Live and MPC - what's your flow?

[Nick the Zombie]

Yeah, I'm going to spend most of my free time for a couple of weeks getting up to speed with the MPC as a strictly standalone tool before attempting to mix it with software.

[logic_user99]

Ok! So it's touble-shooting time. Last night, I was testing the setup and it was working a charm - all MIDI I/O was running smoothly, track selection on the MPC was working with the instruments, and sequencing was, well, tracking!

However, I've hit a couple of snags:

1) Recording CC# information onto the MPC on the fly doesn't work as an overdub. Now, I can only think that this is a problem with my O2-8's encoders transmitting something wrong, because when I use them, the params on the synth plug move (Absynth in this instance, going through the MPC) but they won't record (Overdub + Play). However, when I draw an envelope as a clip and launch it, it will record to the MPC just fine. Two different methods of doing the same thing, and only one will record. Strange?

2) Sync issues. Loop did occasionally cause sync issues, especially when tweaking CC#s on the fly. I'm using an NI Audio Kontrol interface which works a charm. The looping of a sequence causes occasional note hangs at the start (which buffetts the notes toegether and causes some wierd timing issues).

I'm using Live 7.0.9 or 7.0.10 - I can't remember which. Anyone else had anything like this?

[dj mush]

here's a short video of me performing some underground acid techno at a party with a friend:
2 x mpc + ableton midi control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4km9MtOWT-k

[musicmachine]

Just caught this thread. Will have a read through as i'm probably getting an mpc. logic_user99, you finding the 500 is enough to write tracks with? How long can it run on rechargeable batteries? Cheers.

[starving student]

batteries are like 4-5 hours

[musicmachine]

batteries are like 4-5 hours

Thanks.

[Gc4eternity]

What if you have an mpc500

[starving student]

What if you have an mpc500

the 1000 doesn't take batteries, that 4-5 hours is for the 500

[Gc4eternity]

I know, I guess I replied to the wrong post, I was asking about the instructions to hook the mpc500 to Live...I was able to finally get it going Thanks....

[logic_user99]

I always keep coming back to this thread - it's genius! I have, as always, more questions for you MPC boys:

Q) Does anyone know if you can trigger the start/stop of the MPC500 via a MIDI CC# command? I've got the 500 in sync now, and everything runs a charm. However, I don't want it running the whole time (obviously) and stopping Live's clock running just for a breakdown isn't much of an idea...

Q) Failing the start/stop command, do you know how to change sequences via MIDI?

If I can do neither of these things, I guess I'll have to bounce all of my sequences to MIDI and use Live to trigger the samples rather than just sync-lock the machine. I love having the MPC on hand, though; it's an excellent little controller, too!

[starving student]

not sure, when i run my mpc with ableton I don't sync them. Tone might know though

[Tone Deft]

Q) Does anyone know if you can trigger the start/stop of the MPC500 via a MIDI CC# command? I've got the 500 in sync now, and everything runs a charm. However, I don't want it running the whole time (obviously) and stopping Live's clock running just for a breakdown isn't much of an idea...

why not let it play all the time? just mute the tracks.

in the mpc's midi menu there's midi time clock and MMC for sync control which I assume also means shuttle control. I don't think it can be done with CC#s.

Q) Failing the start/stop command, do you know how to change sequences via MIDI?

again, looking at the mpc's midi menu, under MIDI there's an option for "sequence change by program change." turn that on and see what happens.

hth

[logic_user99]

Q) Does anyone know if you can trigger the start/stop of the MPC500 via a MIDI CC# command? I've got the 500 in sync now, and everything runs a charm. However, I don't want it running the whole time (obviously) and stopping Live's clock running just for a breakdown isn't much of an idea...

why not let it play all the time? just mute the tracks.

in the mpc's midi menu there's midi time clock and MMC for sync control which I assume also means shuttle control. I don't think it can be done with CC#s.

Q) Failing the start/stop command, do you know how to change sequences via MIDI?

again, looking at the mpc's midi menu, under MIDI there's an option for "sequence change by program change." turn that on and see what happens.

hth

Thanks for that, Tone! A bit of an 'RTFM' moment for me there. I'll check it out tonight and report back.