Post your views and questions about the Akai MPC2500
By Kingell Sun May 25, 2008 5:19 pm
Nope - tried three ways

1. Press right cursor and hold; switch on
2. Switch on; press right cursor momentarily
3. Switch on; hold right cursor until main screen appears..

LOOP returns ON

None of the other of my default settings appear. Is it me? :mrgreen:

My computer (Toshiba satellite) reinstalls the USB gear immediately I uninstall it - found new hardware etc
B****y Microsoft :x
Regards
Kingell
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By BostonGreen Sun May 25, 2008 5:58 pm
Hmmm, you are saving once you've made the settings arent you ?

Ok, step by step,

Adjust what you want as your defaults.
Hit Window
Hit User

Go back to main screen

Hit Mode
Hit Save (Pad2)
Select Save Entire Memory in 'Type' field
Hit Do It
Hit A.Load
Hit Do It

Turn off Mpc

Turn on Mpc

Your defaults should be loaded.
Every time you create a new sequence, it creates with your new defaults.
By Kingell Sun May 25, 2008 6:43 pm
Ho hum
Thanks again but I autoload a set of MIDI files.
When I try to add a different MIDI file all the defaults go back to AKAI's.
Shouldn't have bought this. :angry:
It's more nuisance than a chocolate fireguard :lol:
Regards
Kingell
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By BostonGreen Sun May 25, 2008 6:50 pm
Think you should probably read through the manual .... slowly.
By _Stilo_ Sun May 25, 2008 7:02 pm
BostonGreen wrote:When you turn the mpc back on, hit the right cursor button and it will automatically load the sequence default.

You sure you're not using JJ OS?
By _Stilo_ Sun May 25, 2008 7:21 pm
I never heard of that right cursor button thingy to load defaults...
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By BostonGreen Sun May 25, 2008 7:33 pm
Well seeing as most of your time seems to be spent posting smart ass replies to other peoples posts or enquiries, i'm not surprised.

With no autoload set, when you turn on your mpc, the Sq field will say 01-(unused), Loop will be On and Bars will be 0.

hit right cursor button and hey presto !!!
By Kingell Sun May 25, 2008 10:57 pm
Boston Green

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

Nope - it won't :? Where do you save the new default setting?

Anyway, thanks for all your time and trouble which is most appreciated. You are very kind with your concern and support.

I'm no further on but I suppose as I build my MPC library of performance material (.seq) it will be OK.

I like the way the machine plays but I guess it was designed for different uses than I want.

Because I can't get the USB to work properly I dismount the hard drive, relocate to another computer and set it up how I want and then return it.

I've got a PCMCIA/CF card which lets me edit directly in a computer but all this should work through the 2500 over USB.
AKAI told me to send it back for repair. I've had it three weeks and Turnkey(uk) has gone bust - so what the hell. :cry:

I don't understand your reference to the handbook which really is VERY incomplete (like most modern handbooks) for the use to which I want to put the machine.

I've read it thoroughly and I'm not daft. I had to download a .PDF to find how to put MIDI to exact use.
Why can't they give me pages of info and sysex like Yamaha does??

I'm a registered Microsoft programmer and hold the UK Plato Award for Creative Use of ICT. I have the equivalent of a Music Technology degree, taught teachers and lecturers all over the North of England and led a Big Band and showband for over 50 years. Alzheimers has not yet set in but maybe soon!!

But...................

I wish I could find a machine that would load a "set" of midi files and play them sequentially at my command to several sound units (which the 2500 can do to four - and that works!!!!) for, say, an hour.

Most of my other gear is Yamaha but even that is deteriorating in efficiency with advancing years. For example, the MOTIF ES RACK is nowhere near as good as my PSR9000 which is several years old now.

Kind regards
Kingell
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By BostonGreen Sun May 25, 2008 11:25 pm
Kingell wrote:Boston Green

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

Nope - it won't :? Where do you save the new default setting?


Save it to your memory card, then every time you start the machine, that will load. page 110 of your manual

AKAI told me to send it back for repair. I've had it three weeks and Turnkey(uk) has gone bust - so what the hell. :cry:


Ouch, sorry for you on that score.

I don't understand your reference to the handbook which really is VERY incomplete (like most modern handbooks) for the use to which I want to put the machine.

I've read it thoroughly and I'm not daft.


I'm not trying to be 'assy' here, but my answer above shows that you havnt really ready the manual that well.

I'm a registered Microsoft programmer and hold the UK Plato Award for Creative Use of ICT. I have the equivalent of a Music Technology degree and have taught teachers and lecturers all over the North of England.

But...................



