MPC2500 defaults

Hello everyone.

I'm quite frustrated at the default settings when turning on the MPC2500.
For example:
LOOP always on
Send program change OFF
Send bank change OFF
Memory allocated disproportionally to samples and midi.
Any ideas please?
Also:
Has anyone had USB problems? I can only connect once and then I have to shut down and start again.
The PC won't recognise the MPC.

Regards
Kingell

First off....it sounds like you need to update your 2500 to the latest OS.

Kingell wrote:Memory allocated disproportionally to samples and midi.

What do you mean? You want more memory for sequences? I'm pretty sure the Akai guys reserved enough memory to hold the maximum of notes the sequencer can deal with anyway. So no use for that.

If you want certain settings to load automatically which are not saved anyway, do those settings in an empty project, save it as entire memory to a folder, and Autoload that on every startup.

Thanks for the reply.
I have the latest OS confirmed by the AKAI techies.
I only want to load MIDI files for performances.
If I load an .smf I have to go through many parameters (LOOP, PROGRAM CHANGE, BANK CHANGE etc) So once loaded I have to save as .seq files which are often 3 to 4 times bigger. (165K+)
So I load several .seq files for a half hour spot.
I've upgraded the memory and have installed a hard disk.
If I want to load, say, 10 seq files I run out of memory but according to the screen there is loads
of memory for samples which I don't want to use.
Is that any clearer?
Regards
Kingell

With the latest OS you shouldn't have problems with USB anymore...

And I don't really understand the issue with the sequences. Well...maybe the MPC is not meant to be a big ass MIDI file player, but rather a sampler.

Have you tried setting the defaults for each track before loading smf's? I have just got my 2500 so I have not yet gotten around to customizing it...

As for the sequencer memory, according to the comparison sheet you have triple the sequencer memory with JJ OS (300k notes v. 100k in the native Akai OS). I have not tried it yet either but it could be worth a shot.

And no, I do not endorse the JJ or am afilliated with it in any way imaginable - just for the record.

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

I'm not satisfied that this machine will meet my needs but I can't find an alternative.

The USB part still doesn't work properly and I've reinstalled the OS from AKAI.

There are only 96 ticks per quarter note which means that the MPC crams data together issuing say 12 items at tick 1.
The YAMAHA ES rack baulks at this and ignores most of them.

I design my own midis using several software packages including Cubase, Sibelius, XGworks, Cakewalk etc.;
they will all allow me to spread the commands but when they are loaded into the MPC they become squashed together and confuse the ES.

I have to laboriously go through every item in every track using the MPC screen, multiple buttons and spread them out.

What is most annoying is that other rack modules I own - some many years old eg YAMAHA FB01, TX81; KORG EX8000 - have no problems and even commercial midi files often have all the set up commands at tick 1.

I complained on the Yamaha forum and the Motif forums but no useful responses came.

If I create a "template" it still reverts to all the defaults which I don't want. It took me nearly 2 hours to go through one five minute MIDI file.

The jj OS might help but AKAI have agreed to look at their memory sharing. Copy from AKAI Email:
The memory cannot be changed to allocate more to the sequencer side and less to samples. That’s a great feature request!

I'm getting there but very slowly.

I need more MIDI memory and more ticks. Hrrmmph!!

If anyone can tell me the format of a .seq file that would be helpful because I could write my own editing software.
The only software I've found is for editing the pad system which presently doesn't interest me.

Regards to all

Well, ok...you can't expect a machine that is working at only 96ppq to work properly with MIDI files at higher resolutions. If I understand correct that is the main issue here, not the memory itself. Some other MPCs have higher resolution, at least the 4000.

Thanks for your reply Stilo.
You realise it's discontinued
and 5 times what I paid for my current machine 2500
Anyone else got any helpful suggestions please?
Regards
Kingell

USB is fine here, You can certainly set the loop to be either on or off by default, not sure on the others.

I didn't recommend you to buy a 4000, just giving out info. You can get new 4000's still for around the price of a 2500 here and there by the way.

How did you set the LOOP to default to off please?
Kingell

Kingell wrote:How did you set the LOOP to default to off please?
Kingell

To set defaults, change whatever you need to, i.e Loop to on or off, Bars to 8 (instead of 2) etc etc, then select the 'Sq' field on the main screen, press 'Window' (should be illuminated), then press F3 (user).

I'd also suggest that the USB problem you are having is not being caused by the MPC, merely the MPC is showing a fault with either your USB drivers or something.

Ages ago, I had a similar problem with USB, drivers freezing, failing after connecting devices, all sorts. The only thing I can suggest is how i'd approach the problem .......

- its a far from common problem amongst MPC users, therefore probably not MPC caused.
- how many other USB devices do I have connected to the same hub ? is their a conflict ?
- if i'm satisfied that no new installs have caused a conflict I'd be thinking that I have to go back to square 1

Click on Start -> Settings -> Control Panel
Double click 'System'
Click on 'Hardware' tab
Click on 'Device Manager'
Expand the 'Universal Serial Bus Connections'
Select everything in turn, right click and select 'Uninstal'
Do this for everything thats listed, seems drastic, but it gets rid of all USB drivers.

Make sure your Windows is up to date with SP2 (contains USB specific changes) if it is, then just reboot your machine.

The machine will re-boot then you'll get a load of prompts for hardware found etc, you'll get one for each of the hubs etc.

All the drivers should already be stored on your hard drive, so don't search for drivers 'online' just let the machine find em on your hard drive and re-install em.

If possible, meaning read every freaking pop up window, only install the USB hub and port drivers, dont install any drivers relating specifically to any hardware you've added, i.e midi keyboards etc etc. Leave those for now, just get the Hub drivers installed.

Now re-install your MPC

Test it, see if it works. If it does, re-boot and ** repeat the above for any drivers you skipped 'i.e midi keyboard drivers'.

Re-test your MPC, if the problem has returned, then you know its one of the other midi enable hardware thats causing the USB to die.

You'll then have to got back through the above, but at ** you'll have to install each individually and retest the mpc each time untill you find the problem hardware/driver.

Thanks for taking the time for such a comprehensive and understandable reply.

I haven't followed your suggestions yet but I will later today

Kind regards
Kingell

Hi
I've tried the default route suggested. How does it load back in again please?
It didn't work when I switched off and back on. Is there a file I should locate and load when switching on?
Cheers
Kingell

When you turn the mpc back on, hit the right cursor button and it will automatically load the sequence default.