Work flow question

So I'm pretty new to the mpc. (I have a 1000 with JJos 1 and 2) I'm looking for suggestions regarding my workflow - as I'm transitioning from Logic based sequencing to exclusively using the MPC.

I typically will start by laying down a loop or a drone of some sort using a few tracks. What I'd like to do afterwards is record a track or two of long "live" midi sequencing. Meaning not looped. Since you have to start off by determining what appears to be a global loop length - is the best thing to do to then copy my existing loops to extend the global loop length? That seems time consuming/tedious.

Is there a way I can create a new track with an undetermined - or at least much much longer length alongside my existing typical 8 bar loops I begin with?

Thanks!

i think it may help to use song mode. once youre happy with your initial loops, go to song mode, select the current track, duplicate it, say, 4 times, and write that over the original track.
thats an easier method than extening the track legnth and copy/pasting the loops.

hope that helps - i dont have my mpc in front of me right now so sorry the instructions arnt precise - im sure itll make sense though..... using os2 by the way

I do the same thing, start with a rhythmic heavily distorted loop then I lay some other sounds on top via midi.
I haven't tried song mode myself (I might try this afternoon), what I usually do is copy my loop, paste, copy the resulting loop (double the length) and paste again, so now if the original loop was 1 bar now I have 4, then I copy and paste again and again, always selecting all and quickly you have a 5 minutes loop.

I had some playback issues when reproducing a single midi note about 4 mins long, it would stop after a minute or so.
If it happens, here on the forum I was suggested to change the track from midi to drum and use midi channel 8 (not 100% sure about the channel number).

Hope it helps!

those are helpful suggestions - i guess i was hoping there was someway to make tracks of different loop lengths together in 1 sequence. I figured out last night i'm able to do it with the JJ simult. sequence feature - but only 2 sequences can play at a time. it'd be great if i could have a single sequencer with a 4 bar pattern looping, an 8 bar pattern looping, a 1 bar pattern looping and a 5 minute pattern. but i guess you can't have it all.