IS os2 WORTH IT? (yes, this is why)

nah, haven't seen that. os2 largely focuses on tasks and functions that were not possible in os1.

however, the looping of a 2 bar bassline is doable in less than 10 seconds via main screen grid edit copy, as i'm sure you know.

Thanks for the review Nym. This actually prompted me not to get OS2, because I really don't use the 1k in the way you suggested in the update, my workflow is a bit different and works well with OS1. But this was a thorough review of the functions of OS2.

SOME of the functions of os2. i still say that no matter what your workflow, os2 only offers more control, more options, and will result in stronger usage. an installation of the os2 demo will demonstrate this. once you give it a shot and begin to understand the new tools, there's no going back.

just steppin into it now to chop some shit up and the new NDC is kinda confusing at first.

how the hell do you adjust the start and end points in slice mode? lol
tried the usual arrows which just keeps me locked on the number of slices, and the q-links w/ after adjust the start/end numbers but nothing on the screen moves.

and whats with the endpoint moving back a bit everytime you hit the pad while adjusting in trim... is that just selecting a zero point automatically?

edit nevermind... I just noticed the CHOP section in program mode...
hey its xmas and i had a bit to drink, prolly not the best time to start tryn to learn the new features haha

there's never a better time than to do that

actually NDC and slice have a TRIM bug, see my bug report in the thread. work around those for now and it'll get fixed

hahah thats true... i just get a little impatient and ask stupid questions instead of taking the extra couple mins to figure it out... like that one lol.

ahh was thinkin there was a bug, just wasnt sure.
i read the thread earlier too lol

thanks.

Mpc_Monk wrote:haven you heard anything of different track lengths that are loopable in the os 2 Nym?
so that you could loop a 2 bar bassline with a 8bar drum track.

that would be dope

Antonym wrote:he's right, it is in os1. was it put there recently, or was this just a massive oversight on my part? either way, i'm very glad i found it.

It's funny, I don't remember any formal announcement of that feature in OS 1 but it was a few versions ago that I actually discovered it by accident. Somehow I managed to implement the feature without knowing it and started to get a bit worried when only a couple of bars would play out of a much longer sequence. I got pretty worked up till I took a look at the "new" loop window.

Thanks for the usage tip DVS I wasn't aware of that.

BTW I plan to buy os2 myself. I like it. That mini grid in the main screen is almost cool enough as it is.

Antonym wrote:the question is budding in the forums: is it worth it to buy os2 when you already have os1, which is already much, much better than the akai os? i hope to answer that question. first, these are my favorite OS2 functions that will prove to be incredibly useful.

1 - we are now able to specify sequence LOOP start/stop. say you have a 16 bar loop. we are now able to set the sequence to loop between say bar 4 and 8, or 9-12, or any number. this is WILD. i can now have a song that i've rendered to 1 long, 60 bar sequence and still have it loop on the bars that once were originally sequence 4. this is a big deal.

2- start time accessible from MAIN screen. when MTC synced to daw, say you're working on the 7th eight bar sequence in your song. if you were to just hit playstart, your DAW would start from the beginning of your DAW project, while your mpc would be playing the 7th sequence. now, you can set the start time per sequence, so that it corresponds to your synced DAW. this is great.

3- global track mixer (GTM). in main screen, hit window over the track name. you now have single-screen, GPE style access to all of your tracks. you can rename them quickly without actually moving from track to track in the main screen. you can turn them from DRUM to MIDI (something i do frequently since i ONLY program in MIDI grid edit but sometimes need to view NOTE ON qlink values. you can change programs from GTM, and PC and MIDI params... finally, and most importantly, the actual TRACK mixer. this was available before on a per-pad basis through GPE, but GTM is MUCH faster: 1 value instead of 64 values. level, pan, out, fx, send. fantastic.

4- Aftertouch to Crossfade 1-2. in a drum program, enter New Program Mode and set a sine wave to layer 1 and 2. tune the first layer to -12, tune the 2nd layer to 0. set aftertouch to crossfade1-2 to 50. press with alternating pressure, note the crossfade between sample layers. this has a LOT of potential, both in terms of melody and percussive elements, as welll as with long chopped samples. i haven't even begun to think about the potential of this function - expect further tips from me in the future.

