Live and MPC - what's your flow?

contakt321 · Post by **contakt321** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:14 pm

Before I got Live I was looking into getting a 1000 (I have a MPC2000 OG, never liked the XL - the jog wheel sucks a d_ck). Ultimately I was put off by the shoddy pads and the desire to be portable. I travel a ton and wanted something to take with me. I also live in a tiny apartment and wanted to overhaul/downsize my rig. At one point I had the MPC, SP1200 and Triton all my desktop. Now I just have a laptop and a midi controller.

The funny thing is - most beats I start w/o a midi controller. I just putz around watching tv w/ my laptop and get engrossed then eventually move back to my desk.

starving student · Post by **starving student** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:30 pm

now thats one piece i'm glad i got rid of the triton, i had a trinity and then the first triton, i felt like i was in a space ship all that damn silver, it doesn't go well when you're trying to make organic beats imho I will never own another keyboard (cough cough, ...after i get the little phatty and maybe a 61 key nord, but softsynths changed my life. basicly i run the mpc, microkorg,and arturias synths more than anything and the vinyL of course

the mpc 1000 in paticular is just one of those things that I think i'd have no matter what even if i had a mpc 2500 or 5000 or whatever, it just feels like one of those everyman tools, its so compact, got the usb for transfering files back in forth for those times when i don't feel like budging from the computer. I love how no matter what all my songs on the mpc are never over 128 megs of ram cause thats the max you can have, it inspires me to get really creative and commit to ripe choices, i've got an 80 gig inside it but you can put larger, the jj os is just killin it, the only thing that the 2500 has on the 1000 feature wise is the cd burner thanks to jj, and I guess the last thing I need to do is really master the 1000/Live combo

starving student · Post by **starving student** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:32 pm

thats true about the pads though the originals suck terribly thats the one thing i'm getting ready to upgrade, akai came out with a pad upgrade, the pads feel like the mpc 60 and i've experienced them already. it's 200bucks
but I gotta hav'em, i'm used to my pads but there is no comparison.

Sleep Tyght · Post by **Sleep Tyght** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:16 pm

I've sync'd the MPC to Live using both MTC and midi clock to a Midisport 8x8 and a MOTU Express XT. For the past year I've had nothing but issues.

Sync'd to Digital Performer, Sonar, Logic, and Pro Tools? Not an issue whatsoever.

What the hell are you guys doing that refutes my claims? Seriously I'm not trying to be an ass. I really want to know.

glitchrock-buddha · Post by **glitchrock-buddha** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:36 pm

Well I don't own an MPC1000, but here's the best way I can think of using one with Live:
I'd say change the C to a D, and change the 1000 to a 32. Works pretty good!

contakt321 · Post by **contakt321** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:07 pm

glitchrock-buddha wrote:Well I don't own an MPC1000, but here's the best way I can think of using one with Live:
I'd say change the C to a D, and change the 1000 to a 32. Works pretty good!

That's what I did. I too am having sync issues but just gave up (hence the forthcoming swing templates).

Re: Triton: You know, I don't miss it but I do. I loved the touchscreen. Back when I was using both that and the MPC, I would get so used to the touchscreen at least once a day I would forget that the MPC isn't a touchscreen. Retard. It did have some good sounds for sure - but the presets definitely got played out - especially in hip-hop.

Re: New pads for 1000. I looked into it. Ultimately I thought: $700 for Live or $500 for MPC1000 + $200 for pads...

I went Ableton. It's my first software sequencer. I felt like such a luddite, thankfully I am getting it now.

Sleep Tyght · Post by **Sleep Tyght** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:54 pm

contakt321 wrote:
glitchrock-buddha wrote:Well I don't own an MPC1000, but here's the best way I can think of using one with Live:
I'd say change the C to a D, and change the 1000 to a 32. Works pretty good!
That's what I did. I too am having sync issues but just gave up (hence the forthcoming swing templates).

