Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
User avatar

By BeBop Fri Mar 12, 2004 4:04 pm
Well...firstly, it's simple as can be. I have no idea what recycle can do, cos' I'm all hardware...but this feature is killin'.
The key to this feature is:

1)being able to count time in music (I'm not trying to be smart ass here..this is something even the most brilliant composer may not be the keenest on)

2) being able to hear inside a loop where you want to slice things up.

An easy example:
Take a loop off any loop based sample CD, or any sample off a record.
Loops must be in an even time signature, and more importantly (though not always necessary) the hits should fall relatively square on the beat (and off).

1)Record (load) the sample. Let's assume it's a 1 measure loop in 4/4 time off a sample CD. You can choose create a program from the get-go..it's up to you.

2)Go to the sample list page, find sample (it should default to it) hit Region.
You're looking at the sample.You typically won't have to fix the start and end points ,cos it should be perfect..right - if it's a lift off a record you will need to tweak it.

3)Hit BPM...where it says beat, make sure it says 4 (for now)..check out what the BPM is...right it down, cos' that's good information to have (if you want to stretch or whatever later). A sample CD that says the loops are, lets say, 130bpm will register right around there, give or take(it's rarely gonna be exactly what they say on the CD cause it's all rounded a bit, but this machine is gonna nail it on the head 129.4 bpm....that's such a cool thing about this machine.

4) Hit region again, listen to the loop(play-all). Study it, ponder, wonder -how do you want to use it, is it a busy beat with a lot of 16th notes..is it slow with hit's just on the 8th note...what you're ultimatley gonna be able to do is seperate (slice) the beat up and isolate individual hit's or maybe two hits together if you want. You'll be able to play the loop in your song as a whole (as it came off the CD)(useful but boring and limiting) or create your own groove using the timbres of the hit's that collectively make up the sound of the loop.

5)After deciding what to do, scroll (still in region page) to the middle of the screen, highlight region and open window. This is where you select the number of regions..think of it as half note, quarter note...etc. We'll slice the beat in relation to the 8th note lets say, cause that's where the hit's are predominant in this beat, and that's what we want to capture (let's say). Turn the value to 8 then. Press do it.

6) You're back at the region screen automatically..1/8th of the screen is black...hit pad 16. That's the first eighth note "phrase" of the loop. Turn the wheel to region 2...hit pad 16, that's the 2nd eighth note "phrase" ..keep turning and listen to all 8, ...rinse and repeat -

7) This is where you can tweak the regions...for example some hit's may be a bit late..or you want to grab a bigger piece of a phrase.tweak it here by selecting the region and changing the start and end points...continue to audition on pad 16 till it's cool.

8)Hit edit, and wheel to slice sample. Here you can choose to create a program or generate a sequence. I won't go into detail as to which to choose ..it's up to your situation...but try 'em both.

9) press Do It. Lets say you created a new program in this case. Find it, put it in a multi and your off. All the hit's you sliced are right there, you can mutilate them any way you want now with all the other cool stuff you can do with this machine.

Remember we wrote down the BPM of the original loop..well the idea there of course is, you set up a sequence track now with that bpm, maybe lay the loop in completely as it came off the cd, and now also, you're able to lay in you're sliced hit's either over the top...or by themselves.

And that's just a drum loop...the possibilities are clearly endless with all kinds of material -

The 4K simply rocks -

Bop out

By Altopiano Fri Mar 12, 2004 6:32 pm
well ... the regions windows is one of my favorite ones as well! its simply great how quickly and easily one can sample a loop and slice it up in single pieces! (bebop explained that very well already so i don't want to repeat!) but i'd like to add a question, hopefully someone can help me out there:

the end margins field!

as i understand it one can set the end margin of each region within 0 to 100! well how du u bro use this feature?

i usually set it on 20, 30! my impression is that if u leave it at 0 single regions (samples) are cut off to immediately! any feedback on this would be great

alto

By Altopiano Fri Mar 12, 2004 6:49 pm
... and if i generate a new seq out of a loop i always set timing correct to off!
cheers
alto

Hmm

By Shah Mon Mar 15, 2004 6:09 pm
I do not find this feature as useful as many others seem to. Let me state outright that i have owned my 4000 for 5 days and chop my breaks in recycle. I used a 2000xl for many years befor and found that machines inability to integrate with computers limiting and expensive.

In most beat slicing programs you can evaluate the bpm and set loop start and end point and, of course, set the regions for each hit you want to chop. So based on my interpretation of what others have said, for users like me who use an integrated hardware & sooftware studio..the 400o's beatslicers serves as a good backup.


