Just Blaze Rant on the 5000

moyphee wrote:

That's why I think he has a responsability towards Akai as well, being famous...

Blaze owes Akai nothing. His responsibility rest only with being honest to those who value his opinion.

To be honest Akai/Numark has taken the MPC for granted in far too many ways. The hostile environment (in or outside of this forum) is of their own making.

Not comparing products - Roland jumped in the market with the 8000 and have reps in every forum with decent population. They were there to engage customer, help with problems, and to dispel myths and misinformation. This has been done since day one! Now couple this with the supplemental documentation, online videos, and quality customer support. There is no reason other than money and complacency for Akai not to bring the same thing to such a loyal customer base as the MPC users.

Akai can still engage and their customer base here and elsewhere, but to think that nobody is going to hold them accountable for their absentee customer support is absurd. Here's is how I would approach it.

* Admit that they have not given the best support and they are making changes.
** Permanently position a rep here to engage the customers.
*** Have online tutorials to show how a machine functions with a given task.
**** Dedicate personnel to support the MPC line.
***** Start a live MPC chat with reps and mods to actively create a dialogue with customers.

Akai has to be willing to take these or similar steps to repair the current rep. If not they should consider the reality of the MPC base possibly spending their money elsewhere.

I'm not bashing or shouting. The fact is that the opinions and perceptions of beta testers will always be different than of those that have to spend their hard earned money for a machine. That's just real life.

A great, thoughful and mature post. Really hit the nail on the head and I fully co-sign.

It is ironic that Akai make their only public interactions via this site - it isn't even an official forum! Bless Tutor for creating and maintaining this place - I am sure if it was left to Akai it would either a) not exist or b) be incredibly locked down (see: Pioneer DJ forum).

Look no further than Rane for an example of how it should be done. Their collab with Serato and the user community that is in place is the gold standard. Incredible, hands-on customer service from intelligent, experienced and knowledgeable personnel, who retain a sense of humour whilst always putting the customer first. Helps of course that they make products that are built to last and lead the field, but remember that Akai have been in this position, and make a lot of noise about wanting to stay there. Akai really, really need to wake up and look around at how business is being done online these days. This isn't the 1990's guys!

Relying on testers such as scd (who provides a welcome bridge to akai hq, and is coherent and thorough) is not enough. Akai need to get their core personnel interacting and building relations with their client base. It is basic economics and I am staggered they have managed to stay afloat thus far without shaping up. The MPC range must be a stats graph away from from extinction - luckily Numark have so far been forgiving and supportive of the legacy goodwill out there. It surely won't last.

I agree with SCD. This is the most negative internet forum dedicated to musical instrument that I am a member of. If I was Akai, I would continue to spend some time reading through threads but I wouldn't be here in any official capacity.

Since Tutor opened up the MPC 5000 forum, most negative things were written by people that don't even own the machine. It is so difficult for actual users to communicate with each other and share tips and experiences without a few people with nothing better to do....ruin all the threads.

As far as Akai products go...I was very happy to replace my MPC 3000 with the MPC 2500. I would never go back to an MPC 3000 when the MPC 2500 is a much better sampler and sequencer (Akai or JJ OS). I am sticking by the MPC 5000 because I am confident that Akai will address any issues it has. I don't see myself getting rid of the MPC 5000 and going back to a 2500.

@SCD...I have to add that while you guys are doing a respectable job beta testing the OS and spending time here in the forum...if I was on the beta testing team, I wouldn't have missed the bugs identified in the Bug Report thread. I wish Akai take me up on my offer to help beta test.

Askia Shaheed wrote:
I wish Akai take me up on my offer to help beta test.

As an early adopter and a 5000 surrogate , why would Akai ever make you an official offer when you're doing so much research and posting voluntarily? ... and at your own timed and financial expense!

As the proverbial question goes, why buy the cow?

Oh here we go with the weepy Akai smoochers playing the victim card again. That routine was pathetic the first time and now? LOL....

I love how they admit the huge level of negativity on here compared to other manufacturer's forums (true) but when it comes to the "why" the selective memory really kicks in and all they can come up with is "...you... yer.. it's kuz yer all just bunch of haters... and... and um you chose Akai to hate and not all other company kuz... kuz um... "

Anybody who has really read through the MPC forums archive knows that if Akai could kick the person responsible for 99% of their problems they wouldn't be able to sit down for a week.

