recording sequence

I'm still learning and currently following the 'beat making on the mpc 2000xl'.

Chapter 016

I have loaded DRUMKIT.PGM to DRUM2 but every time I press REC & PLAY START instead of taking in consideration this program (and the sounds assigned to pad 1, 2 & 3) it goes back to program 1 (and no sound as nothing is assigned to any pads). Any idea what I did wrong?

While recording a sequence do I have to be on the 'main screen' or on the 'program screen'?

Thanks for your help... still learning

Main screen.

Simply scroll down to 'DRUM' section and change to the correct drum 1-4 before recording. I think you can do this while recording too.

As soon as I hit PLAY START & REC the DRUM2 OFF DRUMKIT changes to DRUM2 OFF BASS.

Maybe I did not assign the program the right way?

Do you have anything set in the PGM field in any track?

You can only assign one PGM number to any one DRUM. Also, hit open window on the program name in the program screen and make sure no two programs share the same program number. This is a recipe for disaster.

What I do is I set track 61 to drum 1, then assign the PGM change in that track and ONLY that track.
Then I set track 62 to drum 2, then assign the PGM change in that track and ONLY that track.
etc, etc for tracks 63 / 64.

The point is, if you set drum 2 on one track, assign a PGM change number, then set another track to drum 2, and assign a different pgm number, how is the machine supposed to know which of those pgm #s drum 2 should be?

Use drum 1 for one program.
Use drum 2 for another program.

Honesty, you probably don't even need to mess with the PGM field yet.

nogginj wrote:You can only assign one PGM number to any one DRUM. Also, hit open window on the program name in the program screen and make sure no two programs share the same program number. This is a recipe for disaster.

thanks for answering. That was it, I made sure to delete the rest of the program when I press DRUM2 then on the Pgm screen. I did not know you can only assign one PGM by DRUM. thanks.

mmmh after a few tests I'm still confused

Let's say I have created a PGM called BASS with one sample looped assign to a pad. I also have a PGM called CUTDRUMS with 3 sounds assigned to 3 different pads.

Now I have a sequence called BEAT1 with 2 tracks. Track1 being BASSLINE & Track2 being DRUMS.

While on Track1 I choose DRUM4 to load BASS.PGM. I then press PLAY START+REC and start recording my sequence.
Then I go on Track2 and choose DRUM1 to load CUTDRUMS.PGM. As soon as I press PLAY START to start recording the drums it changes the CUTDRUMS to another PGM.


Am I creating my PGM the wrong way or assigning them the wrong way? What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Do you have any midi cables connected?
Could be a weird feedback loop.

Are you setting the PGM via the PGM field on the main screen?
If so, stop doing that for now. Just assign the programs via the program screen to each DRUM slot.

If you want to use the PGM field on main screen:
What are the program numbers for each program? Hit open window on the program name in program screen to find out. I would change these to match whatever slot the program sits in...it will be obvious...it will say 1-bass and 2-drums or whatever. just make sure that bass is set to have a program change number of 1 and drums a program change number of 2.

If any of your programs share program change numbers, things start acting really weird.

I don't know what you are doing wrong, but this:

While on Track1 I choose DRUM4 to load BASS.PGM. I then press PLAY START+REC and start recording my sequence.
Then I go on Track2 and choose DRUM1 to load CUTDRUMS.PGM. As soon as I press PLAY START to start recording the drums it changes the CUTDRUMS to another PGM.

...doesn't really make sense because number 1) why would you hit 'play start' to start recording and 2) surely you do something else in between those steps or do you really hit 'play start+rec' once, then switch tracks and hit 'play start'?
I'm not trying to be a d1ck but it's those little details that you are leaving out that sometimes are the whole reason things aren't working like it should. If the above advice does not help, come back again with a step by step detail of what you are doing.

It's either basic user error or you are setting the PGM field and your program change numbers are all out of whack.

Finally, a little editorial: if you are using a whole program for just 1 pad or a whole program for just 3 pads, consider merging those two programs into 1...you can only hold 24 programs in the mpc at one time and I know that for me that is never enough. Just my personal bias.

No midi cables connected.

Merging everything in one PGM could indeed be a good idea but then that means in one PGM I would have bass, drums, etc etc. A bit messy no?

