MPC5000 reviews, bug reports and fellow user support on the most recent standalone, hardware MPC from Akai
By foge1 Sun May 25, 2008 3:28 pm
"Take any Sample Stab ----> FIlter ----> Multi Tap Delay ----> Reverb
and then use Q-Link Sequence to Modulate the Filter, Multi Tap Delay, & Reverb independantly
and you have instant Basic Channel/Maurizio"

Shame they didn't add memories on the 4k for the step seq.
g
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By scd Mon May 26, 2008 10:19 am
Blue Haze wrote:
scd wrote:
LvngDead wrote:^^I'm pretty sure this scd cat is never coming back. Shame, he was the only good beta tester we had.



Sometimes, a man gotta paint his house.... Unlucky me, I was that man for the last few weeks :mrgreen:

manneokoko: mine and you knob behaviour suggestions are entered into the feature request list.
Unfortunately I have lost all synth examples from my internet server so I can not share those anymore :(



Good to see you back scd. how is that buglist going??? And did you know that MUSICII cat???


The buglist for the 4k you mean? I doubt it will happen, that update. Though Akai did not throw it of the list yet, but it is delayed, so...

I have no clue what you mean with MUSICII cat? :?:
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By scd Mon May 26, 2008 10:21 am
I will go through the last 4, 5 pages tonight to see what else can be put on the feature request list.

Boele
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By scd Mon May 26, 2008 5:10 pm
manneokoko wrote:Hello.

Ive never worked with a MPC but am now considering the 5000. My question is how fast it is to work with. Is it possible to jump in and out of diffrent rec modes (grid, stepedit, realtime etc) while the sequencer is still running? I hate it on the roland boxes where you have to stop before you can enter record mode. And what about other aspects of the machine, can i have the sequencer running at all time or do i have to stop it alot (when editing samples, setting upp pads etc. etc.)? Does it save/load fast, are the menus fast (some machines you have to wait a second or two when shifting pages which kills "the flow" of work)?.
What im looking for is a machine that is as fast as the electribe's but with more features.

Also, scd, can you upload some of those mp3's were you demo the VA synth again? All links are broken. Thanks!

//Manneokoko


I find it pretty fast to work with. In Main mode you can do whatever you want while the sequencer is running. The one exception is SONG mode. You will have to stop the sequencer to get in there or out there. That makes sense of course.
Certain action will slow down or pause the sequencer (but not stop it), like chopping and converting a sample for instance. It loads normally when the sequencer is running. Shifting pages is quite smooth in most instances.

It looks like I saved some examples done on the 5k after all.

The one VA synth song is in the demofiles on the 5k, so that was easy:
http://www.synthmusic.info/mpdries/synthMPC.mp3

Some filter examples (bassdrum through all kinds of filters, with all pole settings, see manual):
http://www.synthmusic.info/mpdries/LP1-8P.mp3
http://www.synthmusic.info/mpdries/HP1-8P.mp3
http://www.synthmusic.info/mpdries/BP1-8P.mp3
http://www.synthmusic.info/mpdries/BS6-8P.mp3
http://www.synthmusic.info/mpdries/Model2.mp3
http://www.synthmusic.info/mpdries/vocalformant1.mp3
http://www.synthmusic.info/mpdries/vocalformant2.mp3

A complete song I did on the 5k where the sequencers are the VA synth:
http://www.synthmusic.info/mp3s/324Lovely.mp3

And another one, not completely sure about the sounds. All sequences are 5k for sure, drums are 808 samples from the 5k, Mellotron comes also from samples. I remember now, all pads, bass etc. is all the VA synth.

http://www.synthmusic.info/mp3s/326sequerdesueq.mp3

Boele
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By scd Mon May 26, 2008 5:37 pm
mp3 wrote:
scd wrote: the feature request list.


Here are a few more:

1. More q-link paramter control (would be especially helpful in the sample program editor, or when editing 'windowed' parameters like timing correct settings, or setting start/end points in trim mode). There are just too many knobs, buttons and sliders sitting there doing nothing while you cursor and datawheel yourself to death...

