Converting Akai sequence files to standard midi....

Hello,

This is my first post!

I was wondering if anyone knew of a software app or a process by which a person could bring MPC sequences into another sequencer short of doing the usual rigamarole of synching the sequencer to the MPC and (mullti-) recording the various MIDI tracks.

I'm trying to import MPC1000 tracks into MotU DigitalPerformer (DP). DP synchs very well to the MPC and I can directly record MIDI just fine, but, given that the MPC mounts as a drive and I can "see" the sequence files, I was wondering if there might be a more direct route. It would certainly be a time-saver.

I primarily use the Macs for music, though I also have some PCs with audio capabilities (i.e., if there's an app that'll take as input MPC files and [accurately] export MIDI files, I don't care if it's Mac or PC).

Thanks!

Iver

yes there is. and when you do that, you will not have the USB cable plugged in. you are going to do this via midi cables and audio cables. A little of what you are saying confuses me.

first, what type of audio interface do you have?
does it have midi in/out?

you said:

revi wrote:...DP synchs very well to the MPC and I can directly record MIDI just fine, but, given that the MPC mounts as a drive and I can "see" the sequence files...

once you sync to record your computer is not/should not be looking at the mpc as a drive. if it is you have don't have something hooked up right.

without plugging your usb cable in, you have to plug in the midi cables from the mpc's in to your audio interface (AI) out and your AI's in to your mpc's out. once that's done, you have to have your audio cables going from 1,2,3,4 on the back of your mpc to the audio in's on your AI.

are you with me?

depending on your AI and how many in's it have will determine if you simutaneously record more than two tracks at a time. if you have at least 8 in's then you can record 6 tracks from the mpc using your stereo L/R as 2 separate outs.

Hello!

Thanks for your reply!

Yes, I was sort of talking about two things at the same time.

For what it's worth, I'm reasonably good with my way around a studio, this is not the first hardware sequencer I've worked with...so I will try to be clearer this time:

1.) I've used the MPC as a synch "source" and transferred, via MIDI record, sequencer tracks to, for instance, DigitalPerformer (DP). I use primarily MotU gear (MTP AV and XT, 2408mkIII, 24 I/O) along with some cards in the Mac. This works flawlessly and lets me transfer the MIDI tracks from the MPC to the Mac. This process lets me directly record audio from the MPC into DP (e.g., recording into the 2408 or 24I/O) or just the MIDI tracks (via the MTPs).

However, when..

2.) Adding sounds to the MPC via USB (as you note), I see that the sequence files are "visible"...that is, the MPC sequence files can be seen on the MPC when it is mounted as a drive for uploading/downloading sounds.

Thus...I was wondering if there was a way to directly import the MPC sequence files into (in partilcular) DP as that would save me the work of synching up the MPC, creating the tracks, recording, etc.

The MPC and DP work beautifully together, I was just wondering if there was a way, either on a Mac or PC, to access the sequence files directly. Woudn't surprise me in the least that it's a prorpietary file format that Akai doesn't want "decoded". But I figured it was worth an ask.

Maybe I'm wrong, is there a way to directly import the MPC sequence files into another sequencing host?

I really like writing on the MPC, but when doing mix-downs, I sometimes like using sounds from VIs (virtual instruments) inside the Mac and prefer to cut down on potential MIDI latency by getting all the tracks inside the Mac. The MIDI transfer process, outlined above, works really well...it's just a little bit of a pain and I would think that, if the MPC file format were available, it could be automated.

Thanks again!

Iver

Greetings!

Again, thanks for your input, but I just noticed on the thread "Problems converting MPC sequences to play on computer" that you said that only the MPC can read those sequence files, which would effectively, I guess as I kinda expected, answer my question in the negative.

It sure would be handy though!

Thanks again!

Iver

thanks for being more clear.

ok, here is your answer.

the answer is NO.

here is why:

the seq file is in a sense like a midi note. it doesn't carry audio. it only carries instructions (just like midi) but only for the mpc. it tells the mpc at what time to trigger the program and the sound on the programs pad and what pad to trigger.

therefore, by accessing the seq file directly is of no use.

hope this helps.

Hello,

Well, not to make too fine a point of this, I can actually see some usefulness in such a file utility and hope that maybe someone seeing this could come up with a file utility program to do so.

Most sequencers will let you export to "Standard MIDI File" format that allows the file to be used in other sequencers. Some sequencers even allow you to import from other sequencer formats. I'm thinking of computer-based sequencers like DigitalPerformer, Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, or the ProTools sequencer.

The MPC not only has a very nice audio sound, but it's a very nice little sequencer. However, the sequencers mentioned above have many more facilities for editing sequences and audio. Similarly, if one is using virtual instruments (VIs), it's much more practical to have the sequence in the computer rather than synching to the MPC. Hence my desire to more simply import MPC sequence files.

As noted, synching the Mac to the MPC (and DP does this wonderfully using a MotU MIDITimePiece [MTP]) allows one to record all of the MIDI tracks (that is, just MIDI events, without audio) into DP to be reassigned to other sounds. In fact, using this method, one can record all of the audio tracks _and_ the MIDI tracks at the same time.

However, it's a tad of a pain for me, as I keep the MPC as my "writing sketchpad studio" and only bring the tracks over when I'm assembling all the tracks for mixdown (as I've got WAVES, Universal Audio UAD-1, TC PowerCore and other effects, along with _lots_ of instrument samples and VIs in the Mac).

I do really like the MPC, but if you want to use it with sequenced parts that use, for instance, streamed-from-disc instrument samples (i.e., sample libraries that can be gigabytes in size), obviously you can't do it all in an MPC.

Sure would be handy to have such a file utility though!

I've been searching for such a utility, came across this forum and have to figure that if you all haven't heard of such a utility, it probably doesn't exist.

Thanks again for your input!

Iver

go to SAVE and save sequence only and it will ask u if u want to save as a MIDI file, TYPE 1 or 2. then u can transfer to what ever,

Penfold and Sparq,

THANK YOU!

I had gone through the manual and searched for export, Standard MIDI and other terms...and obviously missed the natural idea of just "Save As"!

While I wonder how much info will be lost...as the manual says that "MPC specific info will not be saved"...this is certainly something I want to try.

This could be a real time saver! Thanks again!

Iver