Technical questions for the MPC2000xl and the MPC2000
By krewcial Sun Nov 12, 2006 2:46 pm
Let me explain :


I use the MPC live, have about 12 sequences that are linked to 12 programs (one sequence per program).

Between each sequence, there's a break in the show, where I stop the current sequence and go to the next one with the jog dial.

When I press play, the next sequence plays the correct program, but sometimes I just need to be able to play sounds from the program without starting the sequence.

In other words, the MPC should go to the next program the moment I select the next sequence, without having to press play.

The weird thing is : my previous MPC (2000) did this, my new XL doesn't.

Is there some setting hidden in the menus where I can change this or do I have to find a workaround ???





Thanks in advance !
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By chop14u Sun Nov 12, 2006 3:38 pm
Are you saying that all of the sounds are loaded for the program but you can not hear them if you wanted to play a sound without the seq?

Something souds left out. After all if you are using the same Sound Program for all seq. Then the sounds should play no matter what seq you are about to play.

Or am I missing something?

By krewcial Sun Nov 12, 2006 9:48 pm
a more precise description of my problem :

I have 12 different sequences, from 1 to 12

Every single sequence is linked to a different program (1 to 12).

so when I move to sequence 4, and press play, the sequence automatically switches to program 4 and plays the samples from that program.

however, I need to press play. simply switching to sequence 4 without pressing play, will give me the sounds of the previous program when I press pads.

whereas on the MPC2000, the moment you switch a sequence, the program switches along and the pads will trigger the samples from the program linked to the new sequence.

hope this clears things up a bit.
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By chop14u Sun Nov 12, 2006 10:38 pm
This sounds like what is known as a MIDI Reset Command. The MPC only sends a reset command when you hit play. Now I think I read some place that you can have the reset command edited. Many like if you wanted to do what you are trying to do, you can re-program the MIDI Reset, but it sounds more like the Reset is doing what (in a odd way) it sould do.

Think about it, If it was not set to do what it is doing, and you had 1 seq that had sounds from 1 MIDI chan, that used two sounds. How would it know to reset back to the 1 sound (it play and all is reset).

So I would look at the MIDI Re-Set Command to see if it can be changed. I am not sure myself. But it sounds like that is something you are dealing with. You would think of the 1000 could do it, the 2000 would be able to...but we know that is not always the case.
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By beatfreq Sun Nov 12, 2006 11:09 pm
Maybe you could solve your problem by inserting a program cahnge at the end of each sequence. You can do this in step edit. Insert the program change one tick before the sequence is over. Then after the first sequence is over, you should be able to play the pads with sounds for the next program before it starts when you push play.
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By chop14u Sun Nov 12, 2006 11:17 pm
Now that sounds like it sould work.
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By McSmooth Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:24 pm
The programs are in no way linked to the sequences unless they are told to (or if they happen to both be active at the time). Does the 2000 automatically do that somehow? It might have to do with the fact that there are not multiple "drums" on the classic which confuses things when you switch to the XL.

Anyway, beatfreq was close, but there is an easy way to do it. In each of your programs, go to the program mode, highlight the program name and hit open. You should be able to set the MIDI program change value for each one (make sure each one is different). Then in the sequence, you just need to go to one of the tracks (usually the first one, just be sure it isn't muted) and change the "Pgm:" field to the number of the corresponding MIDI number you set. This automatically does the program change without having to insert an event. Works for external MIDI gear too.
By krewcial Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:34 pm
thanks everyone for the hints, but I already do everything y'all suggested (linking sequences to programs).

inserting an automatic program change at the end of a sequence is no option, since I use 2 bar loops for a few songs, that keep running throughout the entire song. some songs also don't have a specific length, so setting a fixed length in bars before inserting a program change isn't really an option ...

I guess it has to do with the multiple programs in the XL, that I didn't have in the 2000.

If only I could keep the features I like in the 2000 and have the layout and LCD of the XL ... LOL

unless someone has the solution to my problem I guess I'll have to find a way to work around it.