Re: Triton: You know, I don't miss it but I do. I loved the touchscreen. Back when I was using both that and the MPC, I would get so used to the touchscreen at least once a day I would forget that the MPC isn't a touchscreen. Retard. It did have some good sounds for sure - but the presets definitely got played out - especially in hip-hop.

Re: New pads for 1000. I looked into it. Ultimately I thought: $700 for Live or $500 for MPC1000 + $200 for pads...

I went Ableton. It's my first software sequencer. I felt like such a luddite, thankfully I am getting it now.

LOL!!!!!! After buying the Triton I used to touch the normal screens on my friends' synths all the time by accident. Retard indeed. Now that I have a V-Synth and an M3, I don't think I could ever go back to a regular interface.

I would like an Andromeda though.

starving student · Post by **starving student** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:46 am

the V-synth now thats a piece right there, love messin with that one its on my list of those things to snatch up when they finaly get down to 2 or 300 bucks.
the triton touch screen had me touchin everything all retarded too but unlike you guys i hated that thing, I was always hunched over it burning my eyeballs and getting back aches i guess touchscreens are just not for me, I'm waiting for the blackberry bold to come out next month instead of goin for an iphone

guerillabass · Post by **guerillabass** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 3:22 am

Tone Deft wrote:what's your workflow with these two? I never got it right.

from finding a loop, transferring it to the mpc, playing with it, bouncing or transferring it back...

I think I loaded too much crap on mine, it's a little overwhelming finding a beat to start on.

I'm on mpc1k w/JJOS, L7 and no talent (haven't found the crack for that yet.)

Here is an example of how to rock an MPC.

Live Sample-Chopping on the MPC

Live Beats on the MPC

One of its main strengths is its ability to be a sample-choping beatbox.
Example: Set the same loop on the 16 pads with the top 8 chopped into 1/4 notes and the bottom 8 pads chopped into 1/2 notes with the loop playing forward on the bottom 4 pads and backwards on the 3rd row of pads.
Then assign them into mute-groups.

As a midi controller its unique ability is that it can record, loop and sequence its performances...
I found this to be pretty creative for software in general.

Sometimes I have had the initial preset saved with basic midi info to auditioning drums / sounds too... but it dont sync with Ableton for me.

The idea is to use the computer to edit or resample VST's then jam em out on the MPC while multitracking into Live for finishing and remixing your tracking. You can also use Live as a VST-host for the MPC.

I had to sell my MPC to bribe the guards at the border so I aint got 1 at the moment... ... and the Midi - sync didnt work with Live.
Otherwise this post would be longer. Much longer.

knotkranky · Post by **knotkranky** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 3:36 am

Ya know Tone, of all the mpc impresarios i've worked with, they all stay in it. It's 100% mpc.

Tip: don't lock tc or midi tc when you record the mpc. Set it free, drop in, align to beat 1, enter app tempo.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 4:10 am

I've had my MPC sync'ed up for like 6 hours now, on and off, recording into Live. at first it sucked, I was using DirectMusic (which Timur rants against.) it'll work and then drop after a while, then Live crashes, then it's a reboot, swearing, waiting, working, crashing... MME has been a champ though, tracks bpm changes too for about 4 hours now.

just got the OS2 upgrade, those JJOS guys deserve a lifetime supply of hookers and blow if they can keep this up.

TBH I've neglected the mpc since the L7 release, dusting this thing off and I'm liking it again. there's something about purpose built equipment that's fun to use. if someone has Live 7 I don't really see a need for an mpc, get an mpd32, or an mpc if you want one, we're all different. I'm back into loving this thing again, maybe I'll stick to it this time, maybe not.

Jekblad - re:trolling, used to it by now, says more about them than me.

m:o - machinedrum, hells yeahs, but I could only get $600 at the most for the mpc, not worth selling.

kk - I like that advice, always keep it simple. I almost wish I was traveling soon so I could take this thing away from home and the other gear.

guerillabass - yes, some youtube lectures are definitely in order, thanks! i did buy and do most of the 'mpc-tutor' stuff as sold at mpc-forums.com.
Live Beats on the MPC <--- DOPE! nice post.