2. Auto-preview while browsing the hard drive, so you don't have to click F5 over and over.

3. Main screen -> Trim mode - When Switching to Trim Mode from the Main Screen, Trim mode should display either the last played sample, or the sample assigned to the last played pad.

3a. Also, an option to switch pad behavior in Trim mode: You could either have it the way it currently is (where you preview the sample being edited across all pads) or set it up so that you are playing the current program. That way, you could 1. select the sample you want to edit by tapping the pad, and 2. hear your edits as they will sound in the program.

4. 1dB increments for the Filter Attenuation. 6dB steps are too coarse.

5. In addition to threshold sampling, add the option to manually start sampling.

By the way SCD, I demoed some of your synth programs last night at my local Guitar Center. Very nice!


1. is already in the feature request list

2. Is now in the feature request list

3 and 3a: I see a lot of trouble in these request. Don't think that will be possible. Will review this requests later. What to do if more than 1 sample has been assigned to the pad for instance? 3a makes more sense, but I still see bears on the road as we say here in the Netherlands :)

4. Entered as feature request.
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By scd Mon May 26, 2008 5:50 pm
LvngDead wrote:Boele, please brother, sequence looping down to the ppqn. I know you entered it in as a request, but what are the chances of it actually happening?


This has been entered. But what Akai will implement is not for me to say. Just wait and see :?
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By scd Mon May 26, 2008 5:55 pm
mp3 wrote:
scd wrote: the feature request list.


5. In addition to threshold sampling, add the option to manually start sampling.



You mean a sort of "+inf" setting as opposed to the "-inf" setting in the Threshold line? So nothing can start sampling automatically but pressing "RECORD"?
By ecsmix Mon May 26, 2008 7:02 pm
Hi guys I just bought a MPC 5K and mine didn't come with usb cable or compact flash card.

Which compact flash card works the best, is the 4gb works good?

Thanks.
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By scd Mon May 26, 2008 8:58 pm
ecsmix wrote:Hi guys I just bought a MPC 5K and mine didn't come with usb cable or compact flash card.

Which compact flash card works the best, is the 4gb works good?

Thanks.


Type I or II up to 2 Gb compact flash cards will work.
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By mp3 Tue May 27, 2008 9:18 pm
scd wrote:
mp3 wrote:
scd wrote: the feature request list.


5. In addition to threshold sampling, add the option to manually start sampling.



You mean a sort of "+inf" setting as opposed to the "-inf" setting in the Threshold line? So nothing can start sampling automatically but pressing "RECORD"?


Yeah that's one way to do it. But it still would require an essentially unnecessary parameter change (setting the threshold level). I would suggest a slightly more streamlined implementation:

My suggestion is to place the 'Start' button on the Sample Page and remove it (or leave it, I don't care...) from the Record-Ready Mode. So then the available function buttons on the Sample Page would be "F5 Start" (which would immediately start sampling) and "F6 Record" (which would then take you to the Record-Ready Mode for threshold sampling) and the Record Ready Mode would simply have "F6 Cancel".

It really makes the most sense to me that way.
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By mp3 Tue May 27, 2008 9:25 pm
scd wrote:
mp3 wrote:
scd wrote: the feature request list.


Here are a few more:

1. More q-link paramter control (would be especially helpful in the sample program editor, or when editing 'windowed' parameters like timing correct settings, or setting start/end points in trim mode). There are just too many knobs, buttons and sliders sitting there doing nothing while you cursor and datawheel yourself to death...

2. Auto-preview while browsing the hard drive, so you don't have to click F5 over and over.

3. Main screen -> Trim mode - When Switching to Trim Mode from the Main Screen, Trim mode should display either the last played sample, or the sample assigned to the last played pad.

