Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
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By 3rik Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:17 pm
guyb wrote:How would this suit people:

A fully customizable key map, so that any key or mouse event can be mapped to any function, kind of like in PC video games where you can choose whatever configuration of keys you want?
i think it would be better to fix the bugs and release a stable version of the software ...then you can work on the extra features...either way, great idea....and keep working on it man....you're on to something
By guyb Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:55 am
I have probably got most of next week off work to do a load of stuff on the program, has anyone got any other specific bugs other than it being generally slow (and the ones listed on the download page)? (if you are finding this could post your system specs including java version for me pls!)

The launch4j error I will look into, but again, I need to know whether you are on a mac or a pc or whatever. I aim to have a bug tracking site where you can have a profile to store your system details and submit bugs really easily online soon. I will be borrowing a mac sometime in the near future so I can try and replicate things and sort stuff out.

I need to know every time it crashes, doesnt do what is expected, in order to fix it!

Cheers
Guy

p.s if anyone is any good with graphic/web design and wants to help, get in touch. I want a snazzy looking webpage and I can quite happily code it, but I'm awful at designing the "look".
By Emilie Sat Aug 02, 2008 2:41 pm
guyb wrote:I need to know every time it crashes, doesnt do what is expected, in order to fix it!


I can't chop the samples, or i doesn't know how to do it ?!?

I am using a MacBook with intel processor.
By guyb Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:33 am
OK thats understandable since there is currently no documentation! Load a sample up, click the toolbar icon with the plus symbol on it and click on the waveform where you want the chop made, a line should come up to represent it on the display and a marker should come up in the markers list box and the two sections should then be playable.
By woozee Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:48 am
Hello i have a question.
I have a mac and i downloaded the crossplatform version of the program., but i can¡t install the program it gives me error.Can you tell me exactly what i have to do to install in mac. Thanks
By guyb Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:28 am
What is the error message? Make sure that you dont extract the .jar file, it is not an archive format it is an executable despite what mac osx may tell you! There is no install process, it should just run straight from that file.
By Emilie Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:14 pm
guyb wrote:OK thats understandable since there is currently no documentation! Load a sample up, click the toolbar icon with the plus symbol on it and click on the waveform where you want the chop made, a line should come up to represent it on the display and a marker should come up in the markers list box and the two sections should then be playable.



HAHA! Of course! This software is ill, but it seems instable. It suddenly dies whitout any warning, hmmm.
By guyb Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:10 pm
When you say dies without warning do you mean it just quits? Can you recreate the same bug twice, if so how?

I understand you guys dont have a development background, and thats good because I want this program to work from a users perspective, not a developers, however you need to understand that just saying "it breaks" is almost no help at all. There are about 3000 lines of code and any one of them could have a subtle bug in them, so I need step by step instructions of how you caused the program to crash in order to find the problem.

To do this, you should use the program slowly and methodically so you can re-trace your "footprints" at any time. I'm sorry its boring but thats just the nature of testing software! The thing is, every time I fix or add something, I could create a new bug, or recreate an old one, so every release of the software needs to be thorougly tested (everything I wrote in the pdf test document).

Cheers,
Guy
By Emilie Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:26 pm
Well, it runs for about 7 minutes and then quits.
Its almost as if its getting slower and slower before it quits.

Intel mac.
By Emilie Tue Aug 05, 2008 4:09 am
I have tried the Windows version, and it seems fine. I think that it runs even better! BUT.

When you use the arrow left and right keys, the markers seems to drift from their position on the sample.

When you put your samples to sample pool the name is "sample0.wav", and the next is also "sample0.wav", shouldn't the number increase: "sample0,wav" "sample1.wave" sample2.wav ect.

When exporting the program the decay is set to "start", but in the editor the decay is set to "end".

When you say "play slice" or "play whole sample" it only plays every second time you push the button.

Filter type doesn't work :wink: :lol: :wink: .

Else, this software is going to be ill!!!

I am seeing forward to that "autochop" feature!!!
By mainmatic Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:01 am
So I'm trying your beautiful piece of software out and I love the potential it has. Some things that would make the chopper more helpful for me would be, 1. the ability to import mp3's 2. The ability to name the slices on the wave editor (like regions on Fl Studio's Edison) and then automatically assigning them to the pads. Some glitches I have run into- when trying to save or export the sliced samples as wav files, I am not allowed to save them as .wav files, only as a folder- which I don't understand. I am using the windows version btw. But Guy, you have made my recent purchase of the 500 very worthwhile and I thank you for that. Peace.
By guyb Thu Aug 07, 2008 6:55 am
MP3 conversion is something I will add when I get a chance, there may be a few minor problems involving the JMF (Java Media Framework) which I will work out. There are a few save modes, exporting all slices to a folder (as slice names), export indivual slice, etc. Keep playing with the export options. I guess I should make all that clearer.

Cheers for the comments, and I apologise for the delay in further development. I am going to blame it on a combination of my new job and my girlfriend temporarily living with me. I just dont have the free time I did a few weeks ago. I will make time asap to do more work though, and if I absolutely cant finish it, then I will release all the code as open source.

Guy
By ryandeepproductions Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:47 pm
guy-
just messing around with it i noticed a few things:



the calculate tempo function isnt very accurate

unless you have a marker placed at the beginning and end of a sample, it wont play. and i cant play the whole sample through all the way by itself.

i keep wanting to be able to drag the sample with the mouse click across the chop screen.

also i want the arrow keys to be able to scroll through the chops.

if there was a cursor that moved as the sample played, it would be much easier to see where your chop points were and where you were in the sample.

also, seems dumb, but a basic ctrl + z undo function would be killer

i still wish the number pad keys, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 / * - could be assigned to the pads to audition the program before exporting it.

also if the slices previewed when selected or double clicked in the slices window.

maybe i sound picky. but isnt this what it's all about? making something that will run smooth?