Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By Duane Mon Jun 23, 2014 6:01 am
Hello everyone,
This is my first post here because I only acquired an MPC500 a few days ago. I bought it mainly for one reason only: to play MIDI files that I have created on my PC and to trigger external MIDI devices. I haven't had much luck with the MIDI output so far.
Anyways, try to keep things simple for me since I'm just a beginner with these devices. I've read all the parts in the manual regarding sequencing and MIDI.

So here's what I've managed to do:

1. I copied the .mid files onto my CF card
2. In my MPC500 I load the sequence MIDI file
3. I've set up the track parameters to MIDI channel 1 and to MIDI
4. When I hit pads I can get MIDI notes to transmit from the MPC500 Output but when I play the sequence nothing is happening.

In my MIDI file I have notes on MIDI channel 1 and on Track 0 (is default). I also have some Control Change events.

If you want to see, here's one of my files:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4e5o0y0angxw8 ... me2_TE.mid

If anyone cares to download that, here's an explanation of what that file is about:
Spoiler: show
So I am using these MIDI files to control 2 things:

1. To synchronize our drummers click track and the song's backing track on his own Roland SPD-SX sampling pad.
- The first note (value 1 = C# octave -5) triggers the click track wav on his pad
- Exactly one bar later the second note (value 0 = C octave -5) triggers the backing track on his pad and thus the backing track and click track is in sync.

2. To control our super simple stage lighting setup. I have a VoodooLab Control Switcher which has MIDI controllable switches. I can open and close a switch by sending CC events. This way I can get our lights to turn on and off in specific parts of songs. The MIDI file has Control Change events dotted around the song.


So the problem is, how can I get the MIDI sequence from file to transmit from MIDI output?
Please could anyone give me any hints on what I am doing wrong.

Cheers!
User avatar
By Ill-Green Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:31 am
You need to convert those midi files in programs like mpc-maid, there's a link around here somewhere just throw it in the search. MPC is not gonna read raw data of a PC, it needs to be translated to its level.

But there is no track zero for the 500, 1 to 48 only.
By Duane Sat Jun 28, 2014 5:51 pm
Thanks Ill-Green!
You got it right with the track number. I created my midi file with a software called MidiEditor (freeware). With that software the default track is 0. I was able to create a new track (#1) to the midi file and then put all my notes and events on that track. Then I put the new file on the CF and what do you know, I was able to send midi from Track 1.

Great stuff! My next challenge is to store the sequences permanently on the MPC. Now I lose all my loaded sequences when I shut down the device. Is there an easy fix to this? Maybe the solution is in the manual... 8)
User avatar
By Ill-Green Mon Jun 30, 2014 3:10 am
Saving to the internal memory can give its headaches. I erased the entire motherboard and just save everything to the card. There is a tutorial around here and it involves powering down the 500 while it access the RAM. Kinda tricky but won't mess up the system. My 500 is a blank slate every time without those bullshit dj sunny sounds from happyville that seem embeded in the memory eternally. Loading from card is no problem and you can audition samples while sequence is playing.