Questions from a newbie

Hi everyone,

I just got myself an MPC2500 a couple of weeks ago, it's my first sampler.
First I want to thank all of you because I have been reading a lot of advices and comments before I made my mind up, I was going to buy the MPC500 but (i might be wrong) I think that it's more suitable for experienced users...

Thanks for the advices about the RAM, it costed me £30 (including shipping) instead of the Akai £99 rip off...
Some of you might have notice that PC world have ran out but you can get them here @ After Hours Computer (that's where I got mine).

Also, for those who plan to buy an MPC, all I'm gonna say is that you should check out Digital Village in Birmingham, they might do a nice discount for you... (trust me on this one )

Now the questions:

1.
I am happy because I know that my keybord works with the MPC (Studio Tech midiplus) but I do not manage to play the sounds from it.
Is it possible to play them on the MPC or is it only on computers ?
If it's possible, then how should I proceed ?

2.
I hope it's not going to sound like a silly question but this is bothering me big time. I play a drum bit of 4 bars, the point where I need to loop is within the 4th bar but not right at the end.
How can I get it right ? For instance with Cubase you can split the 4th bar to "04/08" or "04/16", choose your start and end point and there you go!

In more simple terms, isn't there a way to loop between "001.01.00" & "004.03.16" ?

Thanks in advance.

Musikal wrote:In more simple terms, isn't there a way to loop between "001.01.00" & "004.03.16" ?

No, and you wouldn't want that anyway.

Make your sample fit into the 4 bars by trimming/pitching/stretching it or adjusting the tempo.

4 / 4 4 / 8 and 4 / 16 are diff time signatures, totally diff to the "parts of the bars" u referin to when wantin to loop somin earlier.

If u sampled and looped somin.. and u want it to fit ur 4 bars... then u change the BPM (speed) so it fits correctly, if ur doing it that way and not choppin, time stretchin etc etc to fit it.

4 /4 doesnt mean 4 bars by the way.. first 4 means number of counts... 2nd 4 is the note value in which case is a crotchet note, 4 /4 means 4 crotchet notes per bar... etc etc etc take the time to learn the basics and what things mean it will help u alot.

im not sure if your clear on this but it appears you have a midi controller. in this case it does not have any sounds in it. it communicates with your programs thru midi messages (no sounds).

the only way i see it working is if you first hook your midi controller to your computer software, and then to your mpc. im not sure if that will even work since i have never tried. if you would want to record audio you will need the correct cables and correct ins and outs on your midi controller though.

He could if he has enough MIDI ports on the respective gear, record his soft synth performances into the MPC rather than the computer and hear them playing back off the MPC into the computer but you would have to have everything fired up at once and enough MIDI ins and outs.

_Stilo_ wrote:

Musikal wrote:In more simple terms, isn't there a way to loop between "001.01.00" & "004.03.16" ?

No, and you wouldn't want that anyway.

Make your sample fit into the 4 bars by trimming/pitching/stretching it or adjusting the tempo.

Greetings beatmakers, thanks a lot for you replies it's very kind of you.
I get the picture about my midi controler keybord: no sound except on a PC, so that's on thing sorted.

But the bar situation is a big deception to me, actually I knew that the 4/4 had nothing to do with the bars, I just wanted to give the Cubase example so that I could be understood.

Indeed a great deception, I first made a drum bit (manually) and eventually managed to fit it in 4 bars, but then I made another of 8 bars (it had to be that long because of a melody I came up with) and it was a nightmare! Actually even though I ended "fitting it" (or rather "squeezing it") it's still not proper because I had to delay some hits...
I wonder if you guys see what I mean.
It is what it is so there is no need for me to cry over this but I am just very surprised that I have such an issue considering that it's only a matter of one click with Cubase, you can loop between the bars themselves...

Since I read some very good reviews about it, I purchased the tutorial "Beat Making on the MPC2500", I am currently at p. 181 so I don't really know yet about trimming/pitching/stretching & adjusting the tempo...

I have one last question, I've got the optional CD drive, but how do you record your songs on it ?

Musikally...

Hi everyone,

There is no rush whatsoever but I just though that I'd make the topic go up so I am not forgotten.
If somebody could answer, in his own time, it would be great.

Thanks again beatmakers.

Hi everybody, please help me.

I am sorry to insist but even though I might sound silly, I am not ashame to say that I do not know how to get round the bar issue.
Let me try to explain in details what is a problem to me (but obviously not to all the producers in the world ! )

I try to make a drum beat with a kick and a snare and I want it to fit right into 4 bars (or 2 for the sake of it).
Unless I make it fit on 4 bars in one go (which means a lot of tries in order to get it right, therefore quit a bit a frustration) how can I go round it so that it can be looped ? (I'm talking start of bar 1 till end of bar 4 obviously)

Changing the tempo won't help because the bar counter will go as fast or as slow as the setting.
The only time changing the tempo would help to fit a part would be if it's something sampled of a CD or Vinyl.

_Stilo advised me of doing the following:

Make your sample fit into the 4 bars by trimming/pitching/stretching it or adjusting the tempo.

_ "adjusting the tempo" won't help as explained before.
_ after searching online, I came across a video tutorial and "stretching" applies to samples
_I am left with "trimming" & "pitching" but I have a feeling that it applies to samples also.

I also have a feeling that I have been misunderstood, my problem is not fitting a sample into 4 bars, I know that I can change the tempo for that (amongst other ways around).

My problem is making a drum beat fit into 4 bars.
I doubt that anyone can be expected to just hit the pads assigned to the kick and snare and fit the drum pattern without trying numerous times.

I believe that if it's a matter of fitting a drum loop there is no big hassle, but in this case I am playing it manually.

I have not made a complete beat because of that problem, it's been about a month that I bought the MPC2500 and I've been making up melodies and going through the tutorial (Making beats...), I am currently at p.215.

Please help me.