record/playback q-link movements via midi

hi,

I'm using the mpc as a sound module, so I trigger the mpc sounds via midi from my daw (ableton live).

the mpc q-links can be set to transmit a midi control change, and I found no problem in recording on my daw the q-links movements. I simply set the q-link cc number, put ableton in "rec" and tweak the q-link knob. all the movement are successfully recorded on ableton.

the problem is that when I play back my sequence in ableton, the mpc "doesn't recognize" the control change, so I can record my q-link automations, but not playback them!!!!

I tried to transmit JUST the control change from ableton to the mpc and I found that the mpc actually receives the control change (midi blinking on my mpc) but it like it's not recognized as the q-link cc. I also tried to press the "after" button above the q-link but still no result...

HELP!!!!!

ok, from the manual it seems that

1) you can assign a cc to a q-link just in order to make it control an external hardware

2) system exclusives (q-links, 16 pads, etc) are not trnsmitted nor received

so if you want to use the mpc in its full potential you can only use it with its internal sequencer...

how is it possible that "the most advanced sampler on the planet" cannot transmit/receive a variation of pitch, filter, decay time, etc.!?!?!?

I also have elektron machinedrum and ALL the parameters can be transmitted and received...

....because nobody would expect a user like u....using the 5k as an external soundmoodule only....
sell your mpc and use the abelton sampler....

not to use the capabilities of the internal sequencer is like going shopping with a spaceshuttle....

I must say I agree with reeloy

I don't agree.

any of the many MIDI-fied modules in my studio which sends out MIDI data, can also receive it !!
This is just very poor implementation of MPC.

I do agree that laying out a 2 bar loop on MPC works very quickly, but if you want to be able to do some serious automation of a lot ofparameters and you want to be able to update accurately and easily (say automation over 16 bars and you want to update only bar 14 ), doing this from a DAW makes perfect sense. Not being able to do this, is one of my main problems with MPC.

I can do this with EMU XL7, RS7000, Machinedrum , Virus, Monomachine, etc etc even with my 01V mixer.
The only box in my studio who can not 'read' midi controllers that you send to it, is my most expensive gear : MPC5000.
Sad but true

Hi, the virtual synth comes as a bonus to the classic MPC sampler engine. We've all seen the somewhat sluggish parameter response of the synth engine. I really doubt realtime parameter control via MIDI is possible for this OS version. Perhaps next OS will optimize the software engines in MPC5k? Internally MPC5k sequencer can handle these controls in realtime.
You can use MPC5k as your main sequencer/controller of external and internal sounds, and sync it to any DAW-setup for more advanced multitrack recordings. You will also get a long way with 8 track HD recording.

/jocke

we're not even talking about the synth...

what about automating from a Daw the cutoff from a sample ? not possible...

sorry but anything in my studio that can work samples (yamaha RS7000, Machinedrum) can be controlled via Midi to change any parameter of this sample from a DAW or from another sequencer or whatever...and even while the RS7000 is regarded in 'all in one box' tool, it still gives you the opportunity to controll it with other gear.

reeloy wrote:....because nobody would expect a user like u....using the 5k as an external soundmoodule only....
sell your mpc and use the abelton sampler....

not to use the capabilities of the internal sequencer is like going shopping with a spaceshuttle....

ehehehehehehe.... I think that "the most advancer sampler on the planet" not being able to send out midi cc for cutoff automation is like a spaceshuttle with a tank containing just 50 gallons of fuel....

c'mon we are in 2009 and everything must be interfaced with a computer... I'm NOT an hip hop producer, I make tech/minimal/underground music and I need a LOT of automations... it doesn't make sense for me to have 100 patterns each with a "piece" of automation! moreover the mpc can record all kind of cc from other hardware, but can't send/receive its OWN cc's?!

I've bought Native Instruments Maschine... I have to admit that is REALLY beyond the mpc... and I still can make everything with hands on a machine (I hate doing things with the mouse) I'm definitely going to sell my mpc... sorry guys, I really love my mpc, but you have to admit that is an OLD sampler!

Well,as far as I can see, the only people who really rave about an MPC, are people who lay out a 4 bar loop with no (or very limited) automation at all (I guess mostly hiphoppers)

the people who try to use it for genres that rely on a little bit more automation (minimal/techno/dubstep) do not find any way to deal with the MPC (me included) without getting frustrated by it's poor implementations

hey, when I load 30mB of samples in this 'sampler beast' that can hold 192mB, it hardly can stay in sync anymore when you scroll from one program to another !
I really would like to fall deeply in love with this machine, but I fail to.

Seems this machine is mainly for hiphoppers to lay down 15 tracks or so with a handful of samples ...then it's cool I guess

...if your computer is still your main tool, well, yeah it's time to sell your mpc....

mpc for itself is able to automate all parameter moves you whish to do....

and it's able to be the CENTER of your whole setup!
in any situation....

using a mpc means to go a different way than ALL these other electronic producers out there....


if your not really used to the mpc concept, first thing you got to do is switching off your computer for at least 4 weeks and work with the mpc ONLY....

take it from here and you will see....

reeloy wrote:...if your computer is still your main tool, well, yeah it's time to sell your mpc....

mpc for itself is able to automate all parameter moves you whish to do....

and it's able to be the CENTER of your whole setup!
in any situation....

using a mpc means to go a different way than ALL these other electronic producers out there....


if your not really used to the mpc concept, first thing you got to do is switching off your computer for at least 4 weeks and work with the mpc ONLY....

take it from here and you will see....

