Post your views and questions about the Akai MPC2500
By bobya Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:55 pm
When sequencing externally (->MPC), I'd like to play different instruments/kits on different tracks, but it seems no matter what midi is sent to the MPC, only the active track responses...and this to all data/channels being sent.

Isnt it possible to assign a midi channel for each track?

I realize this maybe atypical question for most users since they sequence FROM the MPC, but surely it must be possible???
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By jahrome Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:21 pm
bobya wrote:
When sequencing externally (->MPC), I'd like to play different instruments/kits on different tracks, but it seems no matter what midi is sent to the MPC, only the active track responses...and this to all data/channels being sent.

Isnt it possible to assign a midi channel for each track?

I realize this maybe atypical question for most users since they sequence FROM the MPC, but surely it must be possible???


Most MPCs (not really sure about the 4000) were not designed with that in mind.

By bobya Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:19 am
abit chocked about that actually. I always thought it was common practice to sequence their samplers from cubase/logic etc. for producers in genres outside of hip hop (drum & bass/electronica etc.).
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By jahrome Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:53 am
Maybe sequence standalone samplers..but not sequence and sequencer, which an MPC basically is. Now you can sequence using software and set the MPC up to slave to that software.
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By Lampdog Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:16 am
I've midi'd my triton to mpc, asr to mpc, asr to triton and have made each one master/slave and didn't have a problem at all.

But I don't have a clue on cubase or logic.
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By Upright Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:11 pm
Lampdog wrote:I've midi'd my triton to mpc, asr to mpc, asr to triton and have made each one master/slave and didn't have a problem at all.

But I don't have a clue on cubase or logic.


Lamp.........so your saying you salve your mpc at times? Do you prefer to have it as the slave or master.Does having it as the slave limit you in any way?? :?
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By Lampdog Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:38 pm
What I'm saying is not what you said, lol.

What I said was I've done it and I've had no problems.

Doesn't limit me at all. I have no problems with either or.

I think I'm flexible enough to change and adapt my workflow to whatever machine I have that is master/slave, doesn't matter to me.

By bobya Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:44 pm
I don't think my problem has to do with sync/master/slave at all. My wish is simply to have a program (kit/instrument whatever) on each midi channel - as you would do in the mpc as well, but just sequenced from an external sequencer. Im SURE its possible - at least on other mpcs, but I just think Im missing something (the manual only talks about "active track receive channel" and midi thru/out). I know I could just put multiple kits+instruments on one program and distribute them all to different pads, but that just seems really awkard....

By _Stilo_ Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:16 pm
Do you know this works on other MPCs?

What you can do is change the program assigned to the active track from the external sequencer, see p. 83 in the manual. But that's probably not what you're looking for.
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By Lampdog Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:41 pm
Programs in mpc don't have midi numbers.

Internal to mpc's aren't?:

Samples in memory tied to midi note numbers.

Midi note numbers tied to programs.

Programs tied to drums.

Drums tied to tracks.

Tracks tied to midi ports when track type = midi?

hmmm.... :shock: I wonder..... :D

By bobya Tue Jul 25, 2006 5:06 pm
Tracks tied to midi ports when track type = midi?


That to me sounds like the thing Im trying to do - only it doesnt work...alright:

In my external sequencer I have 3 "instruments", each on its own track/midi channel:

track 1/midi channel 1: Kit A
track 2/midi channel 2: Kit B
track 3/midi channel 3: Bass

I figured it was then just a matter of setting the MPC like:

Track 1:
Type: midi
Midi: 1A
Pgm: Kit A

Track 2:
Type: midi
Midi: 2A
Pgm: Kit B

Track 3:
Type: midi
Midi: 3A
Pgm: Bass

BUT when I play the external sequencer all the data (from all 3 tracks) sounds on only the selected track in the MPC, ie if mpc/track 1 is selected I only hear Kit A (playing all the notes from track 1-3 external sequencer).

...!?

(btw thx for the replies :)

By _Stilo_ Tue Jul 25, 2006 7:20 pm
Of course it don't work...cause the "1A" for example refers only to the MIDI outs on the MPC. Look at the connectors in the back and you will know what I mean. And there is obviously no possibility to associate the MIDI ins to a track.

By bobya Tue Jul 25, 2006 7:49 pm
yeah I know about the outs - its not so much the "A" as the "1" I was putting my money on ;). But anyway - it seems I'm way off on this one.

Just out of curiosity then: Lampdog (or others) - when you say you sequence from Triton/ASR etc. how do you organize your tracks/instruments then? do you put everything on the same midi channel on the triton/asr and all the instruments on the same program on the mp?
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By jahrome Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:31 pm
When using a keyboard or sound module, you have to put it in its performance/multi mode. This will give you at least 16 MIDI channels to work with so you can assign different instruments to each MIDI channel (on board the keyboard/sound module).

Then, you can sequence these instruments on the MPC by assigning a different MIDI channel on each MPC track. Using MSB/LSB and program changes, you can switch your keyboard/sound module sounds from the MPC.

By bobya Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:11 am
thanks jahrome, but its opposite Im talking about (external seq->MPC). I guess the question really is: doesn't the 2500 have a multi mode?