1. Individual Track Length Feature / Song Mode Feature
This is a feature that had been proposed by a fellow 4k user (Rob – i hope its ok for you that I include it in here). Basically this feature would allow each MIDI track to be given its own length, and seamlessly loops around its own length. A more detailed explanation of Rob’s proposal can be found at:
http://home.planet.nl/~robnet/mpc/Mpc40 ... ength.html
What I understood from discussions at the forums this feature is very high in many 4k users wishlist! If I don’t mistake, Sean (on the DPS-Forumi) once mentioned that it would be very difficult to implement this feature! So – should it not be possible for akai to implement it i thought maybe it is possible to substitude it with a similar feature namely looping sequences around their length in song mode. As Song mode is currently implemented in my opinion it would only be necessary if one could insert/edit the start point for a seq in song mode better!
For example: in song mode we currently have: start point, step, sequence, bars and repeat!
Lets say I have got a very simple song where seq 1 are my drums being 4 bars long, seq 2 my bassline being 8 bars long, and seq 3 my strings being 16 bars long.
So it would be great to be able to set in song mode on
start bar 1, step 1, seq 1 (drums), bars 4 and repeat 4, and contemporaneously
start bar 1, step 2, seq 2 (bass), bars 8 and repeat 2, and contemporaneously
start bar 1, step 3, seq 3 (strings), bars 16 and repeat 1.
... and on start bar 17 one could than go on with the song! I know its not the same as looping tracklenghts but since the bars on the 4k are set for seq and not for tracks this would probably be easiers to develop for Akai! And since its already possible to play 2 sequences simultaneously in simul play I thaught maybe its somehow easier to implement!
Imo looping tracks would be greater. on the other hand the 2 features are similar but not doin exactly the same so one doesn’t exclude the sense of the other – so If both features would get implemented would be the shit ….
2. Program mode / Edit 1 / Edit 2 – Zone Feature
this is my second favourite … or third ...
in edit 1 and 2 page of program mode there is a zone field which displays a zone. I never really got what it is for – pushing window button one gets some info bout the sample and is able to edit original note and sample tune. Guessing that that’s it I think it could be used better …
Next to this field is an Edit field, where one can select either ONE, ALL, ADD. It selects how changes on filters, adsr,…affect a drum or keygroupprogram.
Now what if there where another Edit field next to the zone field called EDIT ZONE with exactly the same options ONE, ALL, ADD working exactly as the EDIT field, just that filter, adsr, amp, lfo changes would affect the selected zone only??? This would allow one to set individual adsr’s or different filter settings for each zone … and much more ….
The zone page on f6 of program mode would somehow somewhere get some more space imo and ie definitely enough for allowing zone start field to be much larger …
3. Part/Pad Mixer
I don’t know if AKAI does intend to ad an equilizer to the 4k. however its been one of the most wanted features and would imo simply be an additional great feature for the 4k.
In my opinion it would be great if the 4k would have in its mixer mode 2 more additional pages with a part and a pad equilizer (with similar features as the eq implemented in the Effect Mode)
They could somehow look like this:
Pressing f3 in mixer mode there could be an eq for the selected part with
q1 = hi freq
q2 = hi gain
q3 = mid freq
q4 = mid gain
q5 = low freq
q6 = low gain
To complete it q2,q4 and q6 could get a double function (selectable for example with the window button) which could also be used to set the q value
Pressing f4 in mixer mode there could be a similar eq for the selected pad!
Furthermore I got some wishes on how to improve the improved part/pad mixer in OS 1.51, which would be especially great for live applications, it contains 2 misc features for the part/pad mixer (first 2 chapters) and 3 mixer/q-link features
3.1
1st misc feature for part/pad mixer: knob/slider function in part/pad mixer can be set to somethin like offset/replace
This feature should allow to have a setting in misc mode which allows one to set the knob/slider functionality in a way that the currently controlled slider affects a part/pad only if it crosses its already set value! For example: if i would like to fade in a beat and my drumbeat is assigned to part 1 whichs amplitude is currently 0 and controlled from the slider and the slider is currently on the upposition it should only affet the part/sampler amplitude when the slider reaches/crosses the downposition.
