Triggering the Akai S950 with Akai MPC 4000

dude you are talking nonsense - you can definately assign custom pad > MIDI notes on the MPC4000.
There's is even a custom 'pad editor' screen in the Ak.Sys software to let you do in on your PC or Mac.

Again I refer you to the advice: RTFM

Sad to say dude but everyone is giving you basic good advice plus read the manual tip most samplers are chromatic so it the 4k just do like McSmooth and Feline told you.

Moons from now you will look back on this and laugh at yourself we all did once we understood it. It will come don`t worry it is just fear of the unknown.

Thanks feline1. (although again I'm not sure if you're reading my later replies).

Blue Haze. I never questioned whether anyone's advice was bad or good. In fact, I gave credit to everyone where it was due. I'm not new to production or to the MPC series, I'm just new to the 4000. I'm aware of the Ak.Sys software. I just wanted to know if there was a more simple, faster way to achieve a "saved" pad settings, WITHOUT HAVING TO HOOK MY MPC UP TO A COMPUTER and use the Ak,Sys software!!! I didn't have to do it with the MPC 60 II or the MPC 3000, and I didn't think that I would HAVE to do it with the 4000. So I assumed that there was a "short cut way" to do this. (That's it). I read the manual everyday, and I'm sure I will be visiting it from time to time in the future, even when I know the 4000 really well. (Just like I read the manuals of all of my gear). Listen, I understand that there are those who want everything answered for them without doing their own reading. That is not me. But if I read the manual and I perhaps do not get anything clearly, is it really a problem to come on a production forum and ask for help from someone who's more knowledgeable than me?

Again. I have the MPC triggering the S950 perfectly. I DO NOT have any problems triggering the S950. I AM AWARE of the Ak.Sys software. I just wanted to know if there was another way of doing something, that's it.

Thanks

If all you want to do is save your pad settings just save the program with the Multi to your hard drive. Basically a program is all of your midi notes in chromatic scale especially for a traditional sampler you have a keygroup which has a keyspan (assigning a sound over several keys) oppose to a drum program on the 2000 to 3000 which only has one sound to one key. If you save your Multi your program will be assigned to a part which is how you set your midi channels to go out to your S950. This I assume you already know I guess plus you DON`T need to use Aksys to do this. All of this is covered in the first 10 pages of the User`s manual. Multis are for volume, pan, midi, and etc. Programs are the keyspan of a keygroup program along with the pitch, filter, amp and etc.

Since you are trigger the S950 save the multi and program into your folder on your hd.

Here's a better solution. Yet, this is within both of the manuals. However, many people that answer with sarcasm always hide this fact: they don't know the answer.


With in the S950, create 64 keygroups. The keygroups will be listed as note numbers and keynames-per-octave (i.e. C0, D0, etc). These keygroups will correspond the the 64 pads of the MPC. The MPC will tell you the note number of each pad. Match the note number of the keygroups to the pad. (example Pad A1 = #60, make keygroup-1 = #60 Sidenote: actual number values are in your machines). It might vary with each of the MPCs and may differ is using JJ-OS with certain models.

If you don't care about the MIDI channel the S950 responds to, set it to OMNI. Else, set it to Channel-10, or whatever the default channel for drum is via General-MIDI (requires some reading, studying, and research on your part). This will still allow you to use the other channels for your self made patches/programs. From the S950 manual, both book for and the S900 video manual, set the MIDI channel to the number you want it to respond to minus one. Else MIDIChannel #1 = 0. This unit was first made when electronic musicians knew much about computers and did not rely heavily on WYSIWYG. It also makes perfect sense because ALL COMPUTERS start counting with the number zero. Sidenote: notice that the velocity parameters are from 0 to 127?

I hope this will help. Yet, after making such an expensive investment, you should always READ THE MANUAL first or as you are learning how to use anything. NOTICE HOW MANY PEOPLE THINK THEY KNOW WINDOWS, then cuss out people at Best Buy because of their ignorance and their arrogance. Unless you want to be an equal, read your manuals, don't be a sequel.

Mad Cherokee

wow,madcherokee where did you get that info from? thats dope.

rookie wrote:wow,madcherokee where did you get that info from? thats dope.

I don't own a 4000. But, I saw this from a video on YouTube(creating the keygroups on the 950 to match the midi-note of the SP1200 drum-pads). The video was about using a S950 with a SP1200. But, the other stuff is from the manuals. I own two S950, one S2000, one Roland S-550, a MPC500, a MPC1000 and a MPC2000XL. I've worked with Roland, Yamaha, and Korg equipment since I've been a kid at my church. I've also had to make the repairs at my church, too. Lots of studying schematics and reading manuals! That's why other computer programmers, such as myself, always say "Read The F....ng Manual!" It really helps with low-level C programming at 3:30 in the morning knowing you got to get back up at 5:30! Hehe

Mad Cherokee

I don't know if this helps the next unsuspecting reader of this thread trying to trigger an s900/950 from an MPC 4000, but I noticed that the s900 doesn't respond to midi instructions from the mp4k if you are using a drum program in the 4k, the s900 only works if you setup a keygroup in the MPC 4000 first. I set up 9 different key groups in the s900 and assigned them to the pitches/pads I wanted them to line up with on the MPC. Named the instrument on output B 's900' in the MPC and saved the program in a multi. Now when I turn on both machines they are ready to go.

It's probably easier to do it that way since the Ak.Sys allows the 4K to use keygroups. Yet, I've seen a couple of people use the drum program, too. But I suspect that the drum mode only uses Midi channel 10. However I could be wrong. Could you find out for us? I've been busy with graduate school. Got a 3.2 GPA. Striving to get a 3.5 in the next few weeks! Thanks!

Mad Cherokee

Confirmed, Mad Cherokee. You deserve at least a 3.8. S900 receives drumgroups on midi channel 10.

channel 10 is the standardized midichannel for drums in GM (General MIDI)

peace

This is the kind of knowledge I come to this board for. Thanks.