Post your questions, opinions and reviews of the MPC1000. This forum is for discussion of the OFFICIAL Akai OS (2.1). If you wish to discuss the JJ OS, please use the dedicated JJ OS forum
User avatar
By Murahachibu Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:48 am
First off, I just want to say this is a great forum. I’ve been checking out people’s tracks, videos, etc. and I have to say you have a great community vibe going on in here. This is really drawing me in to picking up an MPC. Here’s my question:

I’m currently looking into getting an MPC-1000 to use as a sequencer for my other midi equipment (Korg ESX-1 Sampler, and Microkorg), but as I’ve never used an MPC, and I’m new to MIDI, I want to do my homework before dropping a grand. I’ve looked through the MPC manual on midi-sequencing and I’ve scoured the net, but I didn’t see anything that would help me.

My question is this:

My ESX-1 has a built in sequencer. When I use the onboard sequencer, I create “patterns” and string them together to make a “song”. Each of these “patterns” (from 1 to 8 bars) holds a set number of “parts” to which samples can be assigned. For example, a single pattern has 9 single hit samples (i.e. drums, vocals, etc.), 2 parts for which samples can be played across the full keyboard range, 2 “stretch” parts and, 1 additional part for a sliced up sample. So basically, I have this many samples at my disposal for a single “pattern” (again 1 to 8 bars). If I link another “pattern” to this so they play back to back, I can assign different samples to each of these parts to get variety in the song.

What I want to do is add an MPC to my set-up to use for drum parts and additional samples and then sequence my ESX on the MPC so the MPC triggers the samples from the ESX and plays synth parts off of my Microkorg. What I don’t understand is:

* Since I have a limited number of parts per pattern on the ESX, I need to change to a new pattern to switch to a separate bank of assigned samples. How will the MPC recognize that I’ve changed to a new bank of sounds? Is that information automatically transmitted to the MPC in the transmitted MIDI information? I currently don’t use software midi sequencers, but someone told me that on a software sequencer I would need to indicate a “midi patch change command”, and this would notify the sequencer to change to the next bank of samples. How does one go about something like this on the MPC? Is anyone sequencing an external sampler like this? Sorry if this sounds like I retarded question, but I’m new to both MIDI and the MPC.

Peace,

Murahachibu
Utsunomiya, Japan
User avatar

By Murahachibu Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:55 am
Thanks!!! That's good to hear. I will review the revised manual as you have suggested. Just curious, have you midi-sequenced an electribe to the MPC before? If so, did you find they integrate well? Any problems I should know about?
User avatar

By Murahachibu Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:19 pm
I didn't know that about Jay Dee, but I read an interview that listed the ESX in Madlib's studio list.

Anyway, I like the ESX a lot. It's strong point is in the ease in which you can can really flip your samples into something completely different. Very dyanamic and expressive for live use and creating stuff on the fly. It's also the most user friendly piece of gear you could ever hope for. The way I see it though is that it's weakness are the MPC's strengths - which is why I'm looking at the 1000.

The main problems for me about the ESX are the sequencer and the pads:

With the onboard sequencer, everything gets quantized to the closest 16th note, so I'm thinking about getting the MPC to loosen up my drum beats a little.

The pads on the ESX aren't velocity sensitive, so you have to control velocity via the knobs, and the pads are just not designed to be played effectively. If you do get one, I recommend using a midi controller. With a midi controller, the samples on the ESX respond to velocity and it turns the ESX into more of an "instrument" - if that makes sense. The pads are obviously what the MPC is all about.

Also, I figure with the two running side by side I'll add a new dimesion in terms of polyphony and sample time.

Anyway, I was considering going the software route to use as a midi sequencer, and maybe getting a pad controller (The Akai or the new Korg PadKontrol), but I decided I want to stay away from the computer as much as possible. Being a translator, I stare at screens all day long. Music is my escape from looking at a screen - that's where the MPC comes in.

I just wish Akai would solve the dying pad issue. I emailed them about it, but didn't get a response. If I can get an email address for Akai here in Japan, maybe I'll send them an email about it too.

Peace,

J.

a.ka. Murahachibu