Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
By Sinius Mon Jun 27, 2022 9:27 am
Hallo,

i know the MPC4k now for 8 years and i am working on a dayli basis on this thing - and i am still happy with it.
The MPC get´s better and better as my skills and listening habits grow!
(I do live-shows with the MPC ever since)

But there is one thing i am allways struggling with - that is mixing songs and the gainstage!
As i am preparing/mixing for a show my instruments-GAIN/Volume went up and down - like a helter-skalter.
There is no improvement in mixing - no orientation.

Simple example: I do the bassdrum one day louder and the next day quiter and so on - never ending...

__

Please led me explain first how i prepare my setup for live:

1) I build my own programs (instruments) with my own waveforms ( Singlewaves or Wave-Samples of real intruments)
2) They are collected in the MULTI
3) One Sequence is a ONE SONG - A song consists out of many TRACKS
4) A "song" struktur is performed by muting and unmuting TRACKS ( and other tricks)

a) The same PROGRAM is used in several songs/tracks!!!
b) Since every song/track has a different volume -
c) I controlle the VOLUME/GAIN of the same PROGRAM via "velocity" in a TRACK.
d) The "VELOCITY" is set to "Tilt VELO = AMPLITUDE" in the mod-matrix.

MASTER LEVEL is set to "0" / PROGRAMS to "-6" / Samples are normalized

My problem is that my mixes are inconsistent and they do not improve - since years.
I am struggling and i don´t know what to do - that is why i am here...

Any hints are greatly appreciated!
THX!
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By BostonGreen Mon Jun 27, 2022 10:03 am
I have a One, so maybe different, or I'm misunderstanding your issue, but if a track shares a program with another track, any changes to that program on say track 1 effects that program in all tracks. So any volume changes made to the program will be reflected on all tracks using that same program.

On my One I have to create a new instance of each program to limit any changes just to that program/track.
By Sinius Mon Jun 27, 2022 10:11 am
BostonGreen wrote:...but if a track shares a program with another track, any changes to that program on say track 1 effects that program in all tracks.


Thx 4 the replay

Yes, i am conscious about that.

That is why i do "Volume changes" only in the track via "velocity!
So the same program can have different gainstages in different tracks!
By Sinius Mon Jun 27, 2022 4:29 pm
For more detail:

I use the same program in different tracks/sequences at least 10x times
with different gainstages controlled via "velocity" (modMatrix: Tilt Velo= Volume)

But maybe that is the wrong way to do!?
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By Telefunky Tue Jun 28, 2022 9:51 pm
Have you ever considered a Mixer to control separate outputs live ?
This might have a major impact on workflow (arrangement), though, because you have to plan groups (f.e. 4 stereo busses).
On the other hand it allows immediate action to bring single parts up/down or control fx.
By Sinius Wed Jun 29, 2022 7:56 am
No, not for live - only for recording.

i like to have all in one box - it makes me force to work on "workarrounds".
The MPC 4 is the most powerfull workhorse at all times - at least to me.

And the MPC4k is getting better and better as my hearing-skills grow!!!

I am just strugglin with mixing and gainstruktur - especialy on drums (weak)
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By Telefunky Wed Jun 29, 2022 8:09 pm
I understand...
Midi is on my schedule, but hands on experience on the MPC 4k is low atm.
You might slip in some CC#7 into tracks for volume control, possibly dedicating 1 Q-Link to that purpose. :hmmm:
(I assume you tried the regular mixer page and it wasn‘t applicable)

Btw a „Mixer“ for the 8 analog outputs can be as simple as a short multicore and a box velcroed next to the display, 4 channel pots to accentuate, passive summing and a balance transformer as DI-out.
(according to your description you only need a certain range of loudness control)
By Sinius Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:44 am
"I assume you tried the regular mixer page and it wasn‘t applicable"

I think the mixerpage is global and not on a pro sequence basis - all changes effects all my sequences (equals all my songs - that is not good:-) )