4K Newbie Bible for new MPC 4000 users!!!

Can anyone help me out with this one? I'm pretty green to the 4G but I want to know why my sample loops don't fit (theres annoying gap at the end of the seq bar in main), once I export them to sequencer track? I've tried adjusting the region parameter in slice edit, but to no avail?

Sorted it.
Has any one heard of any tutorials or literiture knocking about for the 4k?

In seq edit:
to select pad A from the beginning to the end of the sequence, do:

press the correct pad
hit "go to" + bar left
hit "shift" + "go to" + bar right

ola!

Small tip and observation when using the 4k with sounds in the programs especially always remember that in the digital realm that zero level is the ceiling for a sound. If you go beyond it may flatten and for me at least you can lose the dynamics of the sound. Leave headroom for your sounds by at least -3dBs in the Zones and especially when you are doubling your soumd like kicks for examples. And check again that the attack settings aren`t shaving off your sounds. If you want to mix within the multi and the programs I find the level settings in the Multi mix pages and the Program edit pages give me the most numeric controls. I use the MIX page mainly for effect and output settings. Like I mentioned from the Scratch article before using less is more and in digital world zero level is the limit check your levels.

to delete midi notes while playing press play and press rec+play while playing to start erasing and press rec to stop erasing.

just want to say thank you, and I hope this keeps on keeping on. I just printed off all u got up so far.

ONE wrote:A tip that has worked for me in the past.

If your 4k freezes and you didn't save your work and you are so pissed at losing the best beat you did in a long time, or even ever, that your about to bring a sledgehammer to the 4k and smash it into little pieces.

Well first take a deep breath...chill...count to ten...thing about the little things in life that bring you happiness and try this:

If you have AKSYS and your 4k hooked up to your PC via USB, try saving your work through there...chances are it will work. Save it wherever, on the harddrive of the 4k or even on your PC's hard drive. Re-boot the 4k...and load the folder that you just saved....you should be able to continue where you left off.

If this doesn't work....or you don't have a PC or AKSYS ain't working....your pretty much SOL.

I hope this helps some cats. This recently happened to me...and I forgot about this method of saving and I lost some good ****.

Sadly, when the mpc is in crash mode, aksys wont open correctly or it will crash after a few seconds of transferring

Quick tip for the bible:

If you play a long sample that is set to ONE SHOT and want to stop it imediately just tap the STOP button 3 times. So now you don't have to listen to the whole sample and wait for it to finish which can feel like forever at times.

Multi-track Recoring:
(Note: This is actually not multi-track recording like the MPC2000XL but in the end it allows you to do the same thing; Record multiple midi devices and the MPC4000 programs at the same time without interference between each performance)

Did you ever want your friends to play your external midi instruments (synths,samplers,drum machines...) while you bang out some beats on the MPC4K and record each performance simultaniously and then have them put to separate tracks? Well now you can.

Below is an example of how to play an MPC Program with other instruments on MIDI line A:

Step 1:

On the Main page we have to set the "Out1" and "Out2" within the Track area. Lets start with Track 1 for simplicity. Set the Outs as follows:

Out1: Out-A Ch:ANY (This will allow communication for all your midi instruments on MIDI A and they will only play their respective MIDI channel)
Out2: INT-A Ch:ANY (This will allow you to play a sample program from you MPC4000 which will be set up in a later step)

Step 2:

Now go to the MULTI page and for the sample Program that you want to play on the MPC4K select 10A in the MIDI Ch column. If you selected INT-B for Out2 in step1 then you'll want to make this 10B.

Step 3:

Make sure that the external instruments that you are going to play on MIDI line A are not set to channel 10 or else they will trigger your MPC samples. Also make sure these instruments are not set to the same channel or else they will trigger each other which would be anoying for the people playing them.
(If your using a Korg Karma/Triton keyboard like me, make sure you keep in mind that in Combination mode you may trigger up to 8 channels that can effect other instruments so make sure those other instruments are using different channels. See your manuals for your gear.)

