MY PERFECT TECNIQUE WITH MPC 2000 AND REASON

hi john these are the connections :

keyboard Midi OUT -------> MPC Midi in 1
MPC Midi OUT 1 --------> Midi in Usb Interface

Be sure to check the midi soft thru ON ( read the manual if you dont know )
Be sure to have either the Track 1 set output 1A

Then you get started.

I think I will do a video on my style in future, but try to get started with that. Any questions email me.

You dont need a special midi interface, just use your usb midi input.

AIM : Phlexter ( for contact )

the easiest way to control fpc is this:

on the right hand side of the plugin is the notes that are assigened to the pad. on the left is the pad.

click and drag the note "letter" down until you see "lrn". which is the learn function.

hit the pad on the mpc.

its as simple as that. you can do that for all of the pads in both banks in fpc.

also this is assuming that you have a midi connection between the mp and fl. sorry if this is redundant.

No, it's not redundant, just a little confusing. What is this actually supposed to do? I tried it and when I go to click on the pad the sample assigned to the pad plays and the note number gets reassigned to C. Am I missing something here?

by doing the above you are assigning each pad of the mpc to the pads in fpc. what this does is allow you to sequence patterns on the mpc, which gives you that loose feel, with the sounds in fpc. all it sums up to is that you are using fpc/fl studio as a sound module. after you record your midi data, you can either sample it into the mpc or render it and transfer it via usb, cf, zip, whatever you have.

im having some trouble here guys....

1) what type of "surface control device" do you set the mpc up as inside the preferences?

2) i set it up as a generic midi keyboard with control fuctions and the pads are not corrisponding correctly with the devices in reason. For instance, pad 1 on the mpc triggers the sound 2 on REdrum, can anyone point me in the right direction? give me the correct settings?

please help!

ps: im working with a mpc 2500 if it makes any difference

Phlexter, r u sure about the keyboard Midi OUT -------> MPC Midi in 1 connection. I have a midi controller not a midi keyboard with sounds.


DISREGARD THE PREVIOUS MESSAGE.............

Phlexter, I figured it out. I was making it hard on myself. It was really simple. Thanks man. I was able to use Reason 3.0 as a sound module with my AKAI MPC 2000. Thanks, again, man!

phlexter wrote:I think I will do a video on my style in future, but try to get started with that.

you should most definitely do that!!! we here in the MPC world would love you for it!

hey Phlexter I am pretty knowledgeable with hooking up with everything but for some reason, your approach to Reason and the MPC2000xl is not working with me.

First off, in order to hear sounds, I have to set the specific channels up at the top of reason and then go into my MPC and set the midi channels accordingly (MIDI 1A, 2A, etc.) But when I want to actually record and track the MIDI down into the Reason Sequencer, it will not record. (And yes, I have record enabled the tracks).

Perhaps is this because I have Reason 3.0? Anyhow, your method of avoiding the MIDI bus thing will not work at all. So please go online aim when you have the chance so I can hit u up. Thanks bro

i do the same thing but wiv ableton 6. extremely powerful. and loads of fun. the cool thing wiv ableton is that u can treat ur samples first...i.e get the correct start/end point, timestretch, warp, eq and compress, then (if u hav things setup correctly), record the treated sample directly back into the mpc. dont even need to save it as a wav or anything. the benefit of this is that if uve warped the sample correctly, then when u chop it, it will chop it perfectly to play wiv. obviously a lot of music is not perfectly in time, so wen u chop u dont get it even, ovciously correcting this in the mpc is a piece of piss, but its even more accurate using the warp markers in ableton (for me, i get the most accurate results doing this). then create sum sequences in the mpc. and record straight back into ableton, and finalise the arrangement/mix. u cnat ask for anything more. ive got a midi keyboard too. such an easy and efficient workflow. i find the mpc is the best for chopping and re-arranging chops cos it does it all in the box, but ableton is great for timestretching and adding extra touches to samples. u can obviously just compose using midi/external gear into ableton too, and as mentioned use the mpc for drums for the swing. sooooooo many great options. i love it wen u hav that feeling that u dont need to buy anything else, my setup feels so complete. im sure that feeling will disappear as soon as my hear is set on some new piece of gear. till then...happy days.

