For discussion about setting up your studio and advice on the gear and equipment within it.
By DJ Skitzophrenik Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:18 am
I was wondering, I have a MPC 3000 and a MPC 5000, I want to use my MPC 3000 as the master and the 5000 as the slave, now I have the MPC 5000 on Midi Out C on the MP3K...I can play the 5000 on the 3000's pads but the pads from the 3000 play also, Do I have to set up Midi Tracks as a sequence template? Basically do I have to use all Midi tracks of the 5000 or can I have the 3000 play the drums and samples on the 5000 through Midi...

In a nutshell I want to play the 3000 drums and use samples from the 5000 as a sound module...Can anyone tell me how to set this up?


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By Clint Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:27 pm
The idea of using multiple MPC's is not a new one, but it is an interesting concept for those that can afford to.

There are threads around about using multiple MPC's but I can't recall whether they discussed the setup/ workflow in detail.

I've moved this to the Studio Environments forum to bring it to the attention of our MIDI MASTERS.

If I can find those other threads I'll drop the links here too.

EDIT: The threads I was referring to do not really detail either setup or workflow issues when working with multiple MPC's.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=129246&hilit=multiple+MPCs

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=134709&start=0

AMandFM wrote:I have a 5000 and a 1000 I have been using together for a few months.

The way I have them set up let's me run them through outboard gear to resample with reverb and Analog eq, harmonizer etc. Also geneally favor using one for samples the other to sequence modules, synth, keys etc...They are midi into one another, for synch. There are 14 individual routed outputs between them, that is also useful mixing on a real board...I don't usually mix the outs the manual output style, rather just mix it through the 2 stereo outs... Through board into Pro Tools.


dmarz45 wrote:I have an MPC 3000 and 1000. I have the 3000 because it has the BEST sound out of any of the MPCs. The drums just hit harder than any other machine. So I use the 3000 for all my drums and bass usually and I use the MPC 1000 for all the extra features it has like the chopping, extra sequencer options, track mute, mono pad cutoff, and MUCH more. its just so much easier to use for samples. So I have the best of both worlds, new and old. I get to have the GREAT sound of the old MPCs with ALL the features of the new MPCs. Its a win-win. I had the extra $400 cash to get the 1000 so I said why not!!! It was definitely worth it. The only downside is that you have to save the beat in 2 seperate machines which can be a pain sometimes but its not too bad..



Maybe some of you guys would care to describe the setup and how you make it work for you in this thread.
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By Shostakovich Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:48 pm
On the 3000, You need to set your tracks to MIDI - not drum - to be able to use the MPC as a controller without triggering the internal sound generator of the 3000. I believe you can mix but not match DRUM and MIDI tracks should you decide to incorporate 3000 sounds into the mix.
By Clint Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:36 pm
I shall be following this thread with interest.

I now have two MPC's (one designed by Roger Linn and one designed by Akai) for the best of both worlds.

Haven't yet decided exactly how I will hook them up, the possibilities are endless...
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By Dan L Tue Dec 07, 2010 1:16 am
Why not slave the 3000 to the 5000?

If it was me, I would use the edit/seq from the 5000 over the 3000..... 3000 does sound better. That being the case you could run your samples thru the 3000. Same with your kicks. :)

Good Luck.
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By nod records Tue Dec 07, 2010 2:53 am
here's a video of guy that has his mpc 60 as the master and an mpc 1000 as the slave, making a beat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqC9lkP-LqQ

i've been thinking about this too, since i have an mpc 60 & mpc 2500se

i was thinking of slaving my 2500 to my 60. that way i can do my drums in the 60 and use it as the master sequencer and use the 2500 for longer samples, filters effects, basslines, etc... since the 60 doesn't have filters and only 26 secs of sample time. That way i get those punchy 60 drums and sequencer swing and longer sample time and filters with the 2500.

i'll have to play around with this set-up and let you know how i make out with it. i'm sure i can get it working. i use to midi slave my asr-10 to my mpc 60, no problem. the asr-10 had 8 instrument tracks, so it was easy. the first 8 midi tracks on the mpc where the 8 instrument tracks on the asr-10.
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By nod records Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:24 am
i just gave it a try and let me tell you...

i could not get the mpc 2500 to slave up to the mpc as the master. i tried everything. i'm pretty good with midi too.

i slaved my asr-10 to my mpc 60 as the master and i also slaved my asr-10 to my mpc 2000XL as the master. both with no problems. i also slave my mpc 60 and mpc 2500 to pro tools to track out my beats, again no problems.

but this, i could not get to work.

if anyone figures it out, i'd be interested to know how.

good luck.

as of now i'm sticking to either working on the mpc 60, mpc 2500se or ableton live by themselves.

