Akai MPC - hyped, cursed and loved!
What is up to MPC myth? Only just a hype that can be replaced by a conventional PC with appropriate hardware and software, or an individual musical instrument that puts no limits to creativity?
Turning again, we turn the clock back by moving us into a fair year in 1987, when our computers were not yet in a position to music at current levels to be calculated and the Akai MPC 60, saw the light of the world. An easy-to-use sampler with integrated sequencer and playable pads. Maximum 1.5 MB Ram and 12 bit converter with 40KHz sampling frequency, by today's standards a very meager facilities, but back then it was the non plus ultra in the sampling scene. DJ Shadow produced a complete album with the MPC 60, and his two 1210ern. Since you ask yourself sometimes: Is not less sometimes more? Are not we all a little overwhelmed today with our large sample libraries and a host of virtual samplers and synthesizers? Of course it is also advantageous to operate from a huge range of sounds, but not everything that sounds is of qualitative value.
The MPC-60 is the music production studio that has single-handedly taken over the Rap and R&B music genres as the main instrument of HipHop production. Designed by Roger Linn (Linn Drum), the MPC-60 is a one-box-does-it-all sequencer-sampler workstation.
What is up to MPC myth? Only just a hype that can be replaced by a conventional PC with appropriate hardware and software, or an individual musical instrument that puts no limits to creativity?
Turning again, we turn the clock back by moving us into a fair year in 1987, when our computers were not yet in a position to music at current levels to be calculated and the Akai MPC 60, saw the light of the world. An easy-to-use sampler with integrated sequencer and playable pads. Maximum 1.5 MB Ram and 12 bit converter with 40KHz sampling frequency, by today's standards a very meager facilities, but back then it was the non plus ultra in the sampling scene. DJ Shadow produced a complete album with the MPC 60, and his two 1210ern. Since you ask yourself sometimes: Is not less sometimes more? Are not we all a little overwhelmed today with our large sample libraries and a host of virtual samplers and synthesizers? Of course it is also advantageous to operate from a huge range of sounds, but not everything that sounds is of qualitative value.
The MPC-60 is the music production studio that has single-handedly taken over the Rap and R&B music genres as the main instrument of HipHop production. Designed by Roger Linn (Linn Drum), the MPC-60 is a one-box-does-it-all sequencer-sampler workstation.
The built-in sequencer is very complete and professional. There are 99 tracks per sequence, 99 patterns, and 99 sequences that can be created, edited and stored in the MPC-60 with ease. Most artists create their patterns in real-time adding drum parts to a beat-loop spontaneously creating a groove that captures the vibe. These patterns are varied and chained into a sequence. Full MIDI, SMPTE and various other forms of external control prepare the MPC-60 for any studio situation.
The Sampler section is lo-fi but highly respectable. Its 12-bit sampling at 40KHz is pretty good. Sample editing, looping and transforming is simple to do. And finally, there's even a built-in drum machine for extra groove! Finally, the 18 voices of polyphony should be plenty of room for anyone who wants to create HipHop on the machine of professional artists worldwide including Apollo 440, BT, Jean-Michel Jarre, DJ Shadow, and A Guy Called Gerald.
In 1991 the MPC-60 mkII was unleashed. It wasn't much different, the casing and a head-phone jack were new and either machine is still very useful for today's aspiring musicians.
Floppy drive Jumper settings for the Teac FD-235HF3240
A1 - B1 DS0 Drive select 0
B1 - C1 DS1 Drive select 1
A2 - B2 DS2 Drive select 2
B2 - C2 DS3 Drive select 3
A4 - B4 RY34 Ready output on Pin 34
B4 - C4 DC34 Disk Change output on Pin 34
C3 - C4 DC2 Disk Change output on Pin 2
C4 - D4 DC4 Disk Change output on Pin 4
A3 - B3 HA density set automatically
B3 - C3 HI2 density set by HD IN on pin 2
C3 - D3 HO2 density (HD OUT) output on pin 2
D3 - D4 HO4 density (HD OUT) output on pin 4
D1 - D2 LHI ---or---
D2 - E2 LHI HD IN low is high density
D1 - E1 LHO ---or---
E1 - E2 LHO HD IN high is high density
E2 - F2 HMK half mask for INDEX/READ-DATA
F3 - G3 NMK no mask for INDEX/READ-DATA
F1 - G1 IR LED on when: (Drive Select AND Ready)
G1 - G2 ML motor on when: (Motor ON AND LED on)
E4 - F4 ACD disable auto-checking
G3 - G4 REN disable auto-recalibration
E2 - E3 HF ---or---
E3 - E4 HF must always be in for this version of drive
For the MPC-60 jumper DS0, HI2, RY34, HF, REN, and FG.
