Step edit whats the point?

Im just wondering what the point of the step edit function is? I have owned my mpc2000xl for about 4-5 years and I have never needed to use it. I did actually try a few times but found it so ridiculously complicated that I gave up.
I make house music so its pretty basic 4/4 and I always use the quantize function so I find I dont have any need for it. Is it just a bit of a gimmick really?
If you use it what do you use it for?

i use it for moving individual kicks and snares earlier or later and to change velocities

I'm right there with you. I've NEVER used step edit any PRO'S?

Its just for precision, I find it useful sometimes. If you quantize you probably have no business w/ step edit.

If you record all your pads/midi on the fly and leave all data as is, you would never need this feature. However, if you want to refine or perfect anything or try and program something that can't be done by live human input you absolutely can't live without it. I like to perfect everything and use it every time I make a track at some point. I can think of quite a few reasons to use it:

-First you can fine tune the exact note, duration, velocity and modify attack, decay, filter or tune.
-If you want a perfect fade or curve of any of those parameters you can just step through the notes and make exact modifications.
-If you like grid X0X style programming, you can step by current TC value and program drums similarly. Not the same, but the closest you can get to this method that many still use 909s, 808s, etc for.
-Moving notes to that percise location by 96ppq increments.
-Insane note repeats higher than 1/32(3).
-Quick finding of a note (goto feature) and editing it without effecting all other data on the track. This can be helpfull when you have lots of data all in one track.
-Insert midi events. No other way to do that other than recording off midi in. This includes program change, aftertouch, midi CCs, sysex, etc. pretty much everything the midi spec has to offer.
-Test midi input. If you are having trouble with midi, this feature is awesome since you can see the data pop up in the screen. If you adjust a midi CC, you can see the bar graph move up and down on the fly.

...So not really a gimmick, just a tool available to those that need it.

McSmooth wrote:If you record all your pads/midi on the fly and leave all data as is, you would never need this feature. However, if you want to refine or perfect anything or try and program something that can't be done by live human input you absolutely can't live without it. I like to perfect everything and use it every time I make a track at some point. I can think of quite a few reasons to use it:

-First you can fine tune the exact note, duration, velocity and modify attack, decay, filter or tune.
-If you want a perfect fade or curve of any of those parameters you can just step through the notes and make exact modifications.
-If you like grid X0X style programming, you can step by current TC value and program drums similarly. Not the same, but the closest you can get to this method that many still use 909s, 808s, etc for.
-Moving notes to that percise location by 96ppq increments.
-Insane note repeats higher than 1/32(3).
-Quick finding of a note (goto feature) and editing it without effecting all other data on the track. This can be helpfull when you have lots of data all in one track.
-Insert midi events. No other way to do that other than recording off midi in. This includes program change, aftertouch, midi CCs, sysex, etc. pretty much everything the midi spec has to offer.
-Test midi input. If you are having trouble with midi, this feature is awesome since you can see the data pop up in the screen. If you adjust a midi CC, you can see the bar graph move up and down on the fly.

...So not really a gimmick, just a tool available to those that need it.

Co-sign on all that - I use it all the time for just the reasons mcsmooth mentioned. You can get your sequences really detailed in there... No sense in not using it.

I've found it useful for if you use Note Off on a sample, you can edit the duration more acuratly than holding and letting go of the pad when you want it to stop.

I try to use everything I can on the mp and yessir the step edit can b real useful as they sed up here

If you use 16 levels NOTE function or a midi keyboard to sequence in step edit mode you can made your own "arpeggios" and save them separately from your current sequence.........




The Associate.
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MPC 2000XL, Dave Smith Evolver, Juno 106, Mackie 1202VLZ.

i even composed some ultra fast beats in step edit, not bad but a bit ofa pain in the azz...if u r not used to software trackerz hehehe

I use it to do fine adjustments to parameters and such, sometimes to change up the sequence to add to it.

I use step edit ALL THE TIME. For a lot of the reasons McSmooth mentioned. Especially when I'm playing something on the keys.

i need it to insert bank change messages, there is no other way of doing this on the 2000xl. plus it come in handy alot for microscopic editing..

WELL A LITTLE LATE TO THE PARTY AM I
STEP EDIT IS MAINLY USED WHEN YOUR EDITING LOOPS NOT ACTUAL BEATS SNARES ETC..

LOOPS TEND TO CUT OFF AS THEY ARE LOOPING ON THE 4000 UNTIL YOU HIT THE PRECISE LENGTHS
STEP ALLOWS YOU TO ACHIEVE THIS MUCH EASIER THAN BY TRIAL AND ERROR

Da FUQ. Fredy Fresh?? big fan here of your work and loved that beatles remix you did recently. blew my mind. I nearly was gonna post and ask don't you know there is a DJ called freddy fresh and you should not rip off peoples names, but it seems it is you for real, great to see you here. much respect. and if anyone has not checked out Freddy Fresh then you should.

ahem back on topic.... yeah I use it all the time as for the same reasons above. its a very handy tool to use.