Ways of laying a track out

So I know everyone's got their own way, but I'm new to MPC's having spent the last 14 years using computers and samplers.

Does anyone care to share their secrets or stories of arranging / rolling out a song in Song Mode:

How many sequences, what length of sequences? Do you create short sequences for fills? Are you guys converting songs to sequences then going in? How you add fx etc etc etc etc

Basically any tips or tricks for working in Song mode would be very welcome - just findin my feet, don't know anyone else who uses an MPC as I'm in UK, but I'm loving it so far

I've got a Mac running Logic 7 and a Project Mix I/O (8-in)
Was hoping to do whole songs in the MPC though !!

Well secrets will be hard to get revealed but anways most of this has been discussed. Check the link for example. To Find More jus use the SEARCH function.

http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php ... =song+mode

I know I'm a bit optimistic asking people to share their secrets,
but hey, worth a try!

Thanks for the link.

Do you guys "resample" the outputs of the mpc for more fx?
I guess the possibilities are endless.
I'm kind of feeling getting some fx pedals to throw into the equation.
I'm on a mission to be able to make some tracks without touching my Mac.

Experimentation-LEARN IT, KNOW IT, and DO IT

Where in the UK are you from?

I just tend to make copies of sequences and then use the track mutes to take certain elements out. Then in song mode i'll chuck them in the order i like and convert it to a sequence when i'm happy.

Haven't really messed with effects much yet as i haven't had the MP long

i never reuse sequences. since i use double res, my seqs are always 8 bars. i usually end up with 20-30 sequences when i complete a song in the mpc stage.

Antonym wrote:i never reuse sequences.

I noticed that. You have the most change-ups I've ever heard.

Antonym wrote:i never reuse sequences. since i use double res, my seqs are always 8 bars. i usually end up with 20-30 sequences when i complete a song in the mpc stage.

Yeah, I'm kind of heading that way,
Am at 23 at the moment on this one and haven't starting doing fills/embellishments yet!
Is there a way of re-ordering your sequences?
Mine are all over the shop when I'm in sequence mode

One good thing is the MPC is forcing me to be less complicated with my arrangements and concentrate on strong grooves.

At which point do you guys start converting songs to sequences usually?
Is it common to resample the whole shabbang and start choppin?

At which point do you guys start converting songs to sequences usually?

at the very end, right before i track out. makes things a LOT easier.

as for the grooves, DEFINITELY true, although complication will come later. as for ordering sequences, the first few times i made complete songs i was all over the place (seq 1, seq 2, seq 17, seq 7 and so on) but now when i make a new seq, it is simply the next sequence in the song i'm working on. so they're all in order, which is nice for editing. that will come with practice.

mnh2410 wrote:Experimentation-LEARN IT, KNOW IT, and DO IT

Antonym wrote:

as for the grooves, DEFINITELY true, although complication will come later. as for ordering sequences, the first few times i made complete songs i was all over the place (seq 1, seq 2, seq 17, seq 7 and so on) but now when i make a new seq, it is simply the next sequence in the song i'm working on. so they're all in order, which is nice for editing. that will come with practice.

I kind of figured that..so you end arranging the song at the same time as building it up?? - that's organic man Zen.

Is there no way to change the order of the seqs?
That would be better I feel.

copy the sequence you wanna move to an unused seq, replace it with the one you want to replace it, move the other. it's tedious and not really worth it. there might be something in mode/pad 13, too, but i'm not sure cuz i don't work that way...

Yeah ur right.
I think I need to just get used to it.

It occours to me I need to indentify what the main groove is.
and do songs of the variations of it, and convert each of them to seq again.
then lay them out and start adding the vocals/effects/longer sounds.
over the top??!!

if you make hip hop from samples not keyboreds, its the same when it comes to laying down your samples, passing them through mid range filters and giving it a bass and a hi pass. then just laying down kicks, its REALLY simple, people think its hard to make dope hip hop beats, but its not, its about your samples and your creativity and KNOWLEDGE about music and music theory, if people have never tooken a music class or played an instrument then they cant really make tight music. Because all the underground cats like PUTS and MAdlib and others, they use the same techniques, techniques that have been around since the first sampler came out and just add their own flavor....what ever though....am i the only one here who digs for records? anyone else?

solah wrote:am i the only one here who digs for records? anyone else?

i dig every chance i get. and since i don't have a keyboard all my $hit is 100% samples.