Step 4:

Start recording to Track 1 with your friends all at the same time (how sweet is this)! Or if your flying solo just jump from instrument to instrument and record a track in 1 pass.
For this example lets say we recorded a track using the MPC pads (channel 10), a Synth (Synth1) on MIDI channel 1 and another Synth (Synth2) on MIDI channel 2. Once you get a track you like, it's time to separate each performance to separate tracks.

Step 5:

To separate Track 1:

Hilight the track # on the Main page and hit the Window button. Now select SEPARATE (F3)
On this page you will select where you want each midi performance to go.

For our example, lets put the MPC pads (Ch10) to Track 2, Synth1 (Ch1) to Track 3 and Synth2 (Ch2) to Track 4. To do this simply find the channel# in the "Ch" column (on the left) that goes with each performance and select the desired track. Set channel 1 to Track 3, channel 2 to Track 4 and Channel 10 to Track 2. Don't worry about all the other channels and tracks we're not going to use them.
Press DO IT (F6) once the channels are assigned to proper tracks.
Now on the Main page if you scroll through tracks 2,3 and 4 you'll notice that there is a new number after the track name, this is the midi channel that you want to set the track to.
For example Track 3 reads 3-track-00-01, the 01 at the end of the name represents midi channel 1.
Track 4 should be 4-track-00-02 (using midi ch 2)and Track 2 is 2-track-00-10 (using midi ch 10)

So now we just have to set the Out1 for each track.
Set Out1 of Track 3 to Out1:Out-A(correct midi channel is selected automatically)
Set Out1 of Track 4 to Out1:Out-A
Since Track 2 is our MPC performance you can simply set Out1:Part and select the proper Program or set it to Out:INT-A Ch:10
You'll notice that after separting Track 1 to 2,3 and 4 that Track 1 is now empty so separating a track is like cutting and pasting multiple tracks in one step.

Thats it, we just did a multi-track recording on the MPC4000. Trust me it sounds harder than it is.

I want to thank Rob for helping me sort this feature out. He's an excelent source of knowledge.
Thanks Rob!

whoa this great. it help me so much

Needing help loading askys into mu akai mpc 4000...how do i get the pad editor page to come up ANYONE KNOW?

hey im a new guy here

i just recently bought the 4000

and i cant figure 4 the life of me

how 2 make one pad control another pad like the simultaneous mode in the 2000 ?

for example i would have one sample on one pad and that same exact sample on another pad

one would be original and the other would be a filter version of it

i know the 4000 has thing called zones and u can put 4 different samples
to play together

but the problem when i try 2 filter one of the sounds all of the sounds get filtered !!!!!!!!!!

somebody please help !!!!!!!!

threshed just made an interesting tutorial on this thread http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=37305

here it is :


REASON AND MPC 4000 INTEGRATION

I wrote out this tutorial hoping to make a vid out of it, but havent had the time or resources. Maybe in the future. Untill then i'll post it for you guys so you can try it out.

REASON AND MPC 4000 INTEGRATION

1. Reason supports 4 midi ins (via Hardware Interface) and out of the 4000 using the 4 midi outs on the back panel. Just hook the 4000 up to a 4x4 MIDI input device that is attached to the computer. (Make sure your 4x4 drivers are installed before you go any further.)

2. Turn REASON on and select preferences, and then select Advanced MIDI from the top scrolling menue.

3. In the Advanced MIDI menue click on each of the Bus scroll down menues and select one of the MIDI ports of your 4x4 in decending order of A, B, C, D, just like its listed by buss and close the preferences menue. (Make sure your MIDI ports are in decending order to save you from some routing confusion later.)

4. On the 4000, (that should alread be on) move the curser on the screen down so the word PART is highligted.

5. Scroll your jog wheel one click to the right for out A, two for out B, three for out C, four four out D. For this step we will be using out A. Notice that Ch:1 is already selected. This means we selected MIDI out A and Channel 1 as the output destination for Sequence 1, Track 1.

(Also note that when the cursor is over the Channel 1 field we can scroll through 1-16. These are all of the MIDI channels available on Output 1. This applies to each of the outputs aswell.)

