Newbie MPC1000 questions

Hi guys,

I hope this is right place to post...

Basically I'm looking at getting an MPC1000 to add to my setup:

MFB 522
MFB Synth 2
Alesis Micron (just using it as a midi keyboard at the mo as it's a **** to program)
Yamaha PSS-560
Roland SP-555
Various guitar pedals
Tascam US-1800
Ableton Live

The plan being that I can just use Ableton as a mixer for everything, so in theory I wont have to EVER look at the screen (I work with computers all day and I just can't come home and sit in front of one for pleasure these days...)

The questions I have ARE:

- Am I right in diving straight in and getting the MPC 1000 WITH JJOS2XL? instead of learning the normal OS first?
- Is it possible to have an audio source running through the MPC live (i.e. a synth or something?)
- Can I pan individual samples? Even mono samples? (i.e. like channels on a mixer)
- Can I stack sequences? i.e. I have a drum sequence and a bass sequence, can they play at the same time or do I have to resample into a loop?
- Can I trigger sequences with the pads?
- Speaking of loops, there are massive issues with the SP-555 in keeping loops in time and together, how is the MPC for keeping audio loops in check?
- I've heard the effects are not that good, I only really use Distortion/Delay/Compression, how are these?

Sure I will have lots more questions but these should suffice for now...

Thanks in advance!
Dan

hard-wearing wrote:Hi guys,

I hope this is right place to post...

Basically I'm looking at getting an MPC1000 to add to my setup:

MFB 522
MFB Synth 2
Alesis Micron (just using it as a midi keyboard at the mo as it's a **** to program)
Yamaha PSS-560
Roland SP-555
Various guitar pedals
Tascam US-1800
Ableton Live

The plan being that I can just use Ableton as a mixer for everything, so in theory I wont have to EVER look at the screen (I work with computers all day and I just can't come home and sit in front of one for pleasure these days...)

The questions I have ARE:

- Am I right in diving straight in and getting the MPC 1000 WITH JJOS2XL? instead of learning the normal OS first?

YEAH GO FOR IT, ALTHOUGH SOME PEEPS NEED TO TRY THE AKAI OS FIRST TO GET THE GENERAL OPERATIONS SORTED, IT SEEMS THAT OTHERS FIND THAT THEY'D WASTED TIME AND BRAINS ON THE DIFFERENCES ONCE ON JJOS.

- Is it possible to have an audio source running through the MPC live (i.e. a synth or something?)

YES I THINK SO, SOMEONE DBL CHECK COS I HAVNT GOT MY INS PLUGGED IN, SORRY - BUT IM 99% SURE.

- Can I pan individual samples? Even mono samples? (i.e. like channels on a mixer)

SURE, PEICE O PISS.

- Can I stack sequences? i.e. I have a drum sequence and a bass sequence, can they play at the same time or do I have to resample into a loop?

THE SEQUENCES ARE TRACKED, SO DIFFERENT MATERIAL CAN BE PLAYED ONTO THESE TRACKS WITHIN A SEQ, AND ALSO COPIED MERGED - ALL SORTS OF STUFF, AND SWAPPED BETWEEN SEQS, AND THEN SEQS CAN BE CHAINED TO MAKE SONGS.

- Can I trigger sequences with the pads?

IN A WAY YES, THERES A PAD LAYOUT WITH SEQS PLACED ON EACH PAD, AND TOUCHING A PAD TRIGGERS THE SEQ, AND THERES A FEW WAYS TO TRIGGER, IMMEDIATE START (OUT OF SYNC - ON TRIGGER EVENT) ON NEXT SEQ (IN TIME WITH SYNC AFTER TRIGGER EVENT) AND IMMEDIATE PLAY (SWITCHES SEQS IN THE CURRENT PLAYBACK POSITION ON TRIGGER EVENT - NEAT!)

- Speaking of loops, there are massive issues with the SP-555 in keeping loops in time and together, how is the MPC for keeping audio loops in check?