I dont see any advantages to using the MPC4000s slicer over recycles, given that you have both. It there some other feature or attribute that makes the mpc preferable?

One thing i can thing of is that I think Recycle converts all exported files to 16 bit. that sucks. The mpc will likely retain the 24 bit
Last edited by Shah on Mon Mar 15, 2004 7:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
By My_Yoot Mon Mar 15, 2004 6:25 pm
Shah wrote:I am do not find this feature as useful as many others seem to. Let me state outright that i have owned my 4000 for 5 days and chop my breaks in recycle. I used a 2000xl for many years befor and found that machines inability to integrate with computers limiting and expensive.

In most beat slicing programs you can evaluate the bpm and set loop start and end point and, of course, set the regions for each hit you want to chop. So based on my interpretation of what others have said, for users like me who use an integrated hardware & sooftware studio..the 400o's beatslicers serves as a good backup.


I dont see any advantages to using the MPC4000s slicer over recycles, given that you have both. It there some other feature or attribute that makes the mpc preferable?

One thing i can thing of is that I think Recycle converts all exported files to 16 bit. that sucks. The mpc will likely retain the 24 bit



So you'd recommend Recycle (which I have) then if I've got 16bit drum samples?

yes

By Shah Mon Mar 15, 2004 7:15 pm
I would just use recycle if your sample are 16 bit to begin with.

it's much faster to use, the peak detector will find the start points for each hit for you.

also you can add a deley on your hits and change the pitch..its really useful if you are slowing down a break and dont want it to sound so chopped.
User avatar

By The-Shadow Mon Mar 15, 2004 7:21 pm
lacasanostrarecords.com wrote:Maybe its me but im not too keen on sample slice in the 4k I use Bias peak and Recycle!!! Tell me why i should use it and give some tips because right now im not feelin it but ..to be honest i havent really messed wit it much!


Seen. With Peak and Ak.sys, I can quickly transfer samples for the 4K to Peak, do the thing and pipe it back.

If Akai would make the jog dial track faster, I would be using the sample editing in the 4K more, but it takes too many turns to scroll around. You'll get Carpal Tunnel after all that spinning.

By lacasanostrarecords.com Mon Mar 15, 2004 8:53 pm
The-Shadow wrote:
lacasanostrarecords.com wrote:Maybe its me but im not too keen on sample slice in the 4k I use Bias peak and Recycle!!! Tell me why i should use it and give some tips because right now im not feelin it but ..to be honest i havent really messed wit it much!


Seen. With Peak and Ak.sys, I can quickly transfer samples for the 4K to Peak, do the thing and pipe it back.

If Akai would make the jog dial track faster, I would be using the sample editing in the 4K more, but it takes too many turns to scroll around. You'll get Carpal Tunnel after all that spinning.
LOL Exactly..Recycle and Bias Peak rule and are so fast with Aksys. why would i even waste my energy twisting that Jog Wheel for dayz?? Besides I think Akai is going to have a repair issue with them damn jog wheels a year from now...too much damn rotatin going on!! But for an all in one machine im happy.....it loads all my e-mu libraries with ease.....so im still whackin off to that!! :shock:
User avatar

By Kalei Tue Mar 16, 2004 6:51 pm
The latest version of Recycle, v2.1 handles 24 bit.

http://www.propellerheads.se/products/r ... =mainframe

New in ReCycle 2.1:

Mac OS X Support
True Windows XP Support
Multiple Undos
Full 24-bit resolution
Reason Adapted and Reload included

Kalei
By Altopiano Wed Mar 17, 2004 12:12 am
Shah wrote:I would just use recycle if your sample are 16 bit to begin with.

it's much faster to use, the peak detector will find the start points for each hit for you.

also you can add a deley on your hits and change the pitch..its really useful if you are slowing down a break and dont want it to sound so chopped.


skah and all other felles!

i don't know recycle at all! can anyone tell me what it does what i can't do with the 4k?

my opinion:

1. faster/quickness: sure the wheel is slowly! but once u get a feel for inserting numbers combined with usin the wheel one is quit quick as well! imo it takes me more time to transfer myself from the mpc to the pc, transfer the sample via aksys, load it into a soft prog (recycle), ... then finding start (loop) points! moreover i find it very useful to have the pads (13,14,15,16) when cuttin loops, regions ...

