Song or sequence

Hey guys I jsut got my MPC and I love it already.

Just wondering. WHen you make your music, do you make the entire songs in one sequence, or do you dividae the different parts of the song into different sequences and then put them together in song mode?

The reason I want to know is because I want to start making music right away and I realize that I might get some problems further ahead if I create my first songs in one way and the later ones differently when Iä've learned the machine.

Uhmm, let me put that in another way. My language skills are poor. =) I want to be able to easyli reach the different parts of the song to reverse with the band, so I'm guessing it would be a good idea to save the different parts as sequences and them put them together in song mode.

But is this way the most convenient in every situation?

I'd love to hear how you guys use these different ways of working!

You should definitelly go with sequence. That way you have more flexibility for the song arangement. When you have your sequences ready, start putting them into a song. You always have the possibility to make one long sequence with all you sequences arrangerd in the song mode. You can always merge your sequences together, but if you start by maknig a song, you will have hard time to split it into sequences alater on.

Peace!

Here's how I've been doing it:

I start with one sequence maybe 4 bars long, building one track at a time (ie kicks, then snare, then hats, then bass ect.) and I just keep adding tracks, maybe muting a few as I go so things don't get too clutered. then I might take say the drum tracks and copy them to a new set of tracks so I can work in a fill or two.

Once I thing I have all I need to make a solid song I take the sequence (lets call it the master sequence) and I a whole bunch of copys, the number of copies depends on how lon you want the song to be.

Then I go into song mode and bring in the sequences one at a time, but before I do so I edit them by muting tracts or erasing parts of bars. That way the track builds, breaks, bridges and then ends.

Once the song is how I want it, I convert it to a sequence. After that has been done it is important to go and make sure all mutes are turned off. Now the sequence can be played back and minor adjusments can be made.

Finally I use the mute function to mix down one track at a time (I do this internally in the MPC but you could use the multiple outs with a outbord mixer) Then I use the usb to bring the tracks into my PC for final eq and processing .

Thats one way to do it, I'm sure there are meny more. Sounds like you are working with a live band? If so you may want to stop short of combining the tracks into a song, that way you can just sit in track mute mode and drop stuff in and out on the fly

HB

I make 2 or 4 measure sequences with variations to the basic beat like a version with a tambourine, a version with no kick, a version with a break etc.
In a live situation i use the 'next sequence' screen to play whatever sequence i want at the moment.
On some songs i play bass guitar and then i use the 'song mode'. What's so great about the mpc is that you can put a 'HOLD' in the song instruction, this will repeat a sequence in the song untill you press 'sudden'or 'next'. I use a footswitch for this.

Finally I use the mute function to mix down one track at a time (I do this internally in the MPC but you could use the multiple outs with a outbord mixer) Then I use the usb to bring the tracks into my PC for final eq and processing .

I understand that you make one wave file for each track and you save it on your CF card. And then you use USB to transfer those wavs to your PC. But....how do you syncronize your tracks (wavs) on your PC?

effekt-
I add one bar to the begining of the sequence wich has a unique track consisting of a clap at the first beat of the measure. Then when I mix down I never mute this track, so all the tracks start with a clap which I use to sync in my computer; then it can be deleted later
HB

wow, that's a very original way of syncronizing. I mean, It makes sens, but I would never thouht of doing it that way. But as long if it work for you...that's fine

One day you maybe you should try syncing usin MIDI clock