Post your views and questions about the Akai MPC2500
By nateml09 Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:56 pm
I am thinking of getting an MPC 2500 after using a friends 2000xl for a long time. I like a lot of the more up to date features of the 2500, but I like the feel of the 2000xl pads so much better than the 2500 pads. Can you buy the 2000xl pads and sensors and install them on the 2500? Has anyone ever attempted this with success? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks
By dtaa pla muk Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:05 pm
i've been told by nick at vst that there's extremely little difference between the actual rubber of the 2000 and contemporary pads.

regarding the sensors, you're dealing with the same thing, too - FSRs.

where 90% of all pad complaints exist is in the software calibration - something that a mere substance swap would never solve.
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By christfutura Thu Nov 13, 2008 11:00 pm
I have both the 2500 and the 2000. There may be a slight difference in the rubber, but the sensors are interchangeable. The difference in feel is so minute, that a few weeks of real work on the 2500 should break them in. I have moved from the grey pads to the black pads on the 2500 they are on the softer side. As nym mentioned, calibration is the key. If you really want the old pads on your new 2500, PM me. I have swapped my 2000's pads for my 2500. You will also get the benefit of having a "seasoned" looking 2500... Like you have been banging on them for 7 years...
By mattian Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:05 pm
nym could you say me more about software calibration? because i feel is that my problem, but i haven't figure out how to solve that..

all the shots over 100 of velocity are much louder than under 100 .. o mean a 95 is much quieter than 105 .. while a 75 isn't so much quieter than 95..

and also if i play and look at the velocity meter in "mode - pad10" i see that is always in the 120/127 range or in the 30/80 range.. but to me i play constant.. all the shots different but by the same amount.. i mean i feel some shots is too quieter or too louder than how i've played it..
By dtaa pla muk Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:56 pm
os1, right?

is much quieter than 105 .. while a 75 isn't so much quieter than 95..


this seems like a curve issue. i think i'm using curve A, which is linear (again, i think). curve is like potentiometer taper, if that makes sense: logarithmic, linear, etc.

and also if i play and look at the velocity meter in "mode - pad10" i see that is always in the 120/127 range or in the 30/80 range.. but to me i play constant.. all the shots different but by the same amount.. i mean i feel some shots is too quieter or too louder than how i've played it..


this seems like too narrow a sensitivity range then. increase the range so you have to hit them harder. also, make sure that your pads rest upon the sensor itself - if there's a gap of air in between sensor and rubber pad, it's gonna be really really hard to get predictable velocity responses. even with the akai pad fix, the mpc1000s still suffer this issue. you can fix it by curing silicon glue to the underside of the pad flush and then placing the pads back on the sensor.

os2 allows you to set a note on THRESHOLD value, which really really helps in the calibration process as well.
By mattian Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:43 pm
hey nym i'm really thank you!

first i've set the pad sensitivity at 20 and i have to play really soft.. now i've set it to 5.. and it's better :) maybe i hit too hard.. i've seen jel (anticon) that seems playing very soft.. he can trigger more pads at time with just one finger.. while i play with two fingers on the same pad.. so maybe is a better habit to play softer.. but with sensitivity..

the point is that seems difficult have a good sensitivity.. i'm not a great player.. but i've played also the real drum.. and i'm not a good player too, but i feel that if i hit in a way the drum sounds in that way not in another.. while here seems i have to hit in a particular way and exactly on the center and hitting harder i can stay almost always at 127 and seems better.. but if i want to give more dynamics the hits are or too soft or at 127

i'm start thinking can be a problem of air gap.. i also had a problem with pads.. when i was pushing one pad the others plays randomly.. and i've sent the mpc to the assistance but they say me they can't see the problem, seems that when they used worked fine.. and they get it for 3 month!!! .. so i'm a bit scared to open it, maybe i can damage it another time..

btw what do you mean for silicon? there is a video or someone that explain exactly how to do that? i don't want to damage anything..