MPC500 + Korg Padkontrol

Sorry if this has been discussed before: I did some searching through old threads that touched upon the topic, but nothing cut and dry that answered my question specifically.

thanks in advance to anyone that can offer me any insight!

I'd like to hook up my korg padkontrol to an mpc500 to play drum parts live using the drum samples that I'd be loading onto the 500. If possible, would I be able to:

1) trigger the drum samples via the korg and play sequences and/or trigger loops/samples on the mpc pads at the same time?

2) recall settings/mappings without having to re-assign the pads on the korg once either unit is powered down?

3) be able to switch sample banks on the mpc (without having to assign the same drum samples to every bank) while keeping the same pad assignment on the korg?

sorry if these are basic questions but I have no experience with any MPC product. my apologies!

I'm sure it sounds like a stupid setup, but I want to keep my set-up affordable, and compact/mobile while having access to as many pads as possible, and avoid the use of my laptop... I just was thinking that if I could use the 500 as a midi sound module for my padkontrol while still being able to trigger sounds from the 500 at the same time it would be ideal for what I'm trying to accomplish!

I'd be most appreciative to anyone that can offer any insight/suggestions.

thanks again.

1) Yes.

2) Yes, use the padkontrol editor software to keep track of and edit the 16 presets in the Korg.

3) Off top I'm thinking no, but you can just switch between 4 presets on the Korg to match the banks on the MPC with the pads MIDI note numbers.

Personally I might be more inclined to do this with a 1000, giving you 2 sets of 16 pads. But maybe the total of 48 is not a problem or you want the battery operation of the 500.

The price difference is not that huge considering how much more you get with a 1000.

Cool, thanks for the quick response. Most appreciated!

I suppose I'm most concerned with being able to hook up both units and not have to spend a lot of time remapping the sounds out of the mpc to the pads on the korg. Looking to "plug and play" if you will.

And in regards to the 500 vs. 1000....the price is not so much an issue but for what I'm doing, it's quite minimal and yes, I was stoked on the battery powered option even though I'd have to plug in the korg....figured I could tinker with sampling/sequencing/arrangements on the mpc away from home and then hook up the korg for performance/adding drums.

thank you once again!

...it is a stupid setup indeed...

i still don't get it...
for what reason do you wanna add the korg controler...?

there is nothing you want that you could'nt do directly with the mpc only...

and there's no way your mpc will ever hear korgs call...

external gear must talk in physical midi with the mpc....the usb connection is only for mass storage, updating and configuring....

your korg controler got, as far as i know, only usb midi....so no way...
the korg controler are pretty bad by the way and the only way to teach them anything is through a daw.....

even the smallest mpc is capable of so much more you might imagine...
explore....

if you want no laptop on a stage....take your mpc 500, an alesis dock and an old ipad...and connect them via midi....plug a mic and/or whatsoever in the dock.......killer setup....solid and easy to fly and the easiest way to reproduce your studioporductions accurately and still have something to fool around with and make it a real live experience and performance....

reeloy wrote:
and there's no way your mpc will ever hear korgs call...

external gear must talk in physical midi with the mpc....the usb connection is only for mass storage, updating and configuring....

your korg controler got, as far as i know, only usb midi....so no way...
the korg controler are pretty bad by the way and the only way to teach them anything is through a daw.....

Wrong on all counts. padkontrol has MIDI, OP knows he needs a DC pack to make that work. Bad? No, the Korg has pad quality, response and sensitivity on par with anything ever made. The editor runs on a computer, but presets are saved to the physical unit, no DAW is needed.

I do see where reeloy is coming from though that there are lots of possibilities.

I wouldn't call the OP's idea stupid, simply for the fact that he wants portability but the unit he's looking at has crappy pads. Plug in Korg, problem solved.

reasons for this setup:

1) More pads for more drum sounds. 12 pads on the 500 are not enough to trigger my noise and instrument loops while also triggering the amount of drum voices I'm trying to access. Also, the padkontrol pads are more to my liking for fingerdrumming. All my drumparts are played live and would only want the mpc for storage of sounds and running my instrument loops.

Currently I'm running my padkontrol with an alesis dm10 module for drum sounds and running my instrument loops off of a Digitech Stereo jam man/switching loops using the loop up down function buttons...with my foot.

I'm not using this gear to produce involved electronic music in which I need a lot of options. I'm soley looking to avoid taking my drum module to gigs and condensing my instrument loops and drum sounds into one compact unit.

In fact, I'm using this setup to play Industrial Metal/Noise Rock in the vein of Godflesh, old Pitchshifter, Spine Wrench etc....so i'm basically using the sampling/looping capabilities of the MPC to play riffs and noise loops, and using the padkontrol to trigger drum sounds/textures.

2) the padkontrol has 5 pin midi ins and outs. It's not usb-midi only!

3)I do not own an Alesis Dock or I-Pad, but thank you for the suggestion. If indeed I find that this setup doesn't work to my liking that's something I'll look into.

...a...o...oh...ok...

i had this korg nano pad in mind...

and yep, now it all makes sense...