Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By MitchMatch Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:30 am
Yeah i jus wanted 2 kno how do you play the mpc on beat.. & dont tell me "go read the manual" cause thats bulshit... the manual makes no sense when your just starting i read it like 10 times.... I watched videos...I should just stick with Fruity Loops...
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By TheFirstJimBo Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:52 am
practice following the metronome and make your chops on beat.
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By Upright Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:52 pm
MitchMatch wrote:Yeah i jus wanted 2 kno how do you play the mpc on beat.. & dont tell me "go read the manual" cause thats ****... the manual makes no sense when your just starting i read it like 10 times.... I watched videos...I should just stick with Fruity Loops...





Are you using the stock mpc sounds or did you sample something into the 500?
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By rocsta Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:59 pm
MitchMatch wrote:Yeah i jus wanted 2 kno how do you play the mpc on beat.. & dont tell me "go read the manual" cause thats ****... the manual makes no sense when your just starting i read it like 10 times.... I watched videos...I should just stick with Fruity Loops...

LOL ... I laughed my ass off at that post...

Well I remember how frustrating it was for me, but actually it's quite easy, you just need to understand beats and bars and how to count them, concentrate on 4/4. After you got that it will become natural to you. What also helped me a lot was learning how to read sheet music, I didn't get lessons, I learned it with the book Piano For Dummies. There you learn how to *measure* in music theory. It tells what 1/4th is what 16th and 32th are etc.

If you want to play your drums on time, then turn on the metrenome and start to count from the start of the 1st bar, do it like this: 1 and - 2 and - 3 and - 4 and (repeat)

Everytime you say a number (not the "and") you have to say it right with tick of the metrenome. Instead of the last "and" behind the 4 you can just take a deep breath in to be able to repeat the next bar.
BTW the snare belongs to the 2 and 4, but you probably know that already

And when you for example count til 90 in exactly 1 minute then you have the tempo of 90 BPM (Beats Pro Minute)

RTFM! lol you're right the manual doesn't explain those things it's not supposed to.
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By Upright Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:09 pm
Another thing, if your samples aren't truncated properly then your tracks are gonna sound horrible or off beat....this is why I asked you if you're using the stock mpc samples...as they are all truncated correctly.

By MitchMatch Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:02 pm
Thanx
By milaner69 Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:12 pm
Yeah I feel you on the pompous read the manual replies I've been guilty of that and kinda feel bad for doing it but READ THE DAMN MANUAL IT AINT HARD :)
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By Upright Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:20 pm
milaner69 wrote:Yeah I feel you on the pompous read the manual replies I've been guilty of that and kinda feel bad for doing it but READ THE DAMN MANUAL IT AINT HARD :)




Yeah on the real....it's not meant to offend or make you feel stupid. It's ultimately the only way you're gonna learn the machine for yourself. Even if you don't understand the things you're reading I still say read the manual from cover to cover. :D
By ghostlywhitemachines Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:37 pm
Upright wrote:
milaner69 wrote:Yeah I feel you on the pompous read the manual replies I've been guilty of that and kinda feel bad for doing it but READ THE DAMN MANUAL IT AINT HARD :)




Yeah on the real....it's not meant to offend or make you feel stupid. It's ultimately the only way you're gonna learn the machine for yourself. Even if you don't understand the things you're reading I still say read the manual from cover to cover. :D


I totally agree with that, I downloaded the manual off the akai website before I even got the 500 and read it a few times. I still ask stupid questions though sometimes! Is the mpc-tutor bible for the 500 a good investment? I downloaded the free chapter and it seems well written... there are certainly good tips on how to do your chops in there that could help with your beat making.
By milaner69 Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:42 pm
Just blaze has produced many tracks for famous albums using the venerable MPC

from Weezys - the Carter to Beans - The Reason and the Truth

now from outta nowhere he hits us with the most eyeopening revelation to how he does it DAMN I've been waiting for this opus


the MANUAL
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By Scorsese718 Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:32 pm
ghostlywhitemachines wrote:
Upright wrote:
milaner69 wrote:Yeah I feel you on the pompous read the manual replies I've been guilty of that and kinda feel bad for doing it but READ THE DAMN MANUAL IT AINT HARD :)




Yeah on the real....it's not meant to offend or make you feel stupid. It's ultimately the only way you're gonna learn the machine for yourself. Even if you don't understand the things you're reading I still say read the manual from cover to cover. :D


I totally agree with that, I downloaded the manual off the akai website before I even got the 500 and read it a few times. I still ask stupid questions though sometimes! Is the mpc-tutor bible for the 500 a good investment? I downloaded the free chapter and it seems well written... there are certainly good tips on how to do your chops in there that could help with your beat making.


Yeah the mpc 500 bible is a good investment... i purchased it, and i am very happy with it... Plus there is jewels in there that will help you understand alot, and add more to your music making.... And its written so that even a 5 year old can understand