Assiging MIDI outs on my MPC4000?

I know I"m gonna get demoted for asking this question, anyway here goes...

I'm trying to control my MIDI synth with the pads on the MPC4000, but nothing seems to be working - probably because I don't know how to assign the MIDI channel on the pads. I've tried going into MIDI mode, changing the Pads to MIDI out A, but when I hit the pads - no sound.

I know this is a newbie question but any help would be appreciated.

<M

first....do you have a midi out cable connected to the synth?

which one? a, b , c, or d?

then, what channels is it listening on?

in your part assign it to the out you want to use, pick your channel and play, controlling external synths is one of the easiest functions of the machine

but a good understanding of midi is neccessary.....

It's a protocol that must be adhered to. Maybe you're thinking if you just connect the midi cable, then everything will work. Uh uh, does'nt work like that. There's 16 channels of control data similar to how commands are transmitted when you type stuff from your computers' keyboard. Midi is a musical standard developed way back in the late 70's. The idea was to have a master controller communicate with a slave device with the ability to send different kinds of info/data across a 5 pin din cable. I guess due to bandwidth restrictions, 16 channels are the max that can be used in this type of scenario. So when you connect a master/controller to a slave device, you can assign & control 16 different midi instruments within the slave device that recieves commands from the master controller. But each channel has to be dealt with individually and when all are combined, they form what is called MULTI. So if the slave device is in multi-mode, you can play, record, or edit each track with it's own parameters. It's not hard...it's not hard at all. You just have to have a open mind so this stuff can absorb the right way. Now from this point on, don't PM me about giving some pointers or helping get a kat on his feet with this stuff, it's all on the net. Thank you...