.... you can't read a manual as far as page 110 or look in the index at the beginning and see listed under Chapter 16: Save/Load there is a section called 'Setting the auto load function'

.... page 19 'Changing the default settings' - sequence
.... page 22 'Changing the default name for a track' - track
.... page 106 'Creating the Autoload folder'

Its all there
By Kingell Mon May 26, 2008 11:40 am
Thanks for the reply but it's not all there as I said.

e.g. P106 When you load the project file, the sample/program/ALL files saved with
the project file will be loaded automatically and set the MPC2500 to the same status when you saved the data.
For example, if you select SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY when you save the data after finish working on it for the day,
you can start the MPC2500, the next day, from where you finished the previous day.


P110 When you use SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY mode to save the data, the MPC2500 will load the project file that will be created. When you load a project file, all the data currently saved in the unit will be overwritten by the data that the project file will load.


You can see that nothing is mentioned about MIDI and its defaults. However, If I load and modify a MIDI file SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY then sure enough it all comes back just as you say - the book doesn't make it obvious how to do that or even how to set up the 2500 as a MIDI file player.

As I said the defaults come back and the file but...............
and here's the rub and the point I am trying to make.

Even though all the defaults are there as required for MIDI performance if I then load a new .SMF into this slot set up as I want, replacing the present MIDI file - bingo!! - all AKAI's defaults reappear and, frustratingly, I have to reset each track: DRUM, Bank Select, Program changes, Prg: No 1, and because the resolution is only 96 ticks per quarter note I have to spread commands - on each track :angry: - so that the ES rack can process them all.

I use AUTOLOAD to set up a program of MIDI files for live performance - although as I said in a previous posting the memory isn't big enough for more than 8 .SMF files converted/modified/saved as .seq files.

you can't read a manual as far as page 110 or look in the index at the beginning

Despite what you somewhat rudely imply I have thoroughly read and digested the contents - even the appendix :roll: and subsequent PDFs from the AKAI site - of the manual which does not explain in depth as you so kindly did. I could only work the MIDI how I wanted by downloading a PDF from elsewhere. Like you, I have been able to help others with problems and there seems to be quite a lot on this forum.

Kind regards and thanks again
Kingell
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By BostonGreen Mon May 26, 2008 12:02 pm
Kingell wrote:
you can't read a manual as far as page 110 or look in the index at the beginning

Despite what you somewhat rudely imply I have thoroughly read and digested the contents - even the appendix :roll: and subsequent PDFs from the AKAI site - of the manual which does not explain in depth as you so kindly did.

Kind regards and thanks again
Kingell


Well all I can say is, i've had my machine for about 8 weeks (never had a hardware sampler before), its been turned on for a total of probably less than 10 hours. I have used/read no other resources AND I have only read the manual as far as page 97, plus chapter 16. EVERYTHING I have explained to you has come from the manual.

Maybe your machine really is faulty, if you think thats the case, send it to Akai, regardless of Turnkey's position, Akai have to honor the warranty.
By Kingell Mon May 26, 2008 12:44 pm
I think you're using the sampler section - I'm not - I only want to use the MIDI sequencer presently.

Try loading a .MID file and you'll see how difficult it is to get it to do what you want.

I've tried AKAI technical and they tell me the defaults can't be changed nor the memory size.

At least you suggested ways that might work.

Try and do what I've done - you'll find it very frustrating. :( :angry:

If you find a way to load a .SMF file (not a .SEQ file) without losing the defaults you want.
Then I'd love to hear from you.

I can't return the machine presently as I'm committed to it for performances. I'm now looking for a different machine by the way - this wasn't designed for my usage. No-one else seems to make a sequencer and I don't want to carry a laptop around.

Leaving aside the USB problem, it does what I want once I've amended my .MID files and saved them as .SEQ which are usually nearly twice as big. I have several CF cards and have AUTOLOADs on each one with performance material - about 20 minutes each.

Have you tried this firm?:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spec ... RAM-FLC2GB

I use a PCMCIA/CF card to edit the CF in a PC.

http://www.memorymegastore.com/moreInfo ... elect=Home

I've asked AKAI for the .SEQ file details so I can write an editing program but so far no joy. My editing software has 480 ticks per quarter note so I have to waff on to fit into the 96 ticks of the 2500.

Kind regards
Kingell
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By BostonGreen Mon May 26, 2008 12:53 pm
Kingell wrote:No-one else seems to make a sequencer and I don't want to carry a laptop around.


Well a laptop is smaller and would certainly serve your midi sequencing needs a hell of a lot better than an MPC.

Have you tried this firm?:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spec ... RAM-FLC2GB

Kind regards
Kingell


I only have the one memory card, just have my standard default setup loaded on it for when I power on the machine, other than that everything goes on the hard drive I put in it.
By Kingell Mon May 26, 2008 2:00 pm
Well a laptop is smaller and would certainly serve your midi sequencing needs a hell of a lot better than an MPC.


Very true but a more attractive theft object :wink:

I often perform al fresco making my gear very vulnerable.

Additionally I use 3 of the MIDI outs on the MPC making extra hardware added to a laptop.

Did you try a MIDI file?

Regards

Kingell