MPC-4000 & Roland SH-201 Mod Matrix, midi CC's (VIDEO)

Hi All,
This video shows the wonderful match up between the SH-201 and the MPC 4000. The Behringer BCR2000 is a good controller as well. However I like the SH-201 a lot. It is one of the most slept on synthesizers. 2 OSC, 2 LFO, 3 filters / oscillator. It sounds great, and is super fast to use and every knob and slider transmits midi cc. The big bonus is that the SH-201 is inexpensive. I got it for US$275 and it is in mint condition. It is the perfect unit for learning synthesis. So you can use it as a guide in learning how to make unique sounds with the MPC.

So I go into the 4000's mod matrix and assign controllers (CC). Once again just showing the basics that I have yet to see in any other videos.



Cheers,
Ian

Great tutorial Ian!

You're flying now my man.

Great video. I highly recommend all newcomers watch this video as you can get more control of the full sampler engine with controllers while programming and playing live. Of course the qlink does the same but they are only six. With a midi controller next to your mpc 4000 you can go to the next level with key group programs and drum programs like in ableton too.

Great work Ian this should definitely be a sticky.


P.S. I highly recommend all to midi map their controller first before going into the program matrix then all the functions and terminology like mod wheel, pitch bend, velocity<>tilt velocity, off velocity, envelopes, keyboard tracking and etc will all start to make sense. Especially when you are using either a knob or slider to shape or control the sample, sound into what you want.

Spinning the jog wheel and hitting the pads isn't quite same which may be the reason program matrix isn't as well known outside the 4k mpc community among mpc users.

Just remember most analog synths are set up with controllers the exact same way except we can use samples of anything rather than be limited to a set of oscillators.

Great Ian you make my desire realized.

P.S. the program matrix comes from the S5000, S6000, and z series samplers which were designed to be controlled by midi keyboards. The original setup was to control a sampler exactly like a synth. Once that concept is understood is gets easier to understand it. The 4k was ahead of it's time as it was the first mpc to utilize a full sampler beyond a phrase type. It was meant to control the key group programs with a keyboard. Food for thought.

Blue Haze wrote:Great video.

+1

Just watched a few, could have really used these when I first got my 4000. Even a lot of shit I still haven't delved into yet with this machine. Suscribed.

Yeah the beauty of the video age is that it is just like being in the studio
with the person looking over their shoulder. You could explain it but,
seeing it done is more fruitful.


Maybe even the newbie bible and tips and tricks section should be redone in videos like the mpc university series in the Ren forum, idea?

@Blue...the beauty of using the Sh-201 or BCR2000 is exactly that it leaves you the six Qlinks to assign to effects, or to any parameter that you can't fit on your external controller.

Akai hit a homerun with the MPC4000. Once you record in your control changes then they can be free to toggle some other parameters.

The beauty of the behringer bcr2000 is that you can plug a controller into it and then route that controller through the BCR, or have it control the BCR. There are many different routing options.

64 polyphony then means that you have one of the most powerful synths. Mono phonic synths like moogs , or Arps can be sampled in the various zones and then you can assign more polyphony to each program as you need it. Once you start sampling at 24 bit 96khz then you have such an accurate representation of the sound (analog synth) that you pretty much have an elite synth. (Obviously we all know that the polyphony is lessened once you use the highest sample rates.)

cheers,
Ian

@Ian like I said the video is great and yes the qlinks we both agreed can be extra controllers and used for live performance.

Adding to that any user using the program matrix without a midi keyboard controller I dare say wouldn't be using the full benefit of the mpc 4000 for mapping and controlling the program matrix. Basically a patchbay for synth like modules.. In the past I used a korg kontrol 49 and now I use midi mapped virus for the same.

If you are inclined to could you make more videos showcasing layering of two to three keygroup or drum programs, then tweaking the knobs or sliders to make an uber patch?

bump