Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
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By THE ADVERSARY Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:29 pm
Renich wrote:that's a question of taste... I prefer doing everything on my PC.


Then no need for the 4k or AK_sys if the computer is where you want to work.


Too me it's more left side right side.
The 4k makes me creative the Mac makes me technical, 2 totally different mental aspects that serve a different purpose.
But to each it's own.

By Renich Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:40 pm
Well, in my case, the mpc4000 is just a tool. The creative process happens in my mind; I don't need interfaces.

The hardware helps me achieve the sound in my head, that's all. Maybe, sometimes, when you're playing with new funcitons you get some hints, but then, you'll need new functions all the time to get creative.

The interface's functionality is everything. If the thing doesn't respond, then I don't need it.

MPC4000 is very promising, but it's not there yet. It lacks funcitonality and that's why the OpenMPC initiative was born.

Care to join and support us?
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By THE ADVERSARY Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:51 am
I'll pass since my views on the 4k are just the opposite. :roll:

The major portion of the questions asked in this forum shows that most 4k owners know very little about how it works or what it can actually do.
That's the biggest problem of the 4k.

Happy hacking but you'll not get my backing. :lol:
Hey that rhymes.

By Renich Wed Sep 19, 2007 4:26 am
Hahaha! Yeah, loop it!
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By McSmooth Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:56 pm
The Aksy project does sound interesting, but I'm not sure what it has to do with the 4000's OS. Everyone works in different ways, so I agree with some points from Renich and Adversary. I find ak.sys very usefull for file operation and heavy program editing, so I could benefit from a better version. But when it comes to making music, its all the MPC's OS/hardware which is what you buy it for.

From what I gathered, there were 3 directions to take on the OS:
1) get the source from akai
2) reverse engineer
3) make a new one

Attempts at getting the source failed. Too bad because this really is the only ideal method to bug fix and add features. The only route I see is to save up a LOT of money and buy Akai Pro or convince them to sell you the source.

Haven't heard on gathering tools or attempting to reverse engineer.

Haven't heard on gathering tools or attempting to start a new OS.

So kind of doubt that will go anywhere unless I missed something. I personally don't think making a new OS is an option. It would be a fun project to toy around with, but it could never be an option to upgrade the existing 4k, it would be a completely different thing. Reverse engineering is not easy, and is typically used for small hacks, not for heavy coding and piling on features. All methods could render your MPC useless with one small mistake without the right tools.

... so why has the funds to buy akai? :D
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By Blue Haze Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:16 pm
You know everyone will be here on this lil thread next yr at the same time, on the same board on the same bat channel and nothing would have changed :wink:

2008 is coming and this same thread started in 2006 and running. Hmmn post on see ya next yr.

By Renich Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:31 pm
Impossible is nothing. I am gonna keep trying. Besides, have you guys seen how many people are interested in this? Doesn't it tell you something?

I know all of you wish this project to succeed... maybe deep within, but you do!
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By Blue Haze Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:37 pm
Renich wrote:Impossible is nothing. I am gonna keep trying. Besides, have you guys seen how many people are interested in this? Doesn't it tell you something?

I know all of you wish this project to succeed... maybe deep within, but you do!


Succeed yes. Question will 1million posts asking for dream wish make a difference?

I will ask a simple question when will it be released before or after 2008?

By Renich Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:13 pm
LOL

I understand you're concept of enterprise-projects. This is a volunteer project. No deadlines to meet. We depend 100% in volunteers. So far, 4 or 5 people are interested and only 3 are working (the Aksy guys and the FreeCycle guy).

In any case, it's on weels. Care to support? contact them! If you're a pythoner or a C programmer, join the band! If not, give some money to the projects! (not openmpc, but Aksy and FreeCycle) or sponsor a developer so it can start looking at the MPC4000's OS!

# Links at OpenMPC
http://www.woralelandia.com/openmpc/
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By Blue Haze Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:18 pm
Renich wrote:LOL

I understand you're concept of enterprise-projects. This is a volunteer project. No deadlines to meet. We depend 100% in volunteers. So far, 4 or 5 people are interested and only 3 are working (the Aksy guys and the FreeCycle guy).

In any case, it's on weels. Care to support? contact them! If you're a pythoner or a C programmer, join the band! If not, give some money to the projects! (not openmpc, but Aksy and FreeCycle) or sponsor a developer so it can start looking at the MPC4000's OS!

# Links at OpenMPC
http://www.woralelandia.com/openmpc/


When will it be released? Cuz we all will be sounding like a broken record asking the same in 2009 when a even newer mpc comes out so I`m not holding my breath.
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By Blue Haze Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:19 pm
Anyways have fun and post on. Who know it could happen tomorrow.

By foge1 Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:19 pm
"Oh, about Aksy, forgot one thing.

The guy developing FreeCycle, which is an alternative to ReCycle, is working with these guys to integrate FreeCycle with the sampler. This means Aksy will be sequencer enabled! In fact, you will be able to edit samples, slice, blah, blah, blah...

Aren't you exited?

Anyone wanted to throw money on a new OS??? Here's your chance to support a great project!

http://walco.n--tree.net/projects/aksy/wiki "

Hey I have been testing it on mac osx for walco so yeah its all good. keep up the good work the word needs dreamers. Hopefully one day you will have want you desire.
In the mean time I think I am going to buy a kurzweil, thought this was clever, and I missed my kurzweil after I sold it.
http://www.tangentcats.com/index.htm

geoff




Stay tunned on: http://www.woralelandia.com/openmpc/ for more info!

By Renich Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:06 pm
Hey cool! Nice project! And thanks for testing!
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By McSmooth Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:29 pm
Renich wrote:In any case, it's on weels. Care to support? contact them! If you're a pythoner or a C programmer, join the band! If not, give some money to the projects! (not openmpc, but Aksy and FreeCycle) or sponsor a developer so it can start looking at the MPC4000's OS!

# Links at OpenMPC
http://www.woralelandia.com/openmpc/

I guess that is where I was confused, I thought this thread was for the MPC's OS. This Aksy project has nothing to do with the MPC's OS, they are simply writing software for computers that interacts with the MPC's USB port. Do they have resources for working on the actual MPC'S OS? I'm not trying to be a downer at all, I would be very interested in helping with that as I know C... I just don't see any paths to that direction at this point since you can't just write a program and C/python and dump it on the MPC's hard drive.

By Renich Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:43 pm
Well, thank you very much for the offer!

The thing is that developing the OS hasn't started yet; we haven't been able to: set up a team, start writing and testing, get akai's full support (they did give us a very handy service manual, located at: http://www.woralelandia.com/openmpc/service_manual

We really want an OpenOS to come out, it's only that the we're following the current and it points towards apps being integrated first.

Hey! I love the idea of FreeCycle being able to edit/export AKP files! A sequencer that would edit the sequences and write them into memory would be awesome too!

I am trying to get somebody to start porting the linux kernel to the MPC4000. I'll end up hiring somebody if I have to!