Tip: Saving Sample slice start/end points

1. So last night, I found this soulful ballad from a 70s group that weren't critically acclaimed. I immediately had ideas for a song. So I recorded the entire song into the Ren (DJ Hellfire-style).

2. Next, I used the Ren's Extract function to create samples from the parts I wanted to use.

3. I entered Chop Mode, used Chop To by Regions and edited the slice start/end points of all the samples I created using Extract. It took me a good 30 minutes to get everything sounding exactly how I wanted.

4. Now, because sh!t happens, I saved the project so I wouldn't lose it (crash, power outage, etc). Then I wanted to step away and work on my song later so I turned off my MPC Ren.

5. When I returned a little later, I turned on my Ren, loaded the project and entered Sample Edit Chop Mode to start where I left off. Upon entering Chop Mode, all my slices were reset based upon the default Chop To for Threshold and Regions. Basically...I lost 30 minutes of work. Thinking that I found a bug, I repeated these steps again....only to lose another 30 minutes. Then it hit me. Slices that haven't been commited via Convert will be lost when saved.

Immediately I discovered a work-around. Use the under-utilized Patched Phrase function!

When you convert your chopped up sample to a Patched Phrase, the slice start/end points are retained. You can go back and rechop the Patched Phrase. You can also convert it to a program at a later time.

You just dropped a jewel my friend!

word up

Good one! I always convert my slices before saving and shutting down. I always thought that this is probably what would happen but never wanted to take the chance at trying it! Thanks for confirming!

Yeah...I was really hot last night! It's 11:34 here in Japan and I am at work. Looking forward to getting home tonight to continue working on the song.

I have to add a caveat. With Patched Phrases (as well as Rex files) when you first enter Chop Mode, the waveform will display the slices saved within those files. But if you make any changes to Chop To settings such as changing it from Threshold to Region and back to Threshold, the slice markers will be reset just like any other sample. You will have to reload the sample to get the original slice markers.

whole track copy 16 times one for each pad then adjust start and end point in real time
while playing can save it go back to it later
no chopping till you got it how you want
thats what i've been doing

I´ll try your tip asap and Dan´s way to work to , thx for sharing Guys .

Good tip Jah.!

peace

good stuff man, good stuff..

thanks!

Guys, yesterday i had the same problem with saving chops of sample...and i got a solution. When i choped sample as i want, mpc ask me to create new programm for this slices and i press do it. Then i click file menu and select Save Current Program...then saved whole project as usually (Shift+Save on hardware) and close software. After a few minutes i run software again a load recent project with that slices-it works!!! Maybe it will help somebody...

PS: sorry for my english))

"Chop default mode is treshold."

I asked for it to be changed to Region in the previous feature request topic...

Thanks for sharing these tips guys ! I will use the patched phrase more then.