Yet another 4K user .... Newbie tutorial ?

Yes, i am an aboslute beginner to the MPC4000.
No MPC experience whatsoever so i am starting from scratch.

I have the NI Maschine but somehow the MPC attracted me. After reading into the 4K
I knew this was the machine to get.

Currently i am reading the manual and i have tried to find my way but it's far from intuitive.
I have NI Maschine experience which is very easy and i could have a beat going in half an hour.

I bought the MPC4000 since i wanted to have a true standalone system and finally have a good sequencer and sampler in one.

The question: are there any basic tutorials that really cover the absolute basics ?
So far i have a hard time to figure out on how to assign samples to all the pads, a true novice as some might call it.

Thanks in advance

Thanks Bro,

Already started reading it.
In a mean time starting messing with the 4000 and was able to attach a Usb stick and already have succesfully upgraded the OS from 1.70 to 1.71. That was easy and logical to do ... No worries there.

Been reading the manual some more and the function of the buttons are also clear to me now.

Loaded a sample (wav file), that went okay but at this moment i don't get it how you load 1 sample and it's repeated on every single pad in all the banks with different velocity/pitch. Still gotta figure that out.

Thanks again, will start reading that Bible topic and continue with that manual.

P.s. Is it normal that the 4000 pads are not super sensitive and you kinda need to really press them down ?

P.s. Is it normal that the 4000 pads are not super sensitive and you kinda need to really press them down ?

It is until you adjust the pad sensitivity and velocity.

Bomber4000 wrote:Loaded a sample (wav file), that went okay but at this moment i don't get it how you load 1 sample and it's repeated on every single pad in all the banks with different velocity/pitch. Still gotta figure that out.

Sounds like you've assigned it to a Keygroup Program. They are ideally played from a keyboard, whereas Drum Programs are played from the pads.

Keep soldiering on.

Update

I am starting to like this
I now know how to setup samples onto the pads, put them in a program, and even made a basic beat.
The menu structure now starts to make sense and it even becomes fun.
So far i noticed that i can make a tight beat especially with lots of hihats then i could with Maschine.
The latter I think is because of latency issues thus missing hits in the proces.
A better soundcard and proper drivers could solve that but i like this better.

Sitting behind this monster machine gives it something special.

Really like the sequencer editor with the little dots and the matrix.
Did notice the long saving time for a multi or sequence, but i have no rush.

Do wish there was a way i could have an auto audition (audition ON) mode while browsing the samples.
Also still don't understand the pad numbers where in the A group the first pad is 37.

But i will soldier on indeed, i enjoy this and have no regrets at all.
Gonna order me that tutorial DVD and see about some soundkits.


Thanks guys

Well, guess what i found at my parents up in the attic ....
An akai record player ... With the rca jacks and ground wire ofcourse.
I will do some crate digging this afternoon as they have tons of records from the 60's that are just laying there.

It's by no means a high quality record player but more the kind that was included in a complete stereo system back in the 80's. But it's free and always worth a try.

Bomber4000 wrote:Update

So far i noticed that i can make a tight beat especially with lots of hihats then i could with Maschine.
The latter I think is because of latency issues thus missing hits in the proces.
A better soundcard and proper drivers could solve that but i like this better.

Had the same experience myself. I really wanted Maschine to work for me and I did everything I could to make it the centerpiece of my setup. I had the same issue with syncopated hi hats. I used to have to manually move them to get them to sound right. That's right, I had to manually nudge 16th note hi hats in Maschine to ge them to sound close to something that had swing. It would take hours until I got the right feel. Then one day after playing around with an MPC4000 just for fun at GC one day, I was able to program the same hi hat sequence using the MPC's normal quantitize values and did not have to touch a single thing afterwards. The hi hats all just fell right into place like magic as soon as I sequenced them. After that I was sold. I hated the thought of have to go back to older antiquated technology, but I actually realized that when you peel the covers off, most folks only use about 50%-60% of all the functionality this beast has. It was way ahead of its time when it came out and in many ways, it still is.

Em.p.cee.j wrote:

P.s. Is it normal that the 4000 pads are not super sensitive and you kinda need to really press them down ?

It is until you adjust the pad sensitivity and velocity.

How do you adjust the pads? Can´t find it in the manual.

Pad Assign page, then F2 key for Sensitivity page.

See page 243 and 246 of the manual.