Akai MPD32 questions

[c6y]

I have three questions about using the Akai as a standart controller for Live.

#1 is it possible to use the velocity of the pads to control the depth of an effect or a filter by pressing and releasing the pad?

#2 can I assign pads to clips?

#3 does MPD32's note repeat synch to Live's tempo?

Many thanks!

[babkubwa]

yes yes and yes

[Greg Freeze]

how do you get note repeat to sync ?

My note repeat sounds like galloping horses. Like it is doubled up.

[CHARLIE!]

I forget exactly where but in the device you have to change the setting so that the tempo sync is external.

Then you have to activate that option in the midi devices in live.

[Opz]

I recently purchased a MPD32 and I have some questions about it as well, I hope someone has a solution or explanation.

I noticed some strange pad behaviour which I think is related to Ableton Live instead of the MPD32. When slicing a sample to a new track, upon hitting one of the pads, velocity is recieved fine and can be heared as well. But when I make a Drum Rack, fill up the pads with some wav samples and trigger them, velocity is recieved and recorded, but I don't HEAR any difference when hitting pads. The Midi Velocity Editor shows changing values, but I simply don't hear them, they always play at the same velocity value of about a 100. Is this normal?

For Note Repeat to work Live needs to has outgoing sync activated on the Midi Preferences page, right? However, Ableton Live stops sending the sync messages when you activate external sync on the top left. But that needs to be activated in order to use the Transport controls of the MPD32. In other words, it is not possible to use the Note Repeat function at the same time as the Transport controls when using Ableton Live as they need opposite sync settings? Has anyone experienced the same behaviour and found a workaround?

When playing a set in Ableton Live using the Transport controls of the MPD32, the BPM is not stable in Ableton Live. I have it set to 91 on the MPD32 and the BPM indicator fluctuates between 88.xx - 91.xx. Can I stabilize this?

When using a second (19" flat) display as the main display using a (dual link) DVI cable, I can't connect Vyzex to the MPD32, Autosense fails. After pulling out the dvi cable, Autosense had no problems at all detecting the MPD32. Anyone else observed this?

In Audio/Midi Setup of OS X (my version is 10.5.5, Intel) and the midi preferences of Ableton Live 7 the MPD32 shows up with 3 ports. But 2 of them are simply called Port, without a name/designation. The third one is actually called Port 3, which is apparently Midi In only. I assume the third one belongs to the expression/footcontroller inputs. But is the first unnamed port related to the USB Midi I/O's and the second unnamed one related to the (DIN) Midi I/O's? Or is it the other way around?

Thanks for any thoughts and info,
Opz.

[Dan Dare]

I recently purchased a MPD32 and I have some questions about it as well, I hope someone has a solution or explanation.

I noticed some strange pad behaviour which I think is related to Ableton Live instead of the MPD32. When slicing a sample to a new track, upon hitting one of the pads, velocity is recieved fine and can be heared as well. But when I make a Drum Rack, fill up the pads with some wav samples and trigger them, velocity is recieved and recorded, but I don't HEAR any difference when hitting pads. The Midi Velocity Editor shows changing values, but I simply don't hear them, they always play at the same velocity value of about a 100. Is this normal?

For Note Repeat to work Live needs to has outgoing sync activated on the Midi Preferences page, right? However, Ableton Live stops sending the sync messages when you activate external sync on the top left. But that needs to be activated in order to use the Transport controls of the MPD32. In other words, it is not possible to use the Note Repeat function at the same time as the Transport controls when using Ableton Live as they need opposite sync settings? Has anyone experienced the same behaviour and found a workaround?

Thanks for any thoughts and info,
Opz.

In answer to your velocity question, it sounds like your simpler/sampler in Drum Rack has a velocity setting of 0%. It's in the bottom right hand corner of simpler. I set that to 80 or 100 %. This will give you variations in velocity.

In regards to the Transport, you don't need to have External Sync activated. Touch a button on the transport then hit edit and push down on the enter knob. Turn the knob to CTRL, that's what I do.

Hope this helps.

[Opz]

In answer to your velocity question, it sounds like your simpler/sampler in Drum Rack has a velocity setting of 0%. It's in the bottom right hand corner of simpler. I set that to 80 or 100 %. This will give you variations in velocity.

Hmm, that did the trick! Thanks a lot. That was really easy, stupid I couldn't figure that one out. Still strange it only has velocity at 0% when I load a Simpler as part of a DrumRack.

In regards to the Transport, you don't need to have External Sync activated. Touch a button on the transport then hit edit and push down on the enter knob. Turn the knob to CTRL, that's what I do.

Hope this helps.

That one helped as well Thanks again.
I really did try this before, but maybe it just didn't work due to the Midi errors/problems I had when I had a second display attached as my main monitor.
Just yet, I set Transport to Crtl Messages and it worked like a charm. Maybe I should send a bugreport to Akai regarding this second display error.

Again, thanks for solving all but one of my problems! Much appreciated
Cheers,
Opz

[tktnk]

In answer to your velocity question, it sounds like your simpler/sampler in Drum Rack has a velocity setting of 0%. It's in the bottom right hand corner of simpler. I set that to 80 or 100 %. This will give you variations in velocity.

Hmm, that did the trick! Thanks a lot. That was really easy, stupid I couldn't figure that one out. Still strange it only has velocity at 0% when I load a Simpler as part of a DrumRack.

did other users of the mpd32 noitce as well that strange velocity range of the pads? i either get values around well say 25 to 45 or, if i try to get louder sounds, velocity goes up to 127 suddenly.

in my experience it's really hard to get smooth mid-range velocities.

anybody noticed the same?

[kb420]

In answer to your velocity question, it sounds like your simpler/sampler in Drum Rack has a velocity setting of 0%. It's in the bottom right hand corner of simpler. I set that to 80 or 100 %. This will give you variations in velocity.

Hmm, that did the trick! Thanks a lot. That was really easy, stupid I couldn't figure that one out. Still strange it only has velocity at 0% when I load a Simpler as part of a DrumRack.

did other users of the mpd32 noitce as well that strange velocity range of the pads? i either get values around well say 25 to 45 or, if i try to get louder sounds, velocity goes up to 127 suddenly.

in my experience it's really hard to get smooth mid-range velocities.

anybody noticed the same?

Yeah. You need to adjust your pad sensitivity and velocity curve until it's suits your taste.


I actually emailed VST yesterday to see if they have some kind of pad kit for the MPD 32 to make the pads more like a MPC 3000's. The 3000's pads are soo much softer and they sit up more. It's a lot easier to get the velocity feel that you want with the older pads. VST actually has a kit for the MPC 1000 to make the pads like the 3000's. It would be nice if those pads would work with the MPC 32.

http://1226354.estore.networksolutionsd ... bok?no=220

[tktnk]

Yeah. You need to adjust your pad sensitivity and velocity curve until it's suits your taste.

yeah, i already tried that option in the general menu of the MPD (pad sensitivity). i didnt notice any useful changes.

what else could i do besides reselling the box?

i dont see why i should upgrade to better pads if akai doesnt bring me good pads in the beginning. anyways, keep me updated if that store offers you sometin for the mpd32!

[logic_user99]

I have three questions about using the Akai as a standart controller for Live.

#1 is it possible to use the velocity of the pads to control the depth of an effect or a filter by pressing and releasing the pad?

Can this be done with the MPD24? If so, how?

Eeentereshting...