Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By guyb Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:24 pm
Hi guys, I got my mpc500 yesterday, spent all day exploring it etc. Just wondering if anyone knows of an open source or free program similar to recycle, which allows you to slice up a wave file, export the chunks, and create a midi file of the timing data? Obviously this is similar to rex2, but since I will be loading them into the mpc anyway, I dont care about the file format! I dont want to pirate recycle, I own Sonar 6 and so I can load and edit rex2 files with RXP but there doesnt seem to be any way to create them.

If there isnt one, I will write one (im a software engineer), and it will also export a PGM file with the slices loaded and all the MIDI notes set so it can all go straight onto the MPC in one click. I might do this anyway, since that additional feature would be quite handy and I am in need of a project.
By Mandzo Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:20 pm
Even if there was such a freeware program I wouldn’t give you the link, because I want you to write that program with the PGM export option :D

Try searching the kvraudio database, maybe you’ll find something useful.
http://www.kvraudio.com/
By guyb Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:37 pm
Haha I couldnt sleep last night thinking about it so I stayed up until 5am coding! Give me a week and I will hopefully have something to show. Also will put in a chromatic assign button to do synth layouts because that is a pain in the arse too. Over time hopefully I can add some DSP stuff too, maybe allow VST plug in effects, or let it be used as a MIDI vst plug in.

Please let me know of any features which you would like in an editor program and I will see what I can do.
By thecatinside Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:56 pm
Much appreciated! Good to know people are willing to give hours for something free.

When you get that finished, please move on to a new os for mpc500 :lol:
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By temetrepo Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:14 pm
thecatinside wrote:Much appreciated! Good to know people are willing to give hours for something free.

When you get that finished, please move on to a new os for mpc500 :lol:

:lol: :lol:
By guyb Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:21 pm
haha confusing, I guess :mrgreen: , hopefully it willbe intuitive when you use it. Ive tried to make it as opposite to the MPC as possible (ie lots of information on screen at once!).
Ive stolen a couple of ideas from ableton for library organization. Those flags at the top left are folder shortcuts for the library panel, and the two arrows allow you to hide and expand folders above the one you are in so you get more on one screen. all of the dividers between the panels are also adjustable so you can change the sizes of the different sections depending on what you are doing.
By MCL Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:17 pm
Good work mate - looks good :)

Is this just Windows based at the moment - or is it (or will it be) Windows and Mac?
By MCL Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:53 pm
Hurrah! :P
By thecatinside Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:44 pm
Looking good. I Love the fact you're making it 500 specific (12 pads instead of 16).

How about changing the bank labels from 1-4 to A-D as they are in mpc? Also the graphic thing showing the wave (excuse my english) seems a little bit hard to read but I haven't tried the program yet so I wouldn't know.

All in all, I'm waiting my life to become much easier soon!