Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
By exit1200 Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:32 am
Hey folks, was wondering if you think this is possible:

I have an extensive vinyl collection. I used to be a hip hop deejay. Once I get set into my new crib I'm prob gonna add an MBox and maybe Logic to my G4 Powerbook. What I would like to do is create sample libraries of stuff I'm sampling from vinyl. What I want to do with these libraries is create discs for my close friends/clients. Like one guy I work with is real into the MPC 1000 right now. I would like to hand him off a flash memory card every now and then of samples I compiled so he can go nuts with them. At the same time I would like to give my other friend a CD he can pop into his MPC 4000 with the same samples.

My questions are these:

1) What program do you guys recommended to dump in stuff from vinyl and chop it up? I use Protools everyday, but if there is a software more catered to what I'm doing, I'm open to it. I'm on Mac, mind you.

2) What format is the MPC 1000 using for audio files these days?
2a) If I had a collection of samples to give, how would I organize them to the flash
memory card? Is there a certain file heirarchy to follow?

3) I know the MPC 4000 is using .wavs. How would the heirarchy go on the CD for this machine? Obviously I would want to load it as a program, say "Exit samples1." What steps do I take?

Thanks in advance.
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By Mohammed Thu Feb 03, 2005 2:38 am
If you safe youre samples and programs in Akai akp format youll be allright with both the mpc4k and the thou.
As for chopping large amount off files there is no one best solution. I personaly prefer wavelab because its easy to copy the part you want into a new file.

By exit1200 Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:07 pm
Mohammed wrote:If you safe youre samples and programs in Akai akp format youll be allright with both the mpc4k and the thou.


Appreciate it, but I kinda need more info than that. When I make a CD for the 4000 from my Mac, do I just put a bunch of .wavs without a folder, or do I have to label and organize them a certain way? Same question for the 1000 and the Mem stick....
User avatar

By Blue Haze Sun Feb 06, 2005 2:51 pm
exit1200 wrote:
Mohammed wrote:If you safe youre samples and programs in Akai akp format youll be allright with both the mpc4k and the thou.


Appreciate it, but I kinda need more info than that. When I make a CD for the 4000 from my Mac, do I just put a bunch of .wavs without a folder, or do I have to label and organize them a certain way? Same question for the 1000 and the Mem stick....



You would want to label and organize your files in a simple system by Artist if off a record, instrument(bass, kick) or song title for one 4 to 8 bar loops in a folder. The mpctutor 2xl guide has some great tips on sample management. Or you can use FilePro to manage and save your sample library. An audio editor like Peak 4 is nice for Macs or Live 4 to edit, automated and save in whatever format you want. Afterwards burn to CD, the 4k or 1k memory icon, or to a memory disk. :D