MPC5000 reviews, bug reports and fellow user support on the most recent standalone, hardware MPC from Akai
By Desaras2g Sun May 30, 2010 9:44 pm
Hello to everyone. I just bought a mpc 5000. i am new to mpcs, i used to do productions using Reason and Cubase and now i am giving a shot to the mpc. As I said before i own a mpc 5000 and I want to ask some basic questions. First of all i would like to know how to import into my mpc my own .wav. for example i have a folder with various kicks, snares, hihats, etc in my laptop in wav form and I want to import them into my mpc. Another question when I am done making a track how and where do i save it.
By oneday2one Mon May 31, 2010 1:24 am
i'm not going to say RTFM, ...

.... but, to keep it simple, you got three main ways.

1. - the usb cable should make the mpc 5000 hard drive appear on your desktop, ...

2. - use the audio input, whether digital or analogue or even rca, to record/sample the sounds you want, or

3. - burn them to cd or save them to SD card and load them into the MPC 5000 using its own internal cd player or sd card reader.
By Desaras2g Mon May 31, 2010 8:49 am
Thanks a lot for the quick respond. Really helpful. my question might sound lame but I am new to the mpc and I don't know jack. I am still trying to figure out how to save a track I made. Now i stepped on another problem. I have a microkorg xl and I rec a sound from it. so far so good, but when I try to rec another sound it messes up the first sound i recorded. for instance if my main sound is grand piano when I try to change the settings to rec bass it messes up the piano and plays bass instead. In other words i cannot record 2 or more different sounds from my microkorg xl. if i do it has to be the same.
By Desaras2g Mon May 31, 2010 11:32 am
I have connected my microkorg xl (midi handshake) with my mpc 5000. I have connected both mpc and microkorg with a mixer (mini console) and my speaker to the mixer aswell. Now i create a new track on the mpc. I select programm OFF and at the bottom right corner of my mpc screen i select MIDI: 1A. I play from my microkorg a 4 bar melody and then on another track i add the beat. Now if i want to switch to bass on microkorg i will alter my main sound aswell. For example my main melody is piano and then I add the kicks, snare hihats etc. and now i want to add bass. If you are familiar with microkorg you will know how you change the sounds with the switches. If i try to turn that switch to find the bass sound it will alter my main (piano) sound into bass aswell. I hope that can help you to give me a solution to my problem.
By CoinUp! Mon May 31, 2010 6:27 pm
Desaras2g wrote:I have connected my microkorg xl (midi handshake) with my mpc 5000. I have connected both mpc and microkorg with a mixer (mini console) and my speaker to the mixer aswell. Now i create a new track on the mpc. I select programm OFF and at the bottom right corner of my mpc screen i select MIDI: 1A. I play from my microkorg a 4 bar melody and then on another track i add the beat. Now if i want to switch to bass on microkorg i will alter my main sound aswell. For example my main melody is piano and then I add the kicks, snare hihats etc. and now i want to add bass. If you are familiar with microkorg you will know how you change the sounds with the switches. If i try to turn that switch to find the bass sound it will alter my main (piano) sound into bass aswell. I hope that can help you to give me a solution to my problem.



I guess you don't understand midi properly. With the Korg as midi you don't record actual sounds, but midi messages. This way you can play a melody with different instruments/sounds.

You can play your 4 bar melody with every preset in Korg, but only one melody at a time if i'm correct. I'm afraid you have to bounce your melody to audio and at your bass on a new track.
By Desaras2g Wed Jun 02, 2010 4:16 pm
well i am used on making tracks with reason 4.0 and its kind of out of my league how to work with an mpc. I am still struggling on how to work on the mpc cause its a huge step from what i have been used to work with. on reason everything was so simple. but i have to say i like the mpc much better. so you say that i have to record each sound (loop) i make with microkorg in a different track? and then how will i listen the main loop i want to record the bass upon?
By Clint Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:29 pm
Desaras2g wrote:well i am used on making tracks with reason 4.0 and its kind of out of my league how to work with an mpc. I am still struggling on how to work on the mpc cause its a huge step from what i have been used to work with. on reason everything was so simple. but i have to say i like the mpc much better. so you say that i have to record each sound (loop) i make with microkorg in a different track? and then how will i listen the main loop i want to record the bass upon?


You've certainly jumped in at the deep end with the 5000.

Coming from Reason 4 you'll will have to be patient with the MPC and don't expect to reach the same level of production overnight, it isnt going to happen. Software to hardware is a giant leap and unless you have mastered the intricacies of midi, real sampling and working with external midi synths this is going to be a voyage of discoveryfor you!

You probably thought you 'knew as much as you needed to' after producing tracks with Reason, but all-in-one software solutions are designed to make things easier for the user with little or no technical knowledge required. But using hardware is a different ball game altogether.

Yes you should read the manual thoroughly, but a visual aid does help some newbies along in the beginning so I'd encourage you to make use of YouTube and Vimeo for walkthrough videos and the like specific to your model.

If you have the self-discipline and patience to grasp and master (to an extent) the various aspects of your MPC in a structured way things will begin to come together quickly. You simply cannot dive in and expect to be controlling external synths from the get go.

For example you could spend a few days on the following:

1. Sampling functions. Recording/ saving/ loading samples and programs on the internal HD.

2. Sequencing functions. Recording and editing midi events using the pads and a midi keyboard. Saving/ loading/ editing sequences and how to use song mode.

3. Midi functions. Using midi keyboard or pads to trigger external synths and/ or DAW virtual instruments. Internal midi routing options. Using the built-in synth engine...

4. Tracking. Using an external HD recorder or DAW to record the audio output from the MPC using the main/ 8 outputs. How to synchronise devices to the MPC using midi-clock or midi timecode.


All the while don't be afraid to try things and experiment as your own mind dictates.

What I propose is far better than coming here on a daily basis to post all manner of 'newbie' questions.

Channel your enthusiasm and you'll get there.
By CoinUp! Thu Jun 03, 2010 7:12 pm
+1

Like Clint said it's going to be a voyage of discovery, but also the best feeling ever next to finishing a track

When I started there were no fora or Youtube. I had to buy expensive magazines and books to learn it and I studied them like crazy........... and I'm still learning.

When you ask yourself a question i.e What is MIDI?. Look it up and answer it yourself before posting on this forum.

btw. Favorite you sources on the internet.
By inthemix Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:17 pm
' I am new to the mpc and I don't know jack '


Come on, now ... y'all know what's coming next :

'Read the manual, son' .... all the naswers are right there !
By CoinUp! Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:49 am
inthemix wrote:' I am new to the mpc and I don't know jack '


Come on, now ... y'all know what's coming next :

'Read the manual, son' .... all the naswers are right there !



Huh?