The difference between you and other you tube MPC tutors is that I can tell you’re actually a musician that has developed techniques over years of use. Other guys are just making generic tutorials, just to put out content, but they don’t actually make music, so they don’t have any original ideas. Thanks for this workflow tip. It’s very helpful.
I’ve been using a workflow like this on other hardware sequencers since the 1990’s. As a brand new MPC user (just got a Live 2) this video was exactly what I wanted to see. Thanks!
I just bought one of these and I have to say that it has kind of a steep logistical learning curve. That is, it's fairly easy to learn what everything does, but it's much harder to learn how to get to all of those things quickly and efficiently. If you just want to make some music, that's a drag. This is a really helpful video. Thanks for making it.
It does fall into place fairly quickly, I'd say it's an exponential learning curve meaning the initial first few weeks/couple of months may be steep but once you get one thing that ties into another and so on, things ramp up fairly quickly as long as you stick at it and enjoy the process. Don't be too precious about the music you make, make mistakes, experiment and refine your workflow as you progress. Email me if you're really struggling and interested in lessons which will accelerate your learning. tubedigga@gmail.com
Oh yes, the one sequence workflow was the key to produce better stuff. Especially using analog gear with external effects. The trasition between the sequences was very oft frustrating and sounds boring. The one sequence workflow gave me back the control over my projects. First I define a comfortable long sequence length. Than it is very helpful to use the start and end point setting in the sequence setting. You can loop there like the multi sequence workflow without losing the overview over the whole project. It is sometimes a little bit tricky in the beginning but worth it. Thank you for sharing.
Peace Tube Digga. Good contents. May i add two very helpful tips to this? 1. Using the Qlink is a great way to move through steps especially when working in one sequence (1st Q LINK, Second knob from the top) touching the blue bar locator can be a little awkward, maybe cuz i got big fingers lol. 2.I think its much better to use the automation to mute and unmute stuff rather than deleting.Which is also very easy on the grid edit page.i say this because if you change your ming on some part you have the option to quickly put back what you muted. much more flexible hope you get where im coming from. Peace
Gemsmiff I know everything about this machine but don’t always use it in the best way, particularly when making videos as I’m thinking of other things further ahead. But thanks for your input :)
Definitely agree on the use of mute, although you don't need to use the automation feature, just overdub and use the Mute grid to choose your tracks as you play. A nice use of live production. Good to start with everything muted to... So you can build up the the track instead of removing things.
Another nail in the ol' FL Studio Coffin!!! Just watching this workflow video I see some more things I can do like add in transition effects where I want. Thanks for this one. Now I see why the price on the used Stand Alone units isn't moving very much.
Whoop! Thank you for an alternative approach to making a song with one sequence that gets tweaked here and there. Also, I love dnb and appreciate the tip to begin with about 32 bars of a somewhat repetitive sound before adding more tracks/sounds!! Thanks!!!
I learned so much from you when I first had an MPC Live, having never owned an MPC before. I sold the Live and 'downgraded' to an MPC One a little while ago, which I prefer by a mile, and I'm not sure a week passes where I don't look up how to do something on your channel. Thank you mate.
I’ve only had my MPC One for a month and have been experimenting with different workflows. This though is THE workflow for me. Absolutely love it. Thanks man. 👏👏👏
only started using my Mpc X in standalone yesterday, and it feels so refreshing to just work inside the box, and then your video came for recommendation, blessings brother 🙂
I'm loving this.. I thought for a second, it was more of a GET THE CLICKS OUT, sound editing video... I Almost left the video, but I'm glad I didn't.. this is what I needed!!! I'm not new to sequencing, but this is a good workflow, makes sense!! Linier is my style, so this is GREAT!! I'm new to MPC, so I was doing intro, verse and hook together for transitions, then back to verse and hook... but this is Perfect!! I'll take it from here.. THANK YOU!! Liked. SUBBED!!
