Considering a purchase, need some advice!

Hi there,

This may come off as being a little lazy, but I hope you'll be willing to help regardless. I would read the manual of this piece of gear, but I fear I will misinterpret/overlook certain features (or lack there of) as I've done before.

I'll just give a quick breakdown of what I want to achieve with the MPC500 (I'm a complete MPC noob, so bare with me!):

1. I want to be able to trigger loops I loaded into the pads from the CF card, or recorded into the MPC and assign them to the seperate pads. I want to be able to, simultaneously, trigger multiple loops spread across the various pads (so pad 1 plays loop1, pad 2 plays loop2 etc). Is this possible?

2. I want to be able to do this while syncing it via MIDI with (mainly) my electribe. Now at this moment, I have a roland SP-404SX and MIDI sync is horrible. It's like half a BPM off compared to my Electribe (my Electribe syncs well with my KP3, so I suspect the SP-404 is the cullprit). So my question is: How does this device sync with the Electribes? Anyone have any experience on this matter?

3. Tied into that, I want to be able to hit a pad, but have it playback the loop in time with the beat of the Electribe. I.e: It will wait with playback untill whatever measure starts at the first beat again. Not sure if I'm explaining this clear enough?! The best way I guess I can describe it is the way Ableton handles the playback of clips. When you 'press' to activate a clip, it will wait untill the loop cycle has completed and start playback as soon as the first beat comes up again. Some kind of "loop quantize" function if you will.

4. Lastly, does the MPC500 load samples from the CF card into internal memory or can it stream samples/loops directl from the CF card. If not, what size is the internal memory?

Again, sorry for taking the lazy route, but I've read so many manuals and have made too many bad purchases due to lack of comprehension of how a certain device performs in practice. I really want to get it right this time around!

Cheers...

jete246 wrote:Hi there

Hi

jete246 wrote:1. I want to be able to trigger loops I loaded into the pads from the CF card, or recorded into the MPC and assign them to the seperate pads. I want to be able to, simultaneously, trigger multiple loops spread across the various pads (so pad 1 plays loop1, pad 2 plays loop2 etc). Is this possible?

Yes.

jete246 wrote:3. Tied into that, I want to be able to hit a pad, but have it playback the loop in time with the beat of the Electribe. I.e: It will wait with playback untill whatever measure starts at the first beat again. Not sure if I'm explaining this clear enough?! The best way I guess I can describe it is the way Ableton handles the playback of clips. When you 'press' to activate a clip, it will wait untill the loop cycle has completed and start playback as soon as the first beat comes up again. Some kind of "loop quantize" function if you will.

This will be you manually syncing loops in the 500. Manually. You'll have to figure out and understand your bpm's/pitch/tune/pad trigger events/step editing/ and precise chooping of the loop.

jete246 wrote:4. Lastly, does the MPC500 load samples from the CF card into internal memory or can it stream samples/loops directl from the CF card. If not, what size is the internal memory?

Samples on cf load into ram, Samples from usb/pc load onto cf, there is NO streaming. Standard amount of ram is stated in the manual, you can add more up to the max the machine can handle.

Stop being lazy, grab a manual and get busy learning the basics if you area serious about it.

Pg. 107

MPC500 Operator's Manual rev 1.0
Specifications

General
Display: 2 x 16 character LCD w/back light
Memory card slot: Compact Flash (The size of the compact flash card that MPC500
can handle is from 32MB to 2GB)
Dimensions: 266mm x 175mm x 44mm
Weight: 1.34 kg
Power requirement: 12v DC 600mA (negative tip)
Battery life: Approximately 4.5 hours of continuous use with LCD backlight
ON.

