Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
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By SimonInAustralia Thu Aug 07, 2014 4:44 pm
Chillin wrote:The calculation may or not be the same. But I am starting to think that it may has to do with the hardware, and how the currents are wired. A few milliseconds of in electric currency can make a noticeable difference.

It would probably be a difference in the way the OS works itself, and the way it interacts with the hardware, not electrical current.


It might also be affected by the way each particular MPC handles playing back simultaneous events/notes, as MPCs are MIDI sequencers, and MIDI is a serial protocol, which can only send/receive one message at a time, and therefore when multiple MIDI note on/off messages are sent/received at once, they are played back one after the other, not at exactly the same time, there can be a millisecond or two between simultaneous MIDI notes/events.

This has been tested and found with the playback of simultaneous events in the MPC3000 sequencer, and is most likely similar in other MPC models.

This makes it more difficult and complex to test, in terms of recording the audio output of the MPC, as it will behave differently when playing more complex sequences with multiple events occuring at exacly the same time, versus a simple test sequence with a single event being triggered at once (such as a simple 1/16 hi hat pattern, for example).

Chillin wrote:
SimonInAustralia wrote:I have no problem with the feature request at all, just the reference to it being from 'that of older MPCs'. There are many different older MPCs, but I think only one with a realtime swing preview, the MPC4000.

Would it matter if you had problems with any of my requests? (Sarc)

And no, I didn't say that realtime swing preview is in multiple MPC's. I wrote that it is only in the MPC4000, as of. Suggesting it for the new MPC-software.

Wouldn't matter at all, but it seems to matter to you.

It doesn't really make sense to me that realtime swing preview would need to be some sort of vintage mode, it would just be a change to the way the Timing Correct function currently works, allowing you to preview it with a playing sequence, with different settings, before selecting Do It to apply the Timing Correct settings to the sequencer track.

New vintage modes might be applicable if you were to implement the particular sequencer timing differences of the different MPC models.

You actually referred to 'older MPCs' originally, and specified only the MPC4000 later on.

Chillin wrote:
SimonInAustralia wrote:Well perhaps you shouldn't use what he says in that interview to try and support your belief that there is a difference in swing between MPC models, if he doesn't actually say that?

But what he says in that interview is the core essential to this technology/ algorithms.
And even in that interview the same question was being asked. Is there difference.

Many have wondered about this, since they have experienced a noticeable difference.

The only people who truly know, are those who were part of the development itself. Because those increments we see, don't have to correlate with the actual algorithms.

But are people experiencing a difference in the swing calcuation, or overall sequencer timing differences?

The only people who truly know are those who have bothered to do detailed side by side comparisons/testing.

Those increments we see, in terms of the positions of where the MPC sequencer events are moved to when the Timing Correct function is used, do have to correlate with the actual algorithms. The positions of where the sequencer events are moved to are a direct result of the actual algorithms, it is a simple calculation, and repeatable exactly at the same settings, when moving events in the same locations.
Last edited by SimonInAustralia on Thu Aug 07, 2014 4:53 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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By SimonInAustralia Thu Aug 07, 2014 4:46 pm
Coz wrote:The timing variations between several MPCs are listed here along with loads of other gear.

http://www.innerclocksystems.com/New%20 ... itmus.html

Not really an accurate real-world test.

How often do you use a 1/16 hi hat pattern, playing only a single event/note at a time, in the real-world?

Once you start playing more than a single event/note at a time, things change dramatically, in terms of timing.

It might be useful as a basic indication of sequencer timing, but not really an indicator of exactly how timing will be with real sequences.
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By Coz Thu Aug 07, 2014 5:13 pm
SimonInAustralia wrote:
Coz wrote:The timing variations between several MPCs are listed here along with loads of other gear.

http://www.innerclocksystems.com/New%20 ... itmus.html

Not really an accurate real-world test.

How often do you use a 1/16 hi hat pattern, playing only a single event/note at a time, in the real-world?

Once you start playing more than a single event/note at a time, things change dramatically, in terms of timing.



The test is a level playing field between different gear, so even though it's simple it's still relevant. The 5K has the worst timing of all MPCs tested, so it would make sense that once used in a real world situation it doesn't get any better.