littlerob wrote:i do the same thing but wiv ableton 6. extremely powerful. and loads of fun. the cool thing wiv ableton is that u can treat ur samples first...i.e get the correct start/end point, timestretch, warp, eq and compress, then (if u hav things setup correctly),

i am on Apleton 5 still, how do u set it up correctly with MPC ( 1000) JJ OS ,
for the best workflow? what MIDI channels, Midi clock options, etc, in preferences on both sides?

elektrofone wrote:

littlerob wrote:i do the same thing but wiv ableton 6. extremely powerful. and loads of fun. the cool thing wiv ableton is that u can treat ur samples first...i.e get the correct start/end point, timestretch, warp, eq and compress, then (if u hav things setup correctly),

i am on Apleton 5 still, how do u set it up correctly with MPC ( 1000) JJ OS ,
for the best workflow? what MIDI channels, Midi clock options, etc, in preferences on both sides?

ok. off the top of my head. ableton 5 and 6 r very similar. ableton 6 is worth getting for the extras, but as far as midi and sequencing goes, those no real difference. no real difference in the interface either. btw, i hav an mpc 1000 with jj lastest os.

make sure ur settings r as follows (there might b a better way to this, i dunno, but this is wat works perfect on my system...ive got an m-audio audiophile soundcard):

on the mpc, go to mode + pad 9, click F2 (SYNC):

Sync in: 1 (Slave) --> Mode: Midi Time Code
Sync out: A (Master) --> Mode: Midi Time Code --> Frame Rate 25

in ableton, go to options --> preferences:

midi sync --> input: (ur soundcard) --> Sync Type: Midi Timecorde
--> MTC Framerate: SMpte 25 FPS

(all over settings i think can remain the same)

Connections: (theres a diagram sorta thing at the bottom of this post)

my oxygen 2 keyboard is connected via usb into my pc

a midi cable goes from the midi out A of the mpc into the midi in of my pc soundcard

Midi Setup:

this enables me to sync the mpc as the master to run with ableton. when u press the EXT button the mpc is in control.

if u want the mpc to run each channel separately its actually super easy. drag a synth or wateva into a midi channel, i.e select a preset in Operater/Simpler. this will start off as midi channel 1, and also will b channel/track 1 in ur mpc. to set the track as channel 1 in ableton and the mpc, first select Midi to 1a on the 'main' screen of ur mpc. then make sure the In/Out box is in view on ableton (if not, click on 'view'' then select 'In/Out', and select channel 1 (Ch1) where it says 'All Channels' on ur midi channel. if u select monitor as 'in' then u should b able to audition the synth from the external device (your mpc).

one thing i always do b4 i start playing with sounds using the mpc as a controller, is i always use the auto note assign (this is on jjos on the mpc 1000, but is possibly done on other mpcs also). on the mpc 1000 (jj os lastest version), select 'mode' + pad 11, select any note, then click on 'window'. and press F3 (Note Assingn to Straight). this sets the notes starting from pad 1 on bank A to be in order, i.e C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, and so on. this makes a lot easier to know where all ur notes r if u wanna use the pads to control a vst plugin or synth/drum machine via ur mpc pads.

now if u click on a pad, u should hear a sound, presumming that on midi channel 1 on ableton u hav selected a synth of some sort. now to do a second track using a different sound or synth. add a new midi channel in ableton. select it as channel 2 in the 'In/Out' bit. then go to track 2 in ur mpc, and select 2a. and u can keep going. if u r using jjos (and pos on other mpcs this can b done), u can also change the synths presets via the mpc. on the mpc 1000 just select where it says 'Seq' under 'PC' on the main screen and keep scrolling to u find the preset u want. or u can change via the menu on ableton. which eva u find easiest/fastest.

