Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
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By fatkyle Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:37 pm
it's tempting to avoid the larger posts because after you've read all the previous posts, you have so much to say, but can't remember any of it. but i'll give it a shot.

first of all to the user that was having trouble trimming long samples, there are two useful pads in trim mode, play to which starts just a little before the end point, and play from which triggers at the end point.
as for waveform representation, i don't think it's impossible. obviously the graphic would be rudimental, but i've never had use for automatic chopping ala recycle or what not. give me a good old fashion wav editor any day, and i'll cut my samples visually.

and last but not least track mute. there's a couple good ideas on this topic, but what frustrates me most is the track mutes are laid out linearly on the screen, but obviously the pads are in a grid. i would like to see the track mute screen more closely resemble the actual layout of the pads.

and one more for track mute. a "function" type key would be amazing. if there was button you could press and then press a pad to mute that track during playback. this is probably my number one wish, as i go in and out of track mute a lot.
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By robthom Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:03 am
Also I would like the next OS to go back to being able to play sample previews from the memcard for as long as you hold play like the last OS did.

I keep about a gig of trimmed samples in a library folder on my memcard and many are about a minute long after a rough trimming. When I can only preview the first 10-15 seconds like it is now I cant tell if what I'm looking for might be in the middle or end of the sample so now I have to load it to take a closer look.

Even nicer would be being able to skip the preview forward and backwards in the file instead of having to listen to the whole sample from the beginning (hoping that your finger doesn't slide off the play button and you have to start all over again).
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By emptysea Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:48 pm
Akai needs to stop treating the MPC500 as a crippled gateway drug for bigger MPCs and just make it an awesome portable sampler. A lot of people will only buy the bigger MPCs and never even consider the 500, and vice versa. Different strokes...

I would like to see:

LFO, with bpm sync

Track Solo settings to be remembered like Mute settings do. Why can't the solo mode be treated the same as mute mode, instead of being temporary?
By Danyx Tue Nov 04, 2008 1:24 pm
When you have a multi-layer sample it would be cool to go from a layer to another using the slider, kind of morphing sound.
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By proppa Tue Nov 04, 2008 10:47 pm
everybody: the ideas are great but it's important that they're added to a list in a concise way rather than a general paragraph description- below is an old version of 'the list' please get all your ideas as specific as possible and add them in this format:


MPC 500 OS WISH LIST


* Some form of Chop Shop

* Track Volume

* Better pad Sensitivity

* Increased Master Output

* Ability to dismount from computer without physical USB cable removal

* Ability to edit slider data in sequence edit (pitch, volume, filter)

* Recordable + MIDI controllable track mutes

* Track pad mutes

* Ability to use Trim Mode without stopping sequence playback

* Ability to use Record Mode without stopping sequence playback

* Ability to increase and decrease data in sequence edit (etc. go from 5% on step one 95% on step three, then it would automaticly create a data ramp in between)

* Ability to save Filter Sets in a sequence

* Filter Envelope

* Ability to trigger sample from a MIDI note

* Ability to adjust entire Program volume

* 1/64 note Time Correction in sequencer + triplets

* Multi Timbral Capacity (each MPC track can respond to MIDI messages on seperate MIDI channels from an outboard sequencer)

* Display of specific Track Numbers (instead of 'M') on the Track Mute screen
By Emilie Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:23 pm
proppa wrote:
* Ability to trigger sample from a MIDI note



This is already available.
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By proppa Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:24 am
what i was asking is that everyone who's expressed a wish for an OS update put their request in the format of that 'ongoing list' and keep updating it with the idea of making a comprehensive point-list
By Emilie Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:03 pm
proppa wrote:what i was asking is that everyone who's expressed a wish for an OS update put their request in the format of that 'ongoing list' and keep updating it with the idea of making a comprehensive point-list


yes, i was just pointing out.... Sorry :cry:
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By proppa Fri Nov 07, 2008 8:40 pm
no worries eimer- that wasn't directed at you mate- just saying if everyone on here converted their requests to one ongoing list we'd all have a better chance of said wishes being addressed for os updates

best!
p
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By robthom Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:41 am
Danyx wrote:When you have a multi-layer sample it would be cool to go from a layer to another using the slider, kind of morphing sound.