The 16th note spacing isn't the problem, it's the fact that there's a +/- 2ms deviation between recorded notes triggering, which points to the sequencer being sloppy.
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By SimonInAustralia Thu Aug 07, 2014 5:47 pm
Coz wrote:The test is a level playing field between different gear, so even though it's simple it's still relevant. The 5K has the worst timing of all MPCs tested, so it would make sense that once used in a real world situation it doesn't get any better.

The 16th note spacing isn't the problem, it's the fact that there's a +/- 2ms deviation between recorded notes triggering, which points to the sequencer being sloppy.

Fair enough, I see that probably shows basic sequencer timing issues.

That timing sort of goes out the window when multiple simultaneous events are played, with one being on time, and successive events being about 1.5 milliseconds after each other, as it seems in the MPC3000.

Some events in real sequences will be played by themselves, some will be played simultaneously, so you have events moving all over the place within the sequencer, on top of any basic sequencer timing issues.

You might have, for example, 3 events triggering simultaneously at the same time in one location within the sequence, and only 1 event triggering at a time at other locations. When you have 3 events triggering at the same time, 1 will be as on time as the sequencer allows, the second will be 1.5ms off time, the third will be 3ms off time.

That is why I am not sure that litmus test is really relevant in terms of defining the timing accuracy of various MPC models.

But yeah, it must help to have the basic timing as tight as possible, before multiple simultaneous events start getting moved all over the place on top of that basic timing.
By Chillin Thu Aug 07, 2014 7:50 pm
Coz wrote:
Chillin wrote:Do you have any personal experience with these?



Personal experience with what? :hmmm:

The timing variations between several MPCs are listed here along with loads of other gear.


http://www.innerclocksystems.com/New%20 ... itmus.html



What I mean is experience with different MPC's, since you've mentioned the 3K, 4K and 5K. If so, did you notice difference in timing, as in personal experience.


Thanks for the link btw, the clocking seems to be I the milliseconds. I wonder if it's due to the CPU, circuits...?


Akai: MPC-4000/OS Version 1.71

Number of samples [48 kHz] between consecutive Sixteenth Notes:
5999/ 5999/ 6000/ 5999/ 5999/ 5999/ 6000/ 5999/ 5999/ 5999/ 6000/ 5999/ 6000/ 5999/ 5999/ 5999

Maximum variation between any two consecutive Sixteenth Note intervals:
1 Samples [0.02ms]




Akai: MPC-5000/OS Version 2.00

Number of samples [48 kHz] between consecutive Sixteenth Notes:
5991/ 5991/ 5991/ 6060/ 5991/ 5991/ 5991/ 6060/ 5922/ 6060/ 5922/ 6060/ 5991/ 5991/ 5991/ 6060

Maximum variation between any two consecutive Sixteenth Note intervals:
138 Samples [2.87ms]



This Test: MIDI Clock Input to 5V Clock Pulse Output
Source MIDI Clock = MPC-3000 (Zero Samples Jitter)

Number of samples [48 kHz] between consecutive Output Clock Pulses:-
999/ 1000/ 1002/ 998/ 1001/ 1002/ 998/ 999/ 1000/ 999/ 1002/ 1001/ 998/ 1002/ 999/999/1000

Maximum variation between any two consecutive Clock Pulse Intervals:-
4 Samples [0.08ms]



Akai: MPC-3000/OS Version Vailixi 3.50T3

Mansell-Labs Web - http://www.mansell-labs.com/

Number of samples [48 kHz] between consecutive Sixteenth Notes:
5999/ 5999/ 6000/ 5999/ 5999/ 5999/ 5999/ 6000/ 6000/ 5999/ 6000/ 6002/ 5997/ 5999/ 6000/ 5999

Maximum variation between any two consecutive Sixteenth Note intervals:
5 Samples [0.10ms]



Akai: MPC-60 MK1/OS Virmana 3.15B5

Number of samples [48 kHz] between consecutive Sixteenth Notes:
6007/ 5993/ 6008/ 5992/ 6008/ 5992/ 6008/ 5993/ 6007/ 5993/ 6009/ 5991/ 6009/ 5993/ 6004/ 5993

Maximum variation between any two consecutive Sixteenth Note intervals:
18 Samples [0.37ms]
Last edited by Chillin on Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
By Chillin Thu Aug 07, 2014 8:08 pm
dryad-66 wrote:My 5k must have been a one off then.Felt very tight to me.Maybe under a microscope in certain test conditions it will possibly wander of the robots GRID!!!!!But its no slouch in any respect rhythm-wise.....and very good resolution.



