only six q links

Hey can somebody out there answer this? How do I or can I get more than six q links on a sequence? I have six different parts and six different q link parameters assigned individually to each other. So can I get more? If so how? I know I can change the multi but then that changes the multi for my other sequences as well. I do not kno where to fond the reference guide for the 4k. Can somebody help please . I read somewhere that q link is like a matrix with endless possobilities maybe im wrong .

Basically you have six controllers that you can assign to multiple destinations in the program matrix.

Qlink means controllers aka 4 knobs and 2 sliders on the 4k itself for the internal control.

Now if you have a external midi control keyboard or knob controlller by m audio you can connect them by midi cable to your 4k and use control change parameters in program matrix. View the 4k as a rack hardware sampler with a sequencer and you will get the picture.

Thanks for the reply. I read the manual and still cannot quite get this figured out. I have more than six parts in my sequence and each one has q link midi data in the sequence like filter change pitch etc. So can I do more than six cuz my bassline need filter automation from a q lknk knob but my knobs and slides are all bein used already in the song. Is is possible? I think I did it once by saving the different seq along with another multi but there has to be a better way. If ao that would be dope. Thanks and I read the.reference guide bit no luck, and sorry this question is so technical.

See that what made me decide to sell my mpc4k when I got the mpc5k. The mpc5k allowed you to assign pads and control action to qlinks in each program.

You can control all the pads cutoff, tuning, etc with one qlink or individually pads in one program. Then in the next program you can set up the qlinks again to those pads.

You just have to remember if you decide to record automation in a sequence. You have to go to the track that the program is assigned to and then tweak.

I remember with the 4k if I ran out of qlink or change a setting with a qlink, I was already useing in another sequence and then go back to the that sequence. I would wonder what the hell happened.

You can assign pad control on the 4k just like the 5k by going to qlink page, press send page and then changing the qlink to pad control if you are using I believe at least OS 1.71. Just like Heavie said you would be able to automate each pad of a drum program if you hit the pad, turn to the parameter you want to modulate per track. You have to have that same program assign to the part but different samples per pad. Make sure that each pad you module is on a different track just like the classic mpcs like 60, 3000' and 2000 giving you I guess 120 odd tracks or more to modulate.

Now if you are talking about what you said earlier modulating a whole program aka part, it is different cuz as I said you only have 6 physical controllers on the 4k which are meant to control parameters live by hand. If you want more controllers use midi controllers simple.

But you can do what legions of producers do which is to program your modulation rather than use qlink links by going to several modes like the step editor or sequencer editor and writing in the modulation per part, using graphic editor and drawing in the modulation per part, or using the program matrix as an remote control and assigning lfos, envelopes, and others to modulate all pads in that particular part. It is deep stuff but you got to dive under the hood.


Remember we only have six physical controllers but that doesn't mean we can't program in the rest. DJs and dance producers have been doing this for years.

Basics drum programs gives us a sound per pad, each pad can be modulated using pad control and going to the next pad per track for better organization and to prevent overwriting.

Basic parts control volume, pan, and etc. each part aka program can be set to all notes and then have the data edited by the editors mentioned or by the program matrix remote controllers. Hope it helps.

I Do miss the qlink sequence feature on the mpc4k. It's like useing the qlink in step sequenc or step edit way. What I like to do is take a sample of a song I don't want anyone to recognize or a sample of chord, synth, etc. I will apply a low pass filter or a mid pass filter to the sample with enough resonance to a point before distortion. The assign cutoff to a qlink to tweak that sample. Go into the qlink sequence page and step edit 16 in different qlink position and then set the length of step. Close out the page and hit sequence hit the sequence button on top the qlink.

I came up very good results. The good thing is you can trigger this feature on and off when need to and it's only link to that one sequence.

I sometimes think I shouldn't sold it. I got my 4k when first released in 2001 or 2002 with os1.0 for $3000. You talk about buggy and year long updates. OS1.0 on the 4k made the ren os1.0 seem like the maschine with os1.8. My 4k use to crash like Denzel Washington in Flight. My 4k set for years untouch to os1.6 something. I remember guys was talking about getting a law suit against akai.

Yeah true the early days on the 4k was hectic but after 1.71 some of the features from the earlier models of the mpc were added. I actually switch over from a 2000xl to 4k after 2002 around 1.03 or something. The 2500 was supposed to be the 4k with audio tracks and shit but Numark took old Akai over killed the 4k development and that was all she wrote. I stuck with the 4k but using all kinds of gear and software. I actually got a lot better learning program modulation matrix using software and transferring that knowledge back to the 4k.

