Sequencing long loops

Support and discussion for all of Akai’s modern standalone MPCs including the MPC X / X SE, MPC Live 1, 2 & 3, MPC One / One+, MPC Key 37/61.
 Reply Share on Facebook

Sequencing long loops

By VLoss Fri Mar 09, 2018 8:42 pm
Hello there.
So, I have some 2 bar drum loops at the bpm of my project.
I want these loops to run in the project, they don`t really need to be converted to clips.

Now I might be stupid here, but what is the best way to run these?
Drawing in grid seems a no go as I can`t draw in a note longer than 1 bar length.
User avatar

Re: Sequencing long loops

By Lampdog Fri Mar 09, 2018 9:01 pm
100% loop chopped to 2 x 50% loops.

Sequence each loop on the very first note of each bar.

Re: Sequencing long loops

By VLoss Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:40 pm
I'll try that.
I tried triggering them as 2 bar loops via the step sequencer which worked.
But they looped badly, there was a click at the beginning of each time the sequence retriggered.
Now it's not the loop, the loop loops perfectly, if I hold down the pad and let it loop, it loops perfectly.
So maybe triggering the loop va grid or step sequencer is not the best way.
Should I use clips?
User avatar

Re: Sequencing long loops

By Lampdog Sat Mar 10, 2018 6:28 am
Pops and clicks are due to sudden changes (drops/increase) in volume between samples.

Ex. If your first chop ends at 35 then the next one should start at 36.

There is no 35 and 36 but my point is it must smoothly continue with volume.

Clip will bot help that. YOU have to tend to that. I have never been a looper. I have always used the sequencer and adjust my chops accordingly and have always gotten what I want. It just takes practice and an somewhat understanding of zero cross points.

Re: Sequencing long loops

By VLoss Sat Mar 10, 2018 4:46 pm
The loops were perfect as I made them in ableton so they had fades at the start and end.
I just think the MPC has micro timing issues.

However I sorted this, I just set the samples to one shot and then triggered them in step mode on a 2 bar sequence. The note length is irrelevant as the loop will play until the end of the file (so 2 bars) and then repeat when retriggered.

However, this still begs the question, if I am using sampled pad sounds (or drones) for example, and want to make notes of a length longer than 1 bar, how do I do that?

Also if you have a (pad) note that is say, 3 beats long, but starts 1 beat before the end of the bar (leaving 2 beats to run over) how would you wrap this over so the note plays over the end of the bar and doesn't cut short?

Re: Sequencing long loops

By Moho Sat Mar 10, 2018 5:35 pm
Set truncate duration to as played in preferences
User avatar

Re: Sequencing long loops

By Lampdog Mon Mar 12, 2018 1:35 am
VLoss wrote:Also if you have a (pad) note that is say, 3 beats long, but starts 1 beat before the end of the bar (leaving 2 beats to run over) how would you wrap this over so the note plays over the end of the bar and doesn't cut short?


Note duration.

Just gonna have add another bar in front and trigger the note from the end of that so it leads into the next bar so when you initially push play a bar plays and your sample triggers at the end of it and goes on into the next bar.

You'll have to insert that sample at the end of every sequence where you want it to play in the bar after.

Re: Sequencing long loops

By VLoss Tue Mar 13, 2018 1:01 am
Adding a bar in front won't work.
Let's say the phrase is 1 bar long. The note is 3 beats but starts 1 beat before the end of the bar.
But the phrase repeats on a 1 bar cycle.
If I add a bar in front that makes the sequence 2 bars long.
In ableton for example you just let the note hang over the end of the bar, but copy it and wack it over the start of the bar with the note start sitting 2 notes in front (or outside of) the bar.

Is this just basically not possible and a limitation I will have to accept?

Also, how do you lay in notes of over 1 bar in length to the grid?

Re: Sequencing long loops

By Shane Depree Mon Sep 03, 2018 8:13 pm
I have a similar problem. If I have a sequence that is 4 bars long and I have a sample that is 4.2 bars long let’s say... How do you make the sample overlap without it cutting off the end of the sample every time the sequence loops.

This should be a very easy function. I could do this no problem with my 5000. I should be able to turn the sample to note on and hold the pad down and make the sample overlap. But for some reason it will not let this happen. What’s the deal with that? Any help will be much appreciated.

Re: Sequencing long loops

By kaydigi Mon Sep 03, 2018 8:40 pm
Shane Depree wrote:I have a similar problem. If I have a sequence that is 4 bars long and I have a sample that is 4.2 bars long let’s say... How do you make the sample overlap without it cutting off the end of the sample every time the sequence loops.

This should be a very easy function. I could do this no problem with my 5000. I should be able to turn the sample to note on and hold the pad down and make the sample overlap. But for some reason it will not let this happen. What’s the deal with that? Any help will be much appreciated.


That note on option is in program edit. I can’t remeber what page it is one though.

Re: Sequencing long loops

By Moho Mon Sep 03, 2018 11:12 pm
Shane Depree wrote:I have a similar problem. If I have a sequence that is 4 bars long and I have a sample that is 4.2 bars long let’s say... How do you make the sample overlap without it cutting off the end of the sample every time the sequence loops.

This should be a very easy function. I could do this no problem with my 5000. I should be able to turn the sample to note on and hold the pad down and make the sample overlap. But for some reason it will not let this happen. What’s the deal with that? Any help will be much appreciated.


I had the same problem with a sample with a reverb tail on it, and solved it by putting the same sample on 2 pads, so for the first 4 bars it played pad 1 and the next 4 pad 2.
Maybe not the solution you were looking for but it works :nod:
 Reply
Return to MPC X, MPC One, MPC Live & MPC Key