using SOFT SYNTHS with the MPC 3000

i would like to play the soft synths on my laptop into my mpc 3000 (for example, i want to add some pads/synth over a beat i already made, onto a different track of the sequencer)

what would this midi set-up look like? i tried going midi out on my Oxygen 8 (connected to the laptop with usb) to midi in on the mpc, but when i hit the keys it triggers the sounds on the mpc (not the soft synths like i want)

oh yeah, i'm using project 5 (cakewalk, kinda like reason) thanks ya'll

-natural selection

the best way is to put the controler into the mpc midi in, then midi out to the computer, set soft through to on, and set the mpc seq track to the midi channel of your soft synth and set that track to midi instead of drum.

i'm kinda new at this elmacaco so please bear with me.....

i'm going to need two midi cables for the set-up? one midi from the oxygen 8's out to the mpc's in and another midi cable from the mpc to my computer's midi interface? (mpc out to the computer's midi in, or vice versa??)

thanks

-natural selection

yup

question elmacaco:

i think my midi connections to the mpc and controller (and laptop) are ok..........but what do you mean by "set soft through to on?"

i set the track i'm recording on to midi (instead of drum) i set the mpc seq. track to 1A-SYNTH01A & 1A (the number after the & was originally "off"...should i leave it this way?? i dunno what it means) and the i set the midi channel in my soft synth/vst to channel 1

still not able to record the soft synth sounds into the mpc....what's wrong?

-natural selection

OK, lets see if I get this straight. What I was detailing is using the MPC to sequence the soft synths, not record the sounds into the MPC.

If this is what you are after, then go to the midi page, and set soft through to on, if your midi channels are right (which it seems they are) then you should be abled to play your keys and hear the soft synth.

try it and report back.

hi elmacaco,

it's still not working, i set the track to "midi" instead of "drum" changed the channel to "1A-SYNTH01A & OFF (also tried "1A-SYNTH01A & 1A"), in the midi page soft thru is already set to "on"

given the current set-up, i'm still only able to hear the softsynths being played through the tiny speakers in my laptop, am i supposed to hear them out of the same speakers my mpc beats are bumping on?

getting a little discouraged

-natural selection

btw, for the oxygen 8, a guitar center guy told me i only needed one cable connected from the midi out usb to the midi in of the mpc (there's a usb connected to the laptop which transfers the audio info; and there's only 2 midi outs on the oxygen 8 and no ins, one of them labeled "usb") i don't know if my problem is my controller or not, i don't think so

You need to take an audio cable from your computer (headphone jack) to the speakers you want to hear it on. Midi is only information, not sound. You may need a mixer if you dont have a way to mix two audio signals into your speakers.

This whole time you could hear your soft synths through your laptop? Damn, we were solving the wrong problem!!

The oxygen has no audio, just information, the audio comes from what it is controlling.

Get it now?

okay, but when i play the soft synths while the mpc is recording, i still don't hear anything when i play back?

i want to be able to record the sounds i'm making on the soft synths into the mpc sequencer; even if i'm able to hear the soft synths playing on the speakers, i still can't hear them playback after i record? that's my problem...maybe i'm not explaining this well enough?

-natural selection

your keyboard is connected to through your mpc then the mpc to the computer right?

play the midi keyboard, if you hear the soft synth, if you hear the soft synth, press record on the mpc and play again. press stop. hit play on the mpc. you should hear the soft synth sequenced by the mpc, the sound will still come out of your computer. if you want the sound in the mpc, sample it.

Oh yeah, and read the midi section of the manual and this site.

"your keyboard is connected to through your mpc then the mpc to the computer right?"

with the oxygen 8 keyboard there are only 2 midi outs (no ins). one of these midi outs is labeled "usb" and a guitar center salesman told me to connect this midi out "usb" on the oxygen 8 to the midi in of the mpc.

i've been doing the process you described, but i get no results

so the only way i can get the soft synth sounds to play back out of the mpc module is to sample them? but i'm trying to play keys (easier for melodies than pads)....how do people sync up their tritons and asr 10s to their mpcs (they're not able to use the keys, only the pads on the mpc for the sounds?)

-natural selection

oh yeah, the manual isn't helping unfortunately

maybe use the other midi out?

if you heard your playing through the computer speakers, it's working.

why don't you reread all the advice and clearly describe what is happening and what you are after.