MPC:s for other things than drums?

I'm trying to understand what to expect if I buy an MPC. Can it be used for other things than drums when using the internal sampler? I'm thinking of stuff like bass and chords, that need chromatic tuning over a bigger keyboard range. Not like drums where 1 sample=1 key.

Or do I have to make a drum-program and assign and retune the sample for each pad over the whole (64 notes/pads)?

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I read the manual for MPC2000 and MPC3000 and these do really only have a drum-program option if I understand things correctly.

But what about MPC1000 and 2500?
Is JJ OS different in this aspect?

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=98571

I brought up the fact that if one's looking for more of a tone module, then the 4k would be it...(KEYGROUPS).

So if I understand this correctly none of 1000/2500/5000 is capable of acting as chromatic instruments with full key range in a practical manner?

But 4000 does.

When I read the specification on akaipro.com it seems like 2000XL and 4000 are the only ones capable of readaing sample libraries from Akai/EMU/Roland also. I wonder if they mean including stuff like keygroups, the MPC2000XL can't do that - right?

1000/2500 are both capable of multisampling and chromatic inst pgm building.

check out my video if you need more info
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IMWT1blUZjY

Great! That's just what I'm looking for!

Is that a JJOS feature only?

I read the original Akai manual without finding Instrument Programs but maybe I grabbed an old manual...or it's not in the original OS.

I'm pretty sure you can do this as well on the original OS. It just doesn't have proper keygroups like the 4000.

you can, but it is a manual, 1 pad at a time process - and is limited to pads notes 35-98 as opposed to 0-127. ie if you did it on the original os you'd be short a considerable number of notes in the low/high range when triggering from external midi keyboard

So in the original latest Akai OS for MPC1000 i can't select a range (say c1 to c2) and assign one sample to the whole range, but I'll have to assign the same sample to all twelve seminotes/pads from c1 to c2?

So, there are only drum programs internally on Akai OS but on JJ OS I can chose between Drum Programs AND Instrument Programs internally.

Is that correct?

So in the original latest Akai OS for MPC1000 i can't select a range (say c1 to c2) and assign one sample to the whole range, but I'll have to assign the same sample to all twelve seminotes/pads from c1 to c2?

correct. individually.

So, there are only drum programs internally on Akai OS but on JJ OS I can chose between Drum Programs AND Instrument Programs internally.

you got it

Nym wrote:you can, but it is a manual, 1 pad at a time process - and is limited to pads notes 35-98 as opposed to 0-127. ie if you did it on the original os you'd be short a considerable number of notes in the low/high range when triggering from external midi keyboard

oh my god....how could I overlook that...


So JJOS picks out several different samples and assigns them to different pads for you automatically?

it can be that easy, for sure. it's like a kind of autochromatic thing when dealing with so few samples as 1-3 etc. you can specify the original note of the sample and then specify the range of notes it'll play over, some of which may be 35-98 (covered by the pads)

ideally, you're putting in more than just 3 notes if you want a decent multisampled inst pgm. this is a more time consuming process, but still better than what i'd have to have done before. i definitely never do it while making a song - i do it while multisampling. different process, the latter i do when i have time to prepare for later.

but with inst pgms, it's best not to think "assigns to the pads automatically" but instead "assigns to the NOTES automatically." with inst pgms, it's entirely based on what note is what, since all inst pgms are necessarily chromatic. this is GREAT for "doubling up" on inst pgms, ie assigning a midi out channel to the inst pgm and layering it with say a softsynth or softsampler.

Ok...I trust your expertise.

...like using a fork to eat cereal.