Using Q-Links live / selecting tracks with Shift+Pad

global q-links should be ok

Flo : shift-track would be a good option to quickly switch tracks...BUT : it also plays the sound/note of the Pad you hit ! rendering this method completely useless in a Live situation (or is there any setting involved ?)

OK, I've added requests for SHIFT=PAD to change tracks in Track Mute mode (where pressing SHIFT also should disconnect the pads from the audio/MIDI engine) and a request for global Q Link controllers.

I've left the modmatrix stuff out for now B-righteous. I do not want to make it too complicated right now.

Not even sure if Akai plans another major update in the near future.

hi SCD,

great
both would be nice but even one of the implementations would be sufficient : going easily to a Track with shift from the Track view would eventually be the best...
But if you do this now, a note will sound...in a way this is a bug or 'not so smart thought out concept' and not a feature request so I hope AKAI just fixes this in an update.
'Global Q-links' would be 'additional Development'...for which AKAI might be less keener.

seiko wrote:But if you do this now, a note will sound...

Read again

seiko wrote:'Global Q-links' would be 'additional Development'...for which AKAI might be less keener.

I know. It is not certain any of this is going to happen. But entering it is the first stap right We'll see.

I also liked the q-link sequence page in the MPC4000. Shouldn't the new flagship be able to do the same?

bumped into the following trying to use the q-links to control one of my synths :
assign a Program NO.121 (to select Patch 121 on my synth)
then I want (on this track) to use the Q-links for midi controller data...so I select Q-link Mode...then a Q-link and 'window'
at that moment automatically one of the 'sample' programs is attributed to that track !
assign a controller number
go back to Main : my NO.121 assignment is lost
if I put NO.121 back again, I lose my q-link setting.

workaround : take another track and some 'empty'/'dummy' sample program to control the synth

It would be more logical that I can use the q-links of the MIDI track itself (q-links of the miditrack itself cn ot be used it seems)

am I overlooking something here ?

About the "global" feature request... I am not so sure if this is the right way.
e.g. I have 15 Songs in my liveset, using 40 Programs ...
Global would mean 1 Q-link setup for all Songs.

The best would be multiple Q link presets which you could switch by midi program change. But that would be a major software change as pointed out above.
There are no "multis" anymore, So where is the Q-link preset stored in? could there be more than one? Akai NEVER made major changes like this in the past, so we rather stick with some down to earth requests.

I think that a fast solution for would be indeed to assign
"shift + pad" in track mute mode to activate a track in the background.
It exists already, it´s just another key-combo to activate it.

I know that doesn´t solve the problem that you can only affect the sound of one track.

Q-link is not usable for me at the moment.
I am not drawing linear filter curves in cubase, I want to work the beast!

I can´t explain this shit to a sweaty freak in the club.
He wants that cranked filter, all q-links in heavy motion, blood out of his ear.
Bring it on!

Yeah, I see what you are saying. That is another reason that the 5k needs to save mixers with songs and or multis. These would save the global Q-link settings for the song. Saving the mixer will also allow you to save just the programs and samples used in a songs mixer instead of ALL programs and samples loaded.

The mod matrix will allow for per-program assignment of q-link on a track by track basis.

The 4k is still the best MPC IMO.

b-righteous wrote:The 4k is still the best MPC IMO.

I can think of 3 dozen MPC 5000 specific functions that I would lose out on by switching to an MPC 4000. I can probably come up with as many MPC 4000 specific functions. But none of those are essential to my needs. Based upon that, the MPC 5000 is the best MPC

seiko wrote:hi SCD,

great
both would be nice but even one of the implementations would be sufficient : going easily to a Track with shift from the Track view would eventually be the best...
But if you do this now, a note will sound...in a way this is a bug or 'not so smart thought out concept' and not a feature request so I hope AKAI just fixes this in an update.
'Global Q-links' would be 'additional Development'...for which AKAI might be less keener.

I do agree that that Shift + Pad to select a track shouldn't play any sounds.

Askia Shaheed wrote:

b-righteous wrote:The 4k is still the best MPC IMO.

I can think of 3 dozen MPC 5000 specific functions that I would lose out on by switching to an MPC 4000. I can probably come up with as many MPC 4000 specific functions. But none of those are essential to my needs. Based upon that, the MPC 5000 is the best MPC

seiko wrote:hi SCD,

great
both would be nice but even one of the implementations would be sufficient : going easily to a Track with shift from the Track view would eventually be the best...
But if you do this now, a note will sound...in a way this is a bug or 'not so smart thought out concept' and not a feature request so I hope AKAI just fixes this in an update.
'Global Q-links' would be 'additional Development'...for which AKAI might be less keener.

I do agree that that Shift + Pad to select a track shouldn't play any sounds.

Show me some of your music man.

I forgot one thing that would be important with [shift] and [pad]

Program: ALL

Then you can have a Master q-link preset affecting the active track,
no matter which program is selected on the track.

e.g. q-link 1 is your cutoff,
if you want to filter the synth on track 15,
you just hit [shift] and [pad 15] in track mute mode and start filtering.
Same for any sequence and any track.
q-link 1 is always cutoff if Master q-link is ON and Program is ALL

that would allow you some fast editing and direct access to the machine parameters,
without programming (and remembering) the q-link settings each time.

It´s simple: [shift] +[pad] in track mute mode
and the possibility to set Q-Link to affect "All Programs".
A small step for a programmer, a giant for the user.

@ Boele:
It is a "functionality flaw".
I mean what do I have all these knobs for?
To control Ableton on the Computer

I guess I will have to stick with my 4000s.
Luckily I found a source where I can get more PAD Sensor Foils,
that stuff always breaks when I open the machine for another repair.

seiko wrote:bumped into the following trying to use the q-links to control one of my synths :
assign a Program NO.121 (to select Patch 121 on my synth)
then I want (on this track) to use the Q-links for midi controller data...so I select Q-link Mode...then a Q-link and 'window'
at that moment automatically one of the 'sample' programs is attributed to that track !
assign a controller number
go back to Main : my NO.121 assignment is lost
if I put NO.121 back again, I lose my q-link setting.

workaround : take another track and some 'empty'/'dummy' sample program to control the synth

It would be more logical that I can use the q-links of the MIDI track itself (q-links of the miditrack itself cn ot be used it seems)

am I overlooking something here ?

bumped into the same situation.
any new workaround on this?

nope

seems no one uses q-links anyway and Akai aren't really responsive (understatement)..last software update is of more then half a year ago, Akai support/development is a joke