Regarding the program numbers for each program, BASS is 1 & CUTDRUMS is 2 (if you are talking about the 'MIDI progran change:' field)

Let me explain again what I do in order, let's say I've just switched on the MPC:

-MAIN SCREEN, name Sq to BEAT1
-change tempo
-Name Tr01 to BASSLINE, while S is on DRUM1
-Shift 3 load BASS.PGM
-MAIN SCREEN is now stating S:DRUM1 OFF BASS
-REC+PLAY START to record the loop.
-Name Tr02 to DRUMS, while S is on DRUM2
-Shift 3 load CUTDRUMS.PGM
-MAIN SCREEN is now stating S:DRUM2 OFF CUTDRUMS
-OVERDUB+PLAY START to record what I would like to play with the CUTDRUMS program but as soon as click OVERDUB+PLAYSTART it is stating S:DRUM1 OFF Newpgm-A

Sorry for the long reply, I'm sure my mistake is quite obvious and silly but it's just confusing

-Shift 3 load BASS.PGM
-MAIN SCREEN is now stating S:DRUM1 OFF BASS

You are still leaving out a step.

When you hit 'Shift-3' it asks you which drum program to use. are you choosing drum 1 for bass and drum 2 for drums?

Also, where did "Newpgm-A" come from? Take out all programs except the ones you want to use for now since you're having a hard time getting this to work.

Edit: I can infer from what you typed that maybe you did choose the correct drum programs, but I'm just asking you these questions to double check that things are happening exactly as you state. I'm just always skeptical that what people type is actually what they are doing...since you are leaving parts out, it's not hard to assume that maybe those steps are where the problem is.

If it's really going how you said it is, then you've got the weirdest mpc in the world.
I find that hard to believe so I'm going to keep asking for more details til we find the step you are missing.

Edit 2: No I don't find that merging programs like that is messy. Ok some might call it messy, but I can definitely call one program with only 1-3 pads being used wasteful. Messy or wasteful...I guess you got to choose. For me, 24 programs is never enough so I have to put a lot of thought into how I create my programs, but I've got systems in place that take the 'mess' out of it (one program for all melodic elements, one for drums, etc etc)

Well, 'Newpgm-A' is the default program that the MPC creates when you turn it on, isn't it?

When I press Shift+3 it just ask me 'replace same sound in memory' thats it. I just leave it on NO and then LOAD.

Obviously if I put the four sounds I'd like to use in the same PGM I can create my sequence but that's not my question here as I'm trying to follow the manual to learn the proper way...

nogginj wrote:one program for all melodic elements, one for drums, etc etc

I like that a lot, good thinking, I think I will start doing the same...

MIRA wrote:When I press Shift+3 it just ask me 'replace same sound in memory' thats it. I just leave it on NO and then LOAD.

DOH!!!!!!!!!

You haven't gone in to program screen yet, have you?
You are just loading programs and never assigning them...

SHIFT+6 buddy ....

See how easy it is to misread/type??? I didn't even make the connection when you said SHIFT+3 that that is LOAD screen not PROGRAM screen.

To sum up...you LOAD the programs then you assign the programs to DRUM slots via the program screen....I have been talking the whole time about the program screen which is SHIFT+6

I'm aware of Shift6 dude, while pressing DRUM1 I make sure that it is on the BASS.PGM then press F1 to assign. Then Press Shift6 again then press DRUM2 then make sure it is on CUTDRUMS.PGM then PRESS F1 again... correct?

You are right about the newpgm-a...I am too used to auto-loading so I forgot about that.

You are not entirely right on the other thing though... you don't need to hit F1 to assign anything...that is for assigning samples to pads.

If you hit F6, then hit F1 (drum 1), assign that to BASS program.
Then hit main screen.
Scroll down to track 1, set it to drum1, it should say BASS. hit the pads. You should hear the bass on any pad it is assigned to.
Hold record, hit play start, play the bass pad.
Hit stop.
Hit play start.
Do you hear the bass seq you just recorded?

Now, hit F6, then hit F2 (drum 2), assign that to CUTDRUMS program.
Then hit main screen.
Scroll down to track 2, set it to drum2, it should say CUTDRUMS. hit the pads. You should hear the drums on any pad they are assigned to.
Hold record, hit play start, play the drums pad. (you should hear your track 1 bass too).
According to what you've said before, this is where you have the problem, cause it switches to bass.
Hit stop.
Hit play start.
Do you hear both seqs you just recorded?

If that doesn't work, then damn.

Doesn't work dude...

Am I loading these PGM the wrong way or what?

I do indeed can hear the bass sequence.

Afterwards yes I do hear the drum sounds assigned to the pads after loading CUTDRUMS.

My problem is: after holding record & hitting play start I can hear track01 BASS but CUTDRUMS switches and I therefore cannot record/hear any sounds from that program.

EDIT: one thing I could do to avoid that problem (unless someone can point out what I'm doing wrong) is putting all the sounds (drums, bass, etc) of my beat/song into the same program...