Using an External Drum Pad via MIDI to use the MPC as a soun

I obtained an MPC500 today and plan to get down and read the manual I downloaded completely. Right now I am looking for an answer to my immediate desire for use of this instrument.

I am using an Alesis Percpad to trigger samples placed on the MPC500.
I am able to use the pads to get sounds to play.
The Alesis Percpad does not give a note value per its pads however it does have assignment numbers (1-25) for each of the 4 pads.

If the Alesis drum pad (1) is assigned the number (13) does anyone have a clue what that number is in reference to on the MPC?

I would like to know if anyone else has experience with this type of application?
If so, what did you do and what specifics on the MPC should I focus learning in
order to get this to work for me?

If anyone is interested in learning this type of application and there are no answers via this topic from others once I learn how this works I will gladly post how it is done!

Last, for what it is I am trying to accomplish here you go!

I want my drummer to be able to trigger samples so as the Bass player I do not have to be hindered by having to press the wee little pads in the machine or bother with pressing play all the time. More than likely considering the type of music we do our drummer will mainly be using it to trigger an 808 sample for our breakdowns and slams!

Thank you,

Kowzer

Not familiar with Alesis Percpad, but on the MPC the pads are (if my memory serves me correct) in GM Layout:


So what I'd do is go to MIDI/SYNC mode ([mode]+PAD7) and set pads chromatically:
A:PAD1 = 36
A:PAD2 = 37
A:PAD3 = 38
...
D:PAD12 = 83

For all pad banks. Note that while doing this you can't assign a note number if it's already assigned so clear all first (or set them to be something you don't need). When you've done this it's a whole lot easier to map specific midi notes to specific pads.

The second thing is, your drummer will be able to trigger pads but only on one track with one program at a time. One workflow could be that you set different programs to different tracks and when you need to change sounds you change tracks. Akai hasn't bothered making the MPC500 multitimbral so this is a crippled feature right there.

EDIT: that said you're able to have 48 different drum sounds on one program with 4 layers each so could be more than you need

Hey Rezwok, i read your past doubts and wonder if you got a solution.
What I am trying today is similar: have a Mpc 1000 and need to plug external pads from electronic drums in order to trig the internal samples I have in the mpc (wav audio).

What do you suggest ? I thought in connecting a Midi module to the mpc and use the program change; i' ll be playing with sticks and need to trigger the samples by hitting on a pad.

Tks for your attention. (Rafael)

rezwok wrote:I obtained an MPC500 today and plan to get down and read the manual I downloaded completely. Right now I am looking for an answer to my immediate desire for use of this instrument.

I am using an Alesis Percpad to trigger samples placed on the MPC500.
I am able to use the pads to get sounds to play.
The Alesis Percpad does not give a note value per its pads however it does have assignment numbers (1-25) for each of the 4 pads.

If the Alesis drum pad (1) is assigned the number (13) does anyone have a clue what that number is in reference to on the MPC?

I would like to know if anyone else has experience with this type of application?
If so, what did you do and what specifics on the MPC should I focus learning in
order to get this to work for me?

If anyone is interested in learning this type of application and there are no answers via this topic from others once I learn how this works I will gladly post how it is done!

Last, for what it is I am trying to accomplish here you go!

I want my drummer to be able to trigger samples so as the Bass player I do not have to be hindered by having to press the wee little pads in the machine or bother with pressing play all the time. More than likely considering the type of music we do our drummer will mainly be using it to trigger an 808 sample for our breakdowns and slams!

Thank you,

Kowzer