As many would say at that time the 4k was more akin to a computer than the traditional drum sampler mpcs of the past. Midi sequencing in logic and ableton taught me alot about what the 4k can do as a traditional sampler, midi sequencer and controller setup like back in the 80's and 90's old school setups.

Blue Haze wrote:

As many would say at that time the 4k was more akin to a computer than the traditional drum sampler mpcs of the past. Midi sequencing in logic and ableton taught me alot about what the 4k can do as a traditional sampler, midi sequencer and controller setup like back in the 80's and 90's old school setups.

Very true, the whole concept of the 4k was so mind blowing at that time. My thought was, I knew akai was in bad shape as a company, when they let the 4k fall off. Are you useing 1.71? The last os was 1.72, but my 4k performed better with 1.71

I started off with the 2k as my first mpc. It was like getting my first pair technics 1200s as a teenager in the 80s. I was so proud.

I slept on maschine and the whole idea of using computers to make music. I was stubborn at the time. But' I'm liking it now and like you, I'm learning.

Thanks to the ren. Which is collecting dust like the 4k was. I'm learning maschine more and more. I purchase a 61 key Korg Microkey usb keyboard to team up with my maschine yesterday, to dive deeper into the synth vsts.

I like the ren, I made a nice house track with the ren. I was in the creative mode and the juices was flowing. So I solo one of the tracks in the sequence to apply some effects, but in another track a pad kept triggering. I couldn't get the pad to stop so I had to delete it. Now I done lost my groove. I unplug it and move it to the side.

Computers is a lot more powerful and stable now. Been thinking hard on selling my gear. I put some over price dj mixers on ebay, yesterday also. All my music is on my pc and I use traktor to mix. I'm about to have a big garage sale on ebay. I'm a thin line from putting the 5k, mc909, a synth and roland vs2000 mixing board on ebay. The ren is almost making the cut.

I got figure out how to sell these mini disc recorders, dat machines and reel to reels I have.

Wow heavie you really have a studio. I might keep some of that gear if you ever get a need to come back to it. That MC909 seems nice. You can`t go wrong with a MPC either. Yeah I use 1.71 both stability. Maschine is dope and I can`t front on it. I got a old technic used for sampling but one day I might move up to a usb turntable that has the reverse drive, pitch shifting and yada, yada. A little drum module that I mess with it Spark with all the classic drum sounds from the 80's it is fun and creative piece that I sometimes sample it into the 4k and resequence those the x sequence on it is dope.

Funny you say go under the hood cuz I am and on top of steppin in my filtrr sweeps and pitch shifts I use the q,link in real time but my SENDS dont respond in real time and hmmmmm. Wonder why because im still on 1.61 my blu 4k got the dusty software lol. Time to dl the latest that way I can sample straight from cd rom as well ... Thanks man.

And another thing is you cant step in pad control changes with keygroup programs :"( hopefully the latest os can! Idk

@heavie sounds like you got alot of gear like I used to. Once I narrowed it down to my 4k and my laptop I figured all I want is synths channel strips n outboard see whe I had a bunch of drum machines n samplers id make beats n loopdig all the time but rarely finish anything now with less I feel more need to get to the mixing stage which I actually enjoy more than plaing N programming n arranging because Idk .. Maybe you feel the same way but I just love the sound of a dope mix because I guess I have started learning that making a beat with the engineer in mind is different than just making a nice pattern or rhythm or patch. Just my two.. Less is more

Humbboy wrote:And another thing is you cant step in pad control changes with keygroup programs :"( hopefully the latest os can! Idk

Yeah pad control is for drum programs. Like I said qlinks are six but with an external
controller you can add more controls using control changes.

Humbboy wrote: id make beats n loopdig all the time but rarely finish anything now with less I feel more need to get to the mixing stage which I actually enjoy more than plaing N programming n arranging because Idk .. Maybe you feel the same way but I just love the sound of a dope mix because I guess I have started learning that making a beat with the engineer in mind is different than just making a nice pattern or rhythm or patch. Just my two.. Less is more

That exactly what I do. I start a lot tracks and never finish them. I don't know is it from attention span or a lack knowledge. Sometimes I get ahead of myself on be creative and hit a dead end.

I think i'm better off as a remix artist, then composing from start to finish.

Definitely an attention span thing. Its hard paying attention to all those machines.