Please help: Changing a sequence externally

Is it possible to change the sequence the MPC is playing by an external device?

I know you can select the next sequence by letting the mpc receive a program change message, but it would be much more convenient if it could by down suddenly.
I was hoping it would be possible send a midi note to the mpc (when the "next seq" field is selected) that would thereby change the sequence it is playing instantly. Is something like that possible?

You can't do it with midi notes (that would probably be a bit tricky to implement) only PC commands.

To change the behavior of the NEXT SEQ function (in terms of when it starts) highlight the Sequence field on the main screen and press the WINDOW key. You'll see what options are available.

It is also not possible to change the moment at which the next sequence is started, right? It is either SUDDEN or at the end of the previous sequence. A lot of sequencers have the option to select how the next sequence will start once selected: after 4 bars, 2 bars, 1 bar or 1/4 bar for example.

I understand what you are saying and it has come up before but no, just what you see in the optons. The only workaround I know of is to cut and paste the diffrent portions of the sequences you want into a new sequence, or to use the SUDDEN opton and really practice your timing. In other words, there's no automated sequence splicing.

machien2000 wrote: A lot of sequencers have the option to select how the next sequence will start once selected: after 4 bars, 2 bars, 1 bar or 1/4 bar for example.

u can insert blank bars 4,2,1/4,1/16 at the start of the sequence,
but u have to do it manually /for selected seq/
not sure is that what u mean

I believe what he's talking about is using NEXT SEQ to automatically jump to the next respective bar in the new sequence.

i.e. if you have two 4 bar sequences, the idea is if you switch the first one halfway through the second bar, the machine not only automatically switches on the beat at the end of bar 2, but also picks up the next sequence at the beginning of bar 3.

Actually I made a mistake in that last post because if this is what you want to do, I don't think timing with the SUDDEN option will produce this effect. So the only workaround is to splice the desired bars into a new sequence beforehand.

When you think about it it can actually get rather complex especially if the sequences are of different lengths.

You can't do it with midi notes (that would probably be a bit tricky to implement) only PC commands.

bome's midi translator yo

Oh sure, you could use MidiOx too. Of course you have to route it through the computer so that's more gear, latency etc...

Actually a more convenient solution might be one of the Midi Solutions remapping boxes.. you might be able to find one of the old mappers cheap now that the new (and much more capable) event processors are out. Been thinking of selling my old mapper and picking one of new ones up myself...

http://www.midisolutions.com/

a peavey 1600 command center could also do something like this...

http://www.mediamat.com/peavy1600.html

They're great for this type of thing.

What I meant was: lets say you have a sequence of 8 bars. When playing live, every now and then you want to replace the last bar of this 8bar sequence by another 1-bar sequence (a good example is a drum fill that you like to be there now and then, but not every time the sequence reaches its 8th bar). Its seams to me that this indeed can only be done by using the sudden function: starting in this 1bar sequence at the exact end of the 7th bar of the 8bar sequence, and then switching back to the 8bar sequence again at the end of the 1bar sequence... Not a very convenient way however.

In more complex arrangements, a better solution for this would be great and is already available in ableton live or the hardware midisequencer I always used (the Yamaha RM1x). Both sequencers not only have a sudden option, but also an option that works as follows:

You can (global settings) select the amount of bars between the moment you choose the next sequence and the moment this sequence is actually started. You can select this amount of bars to be 4, 2 1 or even 1/4 or 1/16.
So applied in the above example, if you set this setting to 1 bar, you can select the 1bar sequence as next sequence when the 8bar sequence is in its 7th bar. When it reaches the end of that bar, it will smoothly switch to the 1bar sequence. The whole timing-issue is solved.
This gives you so much flexibility in live situations and to be honest I am amazed the MPC is not able to do such a thing! Must be possible to build in such a function for the JS guys?
Just take ableton live as an example.

Ok...

If I wanted to do that with the MPC, I would just copy over the 8 bar sequence to a new one, replace the last bar with the fill, then use NEXT SEQ to switch to the fill version when I wanted it.

I'm sure we would all like Live functionality in the 1000, but it simply isn't realistic with this hardware. It might be possible to add the specific feature you are talking about, but that depends on how much coding it would require and my guess is we are not going to see any new features unless JJ goes back to CF-based OS startup loading, and that will come at a cost of reduced sample time.

ok, thanks again!