May I ask you what kind of music you produce with it and which other hardware is slaved to the MPC ?

For me : nope, my computer is not my main tool...I compare my MPC5000 to the other sequencers I use in my studio : RS7000, Machinedrum, XL7...which are all able to control any other hardware, and at the same time are all capeable to be controlled completely by whatever (being it soft or hardware) that can send control changes...

so what we are trying to say is that any other gear gives us the flexibility to choose yourself wether you want to use it as centerpiece of your studio or not...or change this behaviour according to the needs...in some situations I want to be able to use for example my Machinedrum as a master to control everything, another day my RS7000 and the third day ableton.
The only piece of equipment that does not allow me to do this, is the MPC5000, that's the point !

but ok, let's assume I use the MPC5000 as the centerpiece (the only option !) ... then I want it to be -Midiclockwise- rock solid !! but if you load 10 prgrams with 64 samples each being not even 30 mB and scroll from program to program, the screen + sequence playing locks up so you loose midi sync ! nice 'center of the studio' !!
I guess most MPC users call "1 MPC +1 keyboard' attached to it "a studio' ... well , in my studio 4 other sequencers + 4 synths need to be synchronized to this MPC at all time and it just works not out as it should (ANY of my other sequencers I can scroll through Programs without hicking up).
MPC is nice to use on it's own (and attached to 1 keyboard maybe)
But if you use it in a 'real' studio environment with multiple sequencers, it just fails.
And -I read it a lot- what do the pro's do ? Make a beat of 10 tracks/4 measures in MPC , record it to Protools or whatever and then arrange it from there...why not make the complete song in MPC if it's so easy and userfriendly ?

@ SEIKO - I absolutely agree with you. we all know that all the serious producers use the MPC making some pattern with it, multitracking them to ProTools and then aranging the recorded audio with ProTools itself. Unfortunately, you CANNOT avoid using a pc in making music you can sell today.

@ REELOY - I bought my MPC in January 'cause I was so tired of using my computer for music production... you know, all these microscopical knobs, sliders, writings... we all hate them. starting from January I used JUST the mpc to produce my music... I was so happy not to have to fiddle with all those micro-knobs with the mouse anymore... the problem now is that I'm selling the songs I made before with Ableton (and external hardware of course), while the tracks made with the MPC alone are being refused since they are "poor sounding and too simple". So my intention was to interface the mpc to Ableton Live, automate it and multitrack it to have a more complex arrangement and a better sounding mixdown... (accepting then to use again the pc!!!) Is that too much for a 2.000 EUR machine?! Now I understand why the mpc ALONE is used nearly just for home-made hip hop productions...

....i must admit....i'm one of those, taping the mpc....allways a complete basic arrangement at once....

because....
cat3,
of course you have to do the finish on a daw.....!

first you play the instrument....then you end up in a studio....as ever.

micro knops and mouse are not too evil, once the music is done and completely layed out in audiotracks just waiting for some design....



mantra for the night.......
THE SONG EDITOR IS MY FRIEND....he makes me arrange with my ears, not with my eyes....the only way to start....
the song editor is my friend...

@cat3

don't you think you are very limited in your mind with your stereotypes???

i use mpc's more than 5 yrs. w/o doing hiphop



many electonic producers
(and i speak not from these simple and stupid 4 to the floor techno/minimal/whatever... crap
love mpcs cause of their unique groove...


and when i read you are using your mpc as a soundmodule/sampler i really think you are doing something wrong.

SELL IT, my best advise, buy a cheap EMU 6400/ AKAI Z4/8 whatever... these are REAL samplers. the mpc serie (expect the 4k) was never ever a real sampler/soundmodule.

use it for quick laying down your ideas, for a stable sequencer, for not fvcking with your computermouse and mainly for its GROOVE

...but never heard from someone who uses it only as a soundmodule.

and when you write that the mpc sounds poor compared to ableton live than you are doing something VERY wrong.
i am also a live user since version 2. live is nice for recording, previewing, arranging etc... but has one of the poorest soundengines (besides Reason) and lamest Fx (expect the midi ones) the filters svcks, the delay also, most of them....

now in version 8 they have improoved their audioengine (good prays) and their midi groove templates from..... guess what: MPCs.
funny, isn't it?

Cat3 wrote:@ SEIKO - I absolutely agree with you. we all know that all the serious producers use the MPC making some pattern with it, multitracking them to ProTools and then aranging the recorded audio with ProTools itself. Unfortunately, you CANNOT avoid using a pc in making music you can sell today.

@ REELOY - I bought my MPC in January 'cause I was so tired of using my computer for music production... you know, all these microscopical knobs, sliders, writings... we all hate them. starting from January I used JUST the mpc to produce my music... I was so happy not to have to fiddle with all those micro-knobs with the mouse anymore... the problem now is that I'm selling the songs I made before with Ableton (and external hardware of course), while the tracks made with the MPC alone are being refused since they are "poor sounding and too simple". So my intention was to interface the mpc to Ableton Live, automate it and multitrack it to have a more complex arrangement and a better sounding mixdown... (accepting then to use again the pc!!!) Is that too much for a 2.000 EUR machine?! Now I understand why the mpc ALONE is used nearly just for home-made hip hop productions...

Whoever told you that you can't produce dope beats strictly on the mpc is stupid.
All you should have to use your pc for is tracking your beats out from your mpc through an interface so you can get that dope quality. Just eq everything on seperate tracks in whatever software you use and you will be set my dude. You should just charge them extra for having you track it out, §hit man quality aint cheap, they want it they got to pay for it.

Lol