Sound Generator
Sampling rate: 44.1kHz
Memory capacity: 16MB standard (11.5MB for sound memory), expandable to 128MB
Recording time: 136sec. (16MB, MONO)
24m28sec. (128MB, MONO)
Memory expansion slot: 1 x for optional EXM128
Data format: 16-bit linear
Polyphony: up to 32 (dependent on processing)
Dynamic filtering: 2-pole lowpass filter per voice
Preset sound memory: 5MB
Number of programs: 24

Effects
Effects: 2 stereo effects and Master effect
Effect type: Chorus, Flanger, Bit grunger, 4 band EQ, Compressor, Phase shifter,
Tremolo, Flying pan, Reverb, Delay
Master effect: 4 band EQ, Compressor

Sequencer
Maximum events: 100,000 notes
Resolution: 96 parts per 1/4-note
Sequences: 99
Tracks per sequence: 48
MIDI output channels: 16
Song mode: 20 songs, 250 steps per song
Drum pad: 12 (velocity and pressure sensitive)
Drum pad banks: 4
Sync mode: MIDI clock

Inputs/Outputs
Record input (L and R): 1/4-inch stereo phone x 2, pseudo balanced -40dBu, input impedance
9k ohm
Max. Input level: +10dBu
Stereo output (L and R): 1/4-inch phone x 2 pseudo balanced +11dBu, output impedance 1k
Ohms,
Max. Output level: +5 dBu
Phones output: 1/4-inch stereo phone x 1, 200mW / 100 ohms
MIDI inputs: 1 x 5-pin DIN
MIDI outputs: 1 x 5-pin DIN
USB: Slave connector x 1, USB MASS STORAGE CLASS support
(Windows 2000/ME/XP or later version, or Mac OS 9.x/10.x or later
version.)

Data Compatibility
MPC1000 SEQ, WAV, PGM
MPC2000/2000XL SEQ, WAV, SND, PGM (Most parameters of PGM file can be
loaded.)
MPC2500 SEQ, WAV, PGM
MPC4000 SEQ, WAV, PGM (DRUM program only. Only note assign and tune
are loaded.)
MPC3000 SND (THRU Computer)
Z4/Z8 WAV, PGM (DRUM program only. Only note assign and tune are
loaded.)
S5000/6000 WAV only (THRU Computer)

This will be you manually syncing loops in the 500. Manually. You'll have to figure out and understand your bpm's/pitch/tune/pad trigger events/step editing/ and precise chooping of the loop.

I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean here.

Either way,I have looked at the manual and particularly the "sequence" section, which seems to be the only way to get loops to sync with other gear via midi.

But, the manual, to me, doesn't seem clear on whether or not these sequences can be triggered by pressing the pads. It seems only the 'play' button can start a sequence. I was hoping you could trigger different sequences on the seperate pads, and have them playback simultaneously, quantized. But it doesn't seem that way.

I really should try one out at a retailer or something first, would makes things much clearer. But, I don't think this can do what I want it to. Thanks for the reply anyways.

Well, I'd really have to check one out hands on to be able to figure that out. I'll have another proper read through the manual and drop by my local retailer and check it out for myself.

Cheers...

MPC's are sketch pads. YOU, my friend, are the Artist. [/color][/quote]

That right there is a great quote.

I think a laptop running Ableton is what you need, what you want to do is easy to achieve on that software, so I'd say, Ableton and a midi controller.

Yeah, but I have been using Ableton for a couple of years up untill recently and am fed up with software and midi controllers for now. I've chosen to take the hardware route for some fresh impulses and workflow. I know hardware generally has more limitiations, but I feel that is exactly what I need. I feel I can get more out of the "limited" resources, rather than getting 'drowned' in the overwhelming options. Being able to focus better on what my tunes really need, not just throwing stuff at it because I simply can, so to speak.

That being said, I do "need" a couple of core features, which is what I'm after here.

That's why I got myself an Electribe, which I think I've mastered now along with a KP3, a Blofeld and the SP-404 SX for sampling and triggering loops to compliment the Electribe. Problem is, the SP-404SX is terrible for loop playback and syncing with other gear. I had to find this out the hard way. So it's basicly why I was looking at the MPC. Mainly for playing back the loops I've created and recorded into the MPC. Not as much for it's sampling capabilities (although I'll obviously use many of them).

Anyways, the MPC to me is a new beast, so I have to get familiar with it to see the potential. Hence me asking you lads for 'real world' feedback. But I understand I need to get to know the MPC's a bit better before I can understand how it could or can't compliment my setup.