My MPC 1k & roland mc303(as a sound module),SysEx help

Quick question, maybe you can help, maybe not, if not then I'll give the 303 to my son, but i was wondering If any one was familliar with the 303, and using it in sound module mode how do I change sound banks? The rules are as follows, once the 303 is in sound module mode I can only change the volume using the 303, no paramiters no nothing, the drum sounds are on my midi channel 10, and I am supposed to be able to change the sounds i want to use via midi with my 1k. the dilima is in changing the sounds, or the lack of ability to do so. what is it I'm missing here of am doing wrong?

You'll need to send Program Change messages (see pages 30-35 of the manual for step edit information - including how to insert Program Change events).

I owned an MC 303 (until it was stolen from my house.. they left my Nord Modular ) and it does work decently as a sound module. I do remember being able to set parameters other than volume while it was in the sound module mode. I'll check my manual when I get home.

Seconded - just Program Changes. You can Record them, but they're also easy to enter manually.

Thanks guys you came just in the nick of time, i was about to heirloom it but now it works perfect, thanks alot

I went home for lunch and got my MC-303 Manual. Pages 85-89 of the MC303 manual have the Program Change and Control Change values.

To select a sound on the MC303 you'll need to send to messages:
1) The Program Change value
2) The CC #0 value

ex: To select Acid TB 1 on the MC303 (Bank 2, Tone 4) you'll need to insert two messages into the sequence
Program Change: 9
CC: 0 : 67


Also, I checked the manual and there are *loads* of things you can control with CC messages. Reverb, Chorus, Cutoff Frequency, Resonance, amplitude envelope, vibrato, pan, volume, etc, etc. Way more control than the MPC 1000 has Look at page 101 in the MC303 manual for all the information.

On further reading in the manual, it looks like you can do some really neat stuff with the sysex messages. You can send a message to switch the 303 into sound module mode (page 107) and can also set up your reverb to act like a delay or panning delay. I'd grab the manual and start trying sending some messages to your 303. Looks like fun

On further reading in the manual, it looks like you can do some really neat stuff with the sysex messages. You can send a message to switch the 303 into sound module mode (page 107) and can also set up your reverb to act like a delay or panning delay. I'd grab the manual and start trying sending some messages to your 303. Looks like fun



Thanks a bunch for the heads up i got it up and running and im having a ball with this thing my 1K is now officially my best friend and my 303 is my long lost friend fresh out of a coma

can some one explain to me how hex figures in my system exclusive winow work in order to adjust the functions on my 303. i'm pretty determined to figure it out i just need some info. i understand the header,the body and the end, i just need to learn how to do the calculations for checksum. can someone please explain this because i have a bunch of nice midi songs that need tweaking and mixing and i understand that it can be done through my mpc1k.

poltergeist6 wrote:can some one explain to me how hex figures in my system exclusive winow work in order to adjust the functions on my 303.

If you can get the MC303 to send the right SysEx, the MPC Sequencer can record it and play it back. But fof more detail about 303 codes, you're on the wrong forum..!

First, learn to count in base 16 (hex). Whenever there is a number written in the manual with a capital H after it, the number is in base 16. It's nothing tricky, just something you might want to get used to. I've noticed some spelling mistakes in the manual. If you ever see FOH it really is meant to be F0H.

Half of page 114 in the 303 manual is a section titled "Example of an Exclusive message and calculating a Checksum". You might want to check that out. Other examples start on page 113.

so 00H = 16 and a decimal of 0?

Decimal means base 10.
Hex means base 16.

Hex works the same way as decimal, except each "number place" counts up to 15 instead of 9.

Base 10:
10^n 10^(n-1) ... 10^2 10^1 10^0

Base 16:
16^n 16^(n-1) ... 16^2 16^1 16^0

where n goes to infinity.

so when counting in base 10:
0, 1, 2, ..., 9, then you put a zero in the 10^0 spot and put a 1 in the 10^1 spot, when you get up to 99 the next number is a 1 in the 10^2 spot, and you zeros in the 10^1 and 10^0 spots.

counting in base 16:
0, 1, 2, ..., 9, A, B, C, D, E, F, then you put a zero in the 16^0 spot and put a 1 in the 16^1 spot.

Soooo... 00H is a 0 in the 16^1 place and a 0 in the 16^0 place. 00H = 0 decimal

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F, 10, 11, 12, ..., 1F, 20, 21, 22, ..., 2E, 2F, 30, ...

Thanx Stephen that helped a lot, i felt like an idiot at first. I appreciate the help its working out now.

Hey, no problem. I wouldn't stress not getting it right away. If you can put together your own MIDI message in hex, you're waayy further ahead than most musicians out there