MPC5000 reviews, bug reports and fellow user support on the most recent standalone, hardware MPC from Akai
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By Blue Haze Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:39 pm
Bump so how is the new OS 2 working out and how are your keygroup programming? Thanks Jah but no need to post specs cuz I already read them on the akai site and your other posts.

I`m only asking about users hands on experience using keygroups and it seems that the programs are all set by tracks?


Since from the previous posts scd stated no multimode exists cuz of the 5k structure layering of keygroups would be track by track or among the 4 layers in the zone page of the one keygroup program?


Any possibilities of qlink controlling the various keygroups filters, lfos, and such?
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By Askia Shaheed Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:49 am
OS 2 is great. However, after doing keygroup programming using software, I would never use any of the current MPCs to do the same chores. It is a waste of time and significantly underpowered as I have written numerous times. I prefer to use sound modules or software synths for sounds and my 5K to sequence. Owning an MPC 4000 or a 5K with OS 2 would not change this.

For those that need keygroups in an MPC...the 5K provides keygroup programs that can have up to 128 keygroups...each with an independant range of 0-127 (notes C -2 to G8). Plus, each keygroup has 4 sample layers. This makes it possible to layer up to 512 sounds. But then that would be pointless because MPCs only offer 64 voice polyphony. Based upon this, it is my opinon that the 5K does more than enough for layering. After you are done layering your sounds in a keygroup program, you assign each program directly to a track as you would in a DAW.

In OS 2, Q-links do not control filters, LFOs, etc in keygroup and sample programs as they do with Synth Programs. I believe Akai would have to completely redesign the GUI in order to do this. Is it possible? Anything is possible if they choose to do such a thing.
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By scd Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:40 am
Askia Shaheed wrote:OS 2 is great. However, after doing keygroup programming using software, I would never use any of the current MPCs to do the same chores. It is a waste of time and significantly underpowered as I have written numerous times.


That might be true. But a great portion of the power and fun of keygroups on the 5k is the fact that you can now import the zillion programs already out there. And *that* is a big improvement I should say.

Personally. I *love* to make keygroup programs on the 5k so far. Doing all this without a mouse is a blessing for me :mrgreen:

Too me, the relative spartanic interface (compared to computer software) and "missing" features are actually the positive point of all this. I think the 5k has the right set to make excellent sounding keygroup programs and it's the highlight of the new OS for me.

Funny how people have very different views on the same feature. What *do* you use for creating keygroup programs Askia?
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By scd Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:44 am
Askia Shaheed wrote:For those that need keygroups in an MPC...the 5K provides keygroup programs that can have up to 128 keygroups...each with an independant range of 0-127 (notes C -2 to G8). Plus, each keygroup has 4 sample layers. This makes it possible to layer up to 512 sounds. But then that would be pointless because MPCs only offer 64 voice polyphony.


That is not completely true. It would be pointless if you want to play more than 64 voices *at the same time*. Having the possibility to finetune each key/midi note number with a maximum of 4 sample layers sounds quite luxurous to me?
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By Askia Shaheed Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:28 am
scd wrote:
Askia Shaheed wrote:OS 2 is great. However, after doing keygroup programming using software, I would never use any of the current MPCs to do the same chores. It is a waste of time and significantly underpowered as I have written numerous times.


That might be true. But a great portion of the power and fun of keygroups on the 5k is the fact that you can now import the zillion programs already out there. And *that* is a big improvement I should say.

Personally. I *love* to make keygroup programs on the 5k so far. Doing all this without a mouse is a blessing for me :mrgreen:

Too me, the relative spartanic interface (compared to computer software) and "missing" features are actually the positive point of all this. I think the 5k has the right set to make excellent sounding keygroup programs and it's the highlight of the new OS for me.

Funny how people have very different views on the same feature. What *do* you use for creating keygroup programs Askia?


I would agree that adding keygroups is a big improvement especially since there are plenty of libraries out there. Keygroups is something that I wanted for the MPC 5000 mainly because of all the complaints across the forums about it lacking this function. The only other drum machine samplers that have these functions are the MV-8800 and the MPC 4000, yet I found the MPC 2500 and 5000 more fun to use even though they lacked this feature. But I am really happy for all the MPC 5K users and potential users that want this function.

Personally, I use keyboards and sound modules for sounds as well as software instruments/samplers. I rarely create keygroup programs as far as multisampled instruments. I use the sampler mainly to record and slice sampled phrases which can be done by using sample programs. Now that we have Multi Edit as well as program tuning, it is really improved the way I work significantly. I also enjoy the panning of sample layers as well as the new functions in Trim. I would probably use keygroups more if it was intergrated with Chop Shop. I would like to chop samples and assign then to a keygroup program so I can be like Just Blaze creating a song with 96 or more chopped regions :P

scd wrote:
Askia Shaheed wrote:For those that need keygroups in an MPC...the 5K provides keygroup programs that can have up to 128 keygroups...each with an independant range of 0-127 (notes C -2 to G8). Plus, each keygroup has 4 sample layers. This makes it possible to layer up to 512 sounds. But then that would be pointless because MPCs only offer 64 voice polyphony.


