Song Looping?

What's up everybody? Just want to say thanks to this forum. It helped me decide to get an MPC1000. I've since upgraded to JJOS2XL.

Is there a way to loop a song in song mode? I know you can bounce the song to a sequence and loop the new sequence, but I'd rather not do that in certain situations.

What kind of situations?

^^^ exactly.


just press a button once and convert it to a sequence... you can't even use TRACK MUTES or edit the programs/samples in any way while in song mode anyway... so why wouldn't you just convert it?

Sometimes I don't want to commit to the arrangement. I'll usually have a few sequences of samples done before I start adding external synths. I like to get a loose arrangement of the sequences done before I move on to the synths. It'd be cool if I could later alter the arrangement of the original sequences.

I was pretty sure it wasn't possible, just wanted to check with the gurus. Cheers.

takes 1 second to convert it... another second to delete the converted sequence if you don't want it.

you can go back to your SONG mode and re-arrange stuff and convert again later. i don't see much difference other than working in sequence mode is much more convenient.

Yeah, it's not a show-stopper but it would be a little more convenient for me.

For example, suppose I use samples to create sequences A, B, C and D. Then I create a song that's structured A>B>C>D. Then I convert that to a sequence; call it ABCD. Now I add my synths on top of sequence ABCD as it's looping. After the synths are programmed, I decide that the song should be D>C>B>A. However, I can't just create a new song and convert it because sequences A, B, C and D don't have synths on them.

I can edit the ABCD sequence though, so I can still get where I need to go.

Anyway, thanks for giving it some thought, I appreciate it.

i use JJOS1 and not 2XL... but i think there's a way where you could say take that ABCD sequence you made with the synth recorded on top... and then copy it 3 or 4 times and trim the sequence into individual parts... if its a 16bar loop, you can trim the first 4 bars as A, bars 5-8 as B, 9-12 as C, etc... or i think you could just select portions of that longer sequence [such as bars 9-12] and copy those into a new sequence which could then be re-arranged in song mode... am i making any sense?

i think this would be in GRID mode... but i'm beginning to think that it could get weird with an AUDIO TRACK involved... just record your synth part into individual sequences and arrange as needed i guess.

Perfect sense, thanks! Your first paragraph is basically what I was thinking, but that specific example makes it more clear. I won't be recording the synths to audio tracks at this point, so that shouldn't get in the way. Thanks again crossings.

FUSE wrote:Perfect sense, thanks! Your first paragraph is basically what I was thinking, but that specific example makes it more clear. I won't be recording the synths to audio tracks at this point, so that shouldn't get in the way. Thanks again crossings.

nah your overcomplicating it i think.......

take your 4 SEQ A,B,C,D.

if you use MUTE window and the NEXT SEQ feature you can chose the order of the SEQ's you use and also use Track Mutes..........

all you have to do is remember to engage that next sequence or it loops the current one.

Then you can go from A to D without using B or C..........but you get full control of each one.

its a bit like converting a song to a sequence as stated above, but just keeps the separate Sequences instead of merging them (so you acnt change order).........

Can video if your confused

P

FUSE wrote:For example, suppose I use samples to create sequences A, B, C and D. Then I create a song that's structured A>B>C>D. Then I convert that to a sequence; call it ABCD. Now I add my synths on top of sequence ABCD as it's looping. After the synths are programmed, I decide that the song should be D>C>B>A. However, I can't just create a new song and convert it because sequences A, B, C and D don't have synths on them.

Maybe check out Simult Sequence (SS field on main). So basically you first convert to seq X, than choose NEW seq to play synths etc, there set up seq X in SS field and record your synths to this NEW sequence with SS seq running in the background. Now if you want to change order, you go song mode, and than save as seq X(same number) again. This will bring it to SS field. After all you just have to copy a synth tracks to seq X.

nah your overcomplicating it i think.......

take your 4 SEQ A,B,C,D.

if you use MUTE window and the NEXT SEQ feature you can chose the order of the SEQ's you use and also use Track Mutes..........

all you have to do is remember to engage that next sequence or it loops the current one.

Then you can go from A to D without using B or C..........but you get full control of each one.

its a bit like converting a song to a sequence as stated above, but just keeps the separate Sequences instead of merging them (so you acnt change order).........

Can video if your confused

P
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yes, please!

easy homie, you don't even have to use the track mute window.

Ill show you how to switch between sequences (live) and have your synths set up so you can play the same synth patch over several diff sequences.....

Can even set up 4 synths channels and show you how to swap between those!

Ill try knock something up tonight.

P

you send me your email man, ill flick this vid off my phone, cant be assed loading to PC then youtube etc.

i'll explain what i've done here / cos the video cuts out due to my battery dying last night ( **** iphones! )

i set up 3 sequences for the example, but you can have as many as you want.

in each sequence i have the set up the same track wise,

so in sequence 1 i have for example,
drums track 1,
bass track 2,
sample track 3
synth 1 track 4
synth2 track 5
synth 3 track 6

Now in sequence 2 and 3, they are set up exactly the same, the sequence themselves can change, but i urge you to keep the setup consistent.....

So in sequence 2, even though you may have a different drum beat and sample programmed, set it up the same like this:
drums track 1,
bass track 2,
sample track 3
synth 1 track 4
synth2 track 5
synth 3 track 6

You may have your own order for tracks, so whatever works for you.


Make sure the sequence number is highlighted in the MAIN screen, hit play.

as its playing, roll the jog wheel over and you can see the sequence that is highlighted shifts to the top left corner of the screen and says
"Next Seq:SEQUENCE 02" or whatever it is you chose, you can scroll through and chose the next sequence you want to play........it might get a bit tricky live, but with 8 bar loops its not a big deal.

Now for your synths....

I have three tracks set up with synths as i explained before, for the example i have synth one using midi 1A, synth 2 using midi 2A, synth 3 using midi 3A - just to show you can have diff sounds setup to play - the mpc is hooked up to a midi keyboard.


Becasue you have set up all your tracks the same - even if you change sequence the instrument will be the same, and now the sequence is playing use the Track + and Track - keys (F3 and F4 i think) to swap between your different synths

Take your time to set it up, and just make sure throughout your sequences your instruments are the same on each track.

Long winded explanation but hopefully with the vid i'll send you it helps.

Peashe