Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
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By BLiTzZD Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:10 pm
The manual is confusing the hell out of me,maybe somebody can help.

I've recorded a sample for a hip hop track. The track will be set for 100bpms. Unfortunately, the sample I recorded (acoustic guitar) is not at 100bpm, nor do I know what speed its at.

I've tried the manual instructions on time stretching but can't seem to figure it out. I'm pretty sure the sample is too fast, how do I slow it down to the right speed? Or, alternatively, speed it up?

Any help is much appreciated! OnceI figure this out I can release my first track!

Thanks!
By logic_user99 Sun Mar 22, 2009 11:35 pm
Best bet? Play the sample, and tap-tempo the MPC to the speed of the sample (or as close as you can get it). Then use that tempo as a starting point for your stretch.

That's how I do it, although I don't often use the MPC for time stretching. I'm a 'single hit' kinda guy...!
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By carbono Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:04 am
Do it like this, first tap the tempo of the guitar sample like logic_user99 said. Then, you'll need an "auxiliar" pattern. So, in a empty pattern, set its tempo to the tempo that you tapped, and press the metronome button and set it to "ON play YES". After that, hit play and trigger your sample, and see if the sample's tempo matches the metronome's "clicks". If it's not 100% matched, you can increase or decrease the tempo of the pattern. This way you are finding "live" the exact tempo of your sample. When you got the tempo right, just go to mode-trim-edit-stretch and set the original bpm to the one you just found out and the new bpm to your project's tempo (100bpm). Now you can erase the new auxiliar pattern you created, and use the new stretched sample on your beat!

Hope that helps
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By Ill-Green Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:26 am
That manual is a strange one indeed. Chapters all mixed up, and read like I should know what these features are for. But use and common sense will make it easy to understand.

What you gotta do is, record your satisfied trimmed sample into a sequence and during overdub, tap or jogwheel the tempo til the metronome is in sync with it. THEN, take that BPM and set it as the origin in Timestretch . NOW you can set a new BPM in the NEW.
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By inflict3 Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:36 am
yaaaaaaay!! ive always wondered how to use time stretch, ive never used it though, i always pitch up or down, does time stretch help with the mickey mouse, or barry manalow effect??
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By Ill-Green Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:18 pm
:lol: You mean the Barry White effect.

Pitch makes that high and low effect. Timestretch keeps the original pitch but stretches or crunches the sample to fit in your sequence.
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By BLiTzZD Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:17 pm
logic_user99 wrote:Best bet? Play the sample, and tap-tempo the MPC to the speed of the sample (or as close as you can get it). Then use that tempo as a starting point for your stretch.

That's how I do it, although I don't often use the MPC for time stretching. I'm a 'single hit' kinda guy...!


Cool thanks, I'll give that a shot tonight.

I recorded the guitar for the sample myself, so that I wouldn't have to dik around with one-shots trying to get the pattern I wanted. I figured that would be easier lol. I assumed (cuz the manual told me so!) all "sounds" that were native to the MPC, or added post-purchase were referred to as "samples". Isn't a single-hit just a trimmed sample???? So in essence your a 'sampled-single-hit' kinda guy :lol: :wink:
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By inflict3 Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:30 pm
i knew it was barry something. :lol: :lol:
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By inflict3 Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:39 pm
yo, if you guys wanna find out the tempo of something before you even start chopping in recycle, i got a free program called mixmeister bpm analyzer off the net, i havent had to use it much cause i can usually figure out the tempos, but all you have to do is drag ur file(wav, mpc, whatever) and drop it on the blank screen of the app, then it calculates the tempo, and its hella fast, ive tested it out to see if it would screw up and miss calculate a tempo but it woulnt, its always right on.....