MPC 500 for more "linear" music - usable??

Hi, after having researched a lot about the MPC500 it seems almost optimal as a small portable device to create music on. However, given that my style is more Funk/Soul/Rock, kind of towards Electro-Music, I just am not 100% sure about some things I want to do with it even after reating the manual.
Particularly, I would like to

Create a song consisting of several parts (Chorus /verse) with different drun patterns

Program the beat for each part using the pads

Using some samples of songs to integrate in the mix

so far, I guess the MPC does that, right?
However, I would also need to

Play on my keyboards e.g. a bass line, melodies and chords and record them either as MIDI or Audio(i.e. as samples) and use them in arranging the songs

Use the recorded MIDI data to route to sampled instruments, i.e. play e.g. a sampled Rhodes whereby the pitch is chosen by the MIDI tune I played it

Given that it is so of a small footprint, I would like to be able to play short melody sequences by just using the pads (I read the 12LEVELS function using PITCH should do the trick no?

So basically I would like to use it as a sampler when on stage, maybe also using some wicked Synth Samples through MIDI but also have it as a portable Device to arrange songs and record beats and sample some "classic" songs in my music.
In particular, I am not sure how far I can use the MPC as a sequencer (not loop based) and use it playing my keyboard in order to have my own sounds on the keys in the right tune, so some hints of anyone using the MPC not only for Hip-Hop/Techno would be highly appreciated!
It just looks **** sexy and the idea of having all my samples at hand connecting it playing with my Nord Stage and on top using it when abroad is just exciting me, so I really want to have it if it does what I want.

Cheers!
Johannes

playagiron wrote:Hi, after having researched a lot about the MPC500 it seems almost optimal as a small portable device to create music on. However, given that my style is more Funk/Soul/Rock, kind of towards Electro-Music, I just am not 100% sure about some things I want to do with it even after reating the manual.
Particularly, I would like to

Create a song consisting of several parts (Chorus /verse) with different drun patterns

Program the beat for each part using the pads

Using some samples of songs to integrate in the mix

so far, I guess the MPC does that, right?
However, I would also need to

Play on my keyboards e.g. a bass line, melodies and chords and record them either as MIDI or Audio(i.e. as samples) and use them in arranging the songs

Use the recorded MIDI data to route to sampled instruments, i.e. play e.g. a sampled Rhodes whereby the pitch is chosen by the MIDI tune I played it

Given that it is so of a small footprint, I would like to be able to play short melody sequences by just using the pads (I read the 12LEVELS function using PITCH should do the trick no?

So basically I would like to use it as a sampler when on stage, maybe also using some wicked Synth Samples through MIDI but also have it as a portable Device to arrange songs and record beats and sample some "classic" songs in my music.
In particular, I am not sure how far I can use the MPC as a sequencer (not loop based) and use it playing my keyboard in order to have my own sounds on the keys in the right tune, so some hints of anyone using the MPC not only for Hip-Hop/Techno would be highly appreciated!
It just looks **** sexy and the idea of having all my samples at hand connecting it playing with my Nord Stage and on top using it when abroad is just exciting me, so I really want to have it if it does what I want.

Cheers!
Johannes

I am positive you can do all of this. The one thing I am not sure about is "Use the recorded MIDI data to route to sampled instruments" just because you might need to explain it different... because I am kind of confused on some of the things you wrote.

"I am not sure how far I can use the MPC as a sequencer (not loop based) and use it playing my keyboard in order to have my own sounds on the keys in the right tune,"

What do you mean by this? Aren't sequencers loop based? Everything else you can do I know.

Thanks, sounds good so far. Well maybe I wasn't clear, but have never actually worked with a HW sequencer, just in Logic.
So basically I thought of recording a midi track, e.g. a synthesizer melody via a Ckeboard through MIDI in, but afterwards (or if possible also "live") use this MIDI data to trigger samples (i.e., one sample would be one note, say, C, sampled which would than be pitched to the note I play on the keyboard).

Secondly, regarding the sequencer, well, I think not every Sequencing is loop based. What I meant was that I record a full track, e.g. a complete bass line of 3 minutes or so, and then record afterwards drum pattern (obviously now in the looped) etc. If I understand the manual correctly, that could be done in the song mode where I just assign different drum patterns e.g. to the different parts of the song (Chorus, Intro, V1, V2).
But can I then also record a complete linear track for the whole song (like I said, harmonies on the piano or a bass line??)
I hope you understand what I mean!

Thanks

Bonne Soirée

Johannes

playagiron wrote:Thanks, sounds good so far. Well maybe I wasn't clear, but have never actually worked with a HW sequencer, just in Logic.
So basically I thought of recording a midi track, e.g. a synthesizer melody via a Ckeboard through MIDI in, but afterwards (or if possible also "live") use this MIDI data to trigger samples (i.e., one sample would be one note, say, C, sampled which would than be pitched to the note I play on the keyboard).

Secondly, regarding the sequencer, well, I think not every Sequencing is loop based. What I meant was that I record a full track, e.g. a complete bass line of 3 minutes or so, and then record afterwards drum pattern (obviously now in the looped) etc. If I understand the manual correctly, that could be done in the song mode where I just assign different drum patterns e.g. to the different parts of the song (Chorus, Intro, V1, V2).
But can I then also record a complete linear track for the whole song (like I said, harmonies on the piano or a bass line??)
I hope you understand what I mean!

Thanks

Bonne Soirée

Johannes

You can do the song mode stuff for sure, but your sampling time might be limited.... Honestly the way you are talking about using the MPC live you are just going to be triggering different parts.... So you could use the MUTE function or just get a laptop because the sampling time is limited.... even with an upgraded card you are talking 21 minutes mono or something like that.... so 4 minute song with a 4 minute bass track, 4 minute piano track, 4 minute whatever else (if you want it non linear) is 12 minutes.... you are runnning up your sample time pretty heavy....

Not to mention you would have to reload samples every song then too.
Why don't you play the non linear parts?

As for the MIDI I believe you can do this, but I am not sure. I personally don't use MIDI with my MPC only with my DAW so some of the other knowledgeable MIDI guys will know.