New Live II - need help setting up a simple sequence

Hi,

I just got a Live II yesterday. Although I want to get much more in depth with it than this, I'd like to start with a simple project. I play in a couple of duos and we sometimes use backing tracks. So, I might have three wave files: Intro, Body, and Outro. I'd like the Intro to play, then go right into the Body. The Body should loop until we want to go to the Outro. When I signal that (I hope with a MIDI command) the body should finish the current loop iteration and then go right into the Outro. Only the Body loops. I hope that's clear. I'd like to trigger the Start and the End Loop by MIDI commands from a separate MIDI pedal'

I have a lot of experience with loopers and with MIDI, but none with these MPC devices. I have to admit I am finding this device pretty complex. That's good. But I'm not sure how to approach the problem I outlined above. I've got the wave files loaded in, and can assign them to pads, but when I try to create what I think Isa sequence, or a song, or a program, I get no sound from the machine, even though it seems to be playing.

Any advice on how best to approach this problem in the simplest way would be appreciated.

Carl

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Your best is the clip program.

Thanks. That allows me to set the three clips up in a row, but I don't see how to loop the middle clip until I signal it to stop looping. Any help with that would be appreciated.

You need 3 sequences.

1st is your intro

2nd manually switch to mainbody sequence that will loop as long as you like

then switch to sequence 3 when ready. You can footswitch or external midi control "next sequence"

Or you can use track mute groups and use 1 sequence.

Have intro on track 1-10 track mute group 1

Mainbody track 11-20 track mute group 2

Outro track 21 -30 track mute group 3.

This way is a bit tricky as you have to put some forethought in how everything is looping and your timing has to on point to switch mutes groups seamlessly. You can play with the "Track" "Length" to have shorter than sequence length tracks if need be.

You can also just use 3 sequences and use next sequence mode which sounds like it would be the simplest most fool proof solution in your case.

Next sequence mode kind of locks you into the sequences that you have so if you wanted to add live drums or whatever pad performance on the fly you'll have to switch back to the main screen. You can switch back and forth seamlessly so if you want to go from hands off to more interactivity you have that as a live performance vs simple playback option

It's probably 20 other ways to do this not going to list them all. For the most part the MPC isn't that complex. You'll just need be familiar with each of its modes, pages and the limitations of the different program types.

1 more .

This one uses 2 sequences. Have your intro and mainbody in sequence 1. Set the start and end of the loop to your mainbody.

*Crucial* To start playing from bar 1 instead of the start of your loop, go to the locate screen and use a locator set at bar 1.

When Timeline is set to bar 1 use the play button to start the sequence.

Don't use the play from start button as it will start from the start of your sequence loop start point instead of bar 1. Use the play button! I recommend setting your locator then going back to the main screen before you you press play. It works either way but its better to have less things to do when you start your set, especially if you are new to the MPC.

Don't forget you can also have a footswitch for "play" and next sequence to start and change sequences hands free or you can midi control it.

This way will play your intro then loop your mainbody forever, then you'll need to manually switch to sequence 3 for your outro.

Thanks, SuperKonquer. This gets me close. But I cannot figure out how to use MIDI to affect the transport controls. I see all sorts of other controls under MENU/MIDI Control, but not transport controls.

Also, I don't see a jack for a footswitch, so it will have to be done by MIDI control.

It works! I set the Intro and Body in one sequence, and the Outro in another. I set the loop in the first sequence just for the Body region. And I got my MIDI pedal controlling them perfectly. This is really great.

Thank you, SuperKonquer. Your suggestions were very helpful.

Happy New Year,

Carl

No problem glad it worked out. Now go knock em dead!