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By inthemix Fri Nov 07, 2008 10:50 am
Dear all and moderators ....

Firstly, let me say that I have found reading the threads on these forums fantastically helpful and educational.

But I was wondering if it would be perhaps possible to include a new topic area related to Akai MPD drum controllers ? I have owned all three of these units ( the 16, 24 and now 32 ) ... and I think that there will be an urgent need for help to those that buy and set these things up, especially with the latest and greatest of these, the Akai MPD32. Yes, I know it's not an MPD, but it is based on MPC principles and is supposed to operate as the MPC does ..... I have yet to get my unit to do as it say it does on the box ( but it is a promising unit nonetheless ).

As said, it is an Akai unit based heavily on the MPC concept .... and I think many of you guys over here could do an awful lot to both educate and enlighten those new to the practise of using these type of hardware.

Let me know your feelings ..... and moderators please do give it some thought ( please ) ...


L
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By Lampdog Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:58 am
This has been brought up before, and respectfully, shot down.

The gist of it was, that this is an mpc forum. mpc.

If a mpd/mpk subforum were to open then it would open up a world of new questions on every software out there that it could possibly be connected to/with. IMO a no-no for an mpc based/focused forum or for that matter of fact a no-no for any forum that is focused on a specific hardware/gear.

If I run across that previous thread I'll post the link.
By inthemix Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:46 pm
Yeh, point taken ... but there in the problem lays for all of us that bought MPDs of any persuasion - Akai are just hopeless ( and dare I say just a touch unprofessional ) with their level of after sales support and assistance ( I'll spare you the details here as I've mentioned the grief I have had with the units enough already I feel ). It's like : "Well, we got your money, now go get on with it and don't bother us unduly " ... not a good way to feel after you've bought the hype and parted with your hard earned cash ( what's that old sayin about a 'fool and his money .... are soon parted ' ).

Just wish I had went with an MPC to begin with and then hooked it up to my Cubase Setup ....

Still, coming back to my point, the MPD range are pretty much flawed and won't work no where near as well and tighly as an MPC does, FACT !! Akai really should have left the controller area alone in this regard .... instead they deliver yet another buggy unit that can't do what it says on the tin.

Oh well .... I think I will go with my heart, stick this newly aquired and under warranty unit up for sale then shell our for either an MPC or a Roland MV ....

Thanks anyway Lampdog for comment.
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By Lampdog Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:15 pm
inthemix wrote:Just wish I had went with an MPC to begin with and then hooked it up to my Cubase Setup ....

Ironically, if you had have done that, there are ALOT of threads and resolutions on that peppered all around the forum already, lol.

You aren't the first one here to complain about the unpro attitude of Akai. I've never called them so I don't know first hand but there are many on the boards who are angry.
By inthemix Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:06 pm
Yeh, well, believe them all, Lampdog - the vast majority of complaints about them are without doubt based around truth ( I know mine were !! )

I hope that you continue never to need to have recourse to Akai for then you will surely get miffed at their efforts, especially if your enquiry is not an easily resolved one.


well, it's either MPC 2500/5000 or MV8800 here I come ( have already posted about opinions on this topic and I've had some helpful feedback ..... although, this said, I still can't make a final decision between the the units .... I'll get there, but I won't rush my decision this time, like with the MPD32.
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By Lampdog Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:55 pm
I'll never have to call them, I wouldn't anyway, I llike to figure things out myself, and if i can't do it then I just can't do it. I know when to give up seeing as which alot of people don't.

Is there a gear store you can go to and test both units out? If so, that' would be the best thing to do pre-purchase.
See if you like the physical feel of the menus and the build quality itself. See if you can figure out a few things just staring at the screen or not.
By xibalba1875 Fri Nov 07, 2008 4:21 pm
inthemix wrote:Yeh, point taken ... but there in the problem lays for all of us that bought MPDs of any persuasion - Akai are just hopeless ( and dare I say just a touch unprofessional ) with their level of after sales support and assistance ( I'll spare you the details here as I've mentioned the grief I have had with the units enough already I feel ). It's like : "Well, we got your money, now go get on with it and don't bother us unduly " ... not a good way to feel after you've bought the hype and parted with your hard earned cash ( what's that old sayin about a 'fool and his money .... are soon parted ' ).



honestly that 100% pertains to akais mpc line as well. "we got your money so scram"
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By dabmeister Fri Nov 07, 2008 4:39 pm
inthemix wrote:well, it's either MPC 2500/5000 or MV8800 here I come ( have already posted about opinions on this topic and I've had some helpful feedback ..... although, this said, I still can't make a final decision between the the units .... I'll get there, but I won't rush my decision this time, like with the MPD32.


For the most part, if you had been informed that you could use a mpc as a controller too, when you were considering making that purchase in the first place, you'd be miles ahead by now.
By inthemix Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:04 pm
Well, Lampdog, where I am in London, UK we sadly have few stores that actually stock Akai products and even less that actually have them for demo. The credit crunch has caused the two biggest players ( Turnkey and Soundhouse - both based in the West End of London ) to close down, so that we are largely left with sammler private run music shops - and they rarely have that gear in stock for you to test out, sadly. There are one or two places for me to go, but it will mean a fair amount of travel ... still, it will have to be done. I definately want to check out the feel of the units for myself, as well as how intuitive they are to use. I have one or two negative stories about the feel of the MV pads and the slightly odd response times with the unit on occasion ... on the contrary, the MPC s all seem pretty snappy in terms of response generally.

Yeh, Dabmeister, that is exactly how I feel about Akai - useless aftercare entirely ... infact, would it be to harsh to say 'wilful' ? I think we should get every disgruntled MPC/MPD/MPK user to sign a large petition and submit as a class complaint to Akai - just to see if that would put the proverbial rocket up their corporate bottoms and make them bother to actually offer some real help to all our gripes ?

Xibabla, again .... a sorry state for their support.
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no

By Lampdog Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:52 pm
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