Synth programming and MPC 4000 sampler are very similiar

First this is a newbie oriented thread for newbies, inexperienced, and synth programming beginners. This is not for some the more experienced synth programmers. Hence I said synth programmers cuz most of us are synth users aka playing presets on keyboards on please take a rest this thread isn`t aimed at you.





My intuition and understanding leads me to believe that the setup of the mpc 4k and synths are very similar in alot of aspects concerning creating patches aka programs, combinations aka multis using the parameters within the 4k. Of course I understand that a analog synth can actually create a sound however most digital romplers are using samples of the analog waves like sawtooth, pulse, triangle, noise plus multi samples of traditional instruments like piano, guitars and etc.

Basically using a sound wave to build a patch on a synth is a great way to understanding on how to use your 4k`s synth like program parameters.

I`m on a path to programming more and more custom patches on my synths and within the same breath transfer the insight gleamed from that back to using my 4k program parameters more.

Currently I`m working with Omnisphere, ES2, and other Korg synths making my own patches. It is a start to using my 4k in new ways.


I will record new insights time after time. Thanks for reading.

hey i really want to start programing synths and creating my own patchesbut i have no idea where to start is it basically tweaking parameters and adding effects basically what is the concept to it what is a good read or dvd to watch

You could start here. http://www.tweakheadz.com/programmer.html

Before I do any tweaking, add any effects, or modulations I have to get my basic sound down first.

Be it an oscillater aka generators cycling creating sine waves, square waves, triangle waves or an traditional piano sample.

The SOUND WAVES it the most important part first.

The Amp (loudness)

The Pitch (Frequency)

The Timbre (the harmonics)


Because this are the parts we are going to change later. First you build on these parts with many soundwaves to make a harmonically rich wave, loud wave, or the pitch of the wave. Building the waves first will decide the what sound we are going for in the end.


Building the waveforms and combining soundwaves is the first step before any tweaking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk2o2tqb8qg

Back at it for a while. Working with different sound wave generators aka oscillators to create the basic timbre I`m looking for. Any sample be it traditional sounds like a clap, trumpet, horn, piano keys with SAW WAVES, Square waves and Pulses can be blended using your zone levels on say two keygroups with the same midi keyspans controlled with lfo>>>zone level 1, 2, 3, and 4 giving me a total of 8 sound sources for one program aka patch. Then control the lfo depth with mod wheel or qlink. MOD Wheel>>>LFO Depth or EXT 1>>>LFO Depth. Or I can blend real time with EXT 1 >>> Zone Level and record the automation into an sequence track.

The key to to blend the waves first and they are very bright and changeable like a wave at first. Then step to shape them next.

Sound source selection and blending the sounds comes before anything else as these are the foundation to sculpt from.


Like a solid pieces of marble, brass, and formica if you will.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Pja05w99s

Eventually when you start shaping (tweaking in my book is working with presets already made) but shaping is from scratch raw material so you have to have a plan as to where you want to go with the sounds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcao4CRj ... re=related

Blue Haze wrote:Back at it for a while. Working with different sound wave generators aka oscillators to create the basic timbre I`m looking for. Any sample be it traditional sounds like a clap, trumpet, horn, piano keys with SAW WAVES, Square waves and Pulses can be blended using your zone levels on say two keygroups with the same midi keyspans controlled with lfo>>>zone level 1, 2, 3, and 4 giving me a total of 8 sound sources for one program aka patch. Then control the lfo depth with mod wheel or qlink. MOD Wheel>>>LFO Depth or EXT 1>>>LFO Depth. Or I can blend real time with EXT 1 >>> Zone Level and record the automation into an sequence track.

The key to to blend the waves first and they are very bright and changeable like a wave at first. Then step to shape them next.

Sound source selection and blending the sounds comes before anything else as these are the foundation to sculpt from.


Like a solid pieces of marble, brass, and formica if you will.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Pja05w99s

hi dude


This sounds very interesting. It seems like this is the same as crossfading through chains in Ableton Live 6 and up. However, I'm unable to set it up in the mpc. I must be doing something wrong. I know what you mean but it wont work. Is it possible to go through these steps again?
thx

MPC 4 ME wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:Back at it for a while. Working with different sound wave generators aka oscillators to create the basic timbre I`m looking for. Any sample be it traditional sounds like a clap, trumpet, horn, piano keys with SAW WAVES, Square waves and Pulses can be blended using your zone levels on say two keygroups with the same midi keyspans controlled with lfo>>>zone level 1, 2, 3, and 4 giving me a total of 8 sound sources for one program aka patch. Then control the lfo depth with mod wheel or qlink. MOD Wheel>>>LFO Depth or EXT 1>>>LFO Depth. Or I can blend real time with EXT 1 >>> Zone Level and record the automation into an sequence track.

