Song Structure on the MPC

Hey everyone OK I'm a total noob to the MPC as I'm making the transition from DAW software, so working with the MPC is a totally new workflow for me. So please don't think I'm a retard with my posts, lol. I'm JUST beginning to get used to it and starting to really enjoy it (ive only had it 4 days), but I'm trying to make a song and I'm unsure about how the MPC uses the Sequences/Tracks to structure a song on Song Mode. I'm using a 2500, for the record.

OK for the sake of me trying to get my point across, let's just say I want to make a song that lasts for 16 bars. I want different parts of the song to come in and out at different times. As an example, let's say I'm using Sequence 1 and I am using 5 tracks within it. Track 1 is my drums, track 2 is my bass, track 3 is strings, track 4 is my hi-hat and track 5 is piano.

I want the first 2 bars to play track 1 & 2 only (my drums and my bass)
After that I want my strings (track 3) and my hi-hat (track 4) to come in
On the 8th bar I want my piano (track 5) to come in.
On the 12th bar I want my strings (track 4) to come out, until the end.

How do I go about making a structure like this? So that the seperate tracks I am using in the Sequence come in at different times in the song? Please don't tell me I have to make the tracks on seperate Sequences for each time I want something new to come in? I can't even copy tracks from one sequence to tracks on another sequence, can I? lol I'm sure there's a much easier way to do this and would appreciate anyone's help!

Thanks!

the way I do it is by first creating my basic sequence. Then I copy that a few times. One copy will be the chorus, one will be the intro etc. Once completed I go into song mode and select which sequences go where. After that I convert to sequence and do all my edits for drops. Its a lot easier to do than to type.

Thanks for the help guys, its appreciated. I guess I'll have to adjust to it. Just seems a bit nuts to me that if for example, I want to take the bass out of the song for the last 2 beats before the chorus kicks in, I'mma have to create a whole new sequence in order to do that. However, saying that, all I need to do is copy the sequence, then just re-do the track that I'm using for the bass. I'm sure (I hope lol) that I'll get used to it fairly quickly.

Also just to clarify, I can't copy individual tracks to different sequences can I? I think I can only copy tracks to the same sequence that I created it on, right?

Thanks again for the help.

Im not sure about copying from one sequence to another only because Ive never tried it. Its so quick to just copy the whole sequence.

poundaproblem wrote:Im not sure about copying from one sequence to another only because Ive never tried it. Its so quick to just copy the whole sequence.

Yea you're right bro, I've just been workin with it for the past hour and think I'm gonna get used to this new workflow really quickly! Startin to really enjoy it, I dont think I'll be looking back at the DAW's from now! haha

Oh yea but in terms of production I can see myself using the MPC a lot more from now on

LiamRepiso wrote:Also just to clarify, I can't copy individual tracks to different sequences can I?

You certainly can my man. You can copy any track to any other track in any sequence.

I know on my mpc1k i can lets say copy track 1 on seq 1 to track 1 on seq 2. So im pretty sure it is possible on the 2500. I work similar to how pound stated. Start with a main sequence and then copy the sequence and change it up.

I like making the whole song in one pattern and then copying it a bunch of times and "mute" the un-needed things in the following patterns. Basically what pound said... that way if you want to do some parts live all you gotta do is mute the parts and un-mute them at the right times... however that wasn't on the 2500 but it is the same basic idea.

make a sequence like 4 or 8 bars in length(depending on your loop point's length)


program that sequence with EVERY PART going that you are gonna have in your beat


each part on different track bass, strings guitar, etc etc etc


after you have a sequence with ALL your beat elements


copy the sequence like 4 or however many times


go into each of the copies and mute out what you don't want.


after you have several sequences now with the parts you want playing, other parts muted



arrange the sequences in song mode how you want the track to play out.




it can all start from 1 busy ass sequence though

BGBEATS wrote:make a sequence like 4 or 8 bars in length(depending on your loop point's length)
program that sequence with EVERY PART going that you are gonna have in your beat
each part on different track bass, strings guitar, etc etc etc
after you have a sequence with ALL your beat elements
copy the sequence like 4 or however many times
go into each of the copies and mute out what you don't want.
after you have several sequences now with the parts you want playing, other parts muted
arrange the sequences in song mode how you want the track to play out.
it can all start from 1 busy ass sequence though

Thats pretty much my exact process....


(minus all the damn spacing in my text )

Hey thanks for all your responses guys you've really helped me a lot! The mute tip is one I'll definitely be using (I was just pressing "erase" instead before, haha). Now I'm getting used to the new work flow and enjoying it a lot more Thanks again!

Liam