Sequences lack/slow down in song mode

In JJ OS2 XL:
When I make a song out of a few sequences, that have a lot og tracks (not nearly execding 32 voices) it slows down / lack as if it can't handle all the tracks in song mode. The same sequences play perfectly in sequence mode (int the MAIN screen)

It is a big problem, because a lot of my sequences hasa many tracks.


Has anyone else experienced this?

Can you send your project to JJ?

which type of tracks are causing song mode to slow down... DRUM, MIDI, AUDIO or a combination of some of them?

The particular sequence, that lacks the most in SONG mode has the following tracks:

6 DRUM tracks using program: drum_kit_01

8 DRUM tracks using program: drum_kit_02

1 DRUM tracks using program: vocal_clips

1 DRUM track using program: synth_loops (triggering 4 bars long synth loops)

1 DRUM track using program: sound_fx

2 AUDIO tracks

I have noticed, that even though my tracks ends at about 22, tracks 23-64 are NOT "----"; they are all DRUM tracks assigned to drum_kit_01.

I tried setting all the unused tracks (23-64) to "Pgm = OFF", that did not help.

Then I tried tried to delete tracks 23-64, so that they became "----" tracks. It seems as if it helped just a tiny bit, but playback of this sequence in SONG mode is STILL very NOT-tight. I sounds very bad; as if the MPC i strugling to keep up. But is play normally in MAIN screen.

I have changed back to version 1.22 from 1.24, because I have met this problem before. But that did not do any good.

EDIT: It seem like that as I mute more and more tracks I get increasingly better timing (not perfect) in SONG mode.
And it also seems that if all 22 or so tracks are playing in MAIN screen, it also has i slight lack, but like 20x smallers than the "un-tight-ness" of SONG mode.

Where should I send my project if you think JJ should look at it.

Are you dropping notes?

Does is help if you mute any tracks?

Perhaps you should try solo'ing some of your drum tracks and then sample them back in as audio tracks?

I'd be rather surprised if having any of the tracks having a program assigned but no midi in them is contributing to your problem. Might be worth doing an ERASE on all of the unused tracks just do make sure there are no spurious notes/CC messages in any of them.

NearTao >> I have tried most of that.

I have found out the REASON it does not play tightly in SONG mode, but it must be a bug.

I have a DRUM progam that contains some home made analog synth loops. I use those loops in the sequence. If I mute the track that plays the "synth loop program", timing is perfect in SONG mode.

But I use that synth loop program in other sequences of the song and those sequences does not produce timing problems in SONG mode.

So now what ?

i had the exact same problem with my 1k with jjos2. the problem occurred in projects which used lots of voices from the internal sampler (maybe even all 32 voices).
i don't know if it's a bug. to me, it looks like a lack of processing power.

i didn't have the problem with os1 so i suppose it has something to do with os2 and os2xl stretching the cpu to its limits.

phazer1980 wrote:So now what ?

If you go to mode -> other, check out your polyphony usage. Are you hitting 32? If you are, you're probably exceeding it and I can only imagine what the MPC will try to do then.

If you haven't already, might be time to try making mono versions of some drums/bass or something... trim down overly long hat or whatever samples that have a lot of silence on the end... silent samples take up just as much polyphony as those kick ass sounds... so don't waste a note playing nothing.

It might also be worth solo'ing your drum tracks and using record mode to record a stereo loop to help reduce your polyphony usage.

May not help... but if you're using FX, maybe record samples playing with the FX and then turn them off?

Maybe you need to set some of your samples from polyphonic to mono
Maybe you need to set some of your samples from oneshot to note on

I know most of these options kind of stink... but
1. The MPC while powerful does have it's limits
2. It's good to learn to work within and around those limits
3. Be creative, things that look like dumb features can often save your bacon through liberal creative usage

I'm sure most of us can point to old school producers who did way more with way less. Not saying they are better, but they also had to have had those oh ish moments with their gear. I know there are plenty of albums out there that make me wonder how somebody pulled off a track with 1mb of sample memory and somehow I struggled with 16mb so upgraded to 128mb. The internet has plenty of advice for this kind of stuff and a lot of it is still applicable today. The vibe, skills and determination is still out there, but sometimes you need to roll up your sleeves and get dirtay.