The key to to blend the waves first and they are very bright and changeable like a wave at first. Then step to shape them next.

Sound source selection and blending the sounds comes before anything else as these are the foundation to sculpt from.


Like a solid pieces of marble, brass, and formica if you will.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Pja05w99s

hi dude

This sounds very interesting. It seems like this is the same as crossfading through chains in Ableton Live 6 and up. However, I'm unable to set it up in the mpc. I must be doing something wrong. I know what you mean but it wont work. Is it possible to go through these steps again?

thx

I`m on the train now not in front of my mpc. But try these steps.

Go to Zone page and use 3 zones like your oscillators aka sampled waveforms etc.

In each zone level set at different amplitudes.

Zone 1 level say 0db

Zone 2 level say -10db

Zone 3 level say -20db

Now if you want to control in realtime go to velocity control and set for real time. Next hit window button to take you to program modulation matrix and setup your parameters like this.

Source EXT 1>>>Destination Zone 1 level Depth -10
EXT 1>>>Destination Zone 2 level Depth+10
EXT 1>>>Destination Zone 3 level Depth+20

Go to Qlink page set to Part
Assign>> EXT 1
Parameter>>Real time
Range>> -20 to +20 or something like that most important is how much you set up your range and depth. I hope it works out. And yeah it is alot like Ableton racks which was my inspiration some yrs back I did a small topic on it.

Good luck.

sup Haze...see you still at it building a synth out of the mpc! I've been mia for a while but I'm back!

I agree, I purchased a novation supernova and can agree that the building of sounds and getting deep is pretty much right there on the 4k

it's amazing really...this thing is a monster.

saintjoe wrote:sup Haze...see you still at it building a synth out of the mpc! I've been mia for a while but I'm back!

I agree, I purchased a novation supernova and can agree that the building of sounds and getting deep is pretty much right there on the 4k

it's amazing really...this thing is a monster.

Yup great to see you back saintjoe. I`m working with omnisphere and it is great and the tutorials for it at the same time greatly increased my understanding of synthesis and the capabilities of sound designing. The 4k is setup the same way minus some of the modifiers of software and a real synth but it basically like the akai guy told me some time ago a synth. Just took me a while to get deeper with it. I plan to save up money for a access virus snow ti cuz omnisphere is a bit of a cpu hog ha, ha. Using my Korg Kontrol keyboard controller is the key to shaping my sounds and getting the right waves from my software and future hardware to start with it the answer to pads, leads, basses, and effects.

I plan just sample a nicely mixed waveforms for my basic soundsources for my 4k. Transfer in by akys set up a number of keygroups spanning my keyboards assign and detune the waves, modulate and layer over a rhodes multisample or another kit.


Great things is all of this parameters can be controller from my keyboard and qlink.

Thanks for the welcome back Haze! Yeah man, this joint is a monster.

I've been wanting to checkout omnisphere, actually been really considering getting a open labs miko to house all my vst stuff.

I have a pc right now dedicated just to vsts, but it's still not the same as having a machine highly tweaked for music.

I've also wanted a virus ti for a very long while lol.

I'm definitely interested in your work with the waveforms man, I remember you guys doing quite a bit with it when I was here last.

I love synthesis, actually I'm excited about Rob Papen's new dvd comin out! It's a dvd of the live synthesis class he used to give at his studio.

anyway, keep it up man.

The 4k is setup up in practically the same manner.

Multi - covers the whole mixer, midi assignments, and all the sounds sets

Part- cover the midi channels, audio output assignments, panning, sending to effects.


Layers aka programs again consisting of at least 2 programs blending together to produce a sounds. Hence from my understanding the 4k has on the main page at least two parts per track. You can decide what your sound sample will be a
complex sound source like a c3 grand piano note or a simple sawtooth wave generated by a wave maker from your audio editor or old synth.

Hence layers is exactly that layering two or more programs via tilt velocity to the same midi channel either in the multi page or the easy way from the Main page to make a grand piano with synth string combo.

I have been away for a minute which it time well spent learning how to use synths. Learning synths greatly helps on using samplers especially the 4k`s synth parameters in the program matrix.

The key is developing an ear for sounds and how to build and shape them.


Our oscillators are samples plain and simple but we can record any sounds waves for our waveforms and combine them into a patch that is original.

does the 5000 have a modulation matrix?

diegoeskryptic wrote:does the 5000 have a modulation matrix?

No.. My bad I forgot it was you. I thought it was somebody else. The 4k is the only mpc with a program matrix based like a full rack sampler. When the 5 was first released I argue about this and a lack of a keygroup program. The KG was made but akai didn't feel program matrix was necessary as the 5 was originally a phrase sampler.