About to Upgrade to the JJ OS for the MPC 2500

I have a MPC 2500 and I'm considering upgrading to the JJ OS, however, I have a couple questions that I would like to know before upgrading. If anyone with answers to these questions could chime in, I'd appreciate it.

First Question:
I have a MPC 2500 as my sequencer for my Fantom x6. I can send program changes to bring up the right patches on my Fantom x6, but the one thing that I'm missing is controlling the volume of the patches. The way it seems right now, I'm unable to do this with the Akai OS. Is there a way to do this with the JJ OS?

Second Question:
When I upgrade to the JJ OS, are my sequences and songs (from the Akai OS) going to be compatible with the JJ OS?

Third Question:
What is the procedure to downgrade back to the Akai OS? I assume that I need the Akai OS bin file somewhere. Is this the one that is available for download from Akai's website?

Fourth Question:
Should I wait to upgrade directly to the JJ OS v2? Or is the cost the same to the JJ OS v2 (meaning do I need purchase the JJ OS v1.x before I can upgrade to JJ OS v2). I've heard that the JJ OS v1.x is used as a boot loader for JJ OS v2.

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Any input from experienced users would greatly be appreciated...

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Would someone with experience with upgrading from the Akai OS to the JJ OS, please respond?

Wow the forums here really are starting to get dead.

I don't own a 2500 anymore. But when I did, I only had the JJ OS installed for like the last month or two before I sold it. So I apologize if I cannot fully answer all your questions.

I do not know the answer to your first question. I would check the JJ OS manual (available on the JJ OS site).

Yes your sequences and songs from Akai OS will be compatible with JJ.

Downgrading back to Akai OS is the same as loading any other OS using the bin file. Yes use the bin file available on the Akai website.

OS 2 has not been released for the 2500 yet. Furthermore, there are rumors that sales for JJ OS are slowing down and thusly depending on the success of OS 2 for the 1000, JJ may or may not even release OS 2 for the 2500. As of right now, it seems as though you will have to purchase OS 1 before you are able to load OS 2 (thats the way it works for the 1000 at least).

Tohtruck, thank you for your response. Just curious what did you end up getting to replace your MPC2500? I'm more if a keyboard player. I just wanted to see what the MPC was all about.

Thanks again.

Well, that's kind of a story on it's own. I got an MV-8800 to replace my MPC. I saw them selling on eBay for about the same price (if not, cheaper) than the 2500. The MV is a beast of a machine, it basically can do anything an MPC can do and then some.

Before I got the MV tho, I got a new computer and DAW software so I found that what the MV had to offer overlapped what I could get out of my computer. The MV just offered way too much so it kinda slowed me down. I found it easier and faster to sequence on the MPC. What I disliked most about it was that it is gigantic. Took up too much space on my desk and I started to find the bulkiness of it to be annoying (really killed my feng shui).

MV is a super powerful machine but it just wasn't for me. It would be my first pick tho if I didn't have a computer.

The MPC 2500 is dope tho. I really do miss it. I will probably get another sometime in the future if/when the price on them drops as I still feel that they are way overpriced.

I don't use midi with my mpc, so I have no idea on the first question also. I do know the JJ os has more midi features than akai (like using the faders on the 2500 to control midi parameters) so I would assume something as basic as volume would be included. I've never tried it, so I can't honestly answer this one for ya.
All your akai os music works within the JJ os. I've been loading up 2000/2000xl files in mine, as well as some of the first songs I made when I got my 2500. No problems at all.
To downgrade, just save the akai bin file onto your memory card and load it. Once you get the jj os and get used to the layout, I doubt you would ever want to return.
You can wait for v2, but you still need the current jj os to get it. You can't go from the akai os and simply buy v2. Pay for the jj os now, and then you have to pay for v2 later. V2 works off the current jj os. $80 for a much better operating system is still worth it, although I'm not having a single problem with what I have right now. V2 does offer some interesting additions (ASDR Attack, decay, sustain, and release) for individual samples and others that I don't really know about.
Hope that helps. Personally, if I were you, I'd at least try the free jj os that is available on his page. You won't be able to save your work, but you can always go back to the akai os after you preview it.



Second Question:
When I upgrade to the JJ OS, are my sequences and songs (from the Akai OS) going to be compatible with the JJ OS?

Third Question:
What is the procedure to downgrade back to the Akai OS? I assume that I need the Akai OS bin file somewhere. Is this the one that is available for download from Akai's website?

Fourth Question:
Should I wait to upgrade directly to the JJ OS v2? Or is the cost the same to the JJ OS v2 (meaning do I need purchase the JJ OS v1.x before I can upgrade to JJ OS v2). I've heard that the JJ OS v1.x is used as a boot loader for JJ OS v2.

i mean this in the nicest way possible, and i havn't actually read one word you've said.

just shut up and get jj already.


aduuuuuh

... but the one thing that I'm missing is controlling the volume of the patches. The way it seems right now, I'm unable to do this with the Akai OS. Is there a way to do this with the JJ OS?

There is a way to do this in both OSs. Just insert a Midi Control Change 7 at the start of a track.

When I upgrade to the JJ OS, are my sequences and songs (from the Akai OS) going to be compatible with the JJ OS?

I'm pretty sure they are, but you can always switch back to the Akai OS if you're having problems, although I suspect you'll never want to.

What is the procedure to downgrade back to the Akai OS? I assume that I need the Akai OS bin file somewhere. Is this the one that is available for download from Akai's website?

Yep its easy. Just keep a copy of any bin files you might want to use.

Should I wait to upgrade directly to the JJ OS v2? Or is the cost the same to the JJ OS v2 (meaning do I need purchase the JJ OS v1.x before I can upgrade to JJ OS v2). I've heard that the JJ OS v1.x is used as a boot loader for JJ OS v2.

The upgrade cost will be the same. You need JJ OS1 to upgrade to OS2.

FINAL WORD: Just do it. You won't regret it.

Thank you guys for your input. I will update to the JJ OS ASAP.