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

fooddude wrote:
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).

Also... is it easy to map the Mpc's 16 pads to control the S2400's 8 pads (and its' 4 banks)?
...or, do you need to use the external midi kybd controller?
(I'd rather have the Mpc's 16 pads controlling the S2400's pads, and a kybd controller controlling all my external synths)

I would assume it should be easy... but, never tried it myself (again, since my S2400 is my centerpiece).

With midi program pads send MIDI notes to a selected output, so you can use it to play notes other MIDI gear.
Of course you can record midi notes in MPC sequencer which then will play the external gear when MPC is playing.

handthrow wrote:With midi program pads send MIDI notes to a selected output, so you can use it to play notes other MIDI gear.
Of course you can record midi notes in MPC sequencer which then will play the external gear when MPC is playing.

Ah, I see. I think I need to rephrase my question...

After programming the Mpc pads to control S2400 pads, would the mpc 16 pads be chromatic playing the S2400 chromatically, or could you have 1 mpc pad play just/only 1 pad on the S2400, and same for the rest of pads. The latter, is what I want. That was really my question.
(eg: Mpc pad1 plays S2400 pad1 [and that's it], Mpc pad2 plays S2400 pad2, and so on...)
...I guess like a super narrow or 1 note "keygroup" of an S950, but with each of the 16 pads, instead of using a keyboard.

Yeah, I know you can record midi notes with Mpc seq.
I was a mpc60 user for a while and used it to record all my external synths/samplers... but it was always done w/ the external kybd midi controller.

Was just asking about the mpc pads (not external kybd midi controller)... I've actually never used mpc pads to control a diff machine's pads ...since I never had to before, since the 60 already sounded good and also was already a good midi-seq.
Now tho, since the S2400 sounds good/better than modern mpcs, but lacks big in midi-seq capabilities, I was interested on combining a modern mpc (just for midi seq duties) w/ S2400 (just for its' sound).

You are over complicating this a bit. Yes it can send midi notes to external hardware from pads and yes you can remap the notes assigned to each pad. You can decide to have a MPC pad trigger whichever pad on the Sp2400 that you choose. This is done by telling the MPC what midi note to send out with each pad.

Don't sleep on the Force. It has 2 banks of 8 knobs which is less than the X, but it makes up it by having a way more advanced macro system allowing you do more with the knobs, the crossfader, & 64 pads. Check the Force manual for more on the macros.

unless you want to control all your synths with one Qlink bank

wavejockey wrote:unless you want to control all your synths with one Qlink bank

Who are you replying to?

SuperKonquer wrote:You are over complicating this a bit. Yes it can send midi notes to external hardware from pads and yes you can remap the notes assigned to each pad. You can decide to have a MPC pad trigger whichever pad on the Sp2400 that you choose. This is done by telling the MPC what midi note to send out with each pad.

Haha.. yeah, I think I am. I guess cuz I've never mapped pads to control external stuff before (always used a midi keyboard controller).

Look simple enuf... just map each mpc pad to each s2400 pad.

Lampdog wrote:

Watched dem vids a bunch before. I guess I've never tried the pad mapping tho, cuz I've never mapped mpc pads to control external stuff before (always used a midi keyboard controller).

Looks super easy tho.

B-Wise wrote:Don't sleep on the Force. It has 2 banks of 8 knobs which is less than the X, but it makes up it by having a way more advanced macro system allowing you do more with the knobs, the crossfader, & 64 pads. Check the Force manual for more on the macros.

That machine looks daunting honestly.
I've seen Tubedigga post vids about it, but never watched any. So maybe I'll take a look at his vids on it.

Reason I want a modern mpc, is because I like and am very accustomed to the mpc60 workflow (and also it's solid midi seq)... and the Force looks like a completely diff button layout, format and perhaps workflow (irdk).

Is the midi-seq capabilities (for external synths) on the Force the same as the One/Live2/X? That's also super important to me, and prolly the #1 reason of my interest in a new Mpc (since S2400's midi-seq pretty much sucks - no mod/pitch wheel, quirky and buggy, mutes/offs long notes/chords upon each loop on the 1st beat, etc.).

Edit:
Took a look at the rear panel... really don't like those 1/8" midi i/o, lol.
I'm a 5-pin din midi type of person.

fooddude wrote:

B-Wise wrote:Don't sleep on the Force. It has 2 banks of 8 knobs which is less than the X, but it makes up it by having a way more advanced macro system allowing you do more with the knobs, the crossfader, & 64 pads. Check the Force manual for more on the macros.

That machine looks daunting honestly.
I've seen Tubedigga post vids about it, but never watched any. So maybe I'll take a look at his vids on it.

Reason I want a modern mpc, is because I like and am very accustomed to the mpc60 workflow (and also it's solid midi seq)... and the Force looks like a completely diff button layout, format and perhaps workflow (irdk).

Is the midi-seq capabilities (for external synths) on the Force the same as the One/Live2/X? That's also super important to me, and prolly the #1 reason of my interest in a new Mpc (since S2400's midi-seq pretty much sucks - no mod/pitch wheel, quirky and buggy, mutes/offs long notes/chords upon each loop on the 1st beat, etc.).

Edit:
Took a look at the rear panel... really don't like those 1/8" midi i/o, lol.
I'm a 5-pin din midi type of person.

The Force & and New MPCs are very much the same in most ways but the main difference is that the Force has a clip based seq. The 1/8 MIDI is cool once you plugged them in that work & it's not like your gonna be moving the Force around while playing & you can hook up a USB Hub & an audio interface like the on the MPC.

The sampler & MIDI stuff is pretty much the same. The Force has a better Marco system that make a more advanced with what you can do with audio/MIDI. So its MIDI capabilities are a head of the MPC. The Force just can't record tempo changes but if you have an ext clock like the 2400 or whatever you that to control the tempo. You can't change from 4/4 time-sig but there each clip can be different bar lengths so you can fake it.

The Force may look daunting at first but so does most gear that you never used before but once you master each section & build up muscle memory & plus it still like an MPC you'll get used to it just as fast as you would any of the new MPCs. Don't be afraid of the Force, face it & master it!

Maybe this demo will help. He went kinda deep in the feature of the Force & differences of the Force, MPC & Push 3.




This dude got many great Force demos



How the clips work. He also has many cool videos.




Here tread I just made for the Force Macros:
https://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=216161

B-Wise wrote:Maybe this demo will help. He went kinda deep in the feature of the Force & differences of the Force, MPC & Push 3.

How the clips work. He also has many cool videos.

Thanks for all the info and vids... I'll check em out this wknd!

Lampdog wrote:

This is the video I guess I was after, and shows how to map each indv pad to another drum/pad-machine.
(of course, replace Volca Drum w/ S2400)

Isla video didn't really show that specifically... it showed more general midi usage w/ external-midi-keyboard (which I already know how to do).

As an alternative to the last video, although I only see limited uses for this method, you can use a chord progression to trigger the correct pads. Just make each chord a single note corresponding to the desired trigger. You would make the progression by just putting notes into the grid editor then converting to progression.

It could be useful if you wanted to for some reason quick change the mappings without changing the track. You would just switch progressions. Possibly useful for having two instruments being controlled by the same midi track. You could even used chords to trigger 2 or more sounds from one pad, as in triggering a kick and a snare from just one pad.