General MIDI mapping on pads

.was wondering if there is some "standard way" to map kicks, snares, hh etc... to the pads on an mpc, like general midi, making it easier when auditioning kits.


tx

there is no standard method for assigning samples to the pads.

to start with, you can choose to use general midi mapping which is revealed when you press pad assign button. simply assign your samples to the corresponding pads. (pad A1=side stick, A2=bass drum etc.) then continue to use the same pad assignments whenever you create a drum program.

using gm mapping has the advantage of transferring drum tracks created in gm (in cubase for example or other midi drum machines) and saved as a midi file, play back exactly the same on the mpc, albeit with different samples. handy timesaver!

my guess is that most people eventually go on to create a program template/layout which is convenient for THEM and the way they prefer to work, particularly if they bang beats in live (realtime). in this case you'll probably find kicks, snares etc placed LOGICALLY on the pads.

typically bank A will contain the main (top layer) drum samples, perhaps 2 or 3 kicks, 2 or 3 snares, 3 or more hats, a cowbell, a ride, an 808 etc. you have 16 pads (samples) to work with, which is usually enough for drums.

try mapping it out in a way that its more comfortable and easier for you.for instance.....if your right handed assign all the highats, crashes,rides to the right half of your mpc.all your kicks,snares,and toms to your left.this is how aright handed drummer plays.and if your left handed just do the opposite.this gives it a more natural feel.i hope this is what you are asking.

I just use gm midi mapping all the time.

Though i guess pad 2, 3 and 6 will wear out much faster that way.

flowers GM when it comes down to MIDI NOTE NUMBERS and PADS... assign those PADS to SEQUENTIAL MIDI NOTE NUMBERS, and load that damm blank program EVERYTIME BEFORE you create a new program...remember to do this, and get used to ALWAYS loading this schit up when yo create new PGMs... get used to it, it may not make a difference at first, but when you start working with MIDI and external gear, the SEQUENTIAL MIDI NOTE NUMBER pad assignments will make life LIVABLE! get used to it from the get-go and you will have no problem with it later when your trying to expand your gear and work with other pieces and the MPC... on the 60 it will save our PAD layout and MIDI NOTE NUMBERS for next time so you dont have to load it EVERYTIME...with SEQUENTIAL MIDI NOTE NUMBERS/PADS, you SHOULD ALWAYS know where you are assigning a sample to a pad, just by the MIDI NOTE NUMBER... SEQUENTIAL IS EASY TO REMEBER AND IT MAKES SENSE, GM MIDI NOTE NUMBERS have very limited use for MOST users...


this is the first thing i teach anyone wanting to learn how to use their new mpc... get used to this MIDI NOTE NUMBER/PAD assignment from the start and it will alraedy be second nature by the time it becomes handy and starts to make some sense...

fobedafied wrote:flowers GM when it comes down to MIDI NOTE NUMBERS and PADS... assign those PADS to SEQUENTIAL MIDI NOTE NUMBERS, and load that damm blank program EVERYTIME BEFORE you create a new program...remember to do this, and get used to ALWAYS loading this schit up when yo create new PGMs... get used to it, it may not make a difference at first, but when you start working with MIDI and external gear, the SEQUENTIAL MIDI NOTE NUMBER pad assignments will make life LIVABLE! get used to it from the get-go and you will have no problem with it later when your trying to expand your gear and work with other pieces and the MPC... on the 60 it will save our PAD layout and MIDI NOTE NUMBERS for next time so you dont have to load it EVERYTIME...with SEQUENTIAL MIDI NOTE NUMBERS/PADS, you SHOULD ALWAYS know where you are assigning a sample to a pad, just by the MIDI NOTE NUMBER... SEQUENTIAL IS EASY TO REMEBER AND IT MAKES SENSE, GM MIDI NOTE NUMBERS have very limited use for MOST users...


this is the first thing i teach anyone wanting to learn how to use their new mpc... get used to this MIDI NOTE NUMBER/PAD assignment from the start and it will alraedy be second nature by the time it becomes handy and starts to make some sense...

real talk...

fobedafied wrote:flowers GM when it comes down to MIDI NOTE NUMBERS and PADS... assign those PADS to SEQUENTIAL MIDI NOTE NUMBERS, and load that damm blank program EVERYTIME BEFORE you create a new program...remember to do this, and get used to ALWAYS loading this schit up when yo create new PGMs... get used to it, it may not make a difference at first, but when you start working with MIDI and external gear, the SEQUENTIAL MIDI NOTE NUMBER pad assignments will make life LIVABLE! get used to it from the get-go and you will have no problem with it later when your trying to expand your gear and work with other pieces and the MPC... on the 60 it will save our PAD layout and MIDI NOTE NUMBERS for next time so you dont have to load it EVERYTIME...with SEQUENTIAL MIDI NOTE NUMBERS/PADS, you SHOULD ALWAYS know where you are assigning a sample to a pad, just by the MIDI NOTE NUMBER... SEQUENTIAL IS EASY TO REMEBER AND IT MAKES SENSE, GM MIDI NOTE NUMBERS have very limited use for MOST users...


