using the MPC as a controller for other synth/drum machines?

Since the MPC2500 has 8 analog outputs I'm told, can it be used as a controller to trigger other synths? I want to use it to trigger an old Simmons drum brain. I purchased a Roland TR-626 for this purpose, but it doesn't work---apparently it is an issue with the 626 not having enough positive voltage in its outputs? The TR-808 is able to power the Simmons drum brain and other synths.

So does the MPC2500 have sufficient positive voltage to power through its 8 audio outputs individual instruments? My plan is to use at least 4 of these on the Simmons, but I would like to use the other 4 on something else if the MPC can do it.

Please feel free to correct me---I'm inexperienced at using instruments to control other instruments, and the complexities of analog electricity considerations really boggle my mind... at least MIDI simplifies this one issue.

By the way, the Simmons drum brain I am talking about using does not have MIDI. So I have to be able to control it through analog, quarter inch inputs.

the mpc doesn't output CV. you'd have to get a MIDI -> CV interface.

http://www.kentonuk.com/products/items/ ... solo.shtml

dhex wrote:the mpc doesn't output CV. you'd have to get a MIDI -> CV interface.

http://www.kentonuk.com/products/items/ ... solo.shtml

Not true.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYSYNst4_JQ

well, i'll be danged. that's clever as all hell.

still, i'd get the kenton box.

Not all synths use the same voltage for CV, so this'll work on some. I never actually tried it with my SH101 but instead opted for the midi to cv converter. If you've got a synth that needs more voltage for the CV then theoretically you could boost the signal with a preamp? Though that might wind up costing as much as a midi to cv converter in itself. Cool concept though, old + new skool!

toadMoney, so are you saying that the MIDI to CV converter would defintely work? I was considering this, but don't know much about them and from what I've seen, these converters seem like they are more for controlling synthesizer effects. I was wondering if the converter would be able to keep track of the 8 different tracks and convert that out to an 8 channel CV output on the converter.

Just so I'm clear...a MIDI to CV converter will (1) defintely take each track of my 8 track sequencer/drum machine and convert it to the 8 outputs, or however many the converter has, to trigger my drum brain, and (2) would have no issues with the voltage for CV?

I appreciate the help, there isn't a whole lot of information about this on the Internet as you can imagine.

Hiya.
yes, midi/cv converters work great. I use my 2500 mainly as a sequencer, but I think you missunderstand all the audio outputs.

the 2500 has 2 midi ins, so you can plug in any midi keyboard and have a keyboard (music) layout as well as the 4 x 16 pad (rhythm) layout. the keys & pads do the same thing.

then you have 4 x midi outs, which can connect to synths, external drum machines, or whatever.

if your keyboard doesn't have midi in, then it'll have CV & trig(ger) inputs. CV for the note, trigger for the on/off of notes, so you'll need a converter that has midi in, and cv/trig out. one converter for each analog synth.
I got a kenton pro-solo for £90 on ebay, and it's been faultless.

the audio outputs are for the sounds inside the mpc. these sounds can be assigned to the main out, or to one of the 8 outputs, so you could send one or two sounds to external hardware, or to an effects unit, or all 8 channels (+ master 2 = 10) can be sent to a mixer, for 'live' mixing, and effects inserts, etc.

the thing is, and it took me a while to suss this, there is no standard 'way' to use the 2500. it does all sorts, its up to you.

bit amphibious around here, innit?

ooooooh!!!!!

necro-ing an old thread cos i never thought i woulda been able to sequence my analogs with a 2500. tomorrow's gonna be a loverly sunday in the lab

happy happy joy joy

Necro or not, nice find!

Makes me wish I still had something with CV ins. This plus the Sound Forge synthesis would be amazing.

Tempo sync'ed CV control... CVs that respond to the velocity of a pad... Different CV levels on velocity layers... God damn.

cheers man, yeah i thought it was valuable enough info that it should be bumped, especially in light of the recent analog resurgence.

my sh-101's and sh-2 are gonna get a good work out today