3a. Also, an option to switch pad behavior in Trim mode: You could either have it the way it currently is (where you preview the sample being edited across all pads) or set it up so that you are playing the current program. That way, you could 1. select the sample you want to edit by tapping the pad, and 2. hear your edits as they will sound in the program.

4. 1dB increments for the Filter Attenuation. 6dB steps are too coarse.

5. In addition to threshold sampling, add the option to manually start sampling.

By the way SCD, I demoed some of your synth programs last night at my local Guitar Center. Very nice!


1. is already in the feature request list

2. Is now in the feature request list

3 and 3a: I see a lot of trouble in these request. Don't think that will be possible. Will review this requests later. What to do if more than 1 sample has been assigned to the pad for instance? 3a makes more sense, but I still see bears on the road as we say here in the Netherlands :)

4. Entered as feature request.


Thanks boele!

As for 3., if more than one sample is assigned to the pad, I'd be happy with the first sample being the one displayed. Its just that coming from the 1k, I'm used to tapping the desired pad immediately before I enter trim mode.

As for #a. I also see the bears, but it would be a useful workflow enhancement, as long as its switchable. Maybe assign F3 to switch behaviors? So the default would be to use the pads to preview the current sample being edited, then with a press of F3, you'd be able to hear the program on the currently selected track in the Main Screen. That way, it would be up to the user to make sure they are monitoring the right program.
User avatar
By scd Wed May 28, 2008 5:36 am
mp3 wrote:Yeah that's one way to do it. But it still would require an essentially unnecessary parameter change (setting the threshold level). I would suggest a slightly more streamlined implementation:

My suggestion is to place the 'Start' button on the Sample Page and remove it (or leave it, I don't care...) from the Record-Ready Mode. So then the available function buttons on the Sample Page would be "F5 Start" (which would immediately start sampling) and "F6 Record" (which would then take you to the Record-Ready Mode for threshold sampling) and the Record Ready Mode would simply have "F6 Cancel".

It really makes the most sense to me that way.


Clear. I will put it in like that.
User avatar
By scd Wed May 28, 2008 5:39 am
mp3 wrote:
Here are a few more:

1. More q-link paramter control (would be especially helpful in the sample program editor, or when editing 'windowed' parameters like timing correct settings, or setting start/end points in trim mode). There are just too many knobs, buttons and sliders sitting there doing nothing while you cursor and datawheel yourself to death...

2. Auto-preview while browsing the hard drive, so you don't have to click F5 over and over.

3. Main screen -> Trim mode - When Switching to Trim Mode from the Main Screen, Trim mode should display either the last played sample, or the sample assigned to the last played pad.

3a. Also, an option to switch pad behavior in Trim mode: You could either have it the way it currently is (where you preview the sample being edited across all pads) or set it up so that you are playing the current program. That way, you could 1. select the sample you want to edit by tapping the pad, and 2. hear your edits as they will sound in the program.

4. 1dB increments for the Filter Attenuation. 6dB steps are too coarse.

5. In addition to threshold sampling, add the option to manually start sampling.

By the way SCD, I demoed some of your synth programs last night at my local Guitar Center. Very nice!


1. is already in the feature request list

2. Is now in the feature request list

3 and 3a: I see a lot of trouble in these request. Don't think that will be possible. Will review this requests later. What to do if more than 1 sample has been assigned to the pad for instance? 3a makes more sense, but I still see bears on the road as we say here in the Netherlands :)

4. Entered as feature request.[/quote]

Thanks boele!

As for 3., if more than one sample is assigned to the pad, I'd be happy with the first sample being the one displayed. Its just that coming from the 1k, I'm used to tapping the desired pad immediately before I enter trim mode.

As for #a. I also see the bears, but it would be a useful workflow enhancement, as long as its switchable. Maybe assign F3 to switch behaviors? So the default would be to use the pads to preview the current sample being edited, then with a press of F3, you'd be able to hear the program on the currently selected track in the Main Screen. That way, it would be up to the user to make sure they are monitoring the right program.


OK. I will think a little more about it and let you know.