Using MIDI Program Change to set up equipment

I am trying to understand if the MPC2500 is capable of using MIDI Program Changes to initialize my additional MIDI equipment (keyboard, drum machine, effect processor) when I start a new song/sequence.

Right now, I can manually put the keyboard into program (user) U33, drum machine into U501, and effects processor in U02 and everything records and plays back fine. It'd be nice if I could just load a saved sequence on the MPC and have it transmit the right PC codes to all the devices.

How does one accomplish this automation?

Well it appears this functionality is available in JJOS as documented here:
http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~mpc1000/os2/midi_pce25.htm

2. It inputs on a main screen as a parameter of a track.
In this case, it is transmitted when the [PLAY START] key is pressed.

The above functionality is what I'm looking for in the normal OS. Thus far, I have successfully gotten the MPC (standard OS) to transmit a sysex message to put the keyboard in multi-mode. I looked up the sysex code in my keyboard's manual and inserted the hex string manaully. Was not a trivial task, but it works. Next, I thought I had the right PC codes to select the right program change, but this does not appear to be working. I'll continue to debug and we'll see what happens next.

But, as I understand it... the sysex & pc's are part of the sequence (when inserted with Step Edit) & not the track. Thus, the messages will get transmitted at every loop which is undesirable since PC/SysEx cause a momentary reset/click/pause of the instrument while settings are flipped, which is not a desired behaviour.

So, I'm still reading...

2500 manual, p. 34 onward....CC Events, Program Change Events etc....whatever you need. Just need to figure out which Program or Control Change Events your equipment understands. Program that into a sequence et voilà.

I've read that page many times by now, but it's possible I've missde something. The good news is that I don't have to figure anything out. If you add a PC, and then go to step-edit interface and move cursor to the PC line, manually setting the program on the instrument will store the midi PC sequence on the MPC. Yet, sadly there is no 'voilà'. Something is still missing. Playing the sequence will not set the correct program.

Also, regarding the reply of PC/SYSEX at each loop. Even if I get the correct PC to work, I doubt that's going to solve my goal since the messages will replay at the top of each loop and cause the instruments to hang and/or reset the voice generators.

Basically, I want the MPC to signal my equipment with the correct SYSEX, CC & PC messages when I load the sequence. Not at 'Start' and not repeatedly during 'Play'.

-cd

when you add a prog-cc through step-edit isn't it just track specific, so you only need the correct one for each different track (ie for each midi channel/instrument)?

... through step-edit isn't it just track specific, so you only need the correct one for each different track

Yes it is track specific, so the CC/PC/SYSEX messages only go to specified equipment on that track/midi-port. However, the messages are sent each time the sequence/track loops. And in doing so, the instrument resets the tone-generator (the sounds stop, there's a pause, and then things resume).

Reading the JJOS manual, it appears like there is an option in JJOS to pick whether these messages are sent only at the start of the song when you hit play (assigned to the track in JJOS terms), or they are sent everytime the sequence loops (assigned to sequence).

With the native MPC OS, it appears that we can only add PC & SYSEX as part of a sequence (in JJOS terms).

So to summarize, adding PC/CC/SYSEX is possible on MPC ... but for the purposes of using this capability to set up my equipment with proper programs/banks, etc... It's not an ideal situation (due to the constant reply of these events). Looks like I still need note-cards and will need to manually configure everything up before each song.

More reading to do...

Check again what exactly your other modules need to hear. Perhaps a simple PC message isn't enough. Every equipment is slightly different in that respect.

The consensus seems to be:
create a 1 measure "midi setup" sequence at the top of your song. So for now, this is what I'm pursuing and seems to be feasible ... although see my next post on "can't send pc messages" with the 2500

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