Let's talk Audio Tracks...

jpeg wrote:I hope they add some fx to the audio tracks like some op1 virtual tape mode where u can do tape fx direct on the audio track like rewinds and pauses etc.

Yes, even more simply, I would like to be able to transpose an Audio Track like you can a sample. Also bouncing (which I'm sure can technically be done with sends or something). Also wish you could use Audio Tracks for resampling although that would complicate things. All in all, I often find myself having the most fun on the MPC using Audio Tracks, they are surprisingly useful for instantaneous recording and ad libbing. I really, REALLY hope they move Audio Tracks and the Looper to the main screen instead of keeping these things separate. And Disk Streaming...F**k a linear arranger, I could make full tracks in minutes if they did this!!!!

if I'm in song mode and have recorded audio track 1 then start with audio track 2, audio track 1 is overdubbed every time. I just don't know what to do and need urgent help pleased.

InsaneLane wrote:if I'm in song mode and have recorded audio track 1 then start with audio track 2, audio track 1 is overdubbed every time. I just don't know what to do and need urgent help pleased.

In Song mode you converted to a new sequence and created a new audio track [2]
Then unarmed audio track [1] ?

ace_of_dub wrote:But i'd say right now, it's more urgent to correct ALL THE BUGS than add any sort of functionality.

Too bad Akai did not listen to you.

Audio tracks made a lot more sense in JJOS, as they were just a parameter among the others (MIDI, ARP, etc) to any track. You could record straight from that small JJOS MAIN screen with a miniature timeline INSIDE the main screen to get a good instant view of what's what. A LOT could be done from the MAIN screen in JJOS, that's what I call some good design. Step record from the main screen as well. Things were made to catch what you had in mind fast without any menu diving. That's how things should be imo.

Slightly off topic so do forgive an MPC newbie but I figured you guys on this thread have the expertise I need to draw on (I just got a Key 61 last week) as this question does include an audio track.

I am looking to replicate as closely as possible my live setup on my Yamaha PSR-SX900 which has multiple setlists each containing pointers to saved song configurations (i.e. project), each of which has an MP3 track ready to play, plus a sound i.e. program ready to play along with it. It's a singalong act for Care Homes. Sometimes my wife (who does the singalong bit) changes her mind after the start of the song so I need to find and load a new song asap.

The thing is, it's pretty instant to load/play each song, and I am getting the idea that projects on MPC can take a short while to load. So is there an alternative e.g. to treat each sequence as a song, containing 2 tracks, one with the MP3 loaded as a program, and the other with the sound? So in effect the whole set is held in one program. I don't need more than 8 sounds across the whole set so that limit isn't a problem.

Is this a practical solution and quicker to load each "song" in the setlist? Or is the standard Key 61 live performance system which loads each project going to be a better solution? The projects are all going to be held on a USB stick.

Thanks guys....and genuinely fascinating and illuminating to read your discussion above.

mpckey61newbie wrote:So is there an alternative e.g. to treat each sequence as a song,

Yes, probably the best way if you don't want to worry about long gaps between loading projects. So your big project would contain multiple sequences and you can either use each sequence as a song, or use 'song mode' to put multiple sequences into a number of multi-sequence songs within that one project.

This however requires enough memory to hold your entire set. But with an MPC Key you have plenty of memory to work with (around 3GB of free RAM). Alternative would be to sequence your backing tracks from scratch using plugins, kits, keygroups etc, rather than using audio tracks (are these backing tracks you record yourself, or mp3 tracks purchased from a third party?)

Remember mp3 files are converted to 32 bit WAVs when they are loaded (and subsequently saved as WAVs in the project), so better to use WAV files in the first place and preserve quality as mp3 offers no benefits in terms of memory.

Thanks!

These are Amazon purchased tracks, our audience is largely people with at least some degree of dementia, and they respond (yes they really do!) much more to hearing the original music e.g. Rock Around The Clock as a backing track than a re-engineered version. I will bear in mind the memory constraints, there are about 35 songs in the set, so hopefully that will fit into the 3Gb available in my Key61.