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.
By WINTEC Sun Nov 21, 2021 5:58 pm
Recently purchased the MPC ONE..In Song Mode when you convert>sequence with different BPM set on the your sequences the MPC One does not detect the tempo changes and continues playing at one tempo.
Is there a work around or the program needs fixing?
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By MPC-Tutor Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:32 pm
This is a limitation of converting songs into sequences, there are no 'tempo change' MIDI or automation events currently available, so tempo changing requires multiple sequences. if you have tempo changes you have to keep the song within song mode. Or turn off quantize and literally freestyle the tempo changes directly into the sequencer.
By WINTEC Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:12 pm
Thank you very much I will try free styling the tempo change but from reading the manual it does suggest if you put three or four sequences in Song mode with different BPM that when you do convert>to sequence that your new sequence will follow the BPM changes.
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By MPC-Tutor Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:23 pm
WINTEC wrote:...but from reading the manual it does suggest if you put three or four sequences in Song mode with different BPM that when you do convert>to sequence that your new sequence will follow the BPM changes.


What page in the PDF manual does it state this? I've looked at the song mode section and it doesn't mention anything like that.
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By BostonGreen Tue Nov 23, 2021 4:28 pm
MPC-Tutor wrote:
WINTEC wrote:...but from reading the manual it does suggest if you put three or four sequences in Song mode with different BPM that when you do convert>to sequence that your new sequence will follow the BPM changes.


What page in the PDF manual does it state this? I've looked at the song mode section and it doesn't mention anything like that.


Page 704 onwards from the Bible says it's possible. Looks like you have to have BPM set to 'seq' and not 'master' in Main page?
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By MPC-Tutor Tue Nov 23, 2021 4:46 pm
No, that page from my book is referring to playback just within song mode itself. Set to MST to ignore any individual sequence tempos. This has no relevance to 'convert to sequence'.

OP states that the Akai manual itself is indicating that tempo changes are preserved after converting a song to a sequence. I'm wondering which page that is stated on.
By WINTEC Tue Nov 23, 2021 6:33 pm
MPC Tutor you are correct. The manual does not specifically state that when you convert to sequence that the new sequence will follow the BPM of the sequences that you are converting from but it would be logical because if you can mix to audio and preserve the BPM changes then that should happen when converting to sequence, just saying.
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By MPC-Tutor Tue Nov 23, 2021 7:05 pm
Basically in older MPCs there was a special MIDI event type called 'TEMPO CHANGE' which could be inserted into a sequence just like a program change. Using multiple tempo change events, you could create any type of tempo change inside a single sequence (e.g. gradual slow down, quick speed up, sudden changes etc).

If they still had this MIDI event in the MPC they could insert them automatically when converting a multi-tempo song into a single sequence. You could also record Q-link tempo changes as automation events. I have request all this many times, but they just don't seem interested.
By WINTEC Wed Nov 24, 2021 12:22 am
MPC - Tutor, thanks for your help in this regard. I tried to free style the BPM change as you suggested without success. I usually use a DAW that has a tempo track running with the sequence and something as simple as a BPM change should be in the MPC One since AKai is claiming you can use this unit without going to the computer, I guess you live and learn.