MPD24 and the mysterious remapping

So I've bought a MPD24 second hand. Wouldn't call it fancy, but I like it. Well, to the point. I always seem to encounter a mapping problem. Pad 1 gives nothing, Pad 2 seem to activate both 1 and 2. Pad 3 makes 6 respond and so on.

My first guess was that the program I used it with somehow misunderstood the unit, but I now have tried the unit out both with music sampling (Reason) and "video DJing" (GrandVJ) so that can't be it. So instead I guessed that the problem was within the electronics, a sad conclusion since I wouldn't be able to solve that one myself. But my next session disproved that guess, because all of a sudden the mapping was wrong in another way (P1 and P2 worked satisfyingly, almost every other pad was whack).

I've tried to update the firmware (from 1.07 to 1.09), but have failed. I've installed Vyzex, but honestly I don't even understand what the program is supposed to do. I've poked every button, turned every knob and uttered annoyed mumbles, to no effect. Can you, scholars and elders, help me out?

Best regards,
Jakob

First thing you need to do is look at the LCD screen and see what MIDI note numbers are being transmitted by the pads. Then look for duplicated numbers.

The knob thing may be nothing to worry about as some of the maps have default MIDI CC #s (Continuous Controllers) that aren't being received by you software choice, and you'll have to change the MIDI CC #'s or use your software's mapping functions so they respond to whatever CC 3 is being used.

And as I'm sure you've considered who knows what kind of possibly poor mapping the previous owner had going on the presets.

The Vyzex app at it's simplest, certainly how you'll want to utilize it...will allow you to restore the presets to their factory state. At least that way you it's easier to have some sensibly mapped starting points. And in the case of a Live or Reason preset probably not really need to do any custom mapping.

Some of the default presets are in chromatic order as far as the MIDI note #'s like a piano. Others follow the General MIDI (GM) Drum mapping standard are are not at all in Chromatic order. A lot of modern software defaults to a chromatic layout even on drums.

http://www.akaipro.com/kb/article/1507





The most important step with the editor is setting the MIDI In and Out port so the editor can sens and receive preset data to the MPD24

If your setup shows other ports leave those off. Only activate the MPD24 ones that will use the USB cable for both MIDI IN and Out.

Note that you will not be using the ones labeled Akai MPD24 MIDI those are the 5 Pin standard MIDI ports and you are likely accomplishing the same thing with the single USB cable. So ignore the "MIDI" labeled ones.

The preset file for all the factory ones is here in Docs and Downloads.

http://www.akaipro.com/product/mpd241#downloads

I hope it's just a matter of being confused by the editor and how to map the controller (which can be done without the editor but is a slow process of manually dialing in the MIDI Note 3's and MIDI CC #'s for the faders and knobs)

Go ahead and PM me on either method. I gave away my MPD24 but I still have a MPD32. The Vyzex operation is essentially identical on both, so I will be able to generally see what you're seeing in your setup.

Thanks a bunch! I'm looking into it right now. I wasn't really aware that you could reprogram the note number.

My pleasure man. You can change MIDI Note #'s and MIDI CC's right from the controller too and not need the editor.

Press EDIT, then press the pad, or move the fader or knob you want to change to have it be in focus on the LCD screen. Using the bank switches A-D you can access all 64 pads. Those will labeled P1-P64. F, and K + numbers for the controls.

Then press the knob next to the LCD inward, it's the only knob that clicks for incremental values and can be pressed down, which is like an enter key here. You press the PRESET button to leave edit mode like an ESC key.

So if for example you want to make a chromatic layout with the notes in order. Press EDIT, then Pad 1. Then press the editing knob down. it will say note with a flashing number next to it. You turn the knob to set a note value between 0-127 covering the 128 notes MIDI can transmit.

Most software will expect MIDI note #36 as Pad 1 in Bank A, and usually this correlates to middle C on a piano style keyboard. After you set the number or confirm it's already what you want, press the knob down. The LCD will be flashing "press enter" they mean depress the edit knob.

After doing one pad and pressing the enter knob it will allow to press another pad, and for example show "Set P2" after you press pad 2. Then press the knob down again set pad 2 to MIDI Note # 37. It takes a lot of button presses but you can do all 64 pads this way.

When finished press PRESET and the ">" button. The LCD will prompt "Save to 'x" " . "x" being whatever preset number you had been editing. You can also turn the knob and it will change the LCD prompt to "copy to 'x" " , if you want to save in another slot.

You can also use the copy aspect to take a preset that is largely what you want to save time by copying it and then editing the copied one further. That's common when you have a preset that already has the pads chromatically mapped starting at MIDI Note # 36 but are going to redo the fader and knob assignments.

Also in Reason you can active Remote Override Mode. Then highlight any control in Reason turn a knob or move a fader and Reason will assign that control to whatever MIDI CC # the MPD id transmitting. Of course you have to check that the MPD has 16 unique MIDI CC's for the 16 controls you have.

With that method though it is on per song basis in Reason. So you would want to make the assignments on a blank song then save that as a template you can use over and over. An also be sure to go in Reason's preferences/control surfaces/auto detect MIDI controllers or manually add it. To manually add it. Press ADD, Manufacturer = Akai. Choose MPD24. Then press FIND, press a pad, see Akai MPD24 MIDI on the MIDI In line in prefs and press OK.

All this actually makes sense when you've started to get use to it. Thanks!

I've tried mapping both in Vyzex and through the actual controller, and I have to say that Vyzex is a whole lot easier. You just have to remember to use the "Store" button. So now I'm done with this part, and it's time for me to learn to get the mapping in GrandVJ right. But that's another chapter, haha!

My pleasure man.

Yeah it's not too bad once you have the plot of how the two editing styles work. With the editor the hardest thing is knowing to disable any other active MIDI ports. The editor apps seem to fail on the MIDI dump a lot if any more ports are active than the two for the MPD.

Not familiar with GrandVJ, but if it has a MIDI chart with numbers shouldn't be too bad. Or maybe it's like like Live or Reason where you do remote mapping in the software without having to change any assignments on the MPD. Then save as a template to load over and over.

Not sure if it will apply to your VJ app but on the pad assignments the data field next to the MIDI # can be switched from Momentary MTY or Toggle TGL. Momentary is just like using the pad like a piano key and it transmits as long as you hold the pad before sending a MIDI Note Off message when you let go of the pad. Toggle will act like press switch with On/Off messages. I could see Toggle being useful in a DJ/VJ app, and unlike the MPD32 you don't have dedicated push buttons, so that could be real useful.

It's so fast to hit PRESET then turn the data knob that you could even make a preset with 64 pads as toggle switches if that's something that you could use in the VJ software.