set sequence length/bpm to sample

Say I have a sample. How can I set the sequence length so that my (4 bar) sample loops perfectly in the sequence. Do I need to calculate the bpm from the sample length?

Also, if I have several shorter samples of different lengths, can I get them to play one directly after another (without combining the samples into one long one and then looping that)

I am doing this by ear at the moment but if there's a way to set the sequence length to a sample then that'd be really useful.

innovine wrote:Say I have a sample. How can I set the sequence length so that my (4 bar) sample loops perfectly in the sequence. Do I need to calculate the bpm from the sample length?

How I do it:
* Trim your sample so that it loops properly (in trim mode, while doing this you get a rough idea in your head of how many bars it'll be)
* Create new sequence
* Create an audio track and place the sample on the first hit
* Set the sequence to loop (or reduce/add bars if needed) roughly the length of the sample
* Move cursor to bmp field (see that it's (S) = sequence and not (M) = master) and increase or decrease bpm until your sample loops perfectly.
* For more assistance turn on the metronome (CLICK) for "in play"
* Now you have the bpm and bars needed for the sample to loop

Now you could go further by chopping the samples and sequence them how you please... or do whatever

innovine wrote:Also, if I have several shorter samples of different lengths, can I get them to play one directly after another (without combining the samples into one long one and then looping that)

Hmm do you mean that you wouldn't take bpm or time signature into account that it would just be a stream of random samples one after another?

I'd rather not do it by ear, thats what I am doing right now but I'd rather do it exactly. Are all samples and the mpc itsef running at 44100? I can calculate the bpm for a loop based on its length. Should be a calculator for this in JJ OS. It'd be great to have an exactly cut loop, and just say "sequence, be the right length so this sample loops perfectly".

For multiple samples, I dont mean playing random ones, I just mean playing sample A followed by sample B followed by sample C, without overlaps or gaps in between them. Again, I don't want to do this by ear. Right now I have to combine them together. That works but most DAWs let you just place one sample after another on the timeline and the beginning of the sample you are placing will snap to the end of the previous.

I'd rather not do it by ear

You should do it by ear because the MPC is not sample accurate.

I'm using approximately the same method that m:t:c describes but instead of putting it in an audiotrack I put it in a program in order to fine tune the loop if needed.

yeah it would be unnessisary to do it mathematically because the mpc only goes 2 decimal points down.

alot of daws go 4.

youll get it to loop correct doin it by ear.

Lampdog wrote:"Music" is by ear though.

I wonder why there are guitar tuners...

innovine wrote:

Lampdog wrote:"Music" is by ear though.

I wonder why there are guitar tuners...

answer - because not every ear hears perfect pitch.
An i tune by ear as perfect pitch can sound wrong to, ie too perfect. but thats beside the thread.
I use above method a bit different - I use sequencer and assign loop sample to a pad and make it one shot, place it in the sequences start, loop sequence and adjust BPM. Alot of musics BPM is not like a computers BPM, nearly everysong has slight BPM shifts in the tempo. Even in your 4 bar loop there will be discrepencies of BPM unless it is drum machine loop. So thats another reason to do it by ear instead of calculating.
Then its either chopping or patched phrase. this will sync your loop to ant sequence you make.
For samples put em in a sequence and resample - easy and accurate