Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By miet Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:59 am
Hi, im try to get program change messages fromm the mpc to my jp8000.. i can change the patch using the program change in step edit but shouldn't i be able to select the patch via 'program number' in program mode.. any ideas?
By Emilie Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:30 am
miet wrote:Hi, im try to get program change messages fromm the mpc to my jp8000.. i can change the patch using the program change in step edit but shouldn't i be able to select the patch via 'program number' in program mode.. any ideas?


No, program mode on the MPC is only for internal opperation (do NOT misunderstand!). You have to use the PC (Program Change) found in the step edit under insert.
By miet Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:29 pm
it would certainly appear that way - which is a massive pain. if you have a program change at the first beat of a looped sequence you get a little pause in sound from the external synth. also, your not able to use the mpc to scroll through patches 'live'...

its a bit ambiguous in the manual though:

Setting the Program Change Number
You can switch the programs assigned to a track within the sequence by setting the program change numbers in each program. You do not
have to set the program change numbers if you do not need to switch the programs. To switch the programs, program change events are
used. You can enter these events in the STEP EDIT mode. For more information about entering the program change events, see "Chapter 5:
STEP EDIT mode" on page 41:

PC (Program Change)

Program change events are normally used to switch the sound of an external sound module. Values of 1 to 128 can be sent. Please consult
your external sound modules documentation for more information on which program corresponds to which MIDI program change number.

If program numbers are assigned to programs in the internal sampler section, you can switch the programs that are assigned to the track
within the sequence.


Whats the 'program change' with in a 'program' then?
By Emilie Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:01 pm
In program mode you can give the specific program a number, and the call it at any moment. This is how you can have more than one program on one track, not at once though. BUT don't use it, your MP-SCHEE will chrash!