using MIDI prog change messages to select programs

Hello fellow MPC4000 users,

Maybe one of you could help me out with an issue regarding the use of program change messages with the mpc4000.

I have no trouble changing multis with program change messages – but what I want to do is as follows:

Say I have 3 programs – A,B and C and I activate the program numbers of these so that A=program no 1, B=2 and C=3.

I would like to be able to change the program assigned to any part of my multi by sending a program change message on the MIDI channel of that part.

So, for example, I want to have program C in part 1 of the multi, I would send a program change 3 message on MIDI channel 1a.

I have gone back over the manual and it suggests that you should be able to do this.

But all you seem to be able to do in the multi is change the program number associated with the program assigned to each particular part.

(the manual states that you can turn program message reception “on” in the Multi MIDI page for any part, to enable selection of the program for that part by a program change message).

And has anyone managed to do this successfully?
(sorry if I have not explained this clearly)

Any expert help much appreciated.

Paul

I'm not really sure I understand your problem.

(You are using OS 1.71, yeah? Cos there were bugs in this behaviour in earlier OSes.......)


But yes, each part in a multi can respond to MIDI Program Change messages.
These MIDI program change messages can come from the MPC4000's external MIDI input sockets (I and II)
or from sequences playing on the MPC4000 itself.

For them to be delivered correctly,
you need to set the receive channel of the parts in question,
and have the correct connections set in the MIDI Routing menu page.

Another point to bear in mind is that, in sequences, rather than inserting explicit MIDI program change messages in the sequence data,
you can set an program change number for each track - these are transmitted by each track when you press Play Start.
They are sent in track order.

Thank for the reply,

I do have the latest OS version.

I know that the program changes are being routed properly because i can call multis using program changes without any problem.

I did know that you could assign a program change to a track.

But i didnt know that these are sent out in track order. That is quite useful to know

I will give this a go anyway.

Cheers

paul

Yeah so, for example,
if you have a Sequence where the tracks were set as follows:

Track 1: Program Change 33, Output Part 1
Track 2: Program Change 12, Output Part 2
Track 3: Program Change 17, Output Part 1

... then when you press Play Start,
Part 1 of the multi will end up with program changed to 17, rather than to 33, because the messages are sent in Track order.

(Furthermore, if you are selecting a Multi in this way,
the track sending your multi select message will need to be Track 1,
because otherwise some program change messages for parts will get there before the new multi is selected,
and thus be overwritten)