Share your knowledge on these two classic MPCs
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By descry Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:22 am
I just replaced my floppy for a scsi card reader (the microtech 25), but now all of my LED's are lit up and my system is extremely laggy. I am running 3.10 at the moment, which is probably the reason...but I wanted to ask if anyone has come across this problem before. I also replaced the RAM recently, but when I took the chips out and replaced them with the 2meg board...I get the same thing. A slow moving system to which I have to POUND on the buttons to get them to respond--not to mention, almost all of my LED's are on constantly.

Before I installed the reader, everything ran fine. I'm pretty certain I plugged everything in correctly, as the light does read on the card reader. Is it just because I did not upgrade to 3.50 yet?

Has anyone else experienced their mpc3k being REALLY sluggish and unresponsive? Help.
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By deck daddy Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:42 am
Have you checked if some of the cables/connectors inside are badly connected/fitted?

I can mail you a photo of what cable it probably is if you PM me your e-mail.

My MPC was acting up after I installed the new OS, and it was all about a badly seated cable.

It's especially one connector that are sliding a bit out of its socket when you open up the MPC.
By mpc3000le Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:44 am
descry wrote:I just replaced my floppy for a scsi card reader (the microtech 25), but now all of my LED's are lit up and my system is extremely laggy.


Most probable cause...

Front panel to main board control ribbon.

It will look correctly seated no matter what angle you observe it from.

Remove and reseat said cable at the main board end and all should be well.

Next possible issue could be card reader termination related.

descry wrote:I am running 3.10 at the moment, which is probably the reason...but I wanted to ask if anyone has come across this problem before..


Yes... Included with the Vailixi installation pictures is a warning file with close up shots of the ribbon most likely to cause problems. ( it gets pulled when the MPC3000 lid is open )

If you are the same "Descry" I have "communicated" with recently then you already have these pictures to look at for comparison purposes.

descry wrote: I also replaced the RAM recently, but when I took the chips out and replaced them with the 2meg board...I get the same thing.


Not a RAM problem.

descry wrote:A slow moving system to which I have to POUND on the buttons to get them to respond--not to mention, almost all of my LED's are on constantly.


Sounds most like a front panel communication cable slightly ajar.

descry wrote:Before I installed the reader, everything ran fine. I'm pretty certain I plugged everything in correctly, as the light does read on the card reader. Is it just because I did not upgrade to 3.50 yet?


Nope. Although 3.10 has less refined SCSI communication it will not present the problems you're experiencing.

In most cases where people open their MPC3000's up they inadvertently dislodge the front panel ribbon communication cable.

The fix, as mentioned already... Remove/re-seat said cable at the mainboard end.

descry wrote:Has anyone else experienced their mpc3k being REALLY sluggish and unresponsive? Help.


Yes ... as a result of what we are discussing here.

Faulty or bad installation of a SCSI card reader will usually result in another collection of symptoms/problems.

So ...... the communication cable as mentioned is most likely your source of problems.

Rohan.
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By 64hz Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:09 am
Does this go for mpc60's as well? Mine is acting up in a similiar way lately, everything is laggy.
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By descry Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:12 pm
mpc3000le wrote:Most probable cause...

Front panel to main board control ribbon.

It will look correctly seated no matter what angle you observe it from.

Remove and reseat said cable at the main board end and all should be well.

Next possible issue could be card reader termination related.


If you are the same "Descry" I have "communicated" with recently then you already have these pictures to look at for comparison purposes.

So ...... the communication cable as mentioned is most likely your source of problems.

Rohan.



that was exactly the issue, you were right. i should have touched the plastic top on the communication cable rather than just taking a look. thanks for the help rohan and deck daddy!
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By 64hz Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:58 am
64hz wrote:Does this go for mpc60's as well? Mine is acting up in a similiar way lately, everything is laggy.



Help! :mrgreen:
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By `TK Fri Sep 19, 2008 7:36 pm
Cardreader installed everything is fine..
execpt for my data weel, it dont work (acts strange.. when i scroll normall it dont work.. and when i scroll very fast it jumps from 1 to 6 and from 6 to 12 and so onn..)

Help please.
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By 7 1 4 Beats Fri Sep 19, 2008 7:38 pm
`TK wrote:Cardreader installed everything is fine..
execpt for my data weel, it dont work (acts strange.. when i scroll normall it dont work.. and when i scroll very fast it jumps from 1 to 6 and from 6 to 12 and so onn..)

Help please.



Your encoder might be getting fuxd up that's what mine did.
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By `TK Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:45 pm
So what can i do about it
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By 7 1 4 Beats Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:46 pm
`TK wrote:So what can i do about it



You can get new data encoders there like $75 or so I think.
By mpc3000le Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:11 pm
`TK wrote:So what can i do about it


Nothing... because, as per our PM discussion... you have since fixed everything.

:-)

Rohan.
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By 64hz Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:05 am
Well I am not, I have a similair problem with my 60, it seems as if the O.S. is running on halfspeed. I checked and doubblechecked every connector there is inside of the MPC... no luck :( I am on the latest O.S. with expanded memory.
By mpc3000le Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:55 am
64hz wrote:Well I am not, I have a similair problem with my 60, it seems as if the O.S. is running on halfspeed. I checked and doubblechecked every connector there is inside of the MPC... no luck :( I am on the latest O.S. with expanded memory.


So...

Did this problem "just happen" one night/day out of nowhere ?

Or ... did it happen around the time another device was connected to your MPC60 ?

Is your MPC60 fitted with the SCSI board ?

If so, a damaged part of this circuit can hold up or slow down the machine.

Other simple, but some times not so obvious things to look for...

If your MPC60 is connected in a MIDI environment then disconnect all MIDI ports as part of your trouble shooting.

Should function be restored at this stage then it is possible a MIDI data loop may have been flooding the input process routines of the MPC60, this could yield a slow response type behavior.

Rohan.
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By 64hz Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:34 am
Wow thanks for the response! It is connected to my Elektron Monomachine sfx-6, basicly my MPC is my midibase for everything. I dont have the scsiboard so that crosses out one option at least.

If your MPC60 is connected in a MIDI environment then disconnect all MIDI ports as part of your trouble shooting.


Gonna try this as soon as im home.

Should function be restored at this stage then it is possible a MIDI data loop may have been flooding the input process routines of the MPC60, this could yield a slow response type behavior.


Anyway to avoid this in the future? (if this proves to be the problem)

Really thanks for that answer.

Cheers Michael.