BTW why should we care if Akai drives themselves out of business? We all know it's nothing but a nameplate now. That company that made the original line of MPC products and interesting REAL ANALOG synthesizers like the AX80/60 and VX600 is soooo long gone it's not even funny. There are WAY more competent companies stepping up to the plate now so who needs a fake Akai?

elektrik_muz wrote:There are WAY more competent companies stepping up to the plate now so who needs a fake Akai?

Full ACK, in Germany the brand Akai Pro was bought by Alesis Studiosound, I'd say it was in 2006. Their web site is lousy. In no German source of information you could read something about the builtin harddisk. There were rumors about a 40G disk for Europe and even my preferred seller didn't know exactly until we switched on a demo device and looked it up in the screen.

As a short response to the initial article: full ACK. I tried a V-Synth GT and the only reason I decided to buy the MPC5000 was it's builtin harddisk and audio recording capabilities. Still I'm not convinced, that it was the better choice. (I have something 'bout the basic interaction concept: Nord Lead used leds around the knobs to display the value set and all knobs where not just resistors but data wheels...infinite turning...even Waldorf used this sort of controller back in the 90s. Roland also added a set of motor faders...there's much more that could make a MPC5000 worth 1000 more than it's predecessors.) To conclude: I'm not a hater but I tried to get rid of all the gear with just one wonder machine...I'm still looking for such a device.

And one word about the German AkaiPro support: uninterested.

who ever bought a 5000 is really a idiot, think about it. why?

firework wrote:who ever bought a 5000 is really a idiot, think about it. why?

are you calling Just Blaze AND Jahrome idiots?

he prob means they made a really bad choice & people that bought it knowing all the bugs are idiots.

i printed a bug list & took my ipod to GC to play the 5k today.
I didn't even have to try to recreate the bugs, the sampler had the out of memory message on it when i tried to sample anything. I turned it off, grabbed a sample of my ipod until the ram filled. i then purged the sample & tried another sample. memory full again, even though the ram had free space. I f'd around w/ the synth & i did like it. i didn't get any freezes or glitches tweaking knobs in that respect. I did get the memory full bug twice in under 10 minutes, which sucked because i couldn't build a beat cause I'm a sampling producer. I'm on the fence on this or the MV8800. Been putting allot of thought in it. Made plus/minus lists for each machine... 1 BAD thing about the 5K is I played my 1K under 10 hours & a tact switch already went out. I'm a tech so I installed a new 1 w/ a cleaner finish then it came with. My 1K is 100% mint. It scares me though that the mode/pad bank switches are the exact same & deff. not good quality.

As a company I'm not a fan of the Akai build quality at all. The MPC cases on all current gen. models is metal/rock solid. They look good & feel like a tank. Awesome, right? Well then you have....
the CHEAPEST buttons, knobs, & so forth. They are the worst of any machine in this price range I've seen in all my years. This bothers me way more than the lower ram/sampling rate that I see most complain of when reviewing & inevitably comparing to the 5 to the 4K.
I always thought Newmark made cheap plastic sh*t before they bought Akai. Before I had a bad experience.

That pick up & play ease of use is still great on the MP's, damn.
I mean they made the 5K w/ the same main specs. of the 2500/1K. Why, they make more $ by not building/producing a new sampling engine. They already got this engine. Roland ain't killing 'em on, so why would they? The buttons, the tact switches, well they feel the exact same & they break easy. I ain't been under the hood but, I bet the buttons are the same. Again, cutting corners here=more profit. Why design new buttons? People buy the machines for the pads & the workflow. Sorry if I sound negative. I love the onboard synth & a new OS update or better yet JJOS will come I'm sure. Then this thread may be a total 360 of its current state. I do see the light of this machine!

I'm still leaning to the MV for build quality though. I've beat down my Roland gear in the past w/ no damage. New Akai stuff, not at all. It is like arguing between WD or Seagate though. Many say Seagate, but I've had 2 fail on me, so guess what I buy?
The MPC 1K has just soured me. The same buttons that broke are on the 5K & do the same things. I can't bring myself to drop that much dough on this machine. A shame, because it is the machine I really want! Its faults are just much. The decision in my head is almost like comparing 2 girls now.

