Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
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By DPM Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:35 am
I've layered a hat and a tamborine. I want the hat to be played at a T-Signature of 1/8 on Track1, and I want my tamborine to be played at a Time Signature of 1/4 on Track2. But when I switch the Time Sig of one Track, it switches all the other ones to the same T-Sig! how do I set different tracks to different Time Sigs? Or am I missing an easier step to have them different? I've used the search function, no help....and I looked in the manual.....
By brazeca Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:56 am
As far as I know, time signature setting is global and applies to entire sequence. It is unusual to have different TS in a hip-hop (and the majority of urban and dance styles as well) track and switch between them, unless it is a highly experimental beat ;) Normally 4/4 or 3/4 is used. Time signature is: the number of beats (full notes) in the bar (numerator) and the number of bars in the measure (denominator).

What you are trying to do is to have a hi-hat and a tambourine to play with different note lengths, not time signatures (well, as they are percussion instruments, we can say that it's not the note length, but the position they are played at, or note resolution). The hi-hat should occur at every eighth note and the tambourine at every fourth. If so, then your TS is 4/4, obviously.

So, what I'd recommend is just programming the notes in the track. As the highest resolution for your notes here is 1/8, then set TC = 1/8 and then switch REC on and hit your hi-hat pad 8 times for each bar of the sequence length. Then go to tambourine track and record it just hitting it four times for each bar. OR, you can go to the step mode, set the 'Auto step increment' ON and TC to 1/8. And then record your tracks in step mode.
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By Explicit- Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:18 am
brazeca wrote:As far as I know, time signature setting is global and applies to entire sequence. It is unusual to have different TS in a hip-hop (and the majority of urban and dance styles as well) track and switch between them, unless it is a highly experimental beat ;) Normally 4/4 or 3/4 is used. Time signature is: the number of beats (full notes) in the bar (numerator) and the number of bars in the measure (denominator).

What you are trying to do is to have a hi-hat and a tambourine to play with different note lengths, not time signatures (well, as they are percussion instruments, we can say that it's not the note length, but the position they are played at, or note resolution). The hi-hat should occur at every eighth note and the tambourine at every fourth. If so, then your TS is 4/4, obviously.

So, what I'd recommend is just programming the notes in the track. As the highest resolution for your notes here is 1/8, then set TC = 1/8 and then switch REC on and hit your hi-hat pad 8 times for each bar of the sequence length. Then go to tambourine track and record it just hitting it four times for each bar. OR, you can go to the step mode, set the 'Auto step increment' ON and TC to 1/8. And then record your tracks in step mode.

Ah... Good way of explaining. Im gonna try this. but with different hats...
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By DPM Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:50 am
so when i hit the pad 8 times for the hat, i have to hit all of them the speed i want them to be? sry if i don't understand correctly, but that seems impossible. how would i hit all of them so that they'd be in the exact spot they need to be in and at the same speed, i'd mess up and have to undo them a million times to get them right, wouldn't i? (im probably still missing something.....)
By brazeca Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:03 pm
DPM, you must articulate clearly what exactly is what you want. I understand from your question that you want hi-hats to be played back at every 8th note. That means there would be 8 hits per bar. Let's say, even if you are rhythmically challenged, after switching the timing correction on and setting it to 1/8 notes, you just won't be able to record your hat sequence loose! If you somehow manage to hit your hats at wrong times, then try TC = 1/16. That will quantize all notes recorded to the nearest 1/16 note position. Try also switching the metronome on (for it to play while you record the sequence) and set the rate to 1/8 - it will click exactly at the speed for your hats.
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By Lampdog Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:42 pm
1/8 and 1/16 is not at all hard to play live and get it right the very first time.
Don't be scared to make mistakes. Practice it. How else are you going to get better?
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By Explicit- Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:51 pm
Yeah dude it works... Everything falls in place... I did one then the other on OVER DUB.

1/16 is kinda hard. LoL
Thats something I gotta practice. :o
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By Lampdog Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:16 pm
Explicit- wrote:1/16 is kinda hard. LoL


not at all.
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By Explicit- Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:24 pm
Lampdog wrote:
Explicit- wrote:1/16 is kinda hard. LoL


not at all.

Its because you have skills. Girls like guys with skills. Like computer typing skills and ninja skills and such. LUCKY.

jk... I will most def do the 1/16.
By brazeca Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:30 am
There's also a useful tip for live recording: set the lower tempo! Like, if you are programming a 160 bpm drum-n-bass sequence, set tempo at 80 or even 60 bpm while recording :) Even experienced drummers encounter difficulties when playing at high speed. So, keep it slow while recording.
By Emilie Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:14 am
brazeca wrote:There's also a useful tip for live recording: set the lower tempo! Like, if you are programming a 160 bpm drum-n-bass sequence, set tempo at 80 or even 60 bpm while recording :) Even experienced drummers encounter difficulties when playing at high speed. So, keep it slow while recording.


Yeah, just chill out 8) . Try to have the rhythm in you legs (meaning) stomp the tempo, it helps!
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By Galik-C Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:53 pm
I found out the hard way about how Timing Correct applies to all parts of the sequence, but I have another question: Is it possible to change the SWING of just one track (ex. Track 1 = Guitar 1 w/ 75% Swing or whatever), while the others keep to the same TS? Am I crazy for thinking of this or what?
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By Lampdog Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:10 pm
Explicit- wrote:
Lampdog wrote:
Explicit- wrote:1/16 is kinda hard. LoL


not at all.

Its because you have skills. Girls like guys with skills. Like computer typing skills and ninja skills and such. LUCKY.

jk... I will most def do the 1/16.


I'm just now seeing this, LMFAO!!

Falling out my mfkn chair laughin...
By Emilie Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:09 pm
Galik-C wrote:I found out the hard way about how Timing Correct applies to all parts of the sequence, but I have another question: Is it possible to change the SWING of just one track (ex. Track 1 = Guitar 1 w/ 75% Swing or whatever), while the others keep to the same TS? Am I crazy for thinking of this or what?


Yep. it can be done in "Seq edit". Just re quantize the one track.