is this 4000 faulty someone please help......

With the current low trend on 4k's (and gear on a whole) I really hope you got this unit dirt cheap.

If you reinstall the OS and have the same problem it certainly sounds like a hardware problem. I've never heard of they same symptoms from a software bug. Sounds like your CD-ROM just needs an IDE cable? Someone was LAZY if that really is missing. If you see it show up in your list of drives then it should be good to go. I find that I usually (always?) have to hit eject from the MPC's menu and the physical eject button doesn't work. Otherwise, if its bad, easy replacement... people throw those drives out these days.

Are you having any other problems other than the record issue? I have other options for sampling and might get by without the record mode, but couldn't deal with issues on sequencing and sample playback. I'm having trouble thinking of what hardware problem would cause only the issue you are having. Power issues, bad boards, loose cables can cause instability on all features. Double check every connector to be sure its firmly in place (UNPLUG POWER FIRST) and I would recommend taking all the RAM out until you find the problem (in case it is causing problems).

Reinstalling the OS is a fantastic place to start;

beyond that.....

First thing I'd do is throw some different RAM in it to verify the RAM is good. Bad RAM can cause all kinds of shtuff to go wrong.

If you have two sticks, try one or the other at a time. I don't know if there's a slot requirement (ie, which slot to use if only using one slot).

Good thing to check if this is your only issue. Also you said there were tons of dope samples in it, but how many have you loaded up at once?

If it gives you issues with a lot of samples loaded, this would also point to bad RAM.

Also, if you have a spare Hard Drive, try it, as this is another thing that could be wrong.

Have you saved anything to the hard drive yet? If you have issues saving (Even loading), especially large amounts of data, this would also point to a bad Hard Drive.

right guys thanks for the advice....its helped alot.....the record mode is working fine now having taken out and re inserted the ram (again) so thats the most important problem solved

ive made a beat on it tonight and all is working well......(he says).......im gonna try saving it to internal harddrive to check all is good.....heres hoping....

having used and got used to the machine (well some of it) over the weekend i really think my 2000 xl and 2500 will be gathering dust once this one is fully functional......

the filters and editing options are fantastic and like none i have previously found on any other mpc ive owned (all except the 60)

Ive found a company here in london that repair 4000's so it's gonna be a case of cosmetics (broken buttons, new connectors etc....

and yes the unit did come cheap so im happy to spend a few more hundred on re conditioning it.....

few questions.....1 - you said that you couldnt eject your cd drive using the button on the front of the drive so you use the 'eject' option in the mp........Where would i find that option or screen/page??
as i said, the light on the front flashes when powering up, just can't seem to open it...

question 2 (out of curiosity) - if the motherboard on a 4000 went would i be completly fu%^ed or are the insides and parts still redily available.......Just wondering before i sell my other mpc's and make this one the main badboy...


any response appreciated.......never used a forum before in my life and this one has come in so handy...

big up all the people taking time out to respond

peace

The logic board (Mother Board, Main Board, whatever they call it) Is discontinued. You cannot buy a new one, however, sometimes they can be repaired. I think VST (Virtual Service Technology) is your best bet there. They are very familiar and ARS (Authorized Repair Center) for AKAI out of Cali.

What they will tell you is you're screwed if it's the CPU, cause it's 'molded' to the board.

Hmmmm..... well, I'm working on it. I found a load of origional, and load of revised same family, ARM/Sharc processors that Intel assures me will work.

Once I have a mainboard I can test, I will be removing the old CPU, Installing an IC socket for the CPU, and simply plugging in the new one and testing it.

If this works, and is a feasible option at a fair price, I will offer the CPU repair, or upgrade (The newer version is identicle except for speeed!).

But don't hold your breath. This is not much unlike other work I've done, and I have just obtained a machine for this type of work, so we'll see.

I'd keep one on deck as a backup. I sold my 2KXL, but I still keep my RS7000 around both cause I love it, but also as a back up machine for the 4K