Sleep Tyght · Post by **Sleep Tyght** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:55 am

Nevermind...all talk.

Khazul · Post by **Khazul** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:07 pm

The sync issue seems to only hit while looping a section. If you just hitting play and letting it run with no arrange loop, then it seems to be ok.

As far a I can tell its skipping some midi tick messges when it loops back.

Unfortunately most of the time I want to tweak stuff, bounce it etc, I want to have loop on - Grrrrrr!!!

Ableton please sort this out!

starving student · Post by **starving student** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:54 pm

haven't read through this yet but might be helpful

http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php ... ll+ableton

starving student · Post by **starving student** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:48 pm

well i read through that paticular thread, there was a couple of things in there but not much, for all of us talking about sync here's a cross post by Satoyo on how he does it, maybe you've tried it maybe you haven't but here it is.

roll call - nice idea. lets get this thread sticky!!!

here's the full laydown on how to MIDI sync your mpc 1000/2500 with ableton live:

MIDI CONNECTION & SETUP IN THE MPC OS/ABLETON

connect the mpc midi out to the midi in of your interface.
the main outs to your interface's audio input
(not necessesary for syncing, but you'll need it later for finetuning)

go to the SYNC Menu (MODE + PAD 9 then F2)
and set it up like this:

Sync out: A MASTER
Mode: MIDI TIME CLOCK
Framerate: 30
send MMC: ON

your mpc sends out mtc and mmc now

Start Ableton Live and go to
OPTIONS > PREFERENCES > MIDI/SYNC

set the SYNC button of your Midi ports midi input to ON
Set the Type to MIDI TIMECODE
Set the Midi Time code rate to SMPT 30 FPS NON DROP

Activate the EXT button on top, next to the BPM display for setting
Live into External Sync Mode.
Also activate the button with the black and white dot (that's Live's Metronome).

Start your empeecee in Overdub Mode (OVER DUB + PLAY)
The empeecee and Live should now start playing.
If everything is fine, you should hear the two metronomes sound
running

Should you hear the two Metronomes Sounds running not perfectly in Sync,

Try to fine tune that, play around with the MIDI SYNC DELAY until both are in complete Sync. (mine runs at -25.5 ms, for example, but that may differ...)

Another Possibility would be exact setup of your audio latency compensation. there is a lesson in lives help covering correct setup.
do that, if needed.

Congrats, you did it.

Now live is running in sync with your empeecee and you can control Live's
sequencer controls (play, stop, ff,....) with the controls of your mpc.

you can also send midi data from the mpc to virtual instruments loaded up
in live.

All that funky vsti's controlled and sequenced with intuitive"hands on"-style
of the empeecee, isn't this lovely...

From this point on, you might be interested in

CONTROLLING MULTIPLE VSTis IN ABLETON WITH THE MPC

On your mpc, set your TRACK setting from DRUM to MIDI and set your MIDI output from NONE to, e.g. 1A.

I saved a .PGM file where every track uses a different midi channel so i can send 16 (32, if you use your second midi out) channels of midi data.

In Ableton Live, click on the small black button labeled "I.O"
Its next to the Master output fader on the right side.
Now your Input and Output routings appear.

Now, create some midi channels in Live (CTRL+SHIFT+T).
There are four knobs:

MIDI FROM: select the midi interface where you plugged your MPC in.

CHANNEL: select your Desired channel, Either All or 1 to 16

MONITOR:
IN: will playback all the time
AUTO: will playback only if the channel is set to record
OFF: no playback at all

Set your channels correct and then, the mpc will use live as one big rack.
you can push your pads and have the mpc feel and groove, but you will be able to mix down and process nicely in live using plugins & stuff.

have fun with that.

greetz,

satoyo