6. Select the track field with your cursor and now select Track 2. Notice that the output changed. Now Select Part like you did in step 4 and then scroll to Out A again. You will also repeat step 5 but in the Channel field you will srcoll till you have selected Channel 2. (Notice that each track 1 and Track 2, and so on, is its own sequencing feild that will controll one selected device in reason once it is assinged to that Output and Channel.)

7. And now we will repeat 4 through 5 just as we did in step 6 assigning each track to Channel 1-16 for each MIDI output A through D on the mpc 4000.

8. After all that we will want to save this Multi within the mpc 4000 so we wont have to trouble ourselves with this process ever again. First we will want to name the multi do this by going to the multi menue by pressing L on your keyboard or the multi button your 4000 interface.

8. With multi 1 selected hit the orange Window button on the 4000 interface and name this multi Reason Multi. (this allows you to load this multi everytime you start a new REASON project from scratch without having to go through the pains taking task of re-assinging all of the midi ports and channels.)

9. Now save by hittin the save button on your mpc 4000 interface or O on your keyboard and select Multi from the top scroll field. And saving Reason Multi. (i suggest making a new folder titled reason to save it to.)

10. I would also suggest saving and renaming Sequence 1 in the same manner you saved your multt but by hiting the sequence button instead. Naming it Reason Sequence and saving it to the Reason folder we just created.

11. Now that you have done this turn your mpc 4000 off and we will go through the loading steps to make it all happen a lot easier by going to the load screen by pressing the load button on your mpc 4000 or P on your keyboard.

12. Make sure mpc 4000 hd is selected and move your cursor down to the folder section and move it right to the folder section to the right were we have the reason folder.

13. At this point we can either load the whole folder and save some time or load the multi and sequence individualy. I will choose to load the whole folder just by hitting the do it button, F6 on the 4000 or F6 on your keyboard.

14. To make more than one sequence with the reason template just load the Reason Sequence as many times as you like. (This good for segmenting your tracks into seperate compositional parts for later sequencing in the next sequence mode.)

15. Linear sequencing or MPC styled sequencing is your next choice before you go any further in this process. The benefit of linear sequencing is that you can implement both reason and 4000 sequencers to work at the same time. The benefit of using the MPC style of sequencing is that you can experiment with your song composition live. (we will work in both methods to show you how to use your preffered method)

16. Now to start assigning the reason instruments to those Midi channels you just set up on your mpc. Go to the hardware interface in your song file that is at the top of your reason song file. Select Bus A, then B, then C, then D, and notice that the ports of your mpc are hooked up to the 4x4 ports that are hooked up the A, B, C, D, busses of the hardware interface in reason.

17. Also notice that there are 16 channels per buss on the Hardware Interface that are routed to each Midi channel in your MPC.

18. Now all you have to do is select what instrument you want to be assigned each sequencer track in the mpc via midi channel. To do this just hit the down arrow tab in reason that is next to the channel you want to assign the instrument to. (i suggest doing this in the order of that you create the instruments in to avoid confusion.)

19. Once you have filled up Bus A just move on the bus B and so on. You have 64 total tracks to assign and control for a total of 64 slaved instruments or fx.


SETTING UP THE 4000 AS A MIDI CONTROL SURFACE FOR REASON

1. With reason open the preferences dialog and select Control Surfaces and Keyboards from the scroll down menu.

2. Click the add button.

3. Select other as the from the Manufacturer scroll down menu.

4. Select MIDI Keyboard w Controls from the Model scroll down menu.

5. In the name field type MPC A.

6. Select midi input 4x4 A from the MIDI Input scroll down menu.

7. Click ok.

8. Make sure the check box next to Use with reason is selected.


CONTROLLING KNOBS AND FADERS

The first thing we must do is assign your qlink faders to a midi cc value.

1. Hit the setup button on the face of your mpc.

2. Hit the send button F2 on your mpc or F2 on you keyboard. Make sure that the reason multi is selected up top.

3. With the transmit field of qlink 1 selected rotate your jog dial one click to the right so in now reads CTRL CHANGE instead of Q EVENT.

