Time Signatures on the 4K

What are the benefits to changing up the Time Signatures on the MPC 4000? From my understanding you can switch the Time Signature up for Dirty South Compositions? What is the appropriate Time Signature for a Dirty South type beat, Im just trying to touch a new genre of music with my instrument that I have yet to explore...Also, is it neccessary to change the Time Signature for a R&B slow jam type beat? I just use a tempo of 62BPM-74BPM around there and I know I can do more or Im not exploring the full potential of making R&B slow jams...Any help or insight is appreciated.

You are absolutely Retarded Lamp...I just got on one last night and Im trying to develop more workflow basically...I want to change up and advance my production technique....I read through the manual it makes sense but I was also reading through the forum and didnt quite understand some of the terms and whatnot, Im rooting for myself though...Just trying to better my craft.

Good Point...I mean Ive messed with the Time Signature before but I dont understand it...I know it like makes the sequence longer without extending it or something of the sort...Ive tried it, it just went over my head...

One Word...BEAST

Aww man, I was thinking about max 96ppqn on 2kxl (I went from 2kxl to 4k).

4k is a different story, max ppqn is 480. Alot more precise with the resolution.

TC field

pg5, 4k manual.

Selects the unit for timing correction (quantization). You can choose from the following units.

1/8...........................8th note (minimum unit 480 ticks)
1/8[3] ......................8th note triplets (minimum unit 320 ticks)
1/16.........................16th note (minimum unit 240 ticks)
1/16[3] ....................16th note triplets (minimum unit 160 ticks)
1/32.........................32nd note (minimum unit 120 ticks)
1/32[3] ....................32nd note triplets (minimum unit 80 ticks)
1/64.........................64th note (minimum unit 60 ticks)
1/64[3] ....................64th note triplets (minimum unit 40 ticks)
OFF[96]..................1/96th note resolution (minimum unit 10 ticks)
OFF ........................Timing correction will not be used (minimum unit 1 tick)

the top number is the count


the bottom number tells you how to count


take a music theory class, this will be covered on the third day.

DUnCE

Like Lamp explained. This is how I use time correction/signature:

In 4/4, the time correction on the 4k is really pretty simple when you know what you're wanting.

I use it for:
-My snares
-Hi Hats where the snares hit(2+4)

You can still get that "natural feel" on the rest of the hats/kick by leaving it off, but this will make sure the core of your beat is in time, this might help you with the workflow, it does for me at least.

Now, as far as 16/3, 8/3, etc etc, here is how I look at them. I use the triplet's for a really heavy swung feel, this is really good for your samples....I don't use it much for drums, but sometimes I do. If a heavy swing is what you are wanting, try it. Like with anything, it all depends on what you are trying to accomplish with the samples and the beat. Sometimes(most of the time for me) I leave time correction off for the kick/hats.

BIG TIP THAT HELPS SAVE ME TIME:
-I will ALWAYS try to play out my samples using time correction, it's just a matter of finding the right one for the pattern you are playing. Start with 16th note correction, and if that doesn't give the right feel, move on to 32nd note correction. Sometimes it still won't feel right. This is when I will play the pattern with TC on, and then go into step edit and delete the notes that don't feel right. Then I will turn TC off and record the notes needed until it feels right to me. So you see, the majority of the samples are "in time", while the few that really make the structure feel right and maybe swing are just recorded to ear. So it's a very VERY useful combination of the time signatures(finding the right one for the accuracy you want), and then just using the ol' imagination for the rest. I hope that I helped a little bit....I'm not sure if I answered any questions, but that is how I like to use them.

Lampdog wrote:Yum, your beats on the youtube pages (yes I suffered through a few of them) seem to be made on a rigid 1/16 resolution, loosen up and swing 53%+ and/or 1/16th(3) or 1/32(3). You need to stop sounding robotic unless that's the sound you are going for, and maybe need to stop freestyling

LMAO! I know right...DAMN! thats what Im trying to do is stop sounding so robotic...Exactly...You touched on those elements thats why Im trying to develop a better workflow...Good look tho!

Well with the Time Signature not neccessarily Timing Correction you can change the signature within each bar likes lets say on bar 4 and 8 if I want to extend to 4/8 or whatever instead of 4/4...How do I utilize that signature...It makes the pattern sound longer or it extends it but does it keep it within the same time of 8 bars? I dont get it.

Oh.....you're asking about the ACTUAL time signature? I mean, that's basic music theory as in what different time signature's do, so in that regard, there are plenty of sources online that can tell you more information on different time signature's. Like Lamp said, as far as on the MPC and the effects, the best way is to just turn the machine on and see what you can do with different time sig's. Kind of like compression: if you study graphs and SEE the difference in hard/soft knee, you're not going to understand what it really does until you hear the difference in hard knee, attack/decay setting, treshold, etc...sorry but the best way is to just do it and find out.