this is the first thing i teach anyone wanting to learn how to use their new mpc... get used to this MIDI NOTE NUMBER/PAD assignment from the start and it will alraedy be second nature by the time it becomes handy and starts to make some sense...

this is great, but what are the sequential midi note numbers? where can i find more info? i'm trying to develop a more fluid system for creating programs.....this is a little over head, just need some more details.

yes i realize this post is 3 years old

swamp gravy wrote:
this is great, but what are the sequential midi note numbers? where can i find more info? i'm trying to develop a more fluid system for creating programs.....this is a little over head, just need some more details.

yes i realize this post is 3 years old

go into the program assign screen and hit pad 1, change the note to 35, hit pad 2 and change the note to 36, pad 3 - 37 etc ... go through all 4 pad banks until you have finished assigning them all sequencially the last note should be d16 - note 98.

Save the program as something like miditemplate.pgm or whatever

Now when you connect a midi device up to your mpc, the notes will be in the proper order like on a keyboard rather than all over the place. pad a1 now corresponds with the lowest note on my keyboard.

If you load this template before you assign your samples to the pads it'll make your life easier down the track when you want to overlay midi over your track.



***** Found out after posting that you can just hit Auto in the program window ... this will allow you to do auto chromatic assignment.... this saves you the hassle of going through and changing each pad individually.

Grimlock wrote:

swamp gravy wrote:
this is great, but what are the sequential midi note numbers? where can i find more info? i'm trying to develop a more fluid system for creating programs.....this is a little over head, just need some more details.

yes i realize this post is 3 years old

go into the program assign screen and hit pad 1, change the note to 35, hit pad 2 and change the note to 36, pad 3 - 37 etc ... go through all 4 pad banks until you have finished assigning them all sequencially the last note should be d16 - note 98.

Save the program as something like miditemplate.pgm or whatever

Now when you connect a midi device up to your mpc, the notes will be in the proper order like on a keyboard rather than all over the place. pad a1 now corresponds with the lowest note on my keyboard.

If you load this template before you assign your samples to the pads it'll make your life easier down the track when you want to overlay midi over your track.

**FOBE, GRIMLOCK**

This is the best advice, ya'll just got this dude to fully understand that process. I'm being serious here. This is a HUGE help, thanks for the question SWAMP. Something I have been working on and could never get and was hesitant to ask but this was just as clear as day. I have had the toughest time with the understanding of midi since I got my unit. Thanks so much... But now I'm at work for 12 hours today and didn't bring my mpc. Both of your comments should be a sticky.

hiphoppa wrote: I have had the toughest time with the understanding of midi since I got my unit.

exact same for me. i wish i had a personal MIDI coach sometimes.

Grimlock: thanks dude!

swamp gravy wrote:

hiphoppa wrote: I have had the toughest time with the understanding of midi since I got my unit.

exact same for me. i wish i had a personal MIDI coach sometimes.

Grimlock: thanks dude!

lol... no worry guys, I'm still getting my head around it myself, glad I could help.

Great Thread!

I am playing with the note assignments, as described, and it is not changing the note played. I do however see the note assignment changed in the MPC window...but the sound is clearly triggered by the original assignment. Is there something I am leaving out? (I have my 2500 connected to a Motif Rack) Thanks!

WesWook wrote:Great Thread!

I am playing with the note assignments, as described, and it is not changing the note played. I do however see the note assignment changed in the MPC window...but the sound is clearly triggered by the original assignment. Is there something I am leaving out? (I have my 2500 connected to a Motif Rack) Thanks!

My buddy forwarded me this line... You can re-number the MIDI note assignments on the MPC. Go to PROGRAM
(MODE and pad 7) and select ‘NOTE’ (F4). On pad A1, change the note number to 35
using the jog wheel. Then do the same for pad A2, this time making it 36. From
here, just re-number each pad +1 each time and soon you'll have all numbers from
35 - 98 running in the numerical order, just like a keyboard.

This works fine

Memories. Lol...

(I've been working on a little tips and tricks document... this is what I've come up with for this topic)

Building Banks in your MPC2500

Stick to a specific layout so you can be up and running and familiar with where things are in your pad banks. It is good practice to map your pads using a specific GM layout will make your sequences compatible with any other GM style mapped kit and interchangeablebetween tracks.

It is not necessary match and use all the sounds, but matching the core sounds - kick, snare, side stick, claps, open and closed hats, crash at the very least.

To re-number the MIDI note assignments on the MPC.

Press the [MODE] key and then the [PAD 7] PROGRAM select ‘NOTE’ (F4). On pad A1, change the note number to 35 using the jog wheel. Then do the same for pad A2; making it 36. No re-number incrementally each pad +1 each time and soon you'll have all numbers from 35 - 98 running in the numerical order, just like a keyboard.

Create a new program with the different pad layout and without sounds.

Save this as a template to use each time you create a kit.

When you save the program, the pad mapping gets saved with it.

When creating drum kit programs use a GM type layout. Not GM drums themselves, but kits that are laid out in GM order.

http://midistudio.com/Help/GMSpecs_PercMap.htm