Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
By numanmpc Sat Jan 31, 2009 4:05 am
Is there a way to layer drum on the mpc 4000?

I mean so i could hit one pad and it triggers many samples with each their own filter volume and pan settings?
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By Blue Haze Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:02 pm
Go to programs and zone page and all you wish
is there.
By numanmpc Sat Jan 31, 2009 4:22 pm
Hey blue

Yeah it works, how to adjut the filter though, because, ive changed the filter parameters in zone mode, but it doesnt affect the sound. And its not as powerful as the filter that you can select.

Also, I did two time the same zone layering on two different pads, with the exact same settings, and it wasnt sounding the same. Any reason?
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By Blue Haze Sat Jan 31, 2009 4:45 pm
numanmpc wrote:Hey blue

Yeah it works, how to adjut the filter though, because, ive changed the filter parameters in zone mode, but it doesnt affect the sound. And its not as powerful as the filter that you can select.

Also, I did two time the same zone layering on two different pads, with the exact same settings, and it wasnt sounding the same. Any reason?



Filter in zone is an offset meaning that it is the same filter just you can make it less or greater than the cutoff set for zone 1.

Picture zone one the real lowpass setting of cutoff at 80 in edit 1 page.

Now zones 2, 3, and 4 can be less or greater than the 80 set in cutoff in edit 1 page.

Zone 2 at 60 is 60-80=20 real value

Zone 3 at 50 is 50-80=30 real value

Zone 4 at 70 is 70-80=10 real value


Now you could set the cutoff at 100 lowpass in edit 1 page then go to the zone pages and set.

Zone 1 20-100= 80

Zone 2 40-100=60

Zone 3 50-100=50

Zone 4 780-100=20 real values.



Point to remember to set up lowpass in edit 1 with or without adjusting the full cutoff in edit 1 page.

Go to zone page to adjust the same FILTER for each zone layer relative to the edit 1 cutoff value and make sure you
have the same setup in the program matrix no filter env>>>cutoff on each pad unless that it what you want.


If you want different absolute filter then of course use do the obvious and assign the samples to different pads a1, a2, a3 and a4 and apply different filters. If you move the cursor to the note number in program keymix page and press window you can copy pad parameters (filter, amp and settings to another pad).


Actually the mpc 4k`doesn`t have to my knowledge have a simulatuous drum program pads assignment but you can layer keygroups with keygroup programs.


Good luck and read when you can.
By numanmpc Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:08 pm
Yeah this machine is really cool, I already use it pretty quick, and know most of what I need to produce music.

I'll learn the rest over time. Yeah I'm gonna try the keygroup thing, because if I want to put a sub kick for example, under a kick, I'll need to filter it with its own filter if I want to find the sweetspot.

The zone features is still extremely useful for most situations, and is quick. The start function is brilliant.

Ok thanks blue haze, im lovin that machine
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By Blue Haze Thu Dec 30, 2010 6:55 am
An revision to this on edit 1 page in drum program set your filter by ear to the amount you like. Next go to zone page and modify the zone filters and start to tastes. It works better this way. In addition the different poles 2, 4 and 6 gives different sounds. :D