3.2
2nd misc feature: pad function in pafr/pad mixer = on/off.
This feature should allow to set the pads either to change parts/pads or to play the sampler! This way– once in mixer mode - when selecting which part q1, q3, q5 should control one just has to hit the pad and doesn't have to scroll over with the cursor (and once in the part/pad mixer in a lifesituation one maybe doesn't want to play the sampler but just fade in, fade out beaz, ad fxs, pan! it would all be much quicker this way!)
3.3
There are 6 qlinks! In my opinion it would be great to control all 6 knobs/sliders in pad/part mixer. For example there could be a two channel strip from the part/pad mixer (containing both level, pan, fx)! It could be implemented somehow in a way that once in part/pad mixer mode the always nice to switch orange window button should get a functionality to allow switching between the part/pad controlled by q1,q3,q5 or the part controlled by q2,q4,q6! Pressing the desired part/pad it could be selected very quickly!
3.4
There are 6 active knobs in q-link section which currently in mixer mode are unused but could be. 2 could be used for mute (imo the top one) and the other 4 could also get used!
The active knobs over and unther the sliders (q5,56) could be used for assgning/muting parts in a way that 4 parts can be controlled at the same time (assuming that point 3 gets implemented, otherwise it would be 2 parts to be controlled at the same time)! This could work similar as on a dj mixer the crossfade slider and would allow one to comtrol 4 beaz at the same time, with a variety of possiblities! Operation: when active is on a part/pad is selected switching it off it gets muted and since it is the selected one by pressing another pad its part/pad can be activated! When the slider is on the up position it plays part 1/part2 or pad x/pad y 100/0, when in the downposition part1/part2 or padx/pad/y 0/100!
Ideally it should be possible to automate/record those features in step edit!
4. Two Features which have been implemented in the AKAI S950 / Program Mode Features
btw: not sure whether those features are in the 4k - haven't found them yet ... if anyone knows it better ...
I quote the S950 Manual:
Key loudness!
Key-loudness refers to the volume of the sound over the keyboard range. For
example, you may have a sound that is too loud down in the bottom octaves and
drowns out the notes in the top registers - moving the cursor to the
key-loudness field using the 'cursor >' button, you can set a value using the
CONTROL knob or the keypad that will compensate for this. A value of +00 will
have no effect on the level of the sample across the keyboard range whilst a
value of -50 will reduce the level in the upper octaves and increase the
level in the lower octaves. Conversely, a value of +50 will increase the
level of the upper octaves and decrease the level in the lower octaves.
Question:
If the parameter is already implemented I m sorry and I m not aware of it! If it ain’t implemented in my opinion this would be another great one to implement!
2nd quote from the Akai s950 Manual:
Page 09 is used to adjust the filters ADSR settings and the display reads:
>09 VCF #Attk tDcay tSstain fRlse tAmnt
tKG# 20 20 20 20 +00
where # is the current keygroup selection.
The filter in Pages 06 and 08 can be controlled by this envelope generator
which allows control over attack, decay and release time and also sustain
level. The amount of effect this ADSR generator has on the filter is governed
by the AMOUNT (Amnt) parameter which can have a positive or negative going
effect on the filter. This envelope generator has a number of uses. Firstly,
It is possible to treat the 5950 like a conventional analogue synthesizer
adding filter sweep effects to any samples. Alternatively, it can be used to
'shape out' any noise that may be present at the end of a decaying sample.
To adjust the parameters, first select the appropriate keygroup in the usual
way and then move the cursor across the screen using the 'cursor >' or left
buttons making your data entry using the CONTROL wheel or the keypad.
Note: The effect that these controls have on the filter is very dependent on
the filter settings in Pages 06 and 08. With the filter settings et 90 or
more, the envelope will be unable to sweep through the filters cutoff
frequency because it is already at maximum. Hence, the filter value on pages
06 end 08 will have to be reduced to have any effect. Having said that, this
only applies to positive values entered in the 'Amnt' field on Page 09 (i. e.
+01 or more). If you went an inverted filter sweep (i. e. an 'Amnt' value of
-0l or more), you will have to set the filter parameters in Pages 06 and 08
fairly high. Here ere some rules of thumb about filter sweeps.
