Loading programs onto pads

I've worked about 65% through the latest MPC Bible. So I have learned about taking a sample and giving it '16 levels' to spread it across the pad bank. And to take a single sample and turn it into a keygroup program , interpolating its pitch to many other pitches.

But I think I don't fully grok this. When I browse the filesystem, `[internal]/Expansions/Instruments/` I have Akai's default collection of instruments. I can browse them as programs, eg. `Bass-808 Bass 1.xpm`, `Bass-808 Bass 2.xpm`. Inside those programs are single-note samples, eg. `Bass-808 Bass 1-C2.WAV` `Bass-808 Bass 1-E4.WAV`

I can selectively assign any of those WAV files as pads in a drum program. Or I can take one of those notes and create a keygroup program from it. (For instance interpolate the C2 note of Bass 808 Bass 1 into all the other notes of the scale)

But I'm wondering if there is a way to say, "take all the samples of this premade program and lay them out on my pads automatically" ? Of course I can laboriously do that manually, assigning each pad to a WAV, but it seems slow. And it seems funny to use a keygroup program to interpolate a C2 note into a B4 note, when in fact, I also have the B4 sample in the program already. On the other hand, how would MPC know on which pad a sample be assigned, or what the note value of a sample was.

I guess the bigger question behind this is, "how to explore pre-packaged libraries of sounds that come externally or with Akai's defaults". But I think it already exposes that I don't entirely understand what I should be doing with samples, assignements, keygroups, etc.

You can't load a program to a pad, either you load the whole program wich will load the sounds to the pads from that program, or you load up a sample to specific pad, creating your own program.

There's not really a quick way for this, you just have to go through your library of sounds and create programs like how you want it.

If the MPC itself is too slow for you, there is software to do it on the computer too.

dec9 wrote:
But I'm wondering if there is a way to say, "take all the samples of this premade program and lay them out on my pads automatically" ? Of course I can laboriously do that manually, assigning each pad to a WAV, but it seems slow. And it seems funny to use a keygroup program to interpolate a C2 note into a B4 note, when in fact, I also have the B4 sample in the program already. On the other hand, how would MPC know on which pad a sample be assigned, or what the note value of a sample was.

I guess the bigger question behind this is, "how to explore pre-packaged libraries of sounds that come externally or with Akai's defaults". But I think it already exposes that I don't entirely understand what I should be doing with samples, assignements, keygroups, etc.

Doing this Manually and Quickly would be to Load the Keygroup Program lol

40Beatz wrote:
Doing this Manually and Quickly would be to Load the Keygroup Program lol

When I'm in the file browser, I can filter files as programs, so it just lists *.xpm files. I don't see the browser showing a distinction between drum and keygroup programs. Nor when I choose to `load` a program do I see a way specify if I wish to load either as a keygroup or drum program.

Could you explain what you mean? I don't see any discussion of this in the Keygroup chapters of the recent. MPC Bible.

From the preview in the browser, it's pretty obvious it's a drum program or keygroup program. Just ask yourself:

Does the program contains drums and a lot of sounds? - it's a drum program
Does the program contain one sound crossed over all the pads in a different pitch?- it's a keygroup program.

Well as far as the PreLoaded XPM's, You gotta kinda look at the File Name. Some will say "xxxxx-Kit.xpm" or similar....So you know its a Drum Kit Program

Some will say "xxxx-inst-xxx.xpm", so that'll let you know its a Keygroup Program

It's pretty obvious yeah.

@9dec, most advance mpc users make their own drum- and keygroup programs anyway. When you start doing that you can name them however you want, or just store them in seperate folders. Read up more in the MPC bible to learn about making your own programs!

40Beatz wrote:Well as far as the PreLoaded XPM's, You gotta kinda look at the File Name. Some will say "xxxxx-Kit.xpm" or similar....So you know its a Drum Kit Program

Some will say "xxxx-inst-xxx.xpm", so that'll let you know its a Keygroup Program

Thanks for your help.

Today, in a fresh project, I went to the MPC "Instruments" library, went some some examples, like "Keys - Grand Piano.xpm", selected "load" and yeah, sure enough, it loaded it as a keygroup program and nicely assigned all the sounds to the relevant pads.

I don't understand why when I've loaded programs like this in the past (from the same library) it didn't install them as keygroups. I must have mangled some kind of setting/action, but haven't been able to recreate my mistake.

dec9 wrote:
I don't understand why when I've loaded programs like this in the past (from the same library) it didn't install them as keygroups. I must have mangled some kind of setting/action, but haven't been able to recreate my mistake.

You loaded keyprograms in the past but they didn't install (?) them as keygroups?

I can only imagine you don't fully understand the mpc yet (no offence). Don't worry, give it time and just start working with it.