UH? ITS A SAMPLER SEQUENCER, IT CAN HANDLE LOOPS , AND IN TIME TOO, AMAZING!
GOH!

- I've heard the effects are not that good, I only really use Distortion/Delay/Compression, how are these?

I LIKE THEM, ESP. REVERBS DELAYS, THEYRE HARDLY EFFING LEXICONS, BUT THEY ARE DEFO USABLE, AND INFACT HAVE SOME CHARACTER OF THEIR VERY OWN....NOW WITH MIDI CC CONTROLL TOO! WOOOHOOO!



Sure I will have lots more questions but these should suffice for now...

Thanks in advance!
Dan

MY PLEASURE.

rB)

- Am I right in diving straight in and getting the MPC 1000 WITH JJOS2XL? instead of learning the normal OS first?

The JJxl is much different the standard akai os, so its pointless to learn really, well not pointless, but you're fine with learning the jjos first

- Is it possible to have an audio source running through the MPC live (i.e. a synth or something?)

Yes just go to the mixer window and set input to "thru"

- Can I pan individual samples? Even mono samples? (i.e. like channels on a mixer)

yes in either jj os you just push (mode) then pad 11, that takes you to the global program edit where you can tune, pan, adjust filters, volume, and fx, as whole program or each individual sample

- Can I stack sequences? i.e. I have a drum sequence and a bass sequence, can they play at the same time or do I have to resample into a loop?

you can't stack "sequences" but in the mpc this would be done by stacking sequenced tracks, you can have multiple tracks per sequence, i.e. track one drums, track 2 sample and so on and so on, and use pad mutes to drop them in and out from the track mute screen

- Can I trigger sequences with the pads?

if you re sample the sequence as a sample from the main out in record mode you can, or just use track mutes like i stated above and use tracks not sequences

- Speaking of loops, there are massive issues with the SP-555 in keeping loops in time and together, how is the MPC for keeping audio loops in check?

if looped correctly you will have no problems on any mpc model

- I've heard the effects are not that good, I only really use Distortion/Delay/Compression, how are these?

meh they're so so, but you can use the effects in ableton, or run the mpc through the 505 as an effects processor

Hey, thanks for the replies @ arebee & ArKyve-31!

Both really helpful.

I think it will be quite a change to my usual workflow, but something I'm willing to have a good go at.

meh they're so so, but you can use the effects in ableton, or run the mpc through the 505 as an effects processor

If all goes to plan and I fall in the love with the MPC (I hope!), I reckon I will probably get rid of the SP-555 and use a KP3 for effects processing on the seperate outs...

ArKyve-31 wrote:

- Am I right in diving straight in and getting the MPC 1000 WITH JJOS2XL? instead of learning the normal OS first?

The JJxl is much different the standard akai os, so its pointless to learn really, well not pointless, but you're fine with learning the jjos first

- Is it possible to have an audio source running through the MPC live (i.e. a synth or something?)

Yes just go to the mixer window and set input to "thru"

- Can I pan individual samples? Even mono samples? (i.e. like channels on a mixer)

yes in either jj os you just push (mode) then pad 11, that takes you to the global program edit where you can tune, pan, adjust filters, volume, and fx, as whole program or each individual sample

- Can I stack sequences? i.e. I have a drum sequence and a bass sequence, can they play at the same time or do I have to resample into a loop?

you can't stack "sequences" but in the mpc this would be done by stacking sequenced tracks, you can have multiple tracks per sequence, i.e. track one drums, track 2 sample and so on and so on, and use pad mutes to drop them in and out from the track mute screen

- Can I trigger sequences with the pads?

if you re sample the sequence as a sample from the main out in record mode you can, or just use track mutes like i stated above and use tracks not sequences

yeah i didnt realise the guy meant literally in a seq....but dude check out the 'next seq' page, u can basically trigger seq's on the fly by hand.

or theres PC to seq# 'mode' > 'midi / sync' (pad9), an external kbd can 'play' a seq trigger by midi program changes.
and theres a 'hack' to get them sequenced by the mpc sequencer involving a midi cable....