How do I/we do this on an MPC (details inside)

A friend came by and was talking about the way they had leant the guitar in the past and asked if I'd help him teach one of his other friends the MPC in a similar fashion.

So here's the part that caught me out, I thought they meant the technical side of operating it but it kind of broke down like this.....

When learning the guitar he said he would usually break his practice sessions up into chord learning /single note playing/ learning new techniques and then learning a new song. He'd review the previous practice session at the end of his latest one.

His friend wants to learn the MPC in a similar fashion. I said I can teach him what the functions do etc but he kind of wants a course created for him.

Im happy to do it cause it'd be a cool project. Other than telling him to try and remake tracks he likes and learn the technical side of it I dont know how to approach this.

Any help or ideas? I'll take em all on board for sure.

Im not so sure the MPC is something you can learn in the traditonal music instrument manner but I want to help this guy.

So I guess I need to some how translate chord learning /single note playing/ learning new techniques and then learning a new song into an MPC equivilant.

P.s Mods, if this is in the wrong section please move as required. thanks

Grab the manual so you and this guy can get busy reading. Aside from that, I don't see a mpc helping much when it comes to the traditional sense of learning notes/chords like you would with a keyboard/piano.

My understanding of this thread was that Heist wanted to produce a sort of modular course on learning to use an MPC, to help a guitar player mate used to structured classes.

I suppose in some areas the basic core functions of many MPC models are operated in the same way, and in other areas you will find significant differences. What MPC does your friend intend to learn with?

Well, assuming the MPC is set-up and the student is NOT new to music production something like...


1. Using the sampler section (creating samples/ regions, creating programs, editing samples, resampling, QFX)
(practice by chopping drum breaks, individual hits and riffs from a variety of sources)

2. Using programs and multi's (drum programs, keygroup programs, zones, modulation matrix)
(practice creating custom programs/ multi's and saving them, how to use autoload, drum layering with zones, filters etc)

3. The MPC Sequencer (using tracks and the main screen, creating/ editing sequences, midi routing, song mode)
(practice creating/ copying and editing sequences, step input, using swing and timing correct, triggering DAW synths)

4. Using FX and Q-Link controls (using the internal effects and Q-Link knobs and sliders)
(practice by simply applying internal FX to samples/programs, Q-Link assignment and recording excercises)

5. The internal/pad mixer (assigning pads/ programs/ multi's to physical outputs, internal mixing)
(practice mixing beats internally to main outs, assignment of audio outputs)

Just a rough idea but any structured programme would have to b accompanied by a fair deal of trial and error, hands on testing and of course obsessive reference to the Akai/ JJOS manual whichever the case may be...

Cool thanks for the replies, that was awesome clint246clint.

We are going to be using a 2000xl.

I've shown him the post and , most of which is still foreign to him at this stage. But where going to give it a go. He has given me Deadringer to listen to (I was already up on it so it's all good) and kind of implied this is the goal and where he wants to head and end up.

http://www.youtube.com/user/jeremyellismusic

that channel has several tutorials on practising technique for actually playing the pads, which might be useful in addition to clint246clint's suggestions for learning the functionality

This has already gone mainstream AKA academic. In my last year at berklee, they started teaching a sampling arts class in their engineering program. They have 4 weeks dedicated to the MPC device but i am sure that may have been reduced due to the the MAX/MC change everyone is doing.

Check out their website and curriculum summaries, has to be something you can use as a guideline. good luck!