Some Questions about the MPC500

I have an MPC500 on the way; I'm familiar with Ableton Live, but didn't want to drag my computer setup to casual gigs..... I'm also familiar with drum machines in general, and I have read the manual in .pdf form a couple of times.

I have a couple of questions; they may be in the manual, but I probably missed them.

1. Can you assign sequences (as opposed to samples) to pads to play them in real time? (Like assigning loops to my korg padKontrol in Ableton live). That is, to play fiills, etc. in live performance rather than just individual sounds...

2. Is there a way of importing midi files (*.mid, format 1) to (as?) tracks either on the flash card. (I guess I'm asking if there is a folder that contains tracks in .mid format that I can replace after creating/editing them in SONAR)

3. I downloaded BlueBox, but got an error on installation that said it was missing a Data1.cab file. Is that something that comes with the MPC500?

4. Is there a map of the folder structure on the flash card somewhere?


I thought of these after I ordered the MPC, and at least (1) is a deal breaker......

Thanks,

Chuck

1. No, you cannot trigger a sequence using the pads. However, if you resample the main outs while running a sequence you in effect create a sample of the sequence that you can trigger with the pads. What you can't seem to be able to do (unless I just haven't worked out how yet) is how to mute a sample while it is running unless you use the "note on" function.

2. The mpc500 can save sequences in *.mid format so I guess (!!) that you can load them in this format too. Anyone else have any ideas?

3. I downloaded bluebox before I got the mpc and it worked fine, I would try re-running the installation if I were you.

4. The folder structure on the cf card is up to you. I am not sure what the structure is on the stock card as I got mine second hand without it, but if you need any other folders you can delete and rename easily via usb.

Hope that helps... and enjoy! Unless the deal has been broken that is...

Well, making a sample of a loop is worthless for without timestretching, since I would also want control of tempo in performance......

So I guess the MPC goes back unopened (it is hard to believe that Akai would leave a function like assigning sequences to pads for live performance, but there it is.....)

The main reason I wanted the Akai was to play loops using good handclaps (all the handclaps on drum machines suck IMO - but I'm Flamenco.... So I guess I'll have to wait and auditioin the new Alesis SR-18 to see if they've cleaned up their act or not.....

(Or continue to use my laptop....(sigh).....

UPDATE: The MPC500 goes back unopened. I CAN'T BELIEVE AKAI LEFT THIS FUNCTIONALITY OUT!!! Techically, it is called "pattern play" and is available on every recent beat box including Akai's own XR-20.

SHEESH!

Actually, you can trigger a sequence from a pad by pressing the numeric key and hitting the pad. Question - does the numeric key stay engaged when pressed, or is it instantaneous?

You need to hold numeric and then press the pad, and the new sequence will only start once the old sequence has reached its conclusion. Sounds like you need a different machine.

Right - well, that's the deal breaker....

WHY can't they make either a sampler with pattern play (all they would need to do is to program a mode where the numeric key wasn't instantaneous sequence would continue to loop.)

Or a drum machine with at least one user sample slot....

Sheesh........

Anywayl, thanks for the help. The MPC will be history for me shortly....

If they put in everything that people wanted they would have to make a machine the size of a small house.

Good luck elsewhere...

For pattern play, the existing hardware configuration of the mpc500 is more than sufficient; it would just require the rewrite of the OS. And it is not a "minor added feature"; pattern play is such an essential function for performing musicians (other than DJ hits) - and there is no need to distinguish between drum machines and samplers for such an essential function.

(For example, for me sample editing and beat creation (MIDI programming) is far more easily done on a computer (e.g. via Fruity Loops, Live, or Sonar); I wouldn't even think of wasting my time doing it in the MPC500 if I can import the files (.mid, .wav) via the flash card. Especially for percussion loops.)

I just don't like to bring my laptop to gigs for security reasons (since it has multiple non-music related uses for me), with the extra pain of setting up not only my sound system, but hooking up my padKontrol and laptop.....

sounds like you want a groovebox. you can midi the mpc to it as slave. grooveboxes are good for this 'cos they usually have plenty of parts so you could sync some of them to external devices (synth, mpc...) & still play the groovebox. a groovebox usually has some kind of sequence select where you call up whole patterns & they play after each one (or however you configured it). good for live. also have song mode like the mpc.

i'm thinking the korg esx1 can do all this with samples?

[quote="BuleriaChk"]I have an MPC500 on the way; I'm familiar with Ableton Live, but didn't want to drag my computer setup to casual gigs..... I'm also familiar with drum machines in general, and I have read the manual in .pdf form a couple of times.
Chuck

I have been using some sequences on Ableton Live and also don't want to keep risking my laptop at gigs. Can I download whole sequences from Live, at least as many tracks as the MPC500 has and have them play with tempo changes and all?

Mezclados

ghostlywhitemachines wrote:You need to hold numeric and then press the pad, and the new sequence will only start once the old sequence has reached its conclusion. Sounds like you need a different machine.

That's the way almost all drum machines with "pattern play" work. The only machines I know of that can switch midi sequences instantly (instead of waiting for sequences to end) by triggering assigned pads are MPC1000/2500 with JJ OS and the Zoom RT-323.

You can still achieve the same effect as instant triggering of midi sequences within MPC500 if you are creative with it.

actually the 2000xl can alo do this with the next sequence funciton and using the sudden option (manual p.35). ireally like this for changing between drum, but it can get messy if youre running other samples and forget to change the programme accordingly!
peace
al