Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
By Judson Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:15 am
Hello, I am new to these forums but have been lurking for a little while now.

I have my first question for yall, even after searching relentlessly for 2 weeks I cannot find the answer I am looking for. I got my 4K 2 weeks ago and picked it up quickly because I have used many samplers before and understand most of the basic and advanced functions of the machine. BUT I can not for the life of me figure out how to trigger loops that I have cut without holding down the pad it is assigned to.

I heard that on a 3000 (?not sure cant remember the model) you can hold down the pad then hold down the shift key and it will loop it hands free. I have tried that and it does not seem to work on my 4000. I want to use it like an SP where you hit a pad and it plays until you hit it again, or on some you have to hit the hold button. I want to do this with my MPC. Why else would you have such high polyphony, you cant physically hold down 64 pads at once. (Should not have sold the 555+303 when I got this!!!!)


I did not realize how MIDI oriented it was until I actually tried sampling on it. Correct me if I am wrong, but the earlier MPCs are more sampler machines and the 4K seems like a Midi sequencing machine. I just do not like hitting play or using the song modes AT ALL. Having to hit play takes everything I wanted to do with this away. I mean I am not loosing anything though since a relative who works with some big rappers quit using it years ago just gave it to me. But if it cannot loop the way I want it to though I will have to buy an SP-505, 404 or 555 simply for that function. Right now I use Logic's ESX-24 with pre made loops with an MPD24 like one would trigger clips in Live (I never have to hit play), but I do not want to take my computer out anymore since I play at least 4 times a week and have had to cancel tours because my computer screen could not handle the stage lights or constant stress gigging puts on machines and apple always takes their time repairing it.
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By mnsoul Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:32 am
if i understand what your saying right i have 2 answers..

it sounds like you should possibly try to put the sample in a mute group? and turn the poly down to 1?

or another possibility is when you are in sample mode hit trim/lp and turn play mode to loop. or one shot if your using mute groups. then the pad will play all the way through and will cut off when you hit another pad.



but im not exactly sure what your asking.
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By kneebone77 Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:04 am
what you want to achieve requires you to apply envelopes your sample/patch. Or... if it's anything like the S-6000 there's a sample mode for that, which will keep the sample playing until the same midi note number is triggered again.
By shimmyshimmy Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:12 am
You can do it in sample mode. Select sample go to trim and press shift+loop pad. The sample won't stop until you press shift, pad or three times stop (something else?). I'm not sure about other modes, but workaround for this can be done in program mode/zone. Set sample playing mode for loop and probably you should press window here to set how many times your loop will play again and again - it is possible to set it infinite or 9999 (:O). I'm not sure if it plays your sample from looping points set in sample mode or normal so be sure to check it. I don't have MPC in front of me, but you should handle. To stop it using program mode method you will have to press fast three times stop button or make a dummy sample (set lowest volume possible or whatever ) and assign them to same mute group.
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By Blue Haze Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:34 pm
Judson wrote:Hello, I am new to these forums but have been lurking for a little while now.

I have my first question for yall, even after searching relentlessly for 2 weeks I cannot find the answer I am looking for. I got my 4K 2 weeks ago and picked it up quickly because I have used many samplers before and understand most of the basic and advanced functions of the machine. BUT I can not for the life of me figure out how to trigger loops that I have cut without holding down the pad it is assigned to.


You can either set the pad to trigger as one shot or toggle. I believe toggle is the setting you are looking for to loop like ableton. To set it up you go to program page. Press f2 KGmix highlight the note and press window button, and you will see play trigger usually set to note on, change to toggle and you are set. Hit do it, then press f6 zone page set the sample to loop and you are good to go. You won`t need to use the sequencer just hit the pads or keys to a midi controller to start the loop and hit the same pad again to toggle off. Great for live loopers just like all full samplers.

I h
eard that on a 3000 (?not sure cant remember the model) you can hold down the pad then hold down the shift key and it will loop it hands free. I have tried that and it does not seem to work on my 4000. I want to use it like an SP where you hit a pad and it plays until you hit it again, or on some you have to hit the hold button. I want to do this with my MPC. Why else would you have such high polyphony, you cant physically hold down 64 pads at once. (Should not have sold the 555+303 when I got this!!!!)


You might mean the S3000 sampler but not the MPC 3000 it is just a drum phrase sampler no looping pad.

I
did not realize how MIDI oriented it was until I actually tried sampling on it. Correct me if I am wrong, but the earlier MPCs are more sampler machines and the 4K seems like a Midi sequencing machine. I just do not like hitting play or using the song modes AT ALL. Having to hit play takes everything I wanted to do with this away. I mean I am not loosing anything though since a relative who works with some big rappers quit using it years ago just gave it to me. But if it cannot loop the way I want it to though I will have to buy an SP-505, 404 or 555 simply for that function. Right now I use Logic's ESX-24 with pre made loops with an MPD24 like one would trigger clips in Live (I never have to hit play), but I do not want to take my computer out anymore since I play at least 4 times a week and have had to cancel tours because my computer screen could not handle the stage lights or constant stress gigging puts on machines and apple always takes their time repairing it.


MPCs are samplers, sequencers, and controllers with the 4k being the only mpc series that is a full sampler like a Z4 or S5000 sampler. First as a premier drum machine of course the midi should be on point and the center of many studios it is used as the main sequencer so the midi should be top notch. But from were you are coming from you are a live player and you want to play everything live then it is simple.


Go to midi button on the top button T see it. Press it and you will see the midi routing cursor down to drum pads and you will see the destination set for sequencer just turn it with your jogging wheel and set it straight for sampler A or midi out A if you are using logic exs24 as a sound module with the toggle settings I mention before.

All of what I told you comes from the ref manual download it and read up to answer any other questions you have in the future. Never assume check it out first.

Good luck.