MPC 3000 bending

[noiseybeast]

So...I got a really cheap deal on an MPC3000.  It needs a new backlight inverter and a new 5v regulator. I had planned on buying the thing, fixing it and making a bunch of money selling it on ebay.

OOORRR...I could replace the entire power supply with something like a pico itx/nano atx power supply, fit in an LTC1799, bend it, make it a really unique item.

I'm thinking if I did that I'd alienate the base audience of the MPC, but it'd be fun and if it worked out I might just keep it.   My question is-has anyone bent any MPC's before? 

I know that the Akai S-series can be bent so of course the audio part of the MPC will work, but I also remember that the samples degrade and the unit has to be reset.  My main concern would be the sequencing I guess.

I dunno-this is really preliminary-I might just fix the parts needed and sell the thing, buy myself an ipad.

[Circuitbenders]

bit of a tricky one there. The MPC3000 uses different RAM to the later Akais which all use 72pin SIMM's. If i recall correctly the MPC3000 can either use the official Akai EXM expansion boards which respond pretty well to bending, at least they did in my S2800i, or 30 pin SIMM's which i have no experience of.

If you do it, i'd definately go for a breakout box on a 25 pin D-sub connector. That way you'd risk alienating the obsessive MPC3000 crowd as little as possible. I have a feeling that the kind of people who buy MPC3000's might actually pay extra to not have it circuitbent!

[noiseybeast]

T

If you do it, i'd definately go for a breakout box on a 25 pin D-sub connector. That way you'd risk alienating the obsessive MPC3000 crowd as little as possible. I have a feeling that the kind of people who buy MPC3000's might actually pay extra to not have it circuitbent!

That's a very good point-most MPC3000 users are a bit mainstream with their musical tastes. 

But if I did it, I could actually use an existing hole in the case, there is a port for a VGA expansion board. 

I think I'll just fix it and move on.  I bought the thing for $400, I can easily get 1.5 my money for it just by replacing a 5volt regulator and an inverter.

BTW, EL-Foils + inverters have gotten silly cheap.

[noiseybeast]

As far as the 30 pin simms go, some kind soul has put the pinouts for 30+72 pin simms on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIMM

30-pin SIMM Memory Module
Pin #   Name   Signal Description      Pin #   Name   Signal Description
1   VCC   +5VDC   16   DQ4   Data 4
2   /CAS   Column Address Strobe   17   A8   Address 8
3   DQ0   Data 0   18   A9   Address 9
4   A0   Address 0   19   A10   Address 10
5   A1   Address 1   20   DQ5   Data 5
6   DQ1   Data 1   21   /WE   Write Enable
7   A2   Address 2   22   VSS   Ground
8   A3   Address 3   23   DQ6   Data 6
9   VSS   Ground   24   A11   Address 11
10   DQ2   Data 2   25   DQ7   Data 7
11   A4   Address 4   26   QP*   Data parity out
12   A5   Address 5   27   /RAS   Row Address Strobe
13   DQ3   Data 3   28   /CASP*   Parity Column Address Strobe
14   A6   Address 6   29   DP*   Data parity in
15   A7   Address 7   30   VCC   +5VDC
* Pins 26, 28 and 29 are not connected on non-parity SIMMs.