Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
By mozzy4k Thu Jun 24, 2004 3:23 am
I picked up a new MPC4000LE :shock:

Any standard post or suggestions that state

What type of RAM is best to put in it to max it @ 512MB

What type of HD is best? 7200RPM 160GB? is there a size limit?

What type of CD/R is best?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to help.


BTW, for those interested, I was tracking every auction on EBAY for the 4Ks

I just couldn't find a reasonable deal on EBAY for the MPC4000. It was also hard to get ppl to send the types of pictures I wanted to see. Close up and multi angles. uh... hello, if something costs 2k+ I wanna see it!


The CDR/HD/RAM are all cheap, yet they wanted 2k-2200 for used models.
Guess it's hard to part with something for such a loss if you paid close to 3k for it.

There are a FEW LE models still being sold

I paid 2195 free shipping brand new w/ warranty.
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By dudum Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:09 pm
i've got an LE but am running everything through USB (which you can hub; 80G ACOM HD and IOMEGA CDR).

there's a posting somewhere for Crucial RAM; i didn't go that route but paid more. if you do a search you'll find it.

a note : snapping in the memory is tricky, not daunting but you need to hear the 'click' FYI.

have fun
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By JUKE 179r Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:23 pm
I didn't know there was an MPC 4000 LE. ???
I learn something new everyday on this forum!!!
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By ikke Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:36 pm
Crucial RAM, you say? You mean not every stick is supported? I have a 256MB in there (dunno wich brand) but my 4k only reads half of it (ie one side), only 128mb. So I have 1 from 256 (MPC reads all) and one 256 (MPC reads half). They are two different brands..
You think this is bad for the MPC?
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By dudum Thu Jun 24, 2004 4:02 pm
you can have different makers of the chip as long as they're both PC133.

Crucial is just a brand that a lot of 4Kers go with.

here's a good deal on memory :

http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fus ... el_id=-951

if you're only getting half of the chip you might consider swapping that out soon if it's double sided (the RAM blocks on a PC133 are single sided).

By adrian Thu Jun 24, 2004 5:26 pm
The MPC 4000 LE is a basic MPC 4000 without any drives or options. Most MPC 4000 sold in the US have drives. AMIC the old US distributor started to sell LE models in hopes of busting sells. Most were returned because not many people wanted MPC's without drives.
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By aaron Thu Jun 24, 2004 8:40 pm
seems like you can save some money buying the LE and then buying a hardrive,cd recorder, ram then spending 2,800 on the plus

By MAD T Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:40 am
that was a secret. I got an LE for $1799 brand new...I actually timed it wrong because at one point zzounds had it for $1599. I missed that one. They don't sell the LE models anymore. I dropped in more RAM, CD-RW drive (Lite-On brand...like $40) and 120gig western digital hard drive ($80). The only problem I had was with the RAM....my word of advice find the link on the board that has the direct link to the RAM that someone else has bought and tested. I tried 4 or 5 types of RAM before I gave up. The problem is if the RAM is wrong it only shows up as half the amount it really is. I even bought it from a store that said it was MPC4000 compatible....the MPC is totally picky with RAM. I even bought the correct type specified in the Akai documentation.

By mozzy4k Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:46 am
Cool guys! Thank you very much for the warm welcome to this forum.

I can't wait to get started!!!!

It took me a long time to come back around to hardware. I have been using PC/VSTi's for the past couple of years. They are great, but lack that "FEEL"

So this may turn my entire studio experience by 180 degrees.


It's crazy what this thing can do. I know if I am floored just reading it, it must be a rush to actually have it in front of you.

Anyone reccomend any of the instructional videos that ppl sell on the net?
Or do they just offer what you can pick up on your own?

Thanks again for the welcome. I look forward to the journey...

By mozzy4k Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:54 am
that was a secret. I got an LE for $1799 brand new...I actually timed it wrong because at one point zzounds had it for $1599. I missed that one. They don't sell the LE models anymore. I dropped in more RAM, CD-RW drive (Lite-On brand...like $40) and 120gig western digital hard drive ($80). The only problem I had was with the RAM....my word of advice find the link on the board that has the direct link to the RAM that someone else has bought and tested. I tried 4 or 5 types of RAM before I gave up. The problem is if the RAM is wrong it only shows up as half the amount it really is. I even bought it from a store that said it was MPC4000 compatible....the MPC is totally picky with RAM. I even bought the correct type specified in the Akai documentation



Yep!! That is the exact reason I was waiting and waiting on E-Bay. I saw that zzounds had it for 1700 and even found the page on GOOGLE. But when I clicked it the message at the top of the page was it was no longer available. BOOOO!!! Same thing with some other site too.

So paying that extra 400$ was bothering me. But I am selling my older samplers (S-950 and S-3000xl) to recover some of the cost.

Like I mentioned earlier, I haven't been into hardware over the last several years and hope this becomes the ultimate compliment to my VSTi setup. Probably end up sampling the outputs of the VST's into my MPC4k :wink:

As for the RAM. I remember reading similar issues with the S-3000xl that I bought. I was fortunate to have mine work first try, but they stressed that it be a "NAME BRAND" to better your odds.
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By scizz Fri Jun 25, 2004 7:11 am
yo mozzy4k u said u use vsti's. man im trying to trigger vsti's in cubase/nuendo with the mpc but i can only get one vsti at a time althow u got 16 midi channels u can assign is there a way to get 16 channels triggering 16 vsti's simultaneously.
tnx in advance

By mozzy4k Fri Jun 25, 2004 2:43 pm
scizz wrote:yo mozzy4k u said u use vsti's. man im trying to trigger vsti's in cubase/nuendo with the mpc but i can only get one vsti at a time althow u got 16 midi channels u can assign is there a way to get 16 channels triggering 16 vsti's simultaneously.
tnx in advance


Hi scizz.

By default you select the input and outputs for the track inside cubase. That is what is giving you the one channel option.

There is a way to have it accept input from more than one MIDI channel. I think it's in the filter section. Not sure how many cubase experts cruise this forum. But you can search the usenet from withing google. alt.steinberg.cubase is full of great users who would know the details.

Assigning each pad to a different MIDI channel, go to each track set it up for input track 1 input midi 1. Trk 2 MIDI input 2, etc...

Set the outputs for each track the the VSTi that you want to be triggered.
Is this similar to what you are wanting to do?
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By ikke Fri Jun 25, 2004 2:58 pm
Yeah its a pain in the azz in Cubase and Nuendo. I cant seem to find it either!

I use Chainer for this.


If you find it, feel free to share your knowledge with us! :D
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By ikke Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:09 pm
Ive posted one in the Nuendo forum (its the same for Cubase) If you like you can wait for respond there.
Here s the link: http://forum.nuendo.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/020957.html

(They respond very quick over there ;) )