I had been thinking of a way to work like this lately. I have come to a hybrid way of working where I use your method but still flash out a few sequences first. This works for more complex dnb songs. I would maybe work out 3-4 variations of bass leads for the main chorus / verses on different sequences ( mutes if needed ). Write an 8 bar intro with everything sound I want in it. I will then put these into song mode using the intro sequence for as how many bars I want for an intro, then use the 3-4 different sequences for as long as I want for the drop, then use the intro again for the breakdown part, and then do the same for second drop etc etc. Once I have a lose structure I convert to one sequence and work like you do above, taking out stuff, adding stuff and doing turn arounds etc
Great stuff. Practical, to the point, and very useful! You demonstrated so much more than just the single sequence idea and that's great. So many others assume or speed past certain steps but your close up shots and attention to details was very valuable. Akai resources are a joke IMHO. I feel the MPC has a steep learning curve and Akai are blind to this element.
Perfect thanks for this. I've spent time using Cubase, Logic and others and always in this format so great video to encourage me to go ahead and buy one of these!
I always record it live to Logic, adapt the BPM in Logic from my MPC sequence and cut it like i want. So u can mess around with filter etc and find happy mistakes.
You can do a lot more with automation when your whole track is in one sequence as well. I purposely convert my song mode songs to a sequence because of this. I may give this a try but I feel like it would take me more time for the way I work. I only use one sound per program per track.
That made so much sense thank you! Do you have a vid that incorporates using banks for different sounds? Haven’t been able to find anything that clearly defines using the banks
It’s personal preference really, there’s no rules. For example, I personally always keep all my drums in the same program and programmed on the same track. That way I can see all the notes in one view and it makes editing much quicker. So if you were to do that, you could manage your banks in multiple ways. One way is to just use one entire program for all your sounds. You could assign all your kicks to Bank A, all your snares to Bank B and all your hats to Bank C for example. Or all your drums to Bank A, sound effects to Bank B, and vocals to Bank C etc. It’s good to think ahead with these things and be organised because often you’ll get 2/3rds of the way into a complex project and it’s easy to get lost or overwhelmed with all the assets you have to manage.
Interesting method. Mine is a variation of this method Usually start with a 16 or 32 bar loop Il create the whole track in one sequence muting different sections. Once I'm happy il copy out that sequence. And utilise mutes to create each section. Bounce it to one sequence and record my automations.
Thanks for the video. Interesting approach. I suppose it would work if the entire piece is basically a set of variations of the same pattern, with occasional mutes and variations in effects. That’s what contemporary dance music is of course, so the MPC makes it easy to produce repetitive music, However I don’t see it working for songs, because they typically have 5 to 8 quite different sections (intro, verse, chorus, bridges, outro , alternative versions of verse patterns), each with a quite different rhythm pattern, baseline, chords, vocals. You would need a DAW or something like the Force or Maschine, where you can build and arrange a song from its different sections and record audio (vocals, guitar etc) across the full timeline.
Good explanation. But for me the next method of recording on my MPC is with the usb 32 channel output to a mixer and record off live each channel in a separate Daw like Ableton. The main reason I am keeping the MPC is the playability and jaming and sampling. quite frankly it really really sucks for song arrangement and all that jamming fee goes out the window. The song mode and sequencing on MPC is terrible, there isn't even a way to erase a sequence in the Next Sequence window. Once sequence is a way round this but its very slow and zero jamming feel.
This has blessed me I'm new to production and just got my MPC one, it's intimidating but I determined to learn this 🙏🏽🙏🏽 God is faithful 🙏🏽 thank you for explaining I'm simple way
Loved this video bro. Can you punch in say a solo at bar 32 for example? Does this workflow still apply following the Beta release? I’m still on 2.15 because the beta version deactivated my paid plugins. I like this workflow here.
Yes you can punch in and out over a pre determined bar range. And yes, the one sequence workflow most definitely will work. It derives from having used very basic sequencers in the 90s that only had one sequence to work with.