Thats a neat idea.
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By robthom Sat Nov 08, 2008 1:18 pm
* Expand assignable pad banks via Shift + pad bank buttons. IE: Shift + A, B, C, D = E, F, G, H.

* Ability to scroll or skip through sample previews from CF card via wheel or forward and back buttons.

* Ability to link 500 to PC and use PC screen for additional programmability such as sample pad assignments, chop shop, wave form editing, etc.

* Ability to use, or enable for use in settings, the Q-Link slider for data input in highlighted areas in addition to the scroll wheel. IE: Volumes, sequence numbers, sample edit parameters, etc.

* Ability to use "save all to Autoload" as workspace area without Data loss.
By Emilie Sat Nov 08, 2008 5:55 pm
Updated:

MPC 500 OS WISH LIST


* Some form of Chop Shop

* Track Volume

* Better pad Sensitivity

* Increased Master Output

* Ability to dismount from computer without physical USB cable removal

* Ability to edit slider data in sequence edit (pitch, volume, filter)

* Recordable + MIDI controllable track mutes

* Track pad mutes

* Ability to use Trim Mode without stopping sequence playback

* Ability to use Record Mode without stopping sequence playback

* Ability to increase and decrease data in sequence edit (etc. go from 5% on step one 95% on step three, then it would automaticly create a data ramp in between)

* Ability to save Filter Sets in a sequence

* Filter Envelope

* Ability to trigger sample from a MIDI note

* Ability to adjust entire Program volume

* 1/64 note Time Correction in sequencer + triplets

* Multi Timbral Capacity (each MPC track can respond to MIDI messages on seperate MIDI channels from an outboard sequencer)

* Display of specific Track Numbers (instead of 'M') on the Track Mute screen

* Expand assignable pad banks via Shift + pad bank buttons. IE: Shift + A, B, C, D = E, F, G, H.

* Ability to scroll or skip through sample previews from CF card via wheel or forward and back buttons.

* Ability to link 500 to PC and use PC screen for additional programmability such as sample pad assignments, chop shop, wave form editing, etc.

* Ability to use, or enable for use in settings, the Q-Link slider for data input in highlighted areas in addition to the scroll wheel. IE: Volumes, sequence numbers, sample edit parameters, etc.

* Ability to use "save all to Autoload" as workspace area without Data loss.
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By robthom Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:34 pm
* Ability to link 500 to PC and use PC screen for additional programmability such as sample pad assignments, chop shop, wave form editing, etc.


Maybe this is actually more of a PC app. than a OS function, since it could be achieved through an application that simply accessed and manipulated the sequences, settings and samples on the memcard as an external HD. I think somebody on here actually already wrote a homebrew for reassigning the pads. I do upload and edit samples with a 3rd party software already, but something more all in one that was specifically designed for the MPC would be nice. If akai could put together a polished all in one companion software I think it could be useful for all MPC models and users.

What I was imagining was a way to use the mouse to navigate the 500's functions and add a few more while having it remain in operational mode as opposed to the dedicated slave mode that it goes into while connected now. Does anyone know if that would even be possible as far as the hardware connections inside the machine?
By guyb Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:23 am
I've looked at the schematics and yes it would be possible but it would be quite a significant firmware upgrade, that lets face it, just isn't going to happen! Its only got USB1.1 compliant hardware so the speed isn't great. Any feature which can be done with the MPC in mass storage mode which sounds useful I will add to BeatButcherMPC asap.
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By robthom Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:33 pm
guyb wrote:I've looked at the schematics and yes it would be possible but it would be quite a significant firmware upgrade, that lets face it, just isn't going to happen! Its only got USB1.1 compliant hardware so the speed isn't great. Any feature which can be done with the MPC in mass storage mode which sounds useful I will add to BeatButcherMPC asap.


Very cool! I new I saw something like that on here:

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=98214&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

http://www.beatbutchermpc.com/index.php?pageid=bbab