___________________________________________

the downside of os2: it's still in a relatively early stage of development. there are still bugs that hinder a user's workflow. however, i am actively reporting them and i believe they will disappear very soon.

that being said, the tools available in os2 make it already 2x as powerful as os1. i still use os1 for various tracks that i started in os1, but i no longer start new projects in os1.

so why buy os2? first, os2 is worth it already. INST programs turn the MPC1000 into a very capable rompler/synthesizer/preset playing device. drum shaping using ADSR is more powerful than ever before. 2 simulted kick pads, each shaped specifically w/ ADSR on AMP and FILTER = extraordinary control.

2nd, future functions. the programmer has a bunch of plans, hence the "no feature request til march." the programmer's plans have been wonderful so far, and i expect they will continue. not to mention, after march comes and the programmer starts choosing from the countless requests that users send to him, we will see further positive developments.

3rd, for the MPC2500 users... jj has mentioned that os2 may not be made for the mpc2500 unless os2 sells well for the mpc1000. out of personal interest and community, it's only fair that the 2500 users get access to os2 after it has been tentatively completed for the MPC1000 in march. personally, i would feel very sad for the 2500 users if they never got to taste ADSR and other os2 functions just because not enough mpc1000 users bought os2.

4th - necessity of these functions. some people say "for all these functions, i would rather use a DAW." to be honest, i think this is spoken from inexperience. there are no DAW functions on the MPC1000 os2 that i would rather use in a DAW (EXCLUDING AUDIO TRACKS). it's plain and simple - stuff like ADSR and INST tracks are absolutely ESSENTIAL once you've used them a couple of times. you won't want to go back.

is os2 worth it? hell yes. should you get it now? depends on whether or not you enjoy the bughunt. personally, i love the bughunt. however, there's also this option: buy os2 now to show your interest and support. install it, update it every now and then - but don't use it until you're comfortable with it (and maybe until i give you the thumbs up for work unhindered by bugs!) os2 is still young, but i recommend that you buy it early for the above reasons.

don't settle for less. os1 is great, os2 is god.

nym

TALK IS CHEAP HOW ABOUT A YOUTUBE VIDEO ON OS2

damn, dude.. not only did you just diss the amount of work antonym put into typing all this useful info by saying "talk is cheap"... but you're also requesting a youtube video here as well as in your separate thread??? you seriously need to chill.

3rd, for the MPC2500 users... jj has mentioned that os2 may not be made for the mpc2500 unless os2 sells well for the mpc1000. out of personal interest and community, it's only fair that the 2500 users get access to os2 after it has been tentatively completed for the MPC1000 in march. personally, i would feel very sad for the 2500 users if they never got to taste ADSR and other os2 functions just because not enough mpc1000 users bought os2.

I didn't know this! C'mon 1000 users - buy buy buy!

TALK IS CHEAP HOW ABOUT A YOUTUBE VIDEO ON OS2

hahahaha the fact that you quoted my entire monster novel-esque post on os2 before posting that made me laugh...

i'll try. my main issue was having multiple angles. i don't want to just sit there with a camera handheld as i hit pads. i wouldn't be able to do it justice.

there are these projection tools called elmos at my university which i can use to project a view of the mpc up onto a wall. i'll focus one camera on the big picture, including me standing at the side. the elmo will show the MPC- pads, screen, sliders and fingers. the other camera will zoom in on the projected screen itself.

it'll be a fairly major operation but if it helps os2 sell i'll do it.

I would be interested in seeing the new OS in action...I'm sure I'll upgrade anyhow, but it'd still be nice to see it in advance!

i'm probably gonna need to see another update before i can REALLY show some stuff. the bugs i posted in the BUG REPORT thread hinder my ability to really move on this as of now. in the meantime i've been converting all my multisamples into INST programs. i doubled the amount i had uploaded before, and i hope to throw them up for public access soon...

I'd wait till at least V1.00 before you start your movie career. For both you and JJ.