Technical questions for the MPC2000xl and the MPC2000
By Hash410 Sat Jan 03, 2004 8:50 pm
I just got the MPC 2000XL with the internal zip two days. I don’t have upgrade to the 32 megs yet. I’ve been practicing using the zip disk that came with the MPC. I’m struggling and frustrated with the drum programming.

I’ve figured out how to load the zip disk and assign them to different pads whether in bank’s A, B, C, or D. Right now I’m reading and practicing the material in Chapter 3 of the MPC 2000XL manual “recording sequences”. I’m struggling man with these drums. and fitting the melody with the drums. What I do is assign a kick, and a snare both in Bank A to two separate pads. (The Mistake) Then using the metronome clicking, by, tapping pad 1-kick pad 2-snare. I go kick, snare, kick, snare, kick, snare, kick, snare. Then I quantize it and it still sounds off. I’ve also tried using the “DRUM 1, 2, 3, and 4” and I’m struggling with that.

Correction: What I've learned thus far is to seperate each track in the same sequence on a different track. For ex. Seq 1- track 1:kick, track 2: snare, track 3: hit hat, track 4: bass, track 5: loop (piano). Then what I did was for example track one:kick, I lowered the BPM to 88.7 (instead of using 120.0). I hit record the metronome plays and at the same time the metronome play I hit the kick pad. So I try to match the kick drum with the metronome click. I don't know if that's right. I'm just experimenting so much right now.

Do you have any suggestions (some steps of som sort) for me as a first time MPC 2000XL user to improve my drum programming, and matching the loop with the drums? This is my 3rd day using the unit. I've so much to learn. Thanks in advance for any advice/tips.
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By aaron Sat Jan 03, 2004 9:07 pm
I had the same problem as you.

I guess my advice would be to just keep practicing, fiddle with the quantinise feature.... i think its all about timing, you'll get the hang of it after about an hour of just practicing.
thats what happened with me

peace
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By Blaz4me Sat Jan 03, 2004 10:34 pm
Every once and a while turn that timing off on your main screen. The one with the 1/8, 1/16 etc. Lay some drums free handed. In the event you don't know how to count your bars every 4 metrenome clicks equals 1 bar, however don't count the first four that sound off as this bar is used as your count down to the actual recording start point. From there just like Aaron said just keep practicing and you'll get better a lot faster.
Last edited by Blaz4me on Sun Jan 04, 2004 2:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

By Needle201 Sun Jan 04, 2004 4:51 am
and, if you didnt do that already, check out if your samples are well cut. badly cut samples can also result in untightness.

experiment a little bit, and you will soon get the hang of it.
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By itchyvinyl Sun Jan 04, 2004 9:39 am
Save often. :wink: