sp1200 - Can't record in segment mode! Help!!!

hej there. I've got an mpc 3k and bought an emu sp1200 (the grey one) recently. Off course I'm a newbie with this sampler, but of course I read the manual of my sp1200 first. But I'm quite desperate right now. I know there are some cats in this forum who own also an sp. please help me out!

this is my problem: when I'm in *Segment mode*, and press record + start-stop (in an empty segment) the leds do not light up, and nothing will be recorded when I playwith the internal sounds/pads.
Can anybody tell me whats wrong? all the lights work (I've checked it
with the lightshow-cheat). two month ago the mashine worked fine and I had no problms recording segments.

I know this question was asked from some other guy on two sp-forums before (yahoo and dxarmy), but nobody answered it. please help me out, what to do.
cheers!

The only thing I can think of that would stop you from recording a segment would be if you've taken up all of the machines memory with samples since sequences leach off the sample memory.

yea maybe, but it shouldn't be doing that if he's starting from scratch.

Turn on your sp, load all your samples and if it doesn't record in segment mode, try pressing the setup button, hit 23, then hit 15 say yes and hit 16 and say yes. That clears all samples and memory. Then hit disk button #6 to load just a kick and snare off the disk and try recording in segment mode.

Sounds silly but make sure you aren't in the set-up menu.

first of all: many thanks for the replies ... but I'm afraid you couldn't help yet.

I cleared all the machines memory and did what "something like that" suggest. but it still didn't work. the led's of record/edit and run/stop didn't light up and all I could hear is the noise you hear when you hit the start-button in an empty segment.

to "JaeOne3345": as far as I know it isn't possible to be in the segment-mode and work in the set up-menu at the same time (only one led will be on).

In the meantime I found out that some other pads also didn't work in the segment-mode:

If you press these segment-pads nothing hapens in the display: segment length, auto correct, erase, step programm ... but if you press the other four buttons (metronome, swing, copy, time signature) their functions will be displayed. strange

damn. Sounds like you have a real problem then.

You know you can't leave the grey ones on for too long b/c they get ultra hot and have the potential to overheat.

What sort of environment is your gear in? Humidity? Cold to the point of condensation?

You should ground yourself, open that beast up and dust it out but I would NOT use one of those compressed air keyboard cleaning cans.

Also, search the web and this site on how to clean sticking pads, buttons and whatnot. When I cracked mine open it was filled from dust that most likely got blown in by the fan I use to keep cool. I just blew it out using lung power and that was enough to get my channel 7 output functioning again.

Best of luck!

You have to define your segment by giving it a length and Quant setting.
If you can't get these setting to change by following the instructions in the manual, then you have bad or intermittent function buttons that need to be replaced.

if worse comes to worse at least you can ship it to VST or Forat (California) and have them fix it for a relatively affordable price. Its just shipping and duties that are going to eat up your euro....

speaking of which,

I recall a place in UK that repairs MPC's so they should be able to fix your SP also.

Yo where was that place that repairs MPC's in the UK I need some places just in case mine arrives DOA...
Does it have to be a specific AKAI repairer seeing as the warranty for a 60 II probably expired in the 80s?

http://www.synth-service.co.uk/ (located in London_

http://www.mastertronics.it/ (located in Italy)

http://www.mitatechs.com/ (Worldwide service)

http://synthrestore.co.uk/ (London)


I had a synth expert fix non "keyboard/synth" gear before so I'm sure some of these guys could help you out.

Thats all the research I'm doing for you. Just google what your looking for and it will be there.

sp1200 forum
dxarmy.com/sp1200