4. Now set the control number to 3 or higher in the Ctrl number field.

5. In reason right click on a knob or fader in reason and select Edit Overide Maping.. make sure auto learn is selected and then just move your Qlink fader or knob that is set to a control value of 3 or higher and you shall have controll.

6. Make sure you write down what MIDI cc number you have selected for each knob or to check simply repeat step 5 but only to observe the cc number.

7. Knob and faders can only be controlled with midi port A witch is the default master keyboard of reason.


SEQUENCING


SEQUENCING KNOB AND FADER MOVEMENTS

When recording fader or knob movements its best to have the loop function disabled to avoid recording over your fader movement again and altering your original data. Do this by simply selecting the loop field in the main window and turning your jog dial to the right till it says off.

Repeat the CONTROLLING KNOBS AND FADERS section if necissary, then..

1. For this exercise we will sequence in the sequence edit window for a more visual example. Press the SEQ EDIT button or hit V on your keyboard.

2. Select one of the control change fields that you have linked to a fader or knob by going to the View field at the bottom of the sequence window and scroll to the right until you have the according field selected.

3. simply hold the Overdub button on the Mpc and press play.

4. Once the recording session has started record a suitable knob or fader motion. See that the data has been recorded in the according field.

5. You can record multiple knob or fader movements at the same time or one at a time.




Special Notes

* Make sure your 4000 is always on when you start reason, otherwise it will not initialize your midi configuration.

* If you wish to integrate the 4000 sequencer and the reason sequencer so you can program in both enable MIDI clock out on your 4000 and in, in the REASON's Advanced MIDI preferences menue. (This also helps for lining up sequences when recording MIDI data into reason for a final export of your track.

Howz it goin,
Great tread by the way but somethings are still alil confusin. I got my mpc 4k 2 weeks ago and am still havin trouble understandin alota things. Probably a stupid question but for eg lets say u got a program with three drums in it and ur tryin to eq them. whats the best way to eq each drum individually. Do u have to use a different effect bus for each equaliser setting or can you resample each drum using Q-fx?? I heard filtering can give the effect im lookin for??is this how its usually done..sorry might sound like a stupid question but i guess if theres any place for it..its here?? THanx for the time..and keep it goin

here a few quick tips about eqing drums samples from vynal..just got it yesterday n ive improved soo much using it...after you sample any drum just resample it using the digital eq...why is everyone goin on about compressors..the compressor limitor on the 4k isnt anything special...maybe im not using it right.. ne tips on compressing kicks n snares???
Neways herrrre it goes

[i]Frequency Selection - If your serious about obtaining a clean and punchy sound for your drums, then you'll quickly learn you must be selective in the frequencies you should to boost and cut for each drum track. Most important to remember - Avoid accumulation of the same frequencies. Particularly, avoid over boosting low end frequencies. This will only muddy up your drums, as well as, mask other important tracks in the mix. Ensure your drum frequencies are even across the board!


Clean it Up - To achieve an overall punchier & cleaner mix, try cutting low end frequencies between 250 - 500hz on drum tracks such as kicks & toms. Cutting frequencies in this range will actually sharpen up drum tracks that sound too bold, harsh, & up-front. For punch, try adding 250 - 350hz into your snare & clap tracks. This will give more snap & body to the rhythm, as well as, balance out where your cut previously on your kick & tom tracks.


Adding Clarity - Cutting out the low frequencies from 100-200hz on cymbal & hi-hat tracks will add clarity while also allowing the other drum tracks that contain natural lows in those same ranges to come through in the mix. Also, boosting highs from 9khz - 12khz will add brilliance to cymbal tracks & boosting around 8khz will add crackle to your snare & clap tracks. If your not satisfied with the depth & feel on your kick tracks, then add a 4db boost at 40hz using a narrow Q of around 20. This will give the kick tracks the punch you're looking for. But...don't forget...high pass your sub kick tracks from 34hz & below, canceling out unwanted low end rumble.[/i]