I made a pattern, tested a 4 on the floor, with 1/2 on the snare. Then to fill it up some random hihat in the 1/16.

I noticed a small difference by ears, I didn't do actual pulse tests.
Last edited by Chillin on Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:31 pm, edited 3 times in total.
By Chillin Thu Aug 07, 2014 8:33 pm
SimonInAustralia wrote:
It would probably be a difference in the way the OS works itself, and the way it interacts with the hardware, not electrical current.


It might also be affected by the way each particular MPC handles playing back simultaneous events/notes, as MPCs are MIDI sequencers, and MIDI is a serial protocol, which can only send/receive one message at a time, and therefore when multiple MIDI note on/off messages are sent/received at once, they are played back one after the other, not at exactly the same time, there can be a millisecond or two between simultaneous MIDI notes/events.

This has been tested and found with the playback of simultaneous events in the MPC3000 sequencer, and is most likely similar in other MPC models.

This makes it more difficult and complex to test, in terms of recording the audio output of the MPC, as it will behave differently when playing more complex sequences with multiple events occuring at exacly the same time, versus a simple test sequence with a single event being triggered at once (such as a simple 1/16 hi hat pattern, for example).


A CPU operates on electric pulses (clock speed). A machine operates on AC/DC, Alternate Current, Direct Current. The fun part is that original analog machines were directly influenced by electric currents on the circuit board. A nice example of this is the TR808.








The core languages of an OS is the Kernel, the Kernel is intermediate to the basic language of the OS and the machine itself.

The MPC hardware operates on what, water, milk? Jokes aside, I mentioned before, we don't know the algorithms they've used on different machines. Meaning the buildup of the OS.

All this Midi is effected by electric currents, eventually. The 4000 has a world clock sequencer.




SimonInAustralia wrote:Wouldn't matter at all, but it seems to matter to you.


How can I matter to me, if I didn't know your opinion on this matter in the first place, long before my request was in?


SimonInAustralia wrote:It doesn't really make sense to me that realtime swing preview would need to be some sort of vintage mode, it would just be a change to the way the Timing Correct function currently works, allowing you to preview it with a playing sequence, with different settings, before selecting Do It to apply the Timing Correct settings to the sequencer track.

New vintage modes might be applicable if you were to implement the particular sequencer timing differences of the different MPC models.

You actually referred to 'older MPCs' originally, and specified only the MPC4000 later on.


No, I mentioned two different things, on was the hypothetical swings settings of "OLDER MPC's". And the other was the real time preview of the 4000. I even have a clip of this in that post.

The sense is in it that it speeds the workflow, instead of going back (out of the window) and return, to correct the setting.


SimonInAustralia wrote:But are people experiencing a difference in the swing calcuation, or overall sequencer timing differences?

The only people who truly know are those who have bothered to do detailed side by side comparisons/testing.

Those increments we see, in terms of the positions of where the MPC sequencer events are moved to when the Timing Correct function is used, do have to correlate with the actual algorithms. The positions of where the sequencer events are moved to are a direct result of the actual algorithms, it is a simple calculation, and repeatable exactly at the same settings, when moving events in the same locations.



People do not directly tell what they experience as difference. But the swing is base on (off) timing, and this is what people notice as a difference in different devices.
By Chillin Thu Aug 07, 2014 8:46 pm
SimonInAustralia wrote:
Coz wrote:The timing variations between several MPCs are listed here along with loads of other gear.

http://www.innerclocksystems.com/New%20 ... itmus.html

Not really an accurate real-world test.

How often do you use a 1/16 hi hat pattern, playing only a single event/note at a time, in the real-world?

Once you start playing more than a single event/note at a time, things change dramatically, in terms of timing.

It might be useful as a basic indication of sequencer timing, but not really an indicator of exactly how timing will be with real sequences.



