JJ OS2XL is confusing!

I'm going to get MPC1000 this monday and it has JJ OS2 already installed and I'm going to update it to OS2XL.
Now when I'm looking at the manual it looks confusing as hell.. Too many things there and not sure if I'm going to use them all.
Just for example, I don't understand what PATTERN, CHORD, GRID, ARPEGGIATOR and LFO do, or are they even essential when producing hip hop. And yes I have read the manual but still cannot understand it.

U may not use any of those things, and certainly none are essential for hip-hop. Grid mode is definitely worth checking out though.

GPE in JJOS is paramount.

http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~mpc1000/os2xl/gpe_amp.htm
http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~mpc1000/os2 ... filter.htm

It's hard to predict what might be useful.

^ yes. gpe is (almost) the one thing all of us have in common as far as workflow.

I heard many people say It's best that you understand the original Akai OS before you start using the JJOS ;especially if you are new to hip hop music production.

In due time you may find everything useful.

Ok, thanks. So is there any major differences between OS2 and the XL?

i make hip-hop but i have researched as much as possible on the JJOSXL. the reason being that if i picture adding a specific element to a track that i can hear in my head i want to be able to utilise the MPC to it's fullest before attempting to add said element.

who knows if i want a 'womp womp' or a 'dedodooogeboobepoopop' here or a 'wvhiiiiiii' and a 'wvhooooviiii' somewhere else. it's up for the art to decide, man.

using GRID is almost essential, that shit should be assigned to be on screen by pressing 'main' and utilised everyday. speeds everything up.

arpegiator is something you may want to look into as well to be begin with.

Still need to roll up my sleeves to get into Patterns, but yeah GPE should be like second nature for just about any producer on here no matter if you're making hip hop, techno or drum n' bass.

for me, most of the stuff you dont need for any sample based music. thats not to say you wont find it useful.

whats crucial to me on jjos, is workflow speed and enhancements. I use to make bangers on mpc2000, basic mpc workflow. dudes are making bangers on th sp303 wich is way more slimmed down feature wise.

but on jjos i can do the same, faster, and easier. this decreases the chances of loosing inspiration and also makes things funner. and funner is what music is all about.

its also gives you less reason to leave the box. I prefer to do it all on the mpc.

i haven't been around for too too long but i genuinely feel like there's something special about the os2xl workflow.

i have recorded a video for you guys that i keep forgetting to digitize and upload
i have a whole 2nd keyboard that i use to trigger actions in the mpc. this is what came out of the voice commands - i have these commands triggered by either keyboard or voice. i usually just use the keyboard for now, as i'm creating new ones.

i've got:

transpose + and - 12 for grid edit (goes into seq edit, performs job, returns to GRID)
extend duration to next note (goes into seq edit, performs job, returns to GRID)
velocity split /3 and /2 (in LAYER window of GPE, this action splits up the velocity ranges for multisamples)
track change 1-16
instant CONTROL view for cc7, pitchbend and mod wheel (and one more i haven't decided on)
next/previous sequence
STOPSTART: triggers STOP and START again like...immediately. depending on your settings it may cut off playing samples BUT it means you don't have to stop the sequencer after recording

these have really sped up my workflow and reduced the "click-rattle" fatigue of repetitive tasks.

and funner is what music is all about.

hell yeah.
starts being work when you stop having fun

i have recorded a video for you guys that i keep forgetting to digitize and upload
i have a whole 2nd keyboard that i use to trigger actions in the mpc.

Woah, thats dope! I'm totally setting something up like this.