Can we discuss Bar issues for a second?

On my old sampler, the number of bars could be unique for each track. Same with most software sequencers etc.

Okay, I realize the MPC is different and all that. But what I want to know is, what is your process for getting around this?

For example: I have my little 2 bar sequence with my drums (snare, kick, hat) going. NOW, I want to add a piano melody, but I want it to be 8 bars long....

SO, do you guys usually just copy an extra 6 bars to your sequence, then play the 8 bar piano melody? OR, do you go into song mode and convert the sequences into a song, then back into a sequence to make it longer?


I realize there are ways around this, but I'm fairly new to sequencing on the MP and I wanted to see what your workflow was, considering this is a pretty standard issue.

if u using JJ u can just turn the SS to the 8 bar piano loop. and the 2 bar will loop 2bars the piano will loop 8 bars.

tbh ive never had this problem but that would be my first thought.

undersound wrote:if u using JJ u can just turn the SS to the 8 bar piano loop. and the 2 bar will loop 2bars the piano will loop 8 bars.

tbh ive never had this problem but that would be my first thought.

Sorry for my retardedness, I am still using the Free JJ OS 3.08 (Just ordered OS1 today). So what your saying is that if you have a 2 bar sequence going, then you extend it to 8 bars, all the previous tracks that were only 2 bars will automatically loop for the whole 8 bars? because with my current OS, you get the message "blank bars will be added to existing sequence" etc., and after the 2 bars, it's just silence.

Use seq edit to copy bars.


Thats already in the akai manual btw

seq edit needs pimping

rinseout wrote:Use seq edit to copy bars.


Thats already in the akai manual btw

Yeah, like I said in my first post, I realize that you can use "seq edit" and maybe "song mode" to do this. I was just wondering if there was another way.

I guess it would be a bit complicated because in order to build songs, each sequence needs to be a a specific # of bars. If certain tracks in a sequence were a different # of bars, then how long would the sequence be? IMO, the sequence should simply correspond to whichever track takes up the most bars. All the other tracks should automatically extend to the number of bars of that track. To me, the fact that when you increase the number of bars in a sequence and the sequencer creates empty space just doesn't make any sense whatsoever...

but that's just me.

I like this in sequencers like Live, but i guess its just a whole different concept than the mpc´s tracks and sequence.

To me, the fact that when you increase the number of bars in a sequence and the sequencer creates empty space just doesn't make any sense whatsoever...

To me it makes perfect sense, i just set the length of the seq there. If i want my bars to be copied, i´ll copy them.

If i want my bars to be copied, i´ll copy them.

yhup that's me too

course these days, i'm trying to avoid copying and just playing it X many times.

or at least if i do i go through and nudge things and alternate velocity switches carefully

creating the illusion that it was all played.

lots of work but my overall groove is more detailed as a result

vanysh wrote: IMO, the sequence should simply correspond to whichever track takes up the most bars. All the other tracks should automatically extend to the number of bars of that track. To me, the fact that when you increase the number of bars in a sequence and the sequencer creates empty space just doesn't make any sense whatsoever...

It makes sense if you don't want the same loop running throughout the whole sequence. You place it where you want it.

I understand what you are saying and I've used old techno groovebox things that work the way you describe, but not everybody is working with continuously looping techno sequences.

elektrik_muz wrote:

vanysh wrote: IMO, the sequence should simply correspond to whichever track takes up the most bars. All the other tracks should automatically extend to the number of bars of that track. To me, the fact that when you increase the number of bars in a sequence and the sequencer creates empty space just doesn't make any sense whatsoever...

It makes sense if you don't want the same loop running throughout the whole sequence. You place it where you want it.

I understand what you are saying and I've used old techno groovebox things that work the way you describe, but not everybody is working with continuously looping techno sequences.

Yeah, I see what your saying. I guess it's more the fact that I'm used to that type of workflow and I haven't become adjusted to the MPC quite yet.