The hihat pattern within the 1/16 perhaps is due to different music styles. Me, personally. I use is often to bring in variation. Like a real drummer would do, in chromatic scale.
Last edited by Chillin on Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
By dryad-66 Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:28 pm
Id still have no problem trusting the 5k rhythm wise.Ive had 2 and they were good enuff for me.Just putting it out there because its a lot more complex beast than the 60/3000 apart from the 4k of course.Newmark dont have the best rep but credit where its due.Most im afraid have not use a smiggin of the 5k to understand from the get go whats possible here.
By Chillin Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:35 pm
dryad-66 wrote:Id still have no problem trusting the 5k rhythm wise.Ive had 2 and they were good enuff for me.Just putting it out there because its a lot more complex beast than the 60/3000 apart from the 4k of course.Newmark dont have the best rep but credit where its due.Most im afraid have not use a smiggin of the 5k to understand from the get go whats possible here.



I usually compose with the timing correction off, on the 5K. This gives me better results.
Last edited by Chillin on Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
By dryad-66 Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:39 pm
Chillin wrote:
dryad-66 wrote:Id still have no problem trusting the 5k rhythm wise.Ive had 2 and they were good enuff for me.Just putting it out there because its a lot more complex beast than the 60/3000 apart from the 4k of course.Newmark dont have the best rep but credit where its due.Most im afraid have not use a smiggin of the 5k to understand from the get go whats possible here.



I usually compose with the timing off, on the 5K. This gives me better results.

Exactly....high resolution.Feels like the 4k,natural.Altho after bigging up the 5 of course its no saint lol.But if i did not have the 4 id lap it up.I like the synth as well.I do wonder about the ren tho.Maybe ill give it a proper test drive soon!!!

edit-5k-its when u start using the sliders and knobs for different things and record them.Thats worth the second hand price right there.Control!!!!!I did test it next to the 2.5 and 1k and it did seem to be a bigger richer sound .Was i imagining it?Its all down to your samples ect of course,but...........
By Chillin Thu Aug 07, 2014 10:02 pm
dryad-66 wrote:
Chillin wrote:
dryad-66 wrote:Id still have no problem trusting the 5k rhythm wise.Ive had 2 and they were good enuff for me.Just putting it out there because its a lot more complex beast than the 60/3000 apart from the 4k of course.Newmark dont have the best rep but credit where its due.Most im afraid have not use a smiggin of the 5k to understand from the get go whats possible here.



I usually compose with the timing off, on the 5K. This gives me better results.

Exactly....high resolution.Feels like the 4k,natural.Altho after bigging up the 5 of course its no saint lol.But if i did not have the 4 id lap it up.I like the synth as well.I do wonder about the ren tho.Maybe ill give it a proper test drive soon!!!

edit-5k-its when u start using the sliders and knobs for different things and record them.Thats worth the second hand price right there.Control!!!!!I did test it next to the 2.5 and 1k and it did seem to be a bigger richer sound .Was i imagining it?Its all down to your samples ect of course,but...........



Positive is the 5K has a thick sound. And I hope the synth of the 5K makes it over to "The Bank" settings in v1.7. As of now it doesn't play the same notes and settings. Which is annoying.



FatGyver wrote:Dudes. This thread is about waiting for 1.7 and speculation regarding that.
Nuff said.



You're right. I gave it a sneaky spin. :)
Last edited by Chillin on Thu Aug 07, 2014 10:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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By SimonInAustralia Thu Aug 07, 2014 10:03 pm
Chillin wrote:A CPU operates on electric pulses (clock speed). A machine operates on AC/DC, Alternate Current, Direct Current. The fun part is that original analog machines were directly influenced by electric currents on the circuit board. A nice example of this is the TR808.

The MPC isn't an analogue drum machine or synth, it is a digital computer, you don't get the same sort of analogue circuit interactions that go on in a TR808.

Chillin wrote:I mentioned before, we don't know the algorithms they've used on different machines.

But we can test the swing algorithms on different MPCs, and see exactly where they move sequencer events to, within the MPC sequencer, when applied.

There is no hidden/mystical/ongoing algorithm going on behind the MPC swing function, it is an off-line process, it moves sequencer events from their existing locations to new locations, and then it is done with.

