Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

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Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

By Allinthemind Tue Jul 18, 2023 8:49 pm
I'm new MPC Live 2 and MPC workflow as a whole. I'm currently attempting to trigger external synths via midi out and route the audio back into the MPC for the purpose of recording it in. This is where i came across audio tracks and quickly discovered how much i cant stand them or the workflow confusion they cause. My new mission is to attempt to eliminate using audio tracks all together by recording in my synth parts in the audio track tab> assigning that sample to a drum program> then recording it back into my sequence via drum program midi.. My question is- Is there a better way or is that it?

Re: Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

By Allinthemind Tue Jul 18, 2023 9:19 pm
thanks for your reply.. So my issue with audio tracks is that they are like on an island away from all of the midi tracks. the different behavior between midi and audio tab is confusing and frustrating me. maybe im just not understanding but the truth is im afraid im going to destroy my song if i don't know what im doing technically.. It's giving me anxiety and im holding back writing my music.. I cant use track mutes which is just.. well it sucks. Also I just found out Im limited to 8 audio tracks. im not sure if that's per project or sequence.
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Re: Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

By Ultros Tue Jul 18, 2023 10:01 pm
I as well work in this manner and it is frustrating as shit. I have to set up 3 midi programs, then 3 audio tracks and remember to enable "in" for cueing so when i return to record the midi i can hear it. but when i am capturing i have to then set them to "auto"... as well as hold shift + touch the record arm buttons in the track menu.

It's gotta be one of the worst configurations for capturing audio from an external synth (while triggering) i have ever come across. However... i still prefer it to using a daw.

Re: Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

By LivePsy Tue Jul 18, 2023 10:39 pm
Its an embarrassment for Akai that there are no audio tracks to disk, even as basic as the MPC5000 had way back when. This is a major block IMO to MPC ruling the world.

Re: Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

By Delphinus Tue Jul 18, 2023 10:55 pm
Allinthemind wrote:thanks for your reply.. So my issue with audio tracks is that they are like on an island away from all of the midi tracks. the different behavior between midi and audio tab is confusing and frustrating me. maybe im just not understanding but the truth is im afraid im going to destroy my song if i don't know what im doing technically.. It's giving me anxiety and im holding back writing my music.. I cant use track mutes which is just.. well it sucks. Also I just found out Im limited to 8 audio tracks. im not sure if that's per project or sequence.


There's an option in the main settings section called "quick mute" or something like that. It makes using long audio tracks in drum programs much more viable for track mutes.

Re: Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

By B-Wise Tue Jul 18, 2023 11:22 pm
You can also set the pads for long samples to Note-On so that the sound only plays for as long as you hold it the pad. When recording to the sequencer you'll either have to; hold it down until the end of the sample -or go into the list editor & set the gate time - or reset the pads back to One-Shot mode. On the MPC2500 there was a seq edit feature that allowed you the set the note duration & set it To the next note. I don't remember if that still an option.

Re: Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

By robleighton22 Fri Jul 21, 2023 11:00 pm
Say u noddle for a min or so, just slice the sample into 8 or 16 bar phrases, save asa new drum program. Pick which 8 bar take u want. It works fine this way, and really ends up being a similar outcome to audio track slice rearranging. If you have a sliced to pad instead of non destructive, then you can copy the slice on the pad and make variations that way. E..g one version of 8 bar take that only has 7 bars to leave a gap for a drum roll.

It's a bit different to working with a DAW but it's prob similar in arrangement flexibility, you just have to get creative.

Re: Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

By kaydigi Sat Jul 22, 2023 3:07 pm
robleighton22 wrote:Say u noddle for a min or so, just slice the sample into 8 or 16 bar phrases, save asa new drum program. Pick which 8 bar take u want. It works fine this way, and really ends up being a similar outcome to audio track slice rearranging. If you have a sliced to pad instead of non destructive, then you can copy the slice on the pad and make variations that way. E..g one version of 8 bar take that only has 7 bars to leave a gap for a drum roll.

It's a bit different to working with a DAW but it's prob similar in arrangement flexibility, you just have to get creative.


That’s a dope concept , can’t wait for your YouTube tutorial about it :lol:

Re: Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

By B-Wise Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:04 pm
robleighton22 wrote:Say u noddle for a min or so, just slice the sample into 8 or 16 bar phrases, save asa new drum program. Pick which 8 bar take u want. It works fine this way, and really ends up being a similar outcome to audio track slice rearranging. If you have a sliced to pad instead of non destructive, then you can copy the slice on the pad and make variations that way. E..g one version of 8 bar take that only has 7 bars to leave a gap for a drum roll.
This is kinda how I would normally work with a samples from records, tho I may chop each bar into 8 pieces, but there's no reason why this couldn't be done with any type of sample.

It's a bit different to working with a DAW but it's prob similar in arrangement flexibility, you just have to get creative.
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Re: Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

By Lampdog Sat Jul 22, 2023 7:05 pm
kaydigi wrote:That’s a dope concept , can’t wait for your YouTube tutorial about it :lol:

OG, you don’t need a tutorial for this tho.
I am confident in saying you’ve done this before.
I feel if I have done it I think you have too.

Re: Avoiding audio tracks. Is there a better way?

By B-Wise Sat Jul 22, 2023 11:58 pm
robleighton22 wrote:Say u noddle for a min or so, just slice the sample into 8 or 16 bar phrases, save asa new drum program. Pick which 8 bar take u want. It works fine this way, and really ends up being a similar outcome to audio track slice rearranging. If you have a sliced to pad instead of non destructive, then you can copy the slice on the pad and make variations that way. E..g one version of 8 bar take that only has 7 bars to leave a gap for a drum roll.

It's a bit different to working with a DAW but it's prob similar in arrangement flexibility, you just have to get creative.

[I messed my last post]

This is kinda how I would normally work with a samples from records, tho I may chop each bar into 8 pieces, but there's no reason why this couldn't be done with any type of sample.
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