mpc 500 hardware sequencer problem of lengh of notes

Hi from France,
I use the mpc as a hardware sequencer mainly and I record datas on track A1 and track A2, midi for both then channel 1 and 2. (I have two expanders).
I make an arpegio on track 1 and one note held for 4 beats on track 2. Instead of having this note for one bar, it only plays a 16th note. It seems like notes can't be played together but one after an other. I read the whole notice 3 times to sort this out but I m a beginner in midi music and I need any help from other users. Thanks

There must be a mute group somewhere in the program you've been using for recording sequence data to the tracks. Tell me, are you recording midi data using pads or an external keyboard?

If you used pads, then check for a mute group in the current program. The thing is, if you used the same program with a mute group to record both tracks, playing one pad which is in the mute group may cut off the note played by another pad in the same mute group. Probably, if your arpeggio is played by 16th notes, mute group is the answer

I play with a master keyboard. I have two expanders and I tried to connect them in an other order, I also changed of master keyboard. It's seems to be better but the problem is still there. For me, it is as if the machine tried to offer a lot and could make it, had some defaults. I m a bit disapointed.

Try filtering out CC messages. I had a similar problem and doing this stopped it.

Are you sure you are talking about the mpc 500 and not 5000? There is no Arp function on the 500.

It is the MPC500, what is "cc messages" ? I also tried to use very simple sounds from my expanders. Some are made of 4 voices. It's also better but still, some of the notes in an arpégio are cut to a very short sound.
ARP, is it arpegio ? I play the arpegios with my fingers...

What do you mean by "expanders"? Sound modules? If so, try reconnecting your whole MIDI setup in the following way:

Midi-keyboard (MIDI out) -> MPC 500 (MIDI in)
MPC 500 (MIDI out) -> Sound module 1 (MIDI in)
Sound module 1 (MIDI out/thru) -> Sound module 2 (MIDI in)

In the MPC sequencer configure your first track to transmit midi signal using channel 1, and the second track using channel 2. Set your first sound module to receive midi on ch 1, the second module to receive midi on ch 2. This way you can record midi tracks and control your sound modules from your midi keyboard (by changing midi channels). You will also be able to record your notes exactly as you play them into MPC's sequencer.

Hope this works Good luck!

annieviolette wrote:ARP, is it arpegio ? I play the arpegios with my fingers...

Yeah I never know the correct spelling I do the same thing on my Monomachine even though it has a great appregyo (or whatver )

My connections are alright and I have already recorded sequences, it's just that as I play some of the notes they don't have the right lengh. And yes expanders are sound modules...A bit of difficulties in english, sorry.

Ok, if your connections are all right, then I don't see any reason for your notes to be recorded in that unusual way. There must be some settings in MPC or your sound modules that you should check.

Could you describe in what way your midi connections are set up?

That's what I m thinking too. I tried with a master keyboard and I gave up because it's such an old one (s10 roland)...
So I use my synth korg R3 as a sound module and as a master keyboard.

the connections are :
From the mpc in to korg out
from mpc out to korg in

from korg thru to FB01 (sound module yamaha).
Local off on the korg when I record the fb01
local on on the korg when I record the korg and if I play "live".

I don't see any problems with your connections other than the possibility of a midi-loop when you record the R3 part. MPC is capable of receiving and transmitting MIDI signal, so when you record from R3 it may be sending the same note to R3 which is sending it again to MPC and so on...

Maybe you could try disconnecting the cable which is going to R3 when recording. You will be able to monitor the part using your Yamaha module. After the recording is done, just reconnect the cable.

By the way, just a tip for better MIDI programming: if you insert a CC (program change) message in the beginning of each part, your MPC will be able to 'select' the right patches (sounds) for your sound modules to play. You can do that by using step edit in MPC. Program change parameters could be usually found in the Operation manuals for your sound modules. It will save you a lot of time during the live gigs, because you won't need to manually select the sounds any more.

Example: press Mode -> pad 11 -> choose the position and then scroll to Inst (insert) and choose Prog Change -> then just choose the appropriate number for the patch (see the synth manual for it)

If your sound modules are multitimbral (can play more than one patch simultaneously), you can actually program more than just two parts using your MPC sequencer

Thank you, I printed your indications and I will work on this tomorow. My sound modules are multitimbral but I havent' yet tried to understand this. I will see this tomorow too.

It works ! Thanks