Almost every company may give you limits until you move up but these are hardware limits. Who the he** limits there hardware by not giving you filters ? When it is the exact same machine as the others. How can you have a machine to use portable but cannot even save on. I know I'm not the only one to contact them on these issues. It may be just me but I think if I was a company and people said they could not save the work they do it would be top priority. Further down the thread someone mentions loyalty. I thought that loyalty worked both ways. If you want to see a company that deserves loyalty look at Frontier Designs who makes the Transport and Alphatrack. Go to there website read the forums. What does their product cost like 200 bucks tops. Akai won't even take the heat and answer on this forum and it is a virtual shrine singing the glory of thier name.
Some may say if you don't like it then sell it. But is that the answer to everything ? Meaning don't like racism leave, Don't like the state of hip hop listen to Rock. Con Edison problem then burn candles ? Please I don't want to hear that. I want the Akai that had Pride in their work and products. Not a company that knows our product has problem with the pads which is the main user interface. I will not make the same mistake with my next product but I will not fix this problem. Keep in mind the 1000 may have the most units sold. Why do you think they really have high R&D costs. What did they spend a million or two to remove 4 pads from the new model ? I mean I love hip hop but I'm suprised they did not put a diamond on it and say them idiots are so loyal they keep it REAL.

Glyph wrote:

The problem is Akai sells hardware not software.

I'm talking about hardware too. For example Cisco routers and switches many times have the same exact guts, what you are paying for is a better OS, more functionality, a different set of licenses.


Other than that I agree with most of your post.

wax808 wrote:

Glyph wrote:

The problem is Akai sells hardware not software.

I'm talking about hardware too. For example Cisco routers and switches many times have the same exact guts, what you are paying for is a better OS, more functionality, a different set of licenses.


Other than that I agree with most of your post.

You could be right about cisco since I never really checked any of the the chips on the blades. I'm very well versed in the CAT O.S. I'm now learning their wireless system. But thats off topic.... Just want to let you know my comment was not directed to you.

If the roland sp 555 pitches samples without to much distortion it's by bye akai for me.

I dunno, people complain no end about the 500's two-line screen. The 555's three-digit display is going to be better? And RCA jacks? Bleh, I'll pass.

sighup wrote:I dunno, people complain no end about the 500's two-line screen. The 555's three-digit display is going to be better? And RCA jacks? Bleh, I'll pass.

Word up on the RCA jacks... thats weak.


The 3 digit display isn't bad though.. Especially when you have other visual indicators of what is going on. I could even argue that less is better sometimes if it gets the job done. One example of this is the Ipod Shuffle.... sure you cant see the visual display your song/track/album art. But at tleast it keeps you from staring at a screen like some hunch-backed text messaging zombie.


But yeah, the lack of a decent step-sequencer Really hurts the 555 and the 404. But then again, these arent meant to be MPC replacements, they are live performing tools. I have a hunch that a portable MV is going to be the MPC killer.... just wait.

I own a mpc 500 and can (after adjustment) make nice beats without hurting my head. but if roland plays it's game correct I think it would be very nice to have these things together or maybe just a roland sp555 to make music.

and a portable mv... didn't think about that...crazy