Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
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By Ian Canefire Wed May 08, 2013 7:59 pm
Hi All,
Just a heads up...I have been reading up on old forum threads about "Multis" because I don't really use them in a deep way. There are some really out there ideas. So I want to make a youtube video about "Multi" usage for any to-be MPC4000 users.

I wanted to post this so that I could hear ideas that I should put in a video. I could do a very basic video that is 5 minutes but maybe a 20 minute video that is inspiring because of its revelations is a better step forward. Maybe I will make it next week after letting this post marinate a bit.

If I see no interest or ideas then I will know not to bother with a deep long video.

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Ian


PS Video just finished added 5/26/2013
Last edited by Ian Canefire on Sun May 26, 2013 6:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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By Mike Boogie Wed May 08, 2013 8:07 pm
Multis, once you know what they are, are very simple. A short vid should suffice. There nothing exactly "ground-breaking" to them.

Now the modulation matrix is something that needs a 35 minute vid!
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By feline1 Thu May 09, 2013 9:05 am
"multis" are just a bunch of programs with FX allocated.

You could think of a multi as a mixing desk with four FX sends, and each "part" is a channel strip on the desk. Each "program" is like an instrument you've plugged into a particular channel strip.

When you save a multi, you are just saving which instruments you've plugged in to which channels, and which FX you've connected.
By Humbboy Thu May 09, 2013 9:44 am
Song mode + multi changes = endless q link sequences and modulation matrix triggers.... All the way till you get that little popup that reads midi buffer full.
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By Ian Canefire Thu May 09, 2013 2:00 pm
Great stuff from two folks so far...

@ Feline... that is a pleasantly succinct definition of the Multi and I will use that in the video. I am not sure if I would have put it so well.

@ Humboy....thank you very much. You have given me something to strive for...midi buffer limit. Limitations are always good to know. That is a good thing to point out.


I think you guys that are deep into the workings of the MPC4000 take your skills for granted.

Cheers,
Ian

PS I bought the sound for samplers DVD for the MPC 4000 and the most basic point Multis, parts and programs were not discussed together in a paragraph to give the watcher a broad view in the beginning.

PPS The reason I am so obsessed with clarity on the MPC is because when I went to look at one years ago it was not explained well by the sales staff. I feel like years of great production time were wasted by not having this machine earlier.
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By Coz Thu May 09, 2013 2:15 pm
Ian Canefire wrote:PPS The reason I am so obsessed with clarity on the MPC is because when I went to look at one years ago it was not explained well by the sales staff. I feel like years of great production time were wasted by not having this machine earlier.



You're an asset to this part of the forum my man. :wink:

For what it's worth, I haven't dipped into using more than one Multi myself, so at least one person will learn something from your video. :mrgreen:
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By Lampdog Thu May 09, 2013 2:27 pm
feline1 wrote:"multis" are just a bunch of programs with FX allocated.

You could think of a multi as a mixing desk with four FX sends, and each "part" is a channel strip on the desk. Each "program" is like an instrument you've plugged into a particular channel strip.

When you save a multi, you are just saving which instruments you've plugged in to which channels, and which FX you've connected.

I think that might be the best description I've ever heard.

I agree the modulation matrix is robust as all hell.
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By MPCWeapon1 Thu May 09, 2013 3:39 pm
Lampdog wrote:
feline1 wrote:"multis" are just a bunch of programs with FX allocated.

You could think of a multi as a mixing desk with four FX sends, and each "part" is a channel strip on the desk. Each "program" is like an instrument you've plugged into a particular channel strip.

When you save a multi, you are just saving which instruments you've plugged in to which channels, and which FX you've connected.

I think that might be the best description I've ever heard.

I agree the modulation matrix is robust as all hell.


Yeah that's a good visual. Puts it all into perspective.
By mxbdev Fri May 10, 2013 5:35 pm
feline1 wrote:"multis" are just a bunch of programs with FX allocated.

You could think of a multi as a mixing desk with four FX sends, and each "part" is a channel strip on the desk. Each "program" is like an instrument you've plugged into a particular channel strip.

When you save a multi, you are just saving which instruments you've plugged in to which channels, and which FX you've connected.


Agree, this is the best way to visualise the system.

Additionally, remember that you can route the same program to multiple parts in the multi.

I do this occasionally with drumkits. I play my drums in, individual sounds on seperate tracks.

Then to get FX (e.g. reverb) on a single track (e.g. snares), add the program to another multi part, reassign the 'snares' track to the duplicate and add FX in the multi.
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By Ian Canefire Fri May 10, 2013 7:43 pm
@MXbdev....I screamed out yessss! in my office after reading your post.

This has been the problem I couldn't think around. How I would best individualize my drum kits in the multi so that I can volume and pan mix.

That has been the issue for me, thinking about the best way to separate drums in the MPC 4000. not just relying on muting
nice one.


Cheers,
Ian
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By Mike Boogie Fri May 10, 2013 7:51 pm
mxbdev wrote:
feline1 wrote:"multis" are just a bunch of programs with FX allocated.

You could think of a multi as a mixing desk with four FX sends, and each "part" is a channel strip on the desk. Each "program" is like an instrument you've plugged into a particular channel strip.

When you save a multi, you are just saving which instruments you've plugged in to which channels, and which FX you've connected.


Agree, this is the best way to visualise the system.

Additionally, remember that you can route the same program to multiple parts in the multi.

I do this occasionally with drumkits. I play my drums in, individual sounds on seperate tracks.

Then to get FX (e.g. reverb) on a single track (e.g. snares), add the program to another multi part, reassign the 'snares' track to the duplicate and add FX in the multi.


I thought everyone with a 4k did this ???
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By Ian Canefire Fri May 10, 2013 9:22 pm
@Mike,
never needed to use the multi so I haven't touched it yet in the production of a song. I want to try it out and see if it is worth it. Which I see it really is.

See, a lot of the functions in the MPC4000 are useful if you don't have other things that do it already.
1) Why use the LFO's in it if you already have a synth, or a synth with a sampler?
2) Why use the sampler engine if you don't mess with samples because you only need a sequencer?
3) Why would you create your own horn section if you have a quality rompler that has it already?
4) If you don't have other gear then maybe you don't care as much about all the midi outputs on the back.

The machine is great because it has so many uses. I wouldn't be surprised by what others don't know. Seems like I learn something new everyday. I have been going to bed with the manual in my hand and watching the sound for samplers video over and over and yet I still learn some basic thing.



Peace
Ian

PS someone said it in another thread "do we really need so many video's of people chopping samples" My thoughts are exactly...we need more instruction videos, and more completed songs.