Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
By numanmpc Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:53 am
ok so im learning the machine.

i want to know if i can tweak my drum sounds while the loop i created plays back.

and when i do q-fx, i audition the effected sample vs the original, and the effected sample bang. then i do it, and its not as loud as it was. why that?

thanks will
User avatar
By Blue Haze Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:24 am
numanmpc wrote:ok so im learning the machine.

i want to know if i can tweak my drum sounds while the loop i created plays back.

and when i do q-fx, i audition the effected sample vs the original, and the effected sample bang. then i do it, and its not as loud as it was. why that?

thanks will



Yes, you can tweak your drum sounds but you need to be more specific on which area you want to tweak (tune, attack, filter and etc) and how you want to do it(qlink, data wheel, program matrix)?

When you are using the quick fx to audition the send window is set at 00.0 dB but you have to assign the sample afterwards to a program and for the particular keygroup turn the fx out back up to 00.0dB or higher if you wish.

Experiment and keep at it.


Check out the newbie bible to get up to speed and of course read your new best friend.......you guessed it the manual.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11725
By numanmpc Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:53 pm
yes about the manual.

i got the pdf, but i hate to read on the computer its hard on the eyes, so tomorrow im gonna go print it and read it all.

ok about the tweaking i meant applying effects, AND playing with the envelope to make the drums perfect like i was doing in reason. but of course i dont need to tell you, it sounds waaaaay better in the mpc, larger, and more alive while in the computer in sounds sterile.

ive tried mv-8000, motif XS, and many other machines, nothing sounds like the mpc.

and um, i need to assign the sample to a program in order to make it sound loud??? i mean, when i apply q-fx to the sample, i just save it a new sample, so to keep the original unchanged, but, when i audition the new and renamed sample, it doesnt sound as loud as it was when auditioning the difference between the original and the effect sample.
User avatar
By Blue Haze Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:21 pm
numanmpc wrote:yes about the manual.

i got the pdf, but i hate to read on the computer its hard on the eyes, so tomorrow im gonna go print it and read it all.

ok about the tweaking i meant applying effects, AND playing with the envelope to make the drums perfect like i was doing in reason. but of course i dont need to tell you, it sounds waaaaay better in the mpc, larger, and more alive while in the computer in sounds sterile.

ive tried mv-8000, motif XS, and many other machines, nothing sounds like the mpc.

and um, i need to assign the sample to a program in order to make it sound loud??? i mean, when i apply q-fx to the sample, i just save it a new sample, so to keep the original unchanged, but, when i audition the new and renamed sample, it doesnt sound as loud as it was when auditioning the difference between the original and the effect sample.



Well as playing with envelopes several ways

Easiest tweak is to go straight to the program page edit 1 and set the envelope how you like along with the program matrix check the manual on the setups.

Next you can use the qlinks or controllers to control the envelopes at, dec, and rel again check in the manual on the setups.


If you have Akys setup on your computer you can use preset envelopes or alter the envelopes by clicking on the lines and adjusting to taste. Alot of this is also in the link I gave previously on the newbie bible and check out the tricks and tricks but you will find all of it in the manuals of course.


Sorry about the miss up about the resampling effects I meant that usually when you resample the level of the fx is set at 0.00 db so it is loud. What I meant is set your sample to a program and use your amp or level to turn it up, the 4k internal structure is set to -6dB for the keygroup in your drum and the -6dB program level too out the box. My 4k is the same.

Good luck welcome to the forum and yes read the manual when you can. Also experiment to see what you can do too. :idea:
By numanmpc Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:00 pm
While i was plaing back a drumloop, i went into the program, and i was changing the drum samples in real time, scrolling through my sample list. can i do that, but instead of having one big list of samples, browse through folders of samples, and transfer my drum kits on the mpc 4000 hard drive?
User avatar
By Blue Haze Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:30 am
numanmpc wrote:While i was plaing back a drumloop, i went into the program, and i was changing the drum samples in real time, scrolling through my sample list. can i do that, but instead of having one big list of samples, browse through folders of samples, and transfer my drum kits on the mpc 4000 hard drive?



First you can change the drums from the programs or you can change from the pad button on the top as the sequence plays.

Basics a sample must be assign to a program and a program assign to a part which is assign to a multi.

Next you load the samples or kits from your mpc 4000 and assign them to a program which of course has to be assigned to a part or Int A or Int B part to play.

Now I got to say it again and you don`t want to hear it but you got to read the manual the same advice I receive first starting out to get up to speed or you with be here all day asking questions to do alot of things that are written believe it in the first few pages of the users manual.

:wink:
User avatar
By dabmeister Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:44 pm
numanmpc wrote:i got the pdf, but i hate to read on the computer its hard on the eyes


MPC 4 ME wrote:why are you here? YOU HATE READING ON COMPUTER SCREENS

:lol:


??? LMAO :lol:
By numanmpc Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:03 pm
LOL

no but asking a question and getting an answer from somebody is way clearer than reading the manual.

sometimes the manual doesnt explain things like you want it.

remember that in the first place, this machine was not made for what we use it lol.

so you gotta have a multi along with your sequence.

I though you could have just one file to load up. thats the good thing about computer softwares...


But let me tell you, i did the test with the same samples, in cubase, reason, Motif XS and mpc 4000, and nothing sounds like the mpc.

its worth the hassle.
User avatar
By Blue Haze Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:32 am
numanmpc wrote:LOL

no but asking a question and getting an answer from somebody is way clearer than reading the manual.

sometimes the manual doesnt explain things like you want it.

remember that in the first place, this machine was not made for what we use it lol.

so you gotta have a multi along with your sequence.

I though you could have just one file to load up. thats the good thing about computer softwares...


But let me tell you, i did the test with the same samples, in cubase, reason, Motif XS and mpc 4000, and nothing sounds like the mpc.

its worth the hassle.



Remember like I said alot of explainations are on the first pages of the user manual I could have read verbatim but like I showed in my love hate manual post you got to understand what it is all means by learning the words and spending time with the machine.

That is it for now.

Read, press each button, and experiment, don`t be in a rush to start making beats, if you don`t understand the machine yet. I know you want to start out making masterpieces out the box, and you may be experienced on older mpcs, but you get out the machine what you put in.


Anyway K.I.S.S. spend one day just editing drums along with the manual and nothing else no internet, no questions just you and the machine you be surprise on how much you learn.
:idea:

Peace.

From now it is up to you. 8)
User avatar
By LvngDead Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:12 pm
I have a question. Does the 4000 have a feature in the sample edit page, where you can highlight a portion of a sample and turn that into a brand new sample? This is something I saw in the MPC5k manual and just wondering if the 4k has it also. Thank youz.
User avatar
By Blue Haze Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:14 pm
LvngDead wrote:I have a question. Does the 4000 have a feature in the sample edit page, where you can highlight a portion of a sample and turn that into a brand new sample? This is something I saw in the MPC5k manual and just wondering if the 4k has it also. Thank youz.



Yes it`s like the same in 2xl called extract sample select by trim, or loop.