Assigning midi notes in MPC X to control S950 key groups

Hey y’all, can anyone help me with how to assign midi notes in the Mpc X to control s950 key groups?

Use Midi program

I’ve been trying that. But for some reason when I assign a midi note to a pad that matches the midi note assigned to a key group in the s950, the “midi received” light on the s950 doesn’t light up.

Can you walk me through exactly how to assign midi notes to pads on the Mpc x? I think I’m doing something wrong in midi program.

You shouldn't need to assign notes to a pad. Use a MIDI program. then set the channel and port to wherever you need it to go, and the whole thing is mapped out like a keyboard. If you have 'normal' key groups in the 950 they should play just the same as they would with a keyboard attached.

I don’t quite understand. On the Home Screen I’m choosing Midi under track. Then below the track info where the midi program info is I have it set to Program Chan 1, and Midi Port is set to MPC X Port 1.

On the s950 I have a program where Keygroup 1 is assigned to midi note C0 24, KG2 C0# 25, KG 3 D0 26, etc etc.

Also on the s950 I have it set to Midi Chan 1.

Not sure what else I need to do in the MPC X.

ginsuthaironchef wrote:I don’t quite understand. On the Home Screen I’m choosing Midi under track. Then below the track info where the midi program info is I have it set to Program Chan 1, and Midi Port is set to MPC X Port 1.

On the s950 I have a program where Keygroup 1 is assigned to midi note C0 24, KG2 C0# 25, KG 3 D0 26, etc etc.

Also on the s950 I have it set to Midi Chan 1.

Not sure what else I need to do in the MPC X.

Under Preferences - MIDI/Sync check whether your output port has „TRACK“ selected.

83dude wrote:
Under Preferences - MIDI/Sync check whether your output port has „TRACK“ selected.

If it didn't have TRACK enabled, it wouldn't be available to select on the track itself..

Ginsuthaironchef - try changing the pad bank you're on. I can't even tell anymore because Pad Perform has everything **** up (which is why I haven't turned mine on in about 4-5 months), but I think the MPC starts up on Bank D? With Pad Perform off/disabled/custom, that should be C2 at Pad 1. Go down to Bank B and C0 should be at Pad 9.

A couple other notes...

If you're not seeing the MIDI light blink, then you're certainly not sending midi to the S950.

I'd check that you have your MPC Midi out hooked up to the S950 Midi in. I know, probably connected fine, but it can happen. You said you're on the X, but for people on the MPC once with the TRS to midi, make sure you've got the TRS Midi A cables, not TRS Midi B cables. The Midi B cables are wired differently and won't work.

I'm not entirely certain from your post if you're using the MPC X midi outputs, or have added a USB midi controller in there. Assuming you're using the MPC Midi ports... As was stated, make sure that under preferences you have track enabled in the output section. If you've got an external USB midi controller/device, the naming can/will be different than how the MPC names ports, making it confusing if you've got MIDI DIN 1 as the name for both the input and output. Just make sure you check both the input and output sections.

Speaking of naming... it's not unheard of for people to rename their Midi ports under the preferences section. Make sure if you did this, that you didn't rename an output to S950, and then forget that you did this rename and used a different port. You might just be sending Midi out to the wrong port.

If you've got a midi controller, I'd try and plug something into the S950 and verify that the midi light comes on... this should help narrow down if you've got a midi issue with the s950.

Similarly, if you use the MPC output port you are using for the S950... I'd hook another instrument up to it and try to see if you can get midi to something else.

Last generic thought... it's possible you've just got a bad midi cable. They can and do fail, try another cable. Heck even just make sure everything is plugged in tight, and you have no bent pins on the cable.

Without knowing more about your setup... it's hard to guess what further might go wrong... but I'd run down all of those things first and let us know how it is going.

NearTao wrote:A couple other notes...

If you're not seeing the MIDI light blink, then you're certainly not sending midi to the S950.

I'd check that you have your MPC Midi out hooked up to the S950 Midi in. I know, probably connected fine, but it can happen. You said you're on the X, but for people on the MPC once with the TRS to midi, make sure you've got the TRS Midi A cables, not TRS Midi B cables. The Midi B cables are wired differently and won't work.

I'm not entirely certain from your post if you're using the MPC X midi outputs, or have added a USB midi controller in there. Assuming you're using the MPC Midi ports... As was stated, make sure that under preferences you have track enabled in the output section. If you've got an external USB midi controller/device, the naming can/will be different than how the MPC names ports, making it confusing if you've got MIDI DIN 1 as the name for both the input and output. Just make sure you check both the input and output sections.

Speaking of naming... it's not unheard of for people to rename their Midi ports under the preferences section. Make sure if you did this, that you didn't rename an output to S950, and then forget that you did this rename and used a different port. You might just be sending Midi out to the wrong port.

If you've got a midi controller, I'd try and plug something into the S950 and verify that the midi light comes on... this should help narrow down if you've got a midi issue with the s950.

Similarly, if you use the MPC output port you are using for the S950... I'd hook another instrument up to it and try to see if you can get midi to something else.

Last generic thought... it's possible you've just got a bad midi cable. They can and do fail, try another cable. Heck even just make sure everything is plugged in tight, and you have no bent pins on the cable.

Without knowing more about your setup... it's hard to guess what further might go wrong... but I'd run down all of those things first and let us know how it is going.

@NearTao can you please help me out with my s950,
I have it hooked up to my mpc live 2 via a 5 pin midi din cable, I have key groups set up on the s950 with my samples on them. I also changed the pads on the live to trigger the corresponding midi notes on the s950 which works fine I can jam away no problem. The issue is when I try to record midi on the live, I can see on the grid menu that the midi is being programmed into the sequence but the s950 isn’t playing anything and the midi light no longer lights up unless I physically press the pad on the live and I’m really confused and can’t really find an answer anywhere else
Please help me, thanks