If spent the last several months saving. Last 2 weeks playing & analyzing each machine. Up to about 2 weeks ago a maxed 2500 or used 4K were in this as well. Now it is time to pull the trigger on the MV or 5K. Probably going to go MV I'd say. Good Luck to all 5K owners, though. Not so much good luck I regret my choice though, lol.

justblaze wrote:I don't want to see akai fail and go out of business, on the contrary I want them to GET IT RIGHT!

justblaze wrote:as far as the calls from akai.. i was referring to endorsement type stuff.. not design related.. however it appears my open letter/rant has already been read by the big boys. if they decide to reach out and try n make something happen.. it is on them. im all ears tho, and MORE than willing to help. I'd love to be a part of helping make a true successor to the 4000.

For real, maybe "Jacky boy" O'Donnell doesn't see it in the traditional numbers...

...But dude must understand brand identity & flagship impact.
this 3500 was losing a queen taking a pawn.

O'Donnell obviously saw some value in the Brand acquisition....
I don't think he figured this was the last cycle anyways & will settle for his recent acquisition relegated to making MIDI interfaces.

Just like the 2000XL replaced the 2000classic...

Akai needs to work overtime on the redemption 5000XL, incorporating everything the 4000 had (Multis?, PGM modulation matrix, anyone?), plus [imho] at least:

1. PGM compatability with all MPC series PGM drum & Keygroup.
2. Streaming Keygroup auditioning (this was promised on the 4000)
3. Polyphony & RAM to handle all those keygroups
4. Realtime timestretch on several sample tracks/seq
5. 9 Banks, 1 Soft Bank button(hold+press numeric1-9)
6. 24 bit, 192 Khz high quality Recording/Sampling
7. Fully integratable Q-Link controls
8. Realtime chop & assign per tapped pad [on playback] (alpha chop shop)
9. AkSys improved & expanded + USB2.0
10. MIDI chords assignable per pad
11. Ability to extend sequences tick by tick
12. Expanded sequence edit & song mode including linear sequence recording.


Oh, and of course, be patient to drop it until it works...mostly.
Because if y'all drop it again premature, we'll shit on it again...just like we always do...
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/rap-hip- ... 0-a-5.html

Hmmn basically the buyer beware. And if one is a long time MPC users , one has to hope, pray, have alot of patience and eventually adapt to the machine at hand until akai gets its act right.

Plus it is funny some of the main so called victims talking about forum negativity are banned users incognito up in airs about others members asking and stating obvious insights on the usage of what an is MPC aka Midi Production Center whether is has a sampler or synth they are somewhat base on the same principles to produce music from sounds.

History repeats itself.


This time next year 2009 will the current 3500 I mean 5k current problems be resolved????? This coming after almost 4 months after launch. Maybe recheck later to see what happens meanwhile one after investing over 2 grand into to the new gear has to do the best with what they got til the time its updated and repaired.

Once this is solved the whole topic will and should focus on ones musical production development.


Anyways it is up to the buyers to choose what they will do til then.

Blue Haze wrote:Plus it is funny some of the main so called victims talking about forum negativity are banned users incognito up in airs about others members asking and stating obvious insights on the usage of what an is MPC aka Midi Production Center whether is has a sampler or synth they are somewhat base on the same principles to produce music from sounds.

If you are referring to my comments homie.... that was in a particular thread, where most of the people were hating instead of helping what the person in that particular thread was asking about, so therefore, we were talking about staying on the topic instead of being someone that may have only demo'ed the machine instead of actually being a buyer of such... This is whats funny... you got people that dont even own a 5000 that spend more time again worrying about comments and ideas over here in these MPC 5000 threads then they do in their own machines threads.... I mean, stating the facts(or maybe opinions which most of you non mpc 5000 owners have) kinda points to some messy ways.

This is the most negative internet forum dedicated to musical instrument that I am a member of. If I was Akai, I would continue to spend some time reading through threads but I wouldn't be here in any official capacity.

100% agree

4dahaterz wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:Plus it is funny some of the main so called victims talking about forum negativity are banned users incognito up in airs about others members asking and stating obvious insights on the usage of what an is MPC aka Midi Production Center whether is has a sampler or synth they are somewhat base on the same principles to produce music from sounds.

