MPC X 16 Q-Link Knobs - Controlling Params External Synths

Anyone using the MPC X’s 16 q-link knobs to control the params on your external midi gear and synths?

Considering getting an X (after selling S2400… I was an MPC60 user for a while, it was my first and only UI/sequencer I knew)… but, was curious on the 16 Q-link knobs’ capabilities for external midi gear, and would like to hear anyone’s experiences and uses with them for external gear.

Wondering if them Q-link knobs could control params on synths, romplers & gear like: Roland JD-990, JV-1080 or other JVs, maybe FM? (TX81Z, etc.), Korg M1 or M3R, Juno 1, JX-3P, or even fx and filter racks like Electrix FF, Akai MFC42, MIDIverb2 and Quadraverb, Ensoniq DP2 or DP4, etc., etc.

16 Q-link is super intriguing... wondering if it can be something like the old PG-200 controller for the JX3P, PG-2K for the JX3P and MKS-30, PG-1 or MPG-50 for the Juno 1/2, MPG-70, PG-800, etc., etc.

Yes you can. With midi program you can assign Q-Links to desired CC. With CV Program you can control each CV output with Q links as well.
You can skim through the manual to check the details if you want more in-depth info.

I've been using Q links to control VSTs, MIDI gear and CV gear and had no problems so far.
For most part it boils down to MIDI implementation in the external gear. And for CV - outputs are 0-5V, so that's sometihing to keep in mind if gear uses different ranges

handthrow wrote:Yes you can

Sweet. I guess it's simply just midi CCs then. Awesome you can automate/record it all too.

Can't find any cool examples (w/ external synths) on YT tho. Most vids are just controlling the internal samples or mpc plug-ins.

IDK if you've seen this vid, but here is an example of controlling CC via Q links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sx7rwER0gU?t=1244

fooddude wrote:... Wondering if them Q-link knobs could control params on synths, romplers & gear like: Roland JD-990, JV-1080 or other JVs, maybe FM? (TX81Z, etc.), Korg M1 or M3R, Juno 1, JX-3P, or even fx and filter racks like Electrix FF, Akai MFC42, MIDIverb2 and Quadraverb, Ensoniq DP2 or DP4, etc., etc.

16 Q-link is super intriguing... wondering if it can be something like the old PG-200 controller for the JX3P, PG-2K for the JX3P and MKS-30, PG-1 or MPG-50 for the Juno 1/2, MPG-70, PG-800, etc., etc.

Afaik most (if not all) of that gear is NOT controllable via CC, but by sysex commands.
Check the midi implementation.

handthrow wrote:IDK if you've seen this vid, but here is an example of controlling CC via Q links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sx7rwER0gU?t=1244

Thanks. Coincidentally, I found & watched that last night, haha.

Telefunky wrote:Afaik most (if not all) of that gear is NOT controllable via CC, but by sysex commands.
Check the midi implementation.

That's what I was afraid of and wondering, lol.
Never knew they were sysex controlled (since I've never tried controlling their params before; only used them regularly, with mpc60, ext kbd controller and pitch/mod wheels).

But, at least the modern mpcs can record their mod(cc1) and pitch wheels, unlike the S2400. And also not automatically mute/off long notes/chords upon beginning of each loop.

With dat being said... maybe it's not worth it to get the X... since its' 16 Q-link knobs can't even control all my vintage synths.
Maybe the One is the smarter buy... and just use it simply & only for midi-seq duties (and keep/use S2400 for samples).

double post

accidental triple post

Lampdog wrote:So far, everything I’ve tried with X q-links controlling various params in EMU Turbo Phatt has worked. No, I haven’t tried 100% of everything.

Nice one! Them Emu racks are def on the older side (Orbit, Planet Phatt, etc.).

Hmm... forgot to ask... what params on the S2400 can be controlled by Q-links? (say, if I got the One and kept the S2400, to use as a combo [can't afford X if I keep the S2400])

I'm pretty sure they've been adding CC controls to the S2400 on every FW update (never tried any tho, since it's currently my centerpiece/hub).

If I got the One, I'd rather use the S2400 as an external sampler and controlled by the One, rather than syncing the S2400 sequencer to it (I like the mpc workflow more; and making 2 diff sequences on 2 diff machines is a big hassle to me and something I wanna avoid).

I quickly went through your list:
best candidates are the 2 filters: Electrix FF can handle CC and CV, MFC42 has full CC implementation
Quadraverb and Ensoniq DP have a limited number of CCs (8/6) that can be freely assigned, but it must be done individually on presets
TX81 and Juno have only the standard CCs like pitch and modwheel, no assigns
JV and JD are similar but 2 or 3 CCs can be assigned

Telefunky wrote:I quickly went through your list:
best candidates are the 2 filters: Electrix FF can handle CC and CV, MFC42 has full CC implementation
Quadraverb and Ensoniq DP have a limited number of CCs (8/6) that can be freely assigned, but it must be done individually on presets
TX81 and Juno have only the standard CCs like pitch and modwheel, no assigns
JV and JD are similar but 2 or 3 CCs can be assigned

Thanks a ton!

I guess they're all/most super limited in CC assigning... so, pointless to get an X maybe.

Lampdog wrote:Highly suggest keep saving and get an X.
THEE most frustrating thing when I tried Live was the damn q-links switching in/out of columns. I wanted all q-links right there in my face with dedicated q-link mode buttons.

I hear ya... but, since most of my old synths/gear have super limited CC assigning, then the 16 Q-links of the X kinda unnecessary (unless using them with the mpc's internal samples and plug-ins).