2. slowing down breaks: imo the end margins field is for that!
- speeding up loop > no end margin!
- intending leavin a loop at the same pitch > an end margin of about 20-30 is aright!
- slowing down loop > a lot of end margin!

questions:

1. can anyone give me reasons for usin recycle/and not mpc regioons window? is it ... maybe easier to find loop points or what?
2. can anyone confirm/criticize/say somethin ... to my opinion 2?

cheers

alto
User avatar

By Kalei Wed Mar 17, 2004 12:52 am
If you chop a great amount of samples, or anything over 16 parts recycle will be faster no matter how fast you are on the 4k. Its just dead easy to open a sample in it and use the slider to let it add hitpoints. Unfortunately ReCycle doesnt do this perfectly imo. Alot of the times the ones that are on the right spot needs to be moved to get the click sounds out of it, and most of the times the slider feature doesnt really help because it simply chops at the wrong places so you still have to do it manually.

However, ReCycle is still alot faster as you get used how to operate it. And the excuse about loading it up in the computer doesnt really apply imo, usually the computer is already up and running and the mpc connected. This means you sample what you wanna use into the 4k from a record for instance, drag it into recycle and boom its there in an instant. Then chop as you like. When you're done just use the "Export to AKP" function and you got yourself a program all set up, layed out on the pads. Then simply drag it all back to the mpc and start banging the pads.

About #2, ReCyle handles this abit differently. Basically what it does is reversing the sample at the end. This is usually better than just letting it run into the next chopped part.

And about #1, imo its alot easier to find start poitns in recycle. Its a better graphical interface (just change it to 2d and a better color than the default) and you simply click on where you want a starting point.

Kalei

By Altopiano Wed Mar 17, 2004 1:59 am
hy kalei

thanx for ur response!


Alot of the times the ones that are on the right spot needs to be moved to get the click sounds out of it, and most of the times the slider feature doesnt really help because it simply chops at the wrong places so you still have to do it manually.



therefor the pads at the mpc are great imo! 1:0 for me!



However, ReCycle is still alot faster as you get used how to operate it. And the excuse about loading it up in the computer doesnt really apply imo, usually the computer is already up and running and the mpc connected. This means you sample what you wanna use into the 4k from a record for instance, drag it into recycle and boom its there in an instant. Then chop as you like. When you're done just use the "Export to AKP" function and you got yourself a program all set up, layed out on the pads. Then simply drag it all back to the mpc and start banging the pads.



be careful kalei! you're talkin to a ferrari supporter! i give it to me aswell! 2:0



About #2, ReCyle handles this abit differently. Basically what it does is reversing the sample at the end. This is usually better than just letting it run into the next chopped part.


this point goes to you're recycle! 2:1


And about #1, imo its alot easier to find start poitns in recycle. Its a better graphical interface (just change it to 2d and a better color than the default) and you simply click on where you want a starting point.

Kalei[/quote]

this one as well! ... damn 2:2, couldn't someone ask akai instead of changin the colour of the machines to add some colour to its screens!

so resuming: i've scored the 1:0 for the pads :lol: , inbelievably beautyful extended to 2:0 for the ferrari :twisted: ! you did the 2:1 reversin :cry: , and finally got the 2:2 for the colours :oops: !

however! cheers for the chat, good luck with recycle and bangin beaz wit ur pads!

alto
User avatar

By Kalei Wed Mar 17, 2004 2:45 am
Obviously we disagree but thanks anyway :)

Kalei
User avatar

By Iceberg-Slim Wed Mar 17, 2004 9:21 am
Hopefully I dont come off 2 hard, but your ineffiencity with the 4k sample chopping is only cause you havent bothered to learn/take time with it/ and go thru the manual

For you people that are still turning the bones outta your fingers go to the sample time hold shift and hit the arrows left or right to speed around the sample extremely fast, as you get used to it your precision will go up

The hitpoint thing on Recycle is also on on the MPC go to the start or end parts(the numbers and hit window it will bring up Find Start or End) and instead the db in and it will find it, with a little knowledge of analyzing the sample waveform and getting adjusted to being able to tell the DB you can be pretty efficent with it (this works between regions)

Also learn the shift + block up and down for zooming, while a colorful screen may be cute its def not necessary as you can achieve the same result, also hit window on the VIEW in sample chop you can change your Scale between linear and log
View Bipolar and Rectified
Fill On or Off

Also hitting Window on the Loop numbers it will find loop as well (takes time to learn to be efficent with it)

Hope this helps some of you, I used to chop all my stuff inside Sound Forge till my PC was down and I had to use the MPC to chop, after I learned it, I naturally run to it everytime, I havent chopped samples in shit else, also I've noticed when I set regions inside of the MPC and upload to Sound Forge it retains those markers


Its arguable that the pc is faster for chopping, but with creativity and experience the mpc is def not slower :)

All a matter of preference, I really dont want to go outside for anything besides FX