also u can record ur sequence into ur mpc. or u can record into ableton. for instance u might wanna make use of the note repeat on the mpc pads, and feel more comfortable using the mpc sequencer. u can create ur sequence on the mpc. then if u click on 'EXT' on ableton, and press record with ur seq playing on the mpc, it shld record the midi data into ableton.

if u hav a keyboard and u want to record a synth using the keys on ur keyboard into the mpc. make sure the 'midi in' of ur mpc is plugged into the 'midi out' of ur keyboard and the keyboard is connected to the pc (mine is via usb). that way wen u record a seq on the mpc, u can control the synth on the keyboard, and the data will b recorded into thhe mpc seq for u to edit.

Using Samples from ableton into the mpc/and visa versa:

in order for u to record samples straight into the mpc from ur pc u need a mixer of somesort. wat i do is hav my 'main out' cables that would normally b connected to a mixer or straight into a speaker, connected to the 'line in' of my pc soundcard. then the 'lineout' of the sound card goes into the 'line in' of the mixer. and finally the 'record out' from the mixer goes into the 'record in' of the mpc. i can also use my turntables and make scratches straight into the mpc or ableton (usually ableton). so if u r working with samples and wanna polish a sample or find a loop, i.e thru ableton and the record into the mpc. u just get ur song u wanna loop or sample, and wack it into an audio channel in ableton. unwarp it. scroll thru till u find the bit u want. loop it correctly. stick warp back on (i find it less confusing this way, cos ableton will usually warp a full old song...i.e an old soul/funk song incorrectly, so i usually take warp off, find the bars i like, loop it, then warp the small loop myself)/ so sy u hav a 2 bar loop. u just need to make sure the warp markers r set in place for 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 (and also imagine that each of these bits r gonna get chopped in ur mpc so, u can preview wat each chop will sound with within ableton). once its all warped good, choose a bpm in ableton to which u want the sample to b. the select the 'record' screen in ur mpc. press play on ableon, making sure u record the 2 bars of the sample (remember u need ur start/end points set correctly in ableton). in fact u should b able to record this perfectly. if u hav 'EXT' selected in ableton, the mpc will sync wiv ableton wen it records. so u shouldnt need to re-assign the start end points in the mpc. in fact all u do now is sav ur sample in the mpc. go to trim, and slice into the regions u want.

once u hav ur sequence as u like. u can the record ur seq back into ableton via an audio track, making sure u sync the record wiv the EXT button on. benefits of this is that u can master the track on ableton. u can master every kick, snare, hi hat too if u separate them onto separate audio tracks. soooo many options. hope this isnt tooo confusing.

a quick diagram/lowdown of my setup:


Left Speaker--to Mixer Out L-----to Mixer Out R----Right Speaker
Mixer---------Mixer Record Out L/R to MPC Record In L/R
Mixer---------PC Main Out L/R to Mixer Line In L/R Channel 1
PC -----------MPC Main Out L/R to PC Soundcard Line In L/R
PC -----------PC Midi In to Mpc Midi Out A------------------ MPC
Midi Keyboard to PC via USb
Midi Keyboard's Midi Out to Mpc Midi In 1

Nice one Littlerob gonna try your way of Sync it tonight...

have still to learn alot about JJOS ... new to MPC , used to a visual software way. but like to be able to make a complete arrangement on the MPC
and just dump all the tracks into Ableton for final mix.

having difficulties learning how to edit , cut n paste recorded sequences
on MPC.
looking forward to Stan's JJ Manual.

thanks man! its good to read that info, i dont have reason but ive been thinking about getting it sometime maybe. i use acid pro 5 and soundforge with my mpc 500

tryner use cubase sx3 with reason but when i rewire i keep gettin''MIDI input problem One or several of the MIDI inputs could not be opened'' what am i doing wrong pls help