mp3 wrote:No problem. 64 programs on 64 tracks = up to 128 q-links.
what Sovereign means is that we need more internal parameters in the mpc that could be assigned to the qlinks (like everything in the PROGRAM screen, or all the EFFECT parameters) and also... just more physical qlink sliders!
i see what you are getting at mp3 - but to me having all those assignments would be a bit overkill. the qlinks are only capable of 3 realtime and 10 note-on params (in os2) so that's only 30 total possible combinations. switching between all those programs... sounds like it would be just as easy to bop into the SLIDER screen and change the params right there.
having all those different assignments would be good for midi CC control of external gear, but even then it's better to just have an external controller with a bunch of knobs and sliders on it for that. it's a pain having only 2 sliders to work with and having to switch programs just to access different CCs.
for me, i just deal with it on a track-by-track basis. i put each drum sound on it's own track and then go thru and find which 2 qlink parameters work the best with that particular sound when tweaked (or which 1 parameter if you're on 2XL

) & then record my tweaks into the sequence. i'll make multiple copies of the sequence, each with different tweaks and programs applied, and then switch sequences and mute/unmute tracks (and also change the SIMULT SEQ) to change things up live. at any time you can dive in and hit the AFTER key and get realtime control over whatever is happening on that particular track. hit AFTER again and your pre-recorded tweaks come back into play. better to have a few things pre-selected for live use & all set up instead of having to scroll thru tons of different possibilites and try to figure out the one you want on the spot.
a good way to look at working with the MPC in general is to realize that the SEQUENCE is at the top of the food chain. everything falls under it. when you switch sequences, you can also be switching not only your rhythm pattern, but also your programs, mutes, tempo, fx (via effect changes inserted into the sequence in STEP EDIT), slider assignments... pretty much everything. just by working in the NEXT SEQUENCE & TRACK MUTE screens you can do a hell of a lot live.