i use to love working with my mpc 60 as the master and the asr-10 as the slave. that way i had my drums and sequencer of the 60, but had the sample time, filters, effects and the keys of the asr-10. it was an ill combo and easy to set-up.

maybe these new mpc's don't want to be friends with the old mpc's. :lol:
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By DJ Hellfire Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:51 am
nod records wrote:i just gave it a try and let me tell you...

i could not get the mpc 2500 to slave up to the mpc as the master. i tried everything. i'm pretty good with midi too.

i slaved my asr-10 to my mpc 60 as the master and i also slaved my asr-10 to my mpc 2000XL as the master. both with no problems. i also slave my mpc 60 and mpc 2500 to pro tools to track out my beats, again no problems.

but this, i could not get to work.

if anyone figures it out, i'd be interested to know how.

good luck.

as of now i'm sticking to either working on the mpc 60, mpc 2500se or ableton live by themselves.

i use to love working with my mpc 60 as the master and the asr-10 as the slave. that way i had my drums and sequencer of the 60, but had the sample time, filters, effects and the keys of the asr-10. it was an ill combo and easy to set-up.

maybe these new mpc's don't want to be friends with the old mpc's. :lol:



That's weird! I've slave my XL to my 2500 and it worked perfectly. Never tried the other way around though. Don't see why it would give you trouble. I slave my 2500 to Pro Tools as well with no issues. I'll give this a try tomorrow!
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By DJ Hellfire Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:37 pm
nod records wrote:Hellfire

I know. I slave my MPC 2500, MPC 2000XL, MPC 60, ASR-10 all to Pro Tools with no problems.

I've also slaved my ASR-10 to my MPC 60 and MPC 2000XL with no problems.

I couldn't get my 2500 slaved to my 60 tho. I tried everything.



Yeah, I just tried this too and the 2500 would not slave to the XL. Weird!
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By The Grublet Tue Dec 07, 2010 8:21 pm
I don't know about slaving the 2500...

but usually, as long as you are using one box to sequence.... and have that (master) box following the DAW timecode (slaved to daw)...


you can have ANYTHING being sequenced off of ANY midi channel...


If you are talking about trying to be able to sequence on both, and then have one vintage model stay at the same speed (timecode) as the other one, whether slaved from DAW or Master.... good luck... thats asking a slow (older) machine to start just as fast as a new one.




BEST BET:


choose your master as the quickest to start (follow) your DAW. Therefore, your MASTER machine will start fastest when you press record on your DAW.


Then, from there, chain your machines/racks/keys from there (the master).

If you keep track of your channels/cables/and what is where, you will essentially be having almost endless midi possibility (16ch per cable)


The trick is knowing where a feedback loop will occour and when...


If you have, say, an ASR10 set up with any MPC.... you go in>out out>in and since the ASR is multitimbral... or can play as an 8 iinstrument at a time sound module.... no biggie... since you are not using any part of the ASR's clock, sequencer, or time code.


this theory should be applied when using ANY COMBO of machines with ONE master controller ...


Timecode generated by DAW

Timecode Followed by Master (hopefully the fastest to start machine you have, or the best for sequencing)

machines/keys/racks MIDI CONNECTED to the master (but not following any timecode)


using chaining, or an 8x8 midi box, you can use your OUTS from your additional MIDI CONNECTED machines/keys/ SEND MIDI DATA back to your master Drum Machine (to record incoming MIDI notes from your keyboard, or tapped buttons directly into the MASTER'S SEQUENCER.



SINCE all of the notes are being RECORDED as MIDI NOTES into ONE (master) Drum Machine.... and to cue the start song on the MASTER... your DAW will generate the START COMMAND and the MTC.




Hope this helps.




(I would use the 5k as the master, and the 3k as the slave..... higher quant value.... faster start, etc etc......)
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By The Grublet Wed Dec 08, 2010 2:42 am
shit... they are like 450 now... insane.
By DJ Skitzophrenik Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:07 am
I believe that I got my setup to work, I hooked the MPC 5000 to the Midi Out C on the 3000 set the Sync out to C on the 3000 so now I can play the 5000's pads on the 3000, basically Im using my 5000 as a sound module because the sequencer is really crappy...I think I got everything to work but the thing is, I want to use the 3000 drums and use the samples of the 5000...the drums on the 3000 just are astronomical...they sound amazing, but to be honest, the 5000 drums sound good too, Im stuck though, I really want to use the 3000 drums with the 5000 samples...
By dmarz45 Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:24 am
Yeah like clint246clint posted I have the 3000 and the 1000. I just midi the 2 machines together using 2 midi cables; out to in and in to out. I use the 1000 sequencer so it's the master. When I want my 1000 to control the 3000 I just set the midi channel on the 1000 main screen to 1A and I can control the 3000. Its really pretty simple. All you need is 2 midi cables to link the 2 machines together.