By Blue Haze
Sat Feb 19, 2005 7:13 pm
FAQ's - MPC4000
Q. What is the difference between pattern-based sequencing and linear sequencing?
A. The MPC4000 can do both.
With linear sequencing, the whole song is one long sequence which can be recorded continuously in real-time, much like an audio recorder, or edited by copying/pasting bars (such as verse, chorus, etc). This is good when recording tracks while playing live over the whole song.
With pattern-based sequencing, a song is made of multiple short sequences (patterns) that can be re-arranged very quickly in Song mode or even in real-time using the Next Sequence feature.
However, unlike limited “groove-boxes” where patterns are only one or two bars, on the MPC4000, pattern/sequences can be of any length.
With the MPC4000, you can work on each pattern in a loop, switch patterns, and in Song mode, simply specify the order the pattern playback and number of repeats to create an arrangement. At any time, you can change the arrangement without tedious copying/pasting.
In addition, if you decide to modify a pattern (say, the chorus sequence) after having created the song arrangement, it will automatically be modified in all the instances of the same pattern (i.e. all the choruses in this example). With linear sequencing, you would have to copy/paste the edited bars again, as many times are there are instances. Of course, with the MPC4000, you can also create of a copy a pattern if you want to modify only one instance.
Furthermore, the Simul Play feature allows the MPC4000 to play a pattern-based song and a linear sequence at the same time.
Q. What are the benefits of having two MIDI Ins and four MIDI Outs?
A. The two MIDI Inputs allow connecting a MIDI controller (keyboard, drum pads) to one input while the other input is used to receive MIDI Sync from another unit such as a digital recorder. Otherwise, you would need an outboard MIDI Merger.
The four Midi Outputs allow the MPC4000 to control 64 external MIDI Channels (16x4), in conjunction with the 128 internal Programs. This is very useful if you have more than one outboard multi-timbral sound generator (for instance, your keyboard and a sound module). This also allows using a dedicated MIDI output MIDI Sync.
Q. What type of memory will work in my MPC4000?
A. You should use only 168-pin, PC100 or PC133, CL2 DIMM
Q. Do I need another sound module to add keyboard instruments parts to my beats?
A. No. The MPC4000 includes a full featured multi-timbral sampler. Simply connect a MIDI keyboard to one of the MIDI inputs of the MPC4000, load a piano, organ or synth program for your library, assign it to the current track and play it from the keyboard.
Q. Do I have to load samples in the memory before I can hear them on my MPC4000?
A. No. Since OS V1.60, you can audition samples directly from the disk (hard disk or CD-ROM) before loading them.
Q. Can I record vocals with my MPC4000, in sync with my sequences?
A. Yes. Since OS V1.60, it is possible to trigger audio recording with a Midi Note on a specific channel while the sequence is playing/recording. Using the same note to trigger the playback of your recorded vocal sample will play it in sync with the sequence, exactly where it was recorded.
Q. I have produced a complete beat with my MPC4000. How can I burn it to a CD or share it via Internet?
A. When your beat is ready, go to the RECORD mode and select MAIN OUT as the source for stereo recording. Set the sampling time to the length of your beat and the threshold to the minimum. Arm for recording and play your sequenced beat from the start. This will create a new stereo sample of your beat, including the effects. When finished recording, transfer this stereo sample as WAV file in your computer (via USB or any removable media), and use your computer software to either write this file to an audio CD or encode it as an MP3 file to share it via Internet.
Q. What are the Q-Link controls?
A. The MPC4000 has four Q-Link™ knobs, and two Q-Link™ sliders, that can be separately assigned to allow flexible real-time control of a wide variety of selectable parameters including amplitude, filter cut-off and resonance, sample start offset, effect send, sample tune and more. Control of an entire program or an individual sound assigned to a single keygroup is possible. Each assignable Q-Link™ control is also capable of generating MIDI controller data to external sound generators, and so that all performance information can be recorded and played back from the MPC4000’s sequencer.
Q. What is Quick FX?
A. Quick FX allows sounds to be sampled and re-sampled through the 4-bus internal multi-effects processor. A variety of presets are available that describe the final result allowing (as the name implies) very quick operation. Of course, if you want to, you have access to the effect's parameters to customize the presets. Presets such as Dirty, Swell, Squash, Stretch, Distant, Fat, etc., provide the desired results without the complexity.
Q. Can I edit the sounds of my MPC4000 on a computer?
A. Yes. Programs can be edited graphically in real-time via USB on a computer using the supplied akSys software for Windows and Mac OS.
Samples are saved as standard WAV files and can be edited and processed in any sample editing software, such as the ‘Audacity’ freeware for Windows and Mac OS.
Q. What is ak.Sys? What does it do?
A. ak.Sys is a free Control and Networking software available for Windows, Mac OS 9 and OS X.
The intuitive nature of this computer based interface means the MPC4000’s sampler is easy to manage and since all the DSP processing takes place in the sampler, it relieves the strain on your computer allowing it to run efficiently while simultaneously using other audio applications. In fact, such is the level of integration, you'd be forgiven for thinking that you are using a software sampler... except you're not! And when you're ready to take your show on the road, dedicated hardware travels much better than a computer!
Up to 32 samplers can be connected to the same computer and share the same sound library via a simple USB connection.
Ak.ys V2 supports any combination of Z4/Z8, MPC4000 and S5000/S6000 samplers.
The ak.Sys Browser allows you to manage sound libraries. Files can be dragged and dropped between disks and memory to load sounds into the sampler (and vice versa to save sounds to disk). You can also drag and drop sounds between your Mac/PC's desktop and ak.Sys and use your computer's hard disk to store and manage sound library.
Double click on a program in the ak.Sys Browser and you launch the ak.Sys Program Editor where you can create and edit programs using a large virtual synth panel, with plenty of virtual knobs, graphic envelopes, etc..
Drag and drop is fully supported and you can drag samples from the Browser or your Mac/PC's desktop directly onto programs to assign samples to specific keyranges (which can also be set simply by setting them graphically with the mouse).
There is also a Graphic Pad Editor that allows you to assign samples directly to the Pads with 4 adjustable velocity layers.
The Multi Editor allows you to create and edit Multis quickly and easily.
Drag and drop programs onto a channel of the Multi Editor's virtual mixing console to assign sounds and use the mixer's controls to set levels, pan, effects sends, output routing, etc., and solo and mute channels with a single mouse click.
Double clicking on a sample within ak.Sys will launch your own preferred wave editor and transfer the sample from the Z4/8 automatically to your Mac/PC where it can be edited and processed on-screen.
Once you are happy with the edit/processing, saving the sample will transfer it back to the sampler where it is immediately available for playback.
Of course, when you are dealing with a large database of sounds and samples in memory and/or on disk, you need a quick way to locate them.
Ak.Sys has its own Search Engine that enables you find the sounds you want simply by typing in their names.
And if all this isn't enough, it is also possible drag&drop Sequences between the MPC4000 and the computer, as standard MIDI files.