1: For, a wide positive going sweep, set the FILTER parameters low and the
AMOUNT parameters high 0.e +50).
2: For a mild positive going filter sweep, set the FILTER parameters between
medium and three quarters and set a medium level of AMOUNT.
3: For a wide negative going filter sweep, set the FILTER parameters high and
the AMOUNT parameter to a high negative value (I.e. -50).
4: For a mild negative going sweep, set the FILTER parameters three quarters
to high and a medium level on negative going AMOUNT CI. e. -25)
Variations on those should be experimented with for a wide range of filter
effects.
Question:
The AMOUNT (Amnt) parameter in the S950 can have a positive or negative going! Similar as in the previous s950 question from my side! It does not appear to me that a similar feature as Amount is implemented in the 4k! If the parameter is already implemented I m sorry and I m not aware of it! If it ain’t implemented in my opinion this would be another great one to implement!
5. Timing Correct Improvement / Main Mode
In my opinion it would be great if Timing Correct could also be set for 1/4, 1/4 (3), ½, ½ (3), and full note (dunno 1) with its triple (1(3))
6. Improvement of Swing Feature / Main Mode
It would be great imo if one could set swing more precisely! For example my synth module allows me to set swing as 50,1%, 55,6%, ... And it is definitely swinging more than the 4k does now!
Currently on the 4k we have got 26 swing settings/steps from 50 - 75! Now, adding one comma would add ten times more swing settings meanin 260 steps of swing! And the fantastic grid resolution of the 4k would even allow to add 2 commas! That would then be 2600 steps of swing!
Perfectly implemented this feature should be operated similarly as the move feature in seq edit! First one should be able to make the hard setting, for example to 55% then move the cursor to the additional field where one is able to set it for example to 55,4%! ... or even 55,43! … and just as now – … in realtime …
7. Improvement of Move Feature / Seq Edit or Step Edit Mode
no big deal but Imo it would be useful to be able to move midinotes for drumtracks up/downwards the grid similarly as for Instrumenttracks.
8. Aksys Feature
Imo it would be great to be able to drag and drop folders/files on the 4k hd via aksys!
9. Program Modulation Window
The real operation of the program modulation window is still not fully clear to me!
Imo the parameters in program mode have quite unmeaningful values (0-100, 0-64, 0-360, zone start point, …) whilst the program modulations can be set in a range of +/-100 (mod depth) ... and the functionality of the different +/- 100 is nowhere really explained. do they ad up, are they relative, what if modulating zone start or lfo phase?
i think it would be more user friendly if the depth setting in the program modulation window would change its range so that it was the same range of parameter it was modulating (the destination):
For example if the destination is lfo phase 360 the depth setting would have a range of +/- 360, if the destination was resonance the depth setting would have a range of +/- 64, if the destination was the zone start it would have the range of +/- 9999. For the 100 values such as filter cutoff, adsr values mod depth should remain as it is +/-100.
10. Manual / Appendix
imo this should be in the 4k in the first place: it would be great to have a complete 2-3 page parameter list for several parameters in program mode. (Similar as in the Manual of for example the MPC 3000 LE) with meaningful hz (for cutoff for example) and time related values (such as for ADSR). Basically this Appendix should cover as much as possible of the parameters in Program Mode Edit1, Edit2 and Zone window.
11. Triple Filter
imo it would be great if the triple filter gets an additional parameter called for example balance which allows one to set how a sound gets processed by the 3 Filters.
Imo one balance field with a range from 0-100 would improve the triple filter a lot. With a value of 50 the sound could get processed by all 3 filters equally – just as it is now. With a setting of 25 a sound would get processed by filter 1 and 2 in a relation of 50:50 whilst filter 3 would be fully blended out. With a setting of 0 the sound would just be processed through filter 1. Similarly at a setting of 75 filter 1 would be fully blended out, whilst the sample gets equally filtered by filter 2 and 3, with 100 only filter 3 would be active.
The ‘balance’ value for the triple filter should be inserted as a program destination parameter and than I d just like to wish everyone a lot of fun …
Full duplex is recording and hearing your track at the same time
... may be much better suited to do it ...