Coming from an old school Cubase / Logic background, this really helps. The simpler the better in my books😁. Tell me, when you save a project, does it save all the sample and programme settings with it?
@@TUBEDIGGA Thanks! I bought an MPC X earlier this week and I'm a bit lost😁 I worked with 2 S950s for 20 odd years, then learned the ESX in Logic a few years back so this is a whole new challenge!
I don't like multi sequence workflow either, but I struggled with this one sequence workflow without solving some problems: With a single sequence you can't create track loops, and it will be extremely hard to modify a drum/plugin track of 1/2 bars repeated when you already have a 128 bars sequence setup. I wanted to point out also that in your workflow you can also make the drum start without erasing, but simply with volume or mute automation. In this way, if you change your mind, you can alter the start point or intermediate points when you want to stop the drums without having to rewrite the notes on the track.
I don’t dislike multiple sequences. I just prefer to use a one sequence workflow. Both of your examples (repeating 1/2 bars and reinstating any erased notes) can be easily remedied by using the functions in the sequence edit menu, by choosing note ranges and copying them to other positions in the timeline. Unless I misunderstood what you meant about track loops. Using a one sequence workflow doesn’t mean you can’t use an additional sequence for a loop, you can have that alongside the main one sequence. Or use a clip track, or resample a section and loop it separately. But yes, automation is one solution. I personally prefer to destructively edit as it forces me to make decisions and commit so I can move on instead of getting caught up with choices and options.
I think I remember seeing another way which is very similar to what you demonstrated. but you take the main sequence of the song like you did, duplicate the sequences name them (intro, verse,verse2,chorus, etc), make all the changes to each sequence, them merge them all back together again as 1 full song sequence. An I THINK that option was in the song mode with the convert to sequence button after you put your sequences in order. So its very similar except it breaks it all up to mange each part of the seq then brings it all together again to modify the entire song.
The whole idea of building the most complex section and the taking away, is a good idea both in terms of workflow and musically. My question is how to develop and work with a full on B section or a refrain.......
Jonathan Scott I don’t see that it would make that much difference, just a song that a more traditional song structure. Again I think the approach of building the structure of all of the components and then removing to create the evolution of the song is both efficient and works musically. I am just wondering how this works with song structures that have different sections.....
Certainly an interesting workflow, but have you ever tried with 128 bars or more? MPC really struggles and the device becomes nearly useless in grid mode. When I hit pads, sometimes it takes up to 5 seconds to select all notes... so I guess I stick to the song mode ;)
Hi, nice tutorial, thanks for sharing. I think i'm more a multi-sequence type of producer, however it's always good to check out and evaluate alternative approaches! Thanks for sharing, keep it up! :-)
What I don’t understand is why didnt akai provide any multisample instruments like a nice piano, etc. to go with keygroup mode? Do you know where I can get a good multisampled piano for the One? Thx.
Excellent video. If you are using the same instrumentation from song to song is it possible to use sequence 2, 3.....etc to also hold complete songs and in this way have a whole set in one project. This would save time in waiting for projects to load. Anyone know any reason not to do this??
That’s completely fine and what this video is all about but the main consideration would be RAM memory as usual. However, drum programs allow for so much manipulation of samples per pad that you could simply reuse the same set of samples for each sequence (song).
This video shows how much you can get out of manipulating samples with the facilities available and next to no ram usage: ruclips.net/video/KWceglsskRk/видео.html
This would be a great workflow for me if you could manipulate a master track. I don't like having to repeat the process with each individual tracks. There should definitely be a master track view and the ability the effect all the tracks at once while in this midi view mode😕
Bonjour Peut on voir comme un séquencer type cubase ou autre,tous les conteneurs des différents instrument sur une même page pour pouvoir les déplacer? Et ainsi créer son mix
I have been trying this method of putting songs together and for me it's working out