Once the events are moved within the sequencer to the new swung locations, they are just events in the sequencer at different time locations, the swing function is no longer used, there is no swing function/algorithm affecting the timing, that is going to change the feel of the sequence, once it has been applied.

Chillin wrote:All this Midi is effected by electric currents, eventually. The 4000 has a world clock sequencer.

The timing of the internal MIDI within the MPC is not going to vary much due to changes in electrical currents, it is going to be about the digital processing of the data within the CPU.

I have no idea what a 'world clock sequencer' is, and I am not sure you do either.

Chillin wrote:No, I mentioned two different things, on was the hypothetical swings settings of "OLDER MPC's". And the other was the real time preview of the 4000.

This is what you said...
Chillin wrote:I have requested a vintage mode for real time swing settings, that of older MPC's.


Chillin wrote:People do not directly tell what they experience as difference. But the swing is base on (off) timing, and this is what people notice as a difference in different devices.

The swing is not the sequencer timing, swing just moves events in the sequencer from one location to another, based on the chosen swing settings, then it is done with. Any issues/differences with timing then, if the swing function is moving the events to the same locations in the different MPC models, is due to the overall sequencer timing of the different MPC models, not the swing algorithms.

Where the swing function actually moves the events to within the sequencer, on the different MPC models, still has to be tested, compared, and confirmed.
By Chillin Thu Aug 07, 2014 10:53 pm
SimonInAustralia wrote:

The MPC isn't an analogue drum machine or synth, it is a digital computer, you don't get the same sort of analogue circuit interactions that go on in a TR808.


I didn't say that the MPC is an analogy device. What I'm saying is that the device is build on circuits. And yes, computers are being affected by electrical currents (AC/ CD) just like analog devices.


SimonInAustralia wrote:
But we can test the swing algorithms on different MPCs, and see exactly where they move sequencer events to, within the MPC sequencer, when applied.

There is no hidden/mystical/ongoing algorithm going on behind the MPC swing function, it is an off-line process, it moves sequencer events from their existing locations to new locations, and then it is done with.

Once the events are moved within the sequencer to the new swung locations, they are just events in the sequencer at different time locations, the swing function is no longer used, there is no swing function/algorithm affecting the timing, that is going to change the feel of the sequence, once it has been applied.


The way one writes the algoritm (in a boolean) can affect the actual event and behavior of a process. The processes of the OS itself. This is indeed mystical, but rational math.




SimonInAustralia wrote:
The timing of the internal MIDI within the MPC is not going to vary much due to changes in electrical currents, it is going to be about the digital processing of the data within the CPU.

I have no idea what a 'world clock sequencer' is, and I am not sure you do either.


I'm referring to the hardware midi in, -outputs. Not virtual midi.

By "world clock sequencer" I mean the range of measurements of the "world clock" itself. the way it syncs more tightly.

http://digitalsoundandmusic.com/chapters/ch5/


Image



Chillin wrote:No, I mentioned two different things, on was the hypothetical swings settings of "OLDER MPC's". And the other was the real time preview of the 4000.

This is what you said...
Chillin wrote:I have requested a vintage mode for real time swing settings, that of older MPC's.


Yeah, you do have a point. But I did correct it later on.


SimonInAustralia wrote:
The swing is not the sequencer timing, swing just moves events in the sequencer from one location to another, based on the chosen swing settings, then it is done with. Any issues/differences with timing then, if the swing function is moving the events to the same locations in the different MPC models, is due to the overall sequencer timing of the different MPC models, not the swing algorithms.

Where the swing function actually moves the events to within the sequencer, on the different MPC models, still has to be tested, compared, and confirmed.


But if swing is not based on timing (measurements), then how can you form actual rhythm (measurement) within a sequence (range)? All swing does is shift from the basic rhythm. One can do this on purpose or by accident. Real live musicians do this all the time.






Last edited by Chillin on Thu Aug 07, 2014 11:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
By Chillin Thu Aug 07, 2014 11:26 pm
FatGyver wrote:Dudes. This thread is about waiting for 1.7 and speculation regarding that.
Nuff said.



Yes, it drifted off. But it's interesting to see and hear people's opinion, this is what keeps it going on.

Anyways, the latest tweet by Pete.


Seen first edit of MPC v1.7 video #2, a few tweaks required then we'll try to get it out ASAP…