If you are an owner of an MPC1000, you are probably aware of a few bugs that (at the time of writing) remain unresolved by Akai, even though they are currently on OS version 2.13 of the official MPC 1000 operating system.
In 2007, a rumoured ex-member of the Akai coding team (nicknamed 'JJ', which stands for Japanese Jenius, a name given to him by his followers on MPC-Forums.com
) released his own (free) version of the MPC1000 operating system. The idea was to fix all the outstanding bugs and make some other improvements including completely new features.
While JJ has since gone on to create far more complex operating systems (not free however), the free version remains and seems to have settled at version 3.09 . Let's have a look at what the JJ OS 3.09 offers the Akai MPC 1000 owner.
New Features
While JJ has since gone on to create far more complex operating systems (not free however), the free version remains and seems to have settled at version 3.09 . Let's have a look at what the JJ OS 3.09 offers the Akai MPC 1000 owner.
New Features
To improve the load and saving of samples, a more intuitive directory system was installed into the LOAD and SAVE screens. This allows easier browsing, faster loading and swift USB transfers.
A basic form of GRID EDITING was added, although this is not as featured as the grid editing on the MPC2500.
'Audio Tracks' were added - this allows you to record audio performances directly into the sequencer which can then be extracted as samples. It also allows for 'bouncing down' of sequencer and audio tracks together to save track space.
Trimming and looping was simplified by automatically adjusting sensitivity whenever you zoom into the wave form (no need for the 'Fine' screen). Waveform height adjustment was also added.
'Audio Tracks' were added - this allows you to record audio performances directly into the sequencer which can then be extracted as samples. It also allows for 'bouncing down' of sequencer and audio tracks together to save track space.
Trimming and looping was simplified by automatically adjusting sensitivity whenever you zoom into the wave form (no need for the 'Fine' screen). Waveform height adjustment was also added.
Chopping was improved, including auto-chopping.
Global program editing allows the change of parameters on multiple pads across a program.
Stereo -> Mono sample editing functions were added, including (a fairly useless) vocal cut.
Tap Tempo can be performed via a pad rather than through the tap tempo button (thus improving playability and sensitivity)
Other minor tweaks were made to various parts of the OS.
Conclusion
Except for a bug in audio tracks that places a small gap of audio at the front of a recorded track (there is a way around this), this OS is very stable and clearly worth installing over the official Akai OS. It costs nothing and can be reversed back to the Akai OS at any time you wish (which will be never....). There's also a large community of fellow 'JJ OS' users at MPC-Forum.com
who'll provide great support for the JJ OS.
Our award winning MPC1000 tutorial ebook, 'Beat Making on the MPC1000
' now includes a separate version written specifically for the free JJ OS 3.09 operating system - by buying the product form our web site, you get both versions of the book included.
Download some example MPC1000 JJ OS tutorials here
(chopping breaks parts 1 and 2)