That is not completely true. It would be pointless if you want to play more than 64 voices *at the same time*. Having the possibility to finetune each key/midi note number with a maximum of 4 sample layers sounds quite luxurous to me?


I agree with you 110%. For a long time I have poked fun at the MPC 4000 users who taled talked excessively about all the layering possibilities. MPCs only have 64 voices so trying to layer sounds more than the sample engine can play is silly. The 5K with or without OS 2 has plenty to offer in terms of layering sounds.
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By Blue Haze Sat Feb 28, 2009 1:45 am
So how are your strings, pianos, and synths/traditional combos going scd, jah
doesn't use his 5k keygroup but it seems big brother took my advice from
previous threads about combine soft samplers and mpc sequencing? He may
I might add look into soundesigning which is more than how many sounds
you can layer.


Case in example you can try to resample several of the 5k's synth patches into
single cycles, tweak the pitch, attack and etc and then layer with any sound like a
hair dryer, voice, or inside of a drum to create a new patch in your keygroups.

Of course jah can do this in software but like you guys quote hardware
is more hands on.
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By Askia Shaheed Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:03 pm
Advice? I have been using software and hardware synths and samplers with my MPC before you were a member of this forum. But if you want to take credit for turning me onto Reason, Giga Studio, Kontakt, Mach Five, Emulator X, etc...so be it. I am too busy enjoying OS 2.0 to debate :D
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By Blue Haze Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:34 pm
Askia Shaheed wrote:Advice? I have been using software and hardware synths and samplers with my MPC before you were a member of this forum. But if you want to take credit for turning me onto Reason, Giga Studio, Kontakt, Mach Five, Emulator X, etc...so be it. I am too busy enjoying OS 2.0 to debate :D


Yup next you will be talking about sound designing a few threads later give or take a week or more with the OS 2 it is in you dna.
:lol:

Classic still avoiding the question about sound designing by getting defensive. That`s cute.


How about you scd as always it comes back to you for meaningful answers?
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By scd Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:57 pm
I do a lot of sampling and looping lately, all on the 5k, mainly old analog synthesizers, which I happen to collect 8) I use it for instance to sample monophonic synths to make them polyphonic. Or sample with effects over the synths. But I like the keygroups also a lot since now I can finally load my big Mellotron samples collection in the 5k. So I am more in the instrument department than the (drum)loops area.

You probably don't know but Askia helped a great deal with shaping OS2 into what it is now. He spend more time on testing than one could imagine and did a GREAT job.

Boele
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By mjames4208 Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:14 pm
big PROPS............ Askia! :wink:
By diegoeskryptic Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:56 pm
scd wrote:
You probably don't know but Askia helped a great deal with shaping OS2 into what it is now. He spend more time on testing than one could imagine and did a GREAT job.

Boele


Good job homie...
By 4dahaterz Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:01 am
scd wrote:You probably don't know but Askia helped a great deal with shaping OS2 into what it is now. He spend more time on testing than one could imagine and did a GREAT job.

Boele


THE MPC 5K AMBASSADOR!!! 8)
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By LvngDead Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:13 am
sequence looping feature like on the mv. and independent loop settings per track. if anyone is listening.

and props to all the people that made this OS2 possible.
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By Blue Haze Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:27 am
You probably don't know but Askia helped a great deal with shaping OS2 into what it is now. He spend more time on testing than one could imagine and did a GREAT job.



Great props for that Jah, you probably asked for the one keygroup per track feature without qlink too.

Still the question scd are you resampling your synths from the mpc 5 itself?
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By scd Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:07 am
Blue Haze wrote:
You probably don't know but Askia helped a great deal with shaping OS2 into what it is now. He spend more time on testing than one could imagine and did a GREAT job.



Great props for that Jah, you probably asked for the one keygroup per track feature without qlink too.

Still the question scd are you resampling your synths from the mpc 5 itself?


There was no nood to with all these hardware synths around, but your question made me curious, so I did a little test this morning.

- Created a synth sound, put some effects on it till I was happy (chorus, phaser and bitreducer)
- Sampled 20 samples: C0 - Dis0 - Fis0 - A0 - C1 etc.
- Created a keygroup program laying out these samples over 20 keygroups
- Created two layers with the same samples, panned left and right, with a slight detuning on layer 2: this creates a fat rich sound impossible to achieve with just the synth program alone
- Put reverb and tape delay on it (also from the 5k)
– Recorded three short sequences and put those together in a "song"
- Exported the wav to my computer
– Created an MP3 and uploaded the thing on my ftp server
- Wrote this post

All done within an hour :-)

http://www.synthmusic.info/mpdries/resynth.mp3

One can argue the sound, but my experience was that it all goes fast and smooth working like this on the 5k.

So the answer is yes, I've done it and the results can be pretty nice, because you can combine synth samples in layers, filter them again, add effects, detune them etc. etc.