Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
By 16bars16pads Mon Dec 13, 2010 6:42 am
The subject line basically says it all. After I've chopped up a drum break (for example) I go to the Sample Mode and use my usb keyboard to rename all of the files so that they aren't Zeus 1, Zeus 2, Zeus 3....etc. Instead Zeus Kick, Zeus Snare, Zeus Hat. Not knowing which one is which, I hit any pad when any one of the samples is highlighted and it plays the sample. This is exactly what I want it to do except it plays a pitched down version of the sample. I have read the User Manual already, cover to cover, and I even got the Ref Manual printed and bound. I can't find anything in either manual explaining why it does this or if/how I can change it.

Also, is there a way to sort that Sample List? Using what appears to be the setting in Global Mode does not change how the file names are sorted.

Much appreciated in advance.

BTW, before I got this machine I started reading the forums and quickly found out that the general consensus about the manual for the 4k is that it sucks A$$. Reading manuals sucks in general, and this one is no exception but I think people are a little harsh. I avoided the manual in the beginning due to these comments and finally cracked it open. I wish I had done so on day one. It's really not that bad. I can tell you this. Most of the simple features that need a little explaining can be easily conquered by looking it up. I agree, being just as lazy as you guys, that it's much easier to just ask someone for the answer . But getting frustrated and not making music (with ease) for days while you wait for some dude, who probably doesn't know sh!t anyway, to answer your question with serious attitude sucks way more than reading the manual. I found out stuff about this machine I never would have been curious about just by breezing through the manual. Anyway, just my two cents.
User avatar
By Blue Haze Mon Dec 13, 2010 7:57 am
16bars16pads wrote:The subject line basically says it all. After I've chopped up a drum break (for example) I go to the Sample Mode and use my usb keyboard to rename all of the files so that they aren't Zeus 1, Zeus 2, Zeus 3....etc. Instead Zeus Kick, Zeus Snare, Zeus Hat. Not knowing which one is which, I hit any pad when any one of the samples is highlighted and it plays the sample. This is exactly what I want it to do except it plays a pitched down version of the sample. I have read the User Manual already, cover to cover, and I even got the Ref Manual printed and bound. I can't find anything in either manual explaining why it does this or if/how I can change it.

Also, is there a way to sort that Sample List? Using what appears to be the setting in Global Mode does not change how the file names are sorted.

Much appreciated in advance.

BTW, before I got this machine I started reading the forums and quickly found out that the general consensus about the manual for the 4k is that it sucks A$$. Reading manuals sucks in general, and this one is no exception but I think people are a little harsh. I avoided the manual in the beginning due to these comments and finally cracked it open. I wish I had done so on day one. It's really not that bad. I can tell you this. Most of the simple features that need a little explaining can be easily conquered by looking it up. I agree, being just as lazy as you guys, that it's much easier to just ask someone for the answer . But getting frustrated and not making music (with ease) for days while you wait for some dude, who probably doesn't know sh!t anyway, to answer your question with serious attitude sucks way more than reading the manual. I found out stuff about this machine I never would have been curious about just by breezing through the manual. Anyway, just my two cents.



You have to listen to the samples in the trim page not sample list. Sample list is only for listing and deletion of a group of samples. Trim page plays them at natural pitch. To go to the next sample you have to use the sample name at top in trim page.
By 16bars16pads Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:07 am
Yea, get all that. But the sample does play in that List screen and they play at variously lower pitches. I'm sure there must be a reason and "should" be a setting. It may sound weird but I want to do this because there may be three kicks to name and I name them Kick 1, Kick 2, Kick 3, etc. Going through 15 different drum sounds and not remembering what number Kick you have gotten up to gets annoying. I'm being picky, but thought I would ask.

And thanks man, you've been a big help for a while now through others' questions.
User avatar
By Blue Haze Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:19 am
If you want to name samples and audition them aksys would be better just use the sample list in aksys on the computer with the 4k connect by USB.

On the 4k we haven't came about any workaround on the hardware except what we talked about before. Aksys is my suggestion. Glad to help.
By 16bars16pads Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:55 am
Alright, just tried that and Pad Bank B, Pad 13 is not the right pitch. But I flipped through the Banks hitting all the pads and switching back to Main and I found it on Pad Bank C. What the fuq. So there has to be a reason and a way to control this. Anyone?


Gosh, did you just find this by hit and miss?
By gosh Tue Dec 14, 2010 7:20 pm
Sorry guessed pad as was away from mpc but thought it was that one.
there is no way to change it I know of but I don't see it as a major biggie as doesn't affect the way I work. Its either a bug or a feature that makes the pads play the sample chromatically when on that page and I just went through to find the pitch at which there was no pitch change.
Think of it as a good way to worl out what your samples would sound like if u made a multisample of them with only one keyzone or to try out sounds without having to resort to 16levels :-)
By 16bars16pads Tue Dec 14, 2010 7:42 pm
Oh it's all good. If there is no way to put the original pitch on a pad in the first pad bank I'll just have to push the Bank B button when I'm doing this task and I'm not mad at that! And you are right, it's a good way to hear random pitches to give you some ideas you might not have thought of.

Blue Haze says to use ak.sys which I use all the time but for this task I really like my usb keyboard. I've gotten much quicker with using the F# keys and this way I don't have to use a fugging mouse.

Preciate ya fellas!