Song mode.

How many people here use song mode?

How do you like it? How do you use it?

Lately I've been loving it. I have just been messing with it for like 6 months, I like the way it makes me think. Basically I do the standard, load one sequence that's pretty well fleshed out, then make a bunch of copies in which different tracks are muted. I've used export as sequence before, and I might do it again soon since I'm using a multitimbral unit which I only have hooked up to a mono out, so I'll mute the parts individually for bouncing. Makes me wish I had a bigger mixer, 24 channels just isn't cutting it anymore.

Thoughts? The 60 forum has been slow, so lets talk some substance!

song mode is crazy. i rock the 2kxl and use it to make like 2, 4 bars then make 8bar seqs, or i will make like 3 bar seqs and a 1 bar and build new ones. The convert to midi track is cool casue it opens a track up too.

Song mode is crazy HYPE.......it makes everything so simple once its all strung together. Song Mode is a beautiful thang..........

I use the 2kxl as well but the sixty looks sick I might have to find one just beacuse

The 60 has pretty much all I want and need in a sequencer, the sampler is cool too. Even though it is cut down, the way it is integrated is just so dope.

Lately I've been loving how big it is, nothing is cramped and everything is ergonomic. I find the 3000 and the 2k's a little lacking in this respect, but it's just cuz I'm used to the 60 that it bugs me.

It would be cool to put the guts of a 3k into a 60 shell, but somehow it just isn't right.

u need to get a 3k elm.. i loved my 60 but this thing is just, the 60 on some good fuggin hard drugs

Yeah, I'm not too fond of the 3k ergonomics, and my current set up lets me do what I want to. and the 3K isn't 12 bit

Its the hard keys isnt it?. I mean, for the sequencer its all a push away to access the different functions. That is just P-leasure. With so many other sequencers its all **** around with just soft keys with functions within functions, or software DAWs (I use CubaseSX) where its pretty much the same with a big pretty TFT face.

I've owned mine for a few months now after a few years of mostly software samplers and rack gear and the 60 is easily one of the best designed bits of kit Ive ever used. Its all there, its easy to find, very quick to program and its well over a decade old. **** the brief sample time (doesnt bother me) and rather dim LCD, its a king amongst paupers.

Do I sound enthusisatic?. You bet your mushy tush I do!

Yeah, the soft keys are also well designed and very simple to memorize. I agree, it is one of the best designed pieces of gear I've ever had the pleasure of using. Did you know a British guy from EMS that designed the Putney (VCS3) helped with the layout? Pretty crazy.

You can fix that dim LCD pretty easily, hit up

http://www.midi-rakete.de

They got all sorts of colors, the white one looks more like light blue, and you can see the screen a bit easier. Check the MPC 60 Yahoo group in the pictures section if you want to see the difference between that and blue.

Thanks for the heads up - I'd do it you know but I wouldn't trust myself to solder it right. Maybe if I can recruit somebody in the know then I'll go for it. Its a dim LCD but its fine with a lamp on it or in the daylight - I'm not too fussed.

The other thing I love about it - the drum mixer. I find it much faster to twiddle than with Battery in cubase. Its self-contained, I can sit wherever there's a power point and just program with my cans on. Its like a laptop except its just there, ready to be played. Inspired.

Oh yeah, the 16 pad tuning or velocity idea was minty **** fresh. I wish it was as easy on a lot of current software. Some of the programmers just don't sit there with hardware and think things through enough. They need a few RSI lawsuits to make them study the way things should be done!.

the song mode...

I use it sometimes, especially if I need to twist my head round to arranging a piece. Make a sequence, and then severl copies - then mess with them - fills, breakdowns, mutes and whatever. then bring them all into song mode. Sometimes export that as a sequence and take it from there. reminds me of when I used to programme on my old ry30!

But I been doin this a lot recently - when in sequence mode set loop to off, and then, synced with Logic running my half-baked song run through and programme drum tracks on the fly. I then leave all timing errors and so on in the rhythm track. More often than not creates a real phuked up track (which I like).