Tempo/Time Signature "Automation" in song mode

Hi MPC users,

I'm seriously considering pulling the trigger on a MPC One as my writing/performing machine (I'd use it primarily live as the brains of my rig, in combination with guitars and hardware synths), as it does a loooooooot of what I would need it to do, but I have one nagging doubt.

A huge part of my song-writing is implementing tempo and time signature changes within a song. I have researched the topic a bit and the MPC line seems to be the only line of the modern grooveboxes where it's "kinda" possible to automate it by using the song mode and setting the tempo and time signature for each sequence. So basically if I have a song that starts in 7/8 at 120bpm, has a middle part in 4/4 at 160bpm, and then returns to the 7/8 at 120bpm, I could achieve that in song mode with 3 separate sequences, right? I have heard that this is a "workaround" solution, but it sounds like exactly what I need. Are there any drawbacks to using this approach that I don't see? Would I have to manually trigger the sequences, or can I automate the sequence 1 to play 5 times and then it changes to sequence 2 automatically?

You could do that, but there‘s no way to „bounce“ that. Usually songs are consolidated into a new sequence, but that will lose those changes. You‘d need to „record“ your so g into a DAW that way.

Yes, you can do that, but song mode is extremely limited. The biggest problem is you can't use any other part of the MPC when you're in song mode. As soon as you leave the song mode screen to do something else, like mix, or adjust your effects, or whatever, the song stops advancing.

You can convert a song to a single sequence, which will allow you to go in and tweak things, record, etc. but you lose all the tempo and time signature changes when you do that.

Tempo/Time Signature "Automation" in song mode

No can do (I use standalone X and Keys).

Automation is done in seq. Seqs are chained together in song mode.

Song mode is ONLY for chaining sequences together.

Converting a song to sequence, which then ONLY follows the very first song step track assignments and nothing else.

when you chain your populated/automated sequences in song mode, all automation is retained
don't convert song to sequence (never)
(continue) work on your sequences, they will play exactly what you've input , even going back&forth between song and main modes

So basically I could work on sequences, chain them in song mode, but at that point the MPC would only be useful as a playback machine (so basically no additional recording, live looping)? That's a shame...
Could I use an external midi automation to automate the triggering of sequences then? So that way I could theoretically stay within the sequence mode, but have the benefit of chaining different sequences together?

I'm mostly curious about a feature like that for live performances. At home, I can always combine it with a proper DAW to finish the song and chain those sequences together, but I'd love to bypass the daw for live performances

You wouldn't use Song Mode for this, but rather the more simple Next Sequence mode (assuming you want to (or are able to) trigger sequence changes when you want (well cue it up to change after current sequence playthrough.)

Unfortunately Next Sequence isn't something that is accessible via standard MIDI Mapping on the MPC. It's in there on the Global MIDI Mapping template but this can only be accessed with root access to the device, which some people have achieved by using a hacked version of the OS with SSH enabled. Really wish Akai would expose all these options to the normal user.

Although the MPC can do any time signature I've only had a bit of a play with it so far and found it quite fiddly. Can anybody tell me if there's a better way than changing default time signature settings in global preferences, then clearing the sequence and adding the bar if you want to create a sequence different from the normal 4/4? It felt like there should be a better way but I couldn't find it...

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I'm hoping to find out if OP ever found a gear solution for this particular need? Did you ever find some gear that will easily let you change time-signatures mid-song but will still remain a playable instrument and not just a playback machine?

I'm curious how this has gone for you, because I am now in the same situation: I'm looking for the right piece of sequencer (or groovebox) hardware that will let me pre-program whole prog songs with verse/chorus/ect structures for live sets, but that will also be flexible mid-performance if I want to live record new tracks, extend a verse, mangle things for drops, etc.

My Keystep Pro can do this, but there'e only four tracks and 16 program slots. I also have to remember how I've chained patterns together because there is no visual cue. But the KSP is great for changing things mid-performance. But man I need to upgrade. How have things gone for you?