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By go2ldook Sun Sep 28, 2014 2:37 pm
Considering buying the MPX8. I need a very simple cheap sampler to trigger looped beats. Wondering if someone can tell me if it will work the specific way I describe:

I am a guitarist, playing solo. I use a set of bass pedals to allow me to trigger synth sounds via my Korg Kronos. This works reasonably well to add strings and such to my songs. Beats create a challenge. I can sample beats and loop them. If the song has one beat that can be looped throughout the song, I can just trigger that beat on the Kronos keyboard itself, and it keeps looping while I trigger synth sounds from the bass pedals during the song (it is assigned channel 02). The challenge is if I want the beat to change, like during the chorus. Since I am playing guitar, I cannot reach over to the keyboard and hit a different note to trigger a new beat. Currently I have to assign a beat to channel 02 (the footpedals), and that means, if I want to play some strings also, each string note has to be on the beat, and I have to assign the desired loop beat to every note on the footpedal. I can assign the verse beat to a series of notes on the footpedal, and the chorus beat to a series of notes. But again, the beat is retriggered when I switch notes, and I am just not perfect...occasionally I goof and the retriggered beat is off time.

So with that in mind, here is my question:
I would like to connect the MPX8 to my Kronos via midi thru, assign it to channel 2. The idea would be that I could assign samples to the pads, and if I am able to assign each pad to be triggered by a specific note, and some pads nothing at all, then I could simplify my beats. For example:

My footpedal has keys C4-F4 assigned to trigger the different synth chords I need for the verse, and C# is assigned to trigger the verse beat loop on the MPX8. Keys G4-C5 are the Chorus synth chords, and F# triggers the chorus beat loop .

The key question is, can the MPX8 have the pads assigned to specific notes, and some pads be null? That way When I press C# I get my verse beat looping, but as I play C, D, E and F notes, that same loop continues uninterrupted until I trigger F# to start the chorus beat?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I have never daisy chained midi devices like this and never played with a sampler. Wanted to know if this would work before I buy one.
User avatar
By electric dragon Sun Sep 28, 2014 4:12 pm
Don't own one so can't try it but I doubt it could not handle what you describe. Checking the manual:

"11.MIDI In: Use the included 1/8"-to-MIDI cable to connect this output to the MIDI Out of an external
MIDI device. This is useful if you want to use an external MIDI device to trigger samples assigned
to MPX8's pads (set each pad's MID parameter to the desired MIDI Note number). MPX8
recognizes MIDI Note On messages over Channel 10 only.
12. MIDI Out: Use the included 1/8"-to-MIDI cable to connect this output to the MIDI In of an external
MIDI device. MPX8 can then send MIDI Note On and polyphonic aftertouch messages to that
device (set each pad's MID parameter to the desired MIDI Note number). "

Anytime I'm thinking about buying a new piece of gear I always go read the manual: http://www.akaipro.com/product/mpx8#downloads

:-D
By go2ldook Sun Sep 28, 2014 4:27 pm
I did read the manual...I know it could be linked in by running my bass pedals to the midi thru of the the Kronos, then to the Akai, and that I could set both devices to be triggered by the bass pedals.

What I need to know specifically (so I was hoping someone with more midi experience than I could answer) is if the Akai could be set up so that when I press a notes assigned to a beat (for example C and F), it will trigger the respective beats which keep looping. I need the looping of beat C to ONLY be interrupted when I press note F, at which point the beat assigned to F triggers and loops. But I need to be able to press the other notes (D, E, G, etc...) to have no effect on the Akai...allow the looping of the beat to continue uninterrupted.

That is my specific concern. Don't want to buy it just to find out that I cannot set up this specific function.