Share your knowledge on these two classic MPCs
By Paulau Thu Mar 13, 2025 4:49 pm
Hello guys!

I will try to be clear and use one exemple. The two main characters here are the MPC3000 and the 707.

I assign the 707 as channel MIDI OUT B7 on my mpc and in the 707 it's also midi channel 7.

So this means I can play the 707 thru the drum pad of the MPC. But it's not ideal, because with some other drum machine the chromatic scale is not accurate at all (especially on other drum machine like the R8 for exemple). This is another subject, if you want to help on that feel free but...

What I want to do is this : I write some sequence on the TR707 and I would like my MPC to receive it as midi so I can decide to mute it in some other sequence, whereas now it's constantly playing in all the sequence and I have to mute on my mixing desk.

I hope I am clear enough? Would you be able to help here? :worthy:

Thank you guys and have a nice day!

Cheers
User avatar
By Telefunky Thu Mar 27, 2025 9:09 pm
you want to record the TR707 Midi output on the MPC3000, which should be easy...
(considering they called it Midi Production Center back in the days)
Imho just do it and check if the timing fits your expectations. :hmmm:
By Paulau Fri Mar 28, 2025 1:40 pm
Ok that's what I tought, I was not clear enough :worthy:

Lets me sum up here, I am dawless. Yes the MPC is the center piece of all the midi control. I have also a 32 channel mixing desk where I have all the separated instrument. Exemple : One channel for the TR 707

I am writing the drum patterns of the 707 directly with the 707 sequencer because when I try to write a pattern with the MPC it is most of the time not accurate (pads are set up random on the mpc and does not seems logical for all the drum machine) and I like to write the patterns with the 707 sequencer. The 707 is sync to the MPC3000. Once I press play on the mpc3000, the 707 starts playing. For now, everything good.

Let's say I have 2 sequence running in the MPC 3000. One with the 707 (SEQ 1) and one without (SEQ 2).
Is it possible to switch from SEQ 1 to SEQ 2 and that it stops the 707 to play when SEQ 2 starts?

The only option I have is to manually mute the 707 ont the mixing desk when I switch to SEQ 2. Whereas if I had written the 707 sequence with the mpc 3000 I could just turn off the track of the 707 in the SEQ 2.

Is it more clear?
User avatar
By Telefunky Fri Mar 28, 2025 2:48 pm
Yes, I assumed you‘d record the TR707 midi sequence on a midi track in the MPC. ;)
So when the MPC plays it back, it triggers the TR707.

In your example sequence 2 you could then mute that part on the MPC.
Alternatively you could send a midi stop from the MPC, but then (following) sequences that want the TR707 to play have to send a midi start from MPC to TR.
Another alternative is to send midi CC7 with value zero to the TR (equivalent to muting on the mixer) and CC7 value 127 (max volume) to activate sound again. Or any other non zero value.

If you do all that live, then it‘s of course a different story. :hmmm:
By Paulau Fri Mar 28, 2025 3:31 pm
Thanks for taking the time man.

Yes, that's the thing, I always record live. In real time with all the instruments at once.
I am still making my track in Song mode,I know, it's old school :hmmm:

That's why I wanted to know if it's possible to do it. I would do it on a midi track on the MPC but the pads are never accurate with every drum machines that I have. It would take ages to find the instruments on the MPC pad etc. And the visibility / workflow is better using the 707 sequencer to create patterns. At least it's what I feel.

One thing to mention is that the 2 midi IN on the MPC are already taken. If I wanna send midi cc to stop the drums would I need to use a midi box? Or any other way?

Sorry I know it's a bit of a headache :worthy:
User avatar
By Telefunky Fri Mar 28, 2025 7:40 pm
The midi-in of the MPC doesn‘t matter. You send to the TR707 via MPC midi-out. ;)
You may run in conflict with the existing sync over midi (as the TR probably has only 1 midi input).
Dunno if it‘s possible to squeeze a midi command into the sync stream. :hmmm:
Otherwise a midi merge box between MPC and TR could add a 2nd input line to the TR.
Last edited by Telefunky on Fri Mar 28, 2025 7:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
By Paulau Fri Mar 28, 2025 7:50 pm
Telefunky wrote:The midi-in of the MPC doesn‘t matter. You send to the TR707 via MPC midi-out. ;)


I got confused because in the first place I also wanted to know if I could send the pattern I created on the 707 to a midi track on the MPC. So then I could control the on / off in each sequence - but it seems a bit far fetched. :hmmm:
User avatar
By Telefunky Fri Mar 28, 2025 8:01 pm
That‘s not far stretched at all. As mentioned above my 1st idea was record midi from TR on an MPC track.
If that‘s possible (f.e. you do it live in your studio, but without audience) then it solves the situation automatically.