If you are referring to my comments homie.... that was in a particular thread, where most of the people were hating instead of helping what the person in that particular thread was asking about, so therefore, we were talking about staying on the topic instead of being someone that may have only demo'ed the machine instead of actually being a buyer of such... This is whats funny... you got people that dont even own a 5000 that spend more time again worrying about comments and ideas over here in these MPC 5000 threads then they do in their own machines threads.... I mean, stating the facts(or maybe opinions which most of you non mpc 5000 owners have) kinda points to some messy ways.

Very...very true.

I remember when there was a user's only forum. That needs to be brought back. There is no need for non-users to insult actual owners of the 5K. What's the point? What is your purpose? So you hate Akai and their products as well as anyone that buys them. Ok. Now what would you like to discuss? It's funny when you haters run out of things to say. You guys wrote exactly the same thing when the MPC 2500 was released. Nobody's listening to you because people still find the MPC 2500 the goto new MPC and the MPC 5000 will be seen in the same light once we get an OS update or two. Keep window shopping...

I remember when there was a user's only forum. That needs to be brought back. There is no need for non-users to insult actual owners of the 5K. What's the point? What is your purpose? So you hate Akai and their products as well as anyone that buys them. Ok. Now what would you like to discuss? It's funny when you haters run out of things to say. You guys wrote exactly the same thing when the MPC 2500 was released. Nobody's listening to you because people still find the MPC 2500 the goto new MPC and the MPC 5000 will be seen in the same light once we get an OS update or two. Keep window shopping...

That s really boring, i wish you can only register here with your MPC serial number :p

The kids d better go to school instead of ruinning this forum.

We are tired of all those non MPC owners arguing with b.u.l.l.s.h.i.t.s

Most of us are happy with their machine despite the bugs ( limited ) and we can work with it waiting for an update.

There s nothing that can avoid to make music with it for now.

There s less bugs on the 5000 than there was in the MPC 2500 when it comes out.

So please kids stop it & go play on another forum...leave this one for real users !!

Like said before i really understand akai not taking part of this forum ...

Askia Shaheed wrote:

4dahaterz wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:Plus it is funny some of the main so called victims talking about forum negativity are banned users incognito up in airs about others members asking and stating obvious insights on the usage of what an is MPC aka Midi Production Center whether is has a sampler or synth they are somewhat base on the same principles to produce music from sounds.

If you are referring to my comments homie.... that was in a particular thread, where most of the people were hating instead of helping what the person in that particular thread was asking about, so therefore, we were talking about staying on the topic instead of being someone that may have only demo'ed the machine instead of actually being a buyer of such... This is whats funny... you got people that dont even own a 5000 that spend more time again worrying about comments and ideas over here in these MPC 5000 threads then they do in their own machines threads.... I mean, stating the facts(or maybe opinions which most of you non mpc 5000 owners have) kinda points to some messy ways.

Very...very true.

I remember when there was a user's only forum. That needs to be brought back. There is no need for non-users to insult actual owners of the 5K. What's the point? What is your purpose? So you hate Akai and their products as well as anyone that buys them. Ok. Now what would you like to discuss? It's funny when you users run out of things to say. You guys wrote exactly the same thing when the MPC 2500 was released. Nobody's listening to you because people still find the MPC 2500 the goto new MPC and the MPC 5000 will be seen in the same light once we get an OS update or two. Keep window shopping...

There never was a users only forum just a forum for mpcs. If anyone even potential buyers wanted to buy or learn about an mpc they are ALLl welcome to visit and participate in the forum with respect and consideration for others so they don`t get banned. Reason others get banned it cause some people are so high on themselves on what they purchase instead of knowing how to use it. For example an ex con named Jah. Since us mods are here to allow everyone to have a voice whether you agree or not make music and keep it moving they are all mpcs but all users aren`t the same either.

As far as what others users use it doesn`t matter and it isn`t important as long as one makes the music he or she wants, but it does MATTER if it works, how much money and how much time one has learned the gear.

Like I said before this time next yr 2009 what will be the outcome ?



MPC Tutor, Just Blaze, SCD, and other users have spoken of their experiences it has nothing to do with whatever you called it misinformation calling it hatered that is silly if you disgree just gave an alternate viewpoint to back up your point of view.

Come we are grown men right, well some of us.


It is just a tool after all it not like you are an mpc being personally attacked.


We 5k mods watch everything even you Jah, so relax, make some music, and don`t hate, create.