So I’ve had the S2400 for a few months now and it’s pushed my mpc2000xl out as my main beat making tool and I love it overall. However there is one obvious bug that keeps cropping up and I thought I should post about it here to see if anyone has any ideas on a fix. What happens is when playing with the filters in playback override mode there are occasional dropouts of samples (as in they don’t play for a step) even though there are no changes to the patterns themselves. It’s most noticeable when its the kick drum that drops and I have a video of it doing that here (around 43 seconds in, the bass line also drops out a second later):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeqFsnHRI58
I also noticed it happening on a video posted on this forum by The Crates Motel: https://forum.islainstruments.com/t/masters-of-the-beats-part-1-a-kenny-dope-type-old-school-house-beat/10840 (happens at 18:26)
Another user ‘fooddude’ also chimed in on that post to say they have had the same problem.
I then searched through old bug reports to see if I could find any more people with this problem and came across these:
- ‘sequencer forgets to play steps when using filter playback override’
- 'sequencer stuttering when using playback overide
(sorry won’t let me post more than 2 links as i’m a new user, so i’ve just added the titles of the posts)
but not sure if they are the exact same thing i’m seeing.
It’s not a big deal when making and recording beats but I did intend to replace my mpc with the s2400 for live use but as it is I don’t think it’ll be possible.
So, does anyone else have these dropouts? Are Isla aware of the issue? Is there a fix?
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I def noticed it, ever since I first got it.
I never took it seriously since I never used the machine to make a real/serious track yet - I kinda gave up on it, since it lacks a decent/usable basic midi-sequencer (like that of an mpc60 or other classic mpc) that can record/sequence and automate pitch/mod/CCs (smoothly too) to sequence external synths w/ an external-midi kybd-controller); as well as the sequencer cutting-off any midi-notes upon each loop repetition. Those are the main bugs/roadblocks for me to really use it seriously to make a track (my setup is all HW, Mackie mixer, synths, fx racks, etc.)
I just thought those drop-ous as an unintentional “randomizer” while I was learning it and making quick sketches for fun.
But, if I was actually making a serious jam/project on it, then for sure those drop-outs would be detrimental & frustrating (unless you were okay with random drop-outs for a live-sounding/randomized sequence).
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Yes this is an issue that’s well documented on here in other threads.
For now I just use the filters as an EQ ,it not the best filter for automation anyway.
You have basically got the choice of letting it bug you , pun not intended. Or just using it as a rudimentary EQ in my mind at least.
I have done some automation , and at least it doesn’t happen when playing it back, but whilst yr doing it , samples go missing etc yes.
Hopefully once things have settled down and in time , the sequencer will get so more love.
Thank you for your input on this fooddude and h4ndcrafted. So it looks like a widespread bug then if there are more documented cases than I have found already. In a way that is a good thing as it should be a firmware update rather than a hardware issue that only affects certain machines, and Isla should have plenty of info on what causes it. Like you said h4ndcrafted, hopefully now the DSP card is being shipped they will have time to look at some older bugs. I’m going to message them directly and see what they say. Will report back here is I get any more info.