Tutorial: Using Logic Pro 8 With Your MPC4000

clint246clint wrote:Using Logic Pro 8 With Your MPC4000

Its been a while since I posted a “How to…” on the forum so hopefully here’s another useful thread for those that have Logic Pro 8 and an MPC4000. Although this is the combination I use, I see no reason why this tip shouldn’t work with other MPC’s or other versions of Logic.

First up, let me start by saying I have seen a couple of videos on YouTube in particular one entitled “How to use Logic as a sound module with a MPC”. While this video may have helped many, it wasn’t helpful to me as it involved messing with the environment.

There is a much easier way to achieve the same results without touching the environment which is why I’ve posted this thread. I also reckon that this tip may be helpful to anyone who has problems tracking out to Logic. This is also a fun way to use your MPC to make beats quickly. Remember when it was fun?

Assumptions:

1. You are able to input midi to your MPC using a keyboard and/ or the pads.
2. You are able to monitor the output of the MPC and Logic together.
3. You know the basics of navigating both the MPC and Logic.
4. The midi out of the MPC is routed into and being received by Logic.

Ok, im gonna break it down into “MPC’s for Dummies” type steps simply to avoid a flood of basic questions coming back. I know you guys aren’t dummies, you have MPC’s right?

1. Launch Logic Pro 8. From the available templates choose COMPOSE and then ELECTRONIC. This should launch the template.

2. In the Logic FILE menu go to PROJECT SETTINGS and then RECORDING. Make sure you tick the box “Auto demix by channel if multitrack recording”. Close the window.

3. Using the INSPECTOR select each of the 15 tracks in the arrange window in turn and assign each to the corresponding midi channel. Track 1= midi channel 1, Track 2 = midi channel 2 and so on. Don’t change any of the instruments yet.

4. Record enable all the instrument tracks. Don’t worry about the CLICK on track 15, this can be changed to another instrument if need be.

5. Open a mixer window either below the arrange page or on a separate monitor. Set it up to mirror whats on the arrange page by highlighting ARRANGE and INSTR. That’s the software sorted, so SAVE as a template and name it “MPC Module”.

6. On the MPC load up a sequence you want to work with or start a new one, set the tempo and loop length if necessary. If you hate tracking out, I suggest starting a new sequence. Tell you why later…

7. In the midi output section of the MPC screen assign OUT1 to the midi port to be used with Logic (Out A,B,C or D). Also select channel 1. I suggest also naming this port by going to the DEVICE field and pressing WINDOW.

8. Ok, so now track 1 on the MPC is ready. Press some keys/ pads. You should hear some drum sounds at the lower note numbers/ octaves. This is the CLASSIC TECHNO KIT loaded into track 1 in Logic. Confirm this by looking at Logic’s mixer. If this doesn’t work, check the four assumptions outlined above and rectify before continuing.

9. Works? Great! Now on the MPC use the thumbwheel to change the midi out channel. Try all the channels to confirm that all are routed to the matching instruments in Logic. As you turn the thumbwheel thru the channels observe the Logic mixer to see which instrument is playing.

That’s the complete set-up. You can now send 16 channels of midi data to 16 different Logic instruments. If you want to use Logic as a pure sound module, there is no need to bother with syncing logic to the MPC. Hate tracking out? Program/ record your (midi) beats into the MPC and make sure everything has its own track. Load your samples/ drumkits/ synths into logic by choosing and using the correct instruments (try the template first to see how it works). Hit record in Logic after setting a loop of 8,16 or 32 bars. All your notes are recorded on the correct Logic tracks. Play it back. All recorded in midi notes, ready to mess with. Your Logic sequence will still have that famous MPC BUMP!!

There are lots you can do when this works. For example set the MPC OUT1 and OUT2 to different midi channels for instant layering. I shall let you guys figure out what else can be done………

ROCKNOID wrote:

clint246clint wrote:Using Logic Pro 8 With Your MPC4000

Its been a while since I posted a “How to…” on the forum so hopefully here’s another useful thread for those that have Logic Pro 8 and an MPC4000. Although this is the combination I use, I see no reason why this tip shouldn’t work with other MPC’s or other versions of Logic.

First up, let me start by saying I have seen a couple of videos on YouTube in particular one entitled “How to use Logic as a sound module with a MPC”. While this video may have helped many, it wasn’t helpful to me as it involved messing with the environment.

