some questions before i buy

i was originally going to get an MPC 1000 but then decided for a microkorg and a 500. i just have a few questions before i buy the unit. my broadband has cut out at the minute (hopefully not for long) so i can't even download the akai manuals from their site or else my compter freezes up .

i know you can chop samples on the 500 but it's done numerically by ear which is fine by me because this is how im used to chopping anyway. im just wondering does the 500 have these 2 features:
-timestretch like if my sample is too fast i can slow it down without a lot of degradation to the sound
-does it have a feature if i have a sample the MPC will automatically spread the sample out in different notes across the pads.

and finally how buggy is the OS really?

ive heard some people experiencing numerous crashes and others who have run into no bugs.

any info useful.

thanks

yes and yes, ive had no bug issues

thank you.

that's all i wanted to know really

flashbang wrote:i was originally going to get an MPC 1000 but then decided for a microkorg and a 500. i just have a few questions before i buy the unit. my broadband has cut out at the minute (hopefully not for long) so i can't even download the akai manuals from their site or else my compter freezes up .

i know you can chop samples on the 500 but it's done numerically by ear which is fine by me because this is how im used to chopping anyway. im just wondering does the 500 have these 2 features:
-timestretch like if my sample is too fast i can slow it down without a lot of degradation to the sound

Yes!

flashbang wrote:

-does it have a feature if i have a sample the MPC will automatically spread the sample out in
different notes across the pads.

No, you have to chop the samples yourself and spread them out over the pads

flashbang wrote:
and finally how buggy is the OS really?

There are some saving issues (saved files can be corrupt), it is almost every time your sequences that gets corrupt. And then the machine tends to copy different tracks to different sequences all by itself, if the machine keep running while you record different parts into different sequences. I tried the MPC-1000 with JJ OS and can only reccomend that! An MPC-1000 with JJ OS is the best MPC you can get !
Good luck!

i am a bit confused with that.

are you saying i need to tune the sample multiple times to a different note and then assign them to different pads??

i know you have to chop the sample up yourself and assign it to the pads but let's say you just have 1 note is there a function where the MPC can chromatically assign the notes to the pads??

also just one last thing. ive been looking at the US vs. UK prices and i think it would be a lot cheaper to order from the US. the only problem is the power supply. i don't really know about these things so could somebody help me out?

flashbang wrote:i am a bit confused with that.

are you saying i need to tune the sample multiple times to a different note and then assign them to different pads??

i know you have to chop the sample up yourself and assign it to the pads but let's say you just have 1 note is there a function where the MPC can chromatically assign the notes to the pads??

Sorry, no. This can be arranged automatic with the chromatic function. I misunderstood.

flashbang wrote:
also just one last thing. ive been looking at the US vs. UK prices and i think it would be a lot cheaper to order from the US. the only problem is the power supply. i don't really know about these things so could somebody help me out?

If you live in the UK, you need a new transformer. Just look at the output on the original US transformer and find a UK transformer with the same specs!

are you saying i need to tune the sample multiple times to a different note and then assign them to different pads??

naw, there is a function where it'll automatically assign each pad a different note for one sample. it's sweet dude, i love the 500 it's my baby.

Don't misunderstand me. I LOVE my little machine! It is worth the money!!!

thanks everybody and for clearing that up emier.

i also think i'll just order from the UK as well.

thanks, im looking forward to purchasing this machine