Elektron Musical Instruments

Hey guys (and gals, if you're out there),

I'm trying to use my MD slaved to an MPC 1000.  I'd like to use the MPC as the 
primary sequencer, and the MD as a sound module.  So far, I'm successful at getting 
the MD to slave to the external clock, and have the MPC trigger notes.  What I also 
want to do, is be able to record the knob movements int to the MPC as well.   So far, 
no luck.  I tried also arming the MD for live input record but that totally messes up 
the timing.   

Is it possible to record the knob movements?  IN the manual for the MPC it states that 
it does record CC's, and I'm assuming the MD is transmiting CC's through the knobs 
as well, but perhaps I'm wrong.  Would anybody care to shed any light on how or if 
this is possible?   

Much thanks,

Stephan

On Jun 17, 2004, at 1:44 AM, ralescu wrote:

>  Is it possible to record the knob movements?  IN the manual for the 
> MPC it states that
>  it does record CC's, and I'm assuming the MD is transmiting CC's 
> through the knobs
>  as well, but perhaps I'm wrong.  Would anybody care to shed any light 
> on how or if
>  this is possible?

yes, it is possible to record the knob movements and yes it is
sending CC's.  the main thing that you need to keep in mind is
that tracks 1-4 are mapped to the base MIDI channel, tracks
5-8 are mapped to base channel plus one, etc.  other than
that, the CC #'s are the same.  so track 1's DEC is mapped to
the same CC# as track 5's, track 9's and track 13's DEC;
they're just all on four separate MIDI channels, that's all.

if you keep that in mind when you're trying to record a tweak,
then you should be fine from the MD end.

Joe


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> 
> yes, it is possible to record the knob movements and yes it is
> sending CC's.  the main thing that you need to keep in mind is
> that tracks 1-4 are mapped to the base MIDI channel, tracks
> 5-8 are mapped to base channel plus one, etc.  other than
> that, the CC #'s are the same.  so track 1's DEC is mapped to
> the same CC# as track 5's, track 9's and track 13's DEC;
> they're just all on four separate MIDI channels, that's all.
> 
> if you keep that in mind when you're trying to record a tweak,
> then you should be fine from the MD end.
> 
> Joe
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Allright, bear with me, I'm a little confused.  In the GLOBAL 1 EDIT screen, it says MIDI 
base channel: 1-4.  So, if I'm understanding this correctly tracks 1-4 = MIDI Ch 1, 
tracks 5-8 = MIDI Ch2, tracks 9-12 = MIDI Ch 3, and tracks 13-16 = MIDI Ch 4.  So 
the MD efffectively takes up four MIDI channels.

So, in order for the MPC to record the MD's knob movements, it must be listening to 
MIDI Channels 1-4.

Thanks for your help Joe - much appreciated.

I haven't got any answer about your question but I'm thinking about 
buying a better hardware sequencer to control MD and other synths. 
Is the MPC 1000 really better for that. In what? Is there a song 
mode more develloped?

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "fordgranadabreak" 
<fordgranadabreak@y...> wrote:
> I haven't got any answer about your question but I'm thinking about 
> buying a better hardware sequencer to control MD and other synths. 
> Is the MPC 1000 really better for that. In what? Is there a song 
> mode more develloped?

Well, I''m trying to figure that out myself!!!  I've just recently got the MPC.  I bought to 
have a sampling drum machine to match the MD, as well as the MPC sequencer.  In 
my opinion the MPC 4 X 4 grid interface makes it easier to program beats.  The pads 
have a great feel to them.  It has a 64 track sequencer, which is way more than the 
MD's 16.  You can set a sequence or pattern tol 999 bars in length, much more than 
the MD.  I haven't explored it fully, but I think the song mode is more flexible on the 
MD.  Also with the MD you can control parameters of other equipement though CC's 
and assign LFO's modulate those parameters.  There are no LFO's on the MPC.   

So far, it seams that each have there strengths and weakness.  Together, I think I 
have a potent drum package as well as sequencing package, and I'm going to try and 
figure out the best way to use them together.  

Perhaps you might want to check out the MPC 2000XL - it has more sequencing 
options than the 1000.

> 
> yes, it is possible to record the knob movements and yes it is
> sending CC's.  the main thing that you need to keep in mind is
> that tracks 1-4 are mapped to the base MIDI channel, tracks
> 5-8 are mapped to base channel plus one, etc.  other than
> that, the CC #'s are the same.  so track 1's DEC is mapped to
> the same CC# as track 5's, track 9's and track 13's DEC;
> they're just all on four separate MIDI channels, that's all.
> 
> if you keep that in mind when you're trying to record a tweak,
> then you should be fine from the MD end.
> 
> Joe
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

So far, no dice.  I made sure the MPC is set to receive on all MIDI channels, and also 
to correctly output the MIDI received to the same MIDI channels.  Perhaps its a bug in 
the MPC.

On Jun 17, 2004, at 2:14 AM, ralescu wrote:

>  Allright, bear with me, I'm a little confused....So
>  the MD efffectively takes up four MIDI channels.


yeah, you got it :-) and in your case that's not really so much
of a limitation, since your MPC has two MIDI out ports.


>  So, in order for the MPC to record the MD's knob movements, it must 
> be listening to
>  MIDI Channels 1-4.

no.  you just have to be listening to the channel corresponding
to whichever track you want to receive tweaks from. in your
case, if you want to tweak track 7, then you need to listen to
MIDI channel 2; if you're tweaking track 13 then you need to
listen to channel 4.