There is a much easier way to achieve the same results without touching the environment which is why I’ve posted this thread. I also reckon that this tip may be helpful to anyone who has problems tracking out to Logic. This is also a fun way to use your MPC to make beats quickly. Remember when it was fun?

Assumptions:

1. You are able to input midi to your MPC using a keyboard and/ or the pads.
2. You are able to monitor the output of the MPC and Logic together.
3. You know the basics of navigating both the MPC and Logic.
4. The midi out of the MPC is routed into and being received by Logic.

Ok, im gonna break it down into “MPC’s for Dummies” type steps simply to avoid a flood of basic questions coming back. I know you guys aren’t dummies, you have MPC’s right?

1. Launch Logic Pro 8. From the available templates choose COMPOSE and then ELECTRONIC. This should launch the template.

2. In the Logic FILE menu go to PROJECT SETTINGS and then RECORDING. Make sure you tick the box “Auto demix by channel if multitrack recording”. Close the window.

3. Using the INSPECTOR select each of the 15 tracks in the arrange window in turn and assign each to the corresponding midi channel. Track 1= midi channel 1, Track 2 = midi channel 2 and so on. Don’t change any of the instruments yet.

4. Record enable all the instrument tracks. Don’t worry about the CLICK on track 15, this can be changed to another instrument if need be.

5. Open a mixer window either below the arrange page or on a separate monitor. Set it up to mirror whats on the arrange page by highlighting ARRANGE and INSTR. That’s the software sorted, so SAVE as a template and name it “MPC Module”.

6. On the MPC load up a sequence you want to work with or start a new one, set the tempo and loop length if necessary. If you hate tracking out, I suggest starting a new sequence. Tell you why later…

7. In the midi output section of the MPC screen assign OUT1 to the midi port to be used with Logic (Out A,B,C or D). Also select channel 1. I suggest also naming this port by going to the DEVICE field and pressing WINDOW.

8. Ok, so now track 1 on the MPC is ready. Press some keys/ pads. You should hear some drum sounds at the lower note numbers/ octaves. This is the CLASSIC TECHNO KIT loaded into track 1 in Logic. Confirm this by looking at Logic’s mixer. If this doesn’t work, check the four assumptions outlined above and rectify before continuing.

9. Works? Great! Now on the MPC use the thumbwheel to change the midi out channel. Try all the channels to confirm that all are routed to the matching instruments in Logic. As you turn the thumbwheel thru the channels observe the Logic mixer to see which instrument is playing.

That’s the complete set-up. You can now send 16 channels of midi data to 16 different Logic instruments. If you want to use Logic as a pure sound module, there is no need to bother with syncing logic to the MPC. Hate tracking out? Program/ record your (midi) beats into the MPC and make sure everything has its own track. Load your samples/ drumkits/ synths into logic by choosing and using the correct instruments (try the template first to see how it works). Hit record in Logic after setting a loop of 8,16 or 32 bars. All your notes are recorded on the correct Logic tracks. Play it back. All recorded in midi notes, ready to mess with. Your Logic sequence will still have that famous MPC BUMP!!

There are lots you can do when this works. For example set the MPC OUT1 and OUT2 to different midi channels for instant layering. I shall let you guys figure out what else can be done………

this is one of the best posts ive seen on this forum. i been using a similar setup but using reason in rewire mode with protools with my 2500. i love that i can avoid using the crappy d/a converters on my mbox and that im able to keep all the samples digital and sounding crisp. ive been considering logic 8 cause of everything it comes with. the only issue im having with my current setup is a bit of latency triggering reason...i have to compensate using time shift on the mpc when im using reason as a module. is there latency that you notice when using logic as a module?

clint246clint wrote:Zepdude: Personally, I avoid having to synchronise whenever possible, but if i had to I'd have the MPC as the master device. This is because my experience has shown that the MPC sequencer has a slightly 'loose' feel to it compared to the super-accurate metronomic timing of a computer-controlled DAW and that's how i like it.

In my tutorial i suggested ditching synchronisation completely as it wasn't needed at any point in the process. You must remember that when you use synchronisation such as midi clock or MTC, the master device dictates the tempo. If you program stuff in the MPC sequencer (especially drums) the MPC should be the master device, at least until the beats are tracked out.