Hook up XP-80 to MPC

I'm wondering how this is done. I've had the Roland for years and never really used it for much, user screen is confusing to me. MPC is much more logical. Anyway back to my question...

I sequence drums/samples on the MPC2000

I want to play out some melodies (xp80) and record the midi sequence info into the MPC. So when I hit play on the MPC it plays (MPC midi data to xp80) I have the XP80 audio out hooked to my mixer along with the MPC. I want to sequence sounds from the XP80 on the MPC2000, I hope this makes sense. Someone please help...

Easy....... this is a really basic midi connection & will be in the manuals for both bits of kit.

2 midi cables - Out from MPC -> In on synth
Out on synth -> In on MPC

Just hooking them up like this you should be able to hit keys on the XP & get sounds playing on the MPC.......as long as you have a program loaded & are on MAIN SCREEN. If your samples are all in pad bank A that will be the lowest octave of the keyboard.

When you want to record a keyboard melody, change the track in the MPC sequence from DRUM to MIDI & then then scroll through the midi channel numbers until you are on the same one as the XP patch. Don't forget to select A or B depending which of the MPC's midi outs you are using.

Thanks for the info.

I remeber trying it before, I thought there's something you had to do with the XP80 to turn off local or something like that.

So I assume changing banks on the MPC will change the octave of the keyboard?

If someone has used the xp80 this way, how will I know if I have the same midi channel number on the XP80. I know how to change midi channel on the MPC, but not the xp80. Thanks for any help...

I don't know the menu workings on the XP but I'm sure changing midi channels should be easy. Do you not have a manual?

If it is the same term as Yamaha use, the "local" thing will be for setting whether the XP's keyboard plays the XP's sounds or just sends out midi note information so you are using it as a master keyboard.

yeah I don't have the manual for the XP80. I'll try and find one online somewhere.

This may help you......I am trying to locate a manual as we speak as well

http://www.rolandus.com/support/support ... odID=XP-80

Yo thanks for the links Phatz.

I'm gonna do some homework over the weekend.

I think those links will help me fill in some blanks with the xp80.

You need to have the XP80 in performance mode. This allows you select different sounds for different parts on the XP80 that corresponds with the tracks and MIDI assignments on the MPC. In performance mode you can have up to 16 different sounds coming from the XP at once.

You are correct in that you want to turn your local off. This way you'll only play the MIDI channel that's selected on your MPC.

Select performance button(next to patch button), press the button under the screen that says "patch" above it. This will take you into the part parameter screen for part 1 and this is where you select the sound you want for that channel/part, such as a bass sound. You can also tweak stuff like effects, key range, etc., but you'll get into that stuff later. Let's just get the basics of selecting sounds and sequencing with you MPC. But a simple task which I'm sure you'll need right away is adjusting the leve(volume) and panning. It's all list right there under the patch name. So now you have part 1 on your xp and the MPC should be on MIDI A-1 and you should be able to play the sound you selected for part 1.

To go to the next part or part 2 and select a different sound on the XP80, you can do it two ways. You can hit exit and go back to the "main" screen and press the right cursor arrow to go to the next part, or from the parameter screen you can hit the pallette button and it'll show you parts 1-8 and it's initial parameters. You can then use the cursor arrow buttons to go to the next part or scroll through the parameters. You should be able to flow right along and select the sounds you want for each part and adjust it's parameters right there. Remember you'll need to set your MPC on the right MIDI out as you select sounds because you're only going to hear the part that the MPC is set on. So for part 2 make sure you MPC is on MIDI A-2 and so on and so forth.

Being that this is probably your first adventure into using the performance mode on the XP80, you may need to go in and adjust some other MIDI info in the XP80. Most of the factory performance presets will already have layers of sounds that you don't want and will be changing. But you'll need to make sure that you're in "single" mode and not "layered", or it may be vise versa, I'm not in front of my piece right now. But basically, single mode means you want to be able to play the parts individually as you call them up or go from part to part. Layered means you want to stack sounds on top of each other and play them all at once, for example you want a piano sound with strings and synth pad and brass to all play at once when you play the keys.

Well. I hope this helps. It should get you started, but there will be some trial and error at first, but you'll start to understand it better the more you work with it.

Good Luck.

Phatz, those videos helped out a ton, thanks...

Thank you studio4942 I'll try messin around with that too.

It seems I just needed to know where to start from. The XP80 is beginning to make sense to me now. I really appreciate the help.