> Thanks for your help Joe - much appreciated.

no problem. but I see in your other post that it's not working
right.  there's nothing special that you have to do to tell the
MD to send these CC's, so you can't be doing anything wrong
there.  it's weird that you're not even receiving the trigged
notes from the MD, though. so I'm guessing that it's an
MPC setting that's at fault....

Joe


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

What haves the MPC 2000XL more than the 1000 in sequencing options ? 
Sorry to be a little out of subject ;)

The 2000xl allows for much more notes.  I think the memory goes higher
too but the 1000 has USB storage.  Some people say the effects are
better on the 1000.  I used to have the old just mpc2000.  I didn't
have it long with the MD.  I had to sell something.  One of those
things you regret, but I just couldn't keep the big box. 

What you have to do is be sure you have the right Midi channel on the
mpc.  You have to make sure its on the right a or b and number in the
lower left corner.  You have to make sure it's set to recieve midi. 
What you also might want to do is trigger patterns on the MPC.  That
way you use the best part of the MD, pattern locks.  That way you
don't have to worry about cc#s and where they are.  It can get
confusing on the mpc.  

I remember it took me a week to figure out how to sequence on the mpc.
 Then years later another week to figure out how to use midi on it.

I have to say it's one of (or THE best?) the best midi hardware
sequencers out there.  You can even live record all midi data.  It has
a good resolution so things like cc# changes are relatively smooth. 
If you get used to pattern mute screen you can get some great live
events going on.  Even having a pattern for just certain cc#s is a
great idea.

You might want to check mpc-tutor.com for the mpc help.  I forgot much
but I may be of little help.  

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "fordgranadabreak"
<fordgranadabreak@y...> wrote:
> What haves the MPC 2000XL more than the 1000 in sequencing options ? 
> Sorry to be a little out of subject ;)

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "fordgranadabreak" 
<fordgranadabreak@y...> wrote:
> What haves the MPC 2000XL more than the 1000 in sequencing options ? 
> Sorry to be a little out of subject ;)


The 2000xl has more note, I believe two sequencing engines, and built in effects, as 
well as some interface changes which some prefer, but the 1000 does have more 
memory.  I got the 1000 because it's new technology and it's cheaper.

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, Joseph Melnyk <jmelnyk@c...> wrote:
> On Jun 17, 2004, at 2:14 AM, ralescu wrote:
> 
> >  Allright, bear with me, I'm a little confused....So
> >  the MD efffectively takes up four MIDI channels.
> 
> 
> yeah, you got it :-) and in your case that's not really so much
> of a limitation, since your MPC has two MIDI out ports.
> 
> 
> >  So, in order for the MPC to record the MD's knob movements, it must 
> > be listening to
> >  MIDI Channels 1-4.
> 
> no.  you just have to be listening to the channel corresponding
> to whichever track you want to receive tweaks from. in your
> case, if you want to tweak track 7, then you need to listen to
> MIDI channel 2; if you're tweaking track 13 then you need to
> listen to channel 4.
> 
> > Thanks for your help Joe - much appreciated.
> 
> no problem. but I see in your other post that it's not working
> right.  there's nothing special that you have to do to tell the
> MD to send these CC's, so you can't be doing anything wrong
> there.  it's weird that you're not even receiving the trigged
> notes from the MD, though. so I'm guessing that it's an
> MPC setting that's at fault....
> 
> Joe
> 
  Allright, I've kinda figrued it out.  I have to set up 4 diferent tracks corresponding 
tot eh 4 diferent midi channels to record tweaks.  But I don't understand why this isn't 
the same for drums.  I can record all 16 drums  on 1 MPC track, which corresponds to 
1 MIDI channel, but I thought that each drum was on different MD track, and thus 
each set of four MD tracks/drum sets would correspond to one of the four MIDI 
channels?   

Honestly, it's not so bad splitting the CC's into 4 tracks.  It actually helps make it a bit 
easier to organize.

Thanks Joe for the time and the help!!!  Much Respect!!!!

On 6/17/04 1:42 PM, "ralescu" wrote:

> --- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "fordgranadabreak"
> <fordgranadabreak@y...> wrote:
>> What haves the MPC 2000XL more than the 1000 in sequencing options ?
>> Sorry to be a little out of subject ;)
> 
> 
> The 2000xl has more note, I believe two sequencing engines, and built in
> effects, as 
> well as some interface changes which some prefer, but the 1000 does have more
> memory.  I got the 1000 because it's new technology and it's cheaper.
> 

There's effects for the 2k but you have to buy them separately, they don¹t
come with the unit like the 1k + you lose the 2nd slider on the 2k. Some
plus's, It has a larger note capacity and it has timestreching. I sold my
2kXL a little bit ago and would buy the 1k in a heartbeat over the 2k, and
prob will eventually. The 1k is made for the computer musician, for him to
edit his samples on the computer mostly and then bring em over.

On Jun 17, 2004, at 2:34 PM, ralescu wrote:

>    Allright, I've kinda figrued it out.  I have to set up 4 diferent 
> tracks corresponding
>  tot eh 4 diferent midi channels to record tweaks.  But I don't 
> understand why this isn't
>  the same for drums.

yeah, the track triggering is all on the base channel.  I think this
implementation is mainly because if you want to record just the trigs
or you want to sequence the MD externally (without messing with
CC's), you don't have to occupy four MIDI channels.  it's only when
you want to record/sequence CC's that you have to worry about the
four channels.

> Thanks Joe for the time and the help!!!  Much Respect!!!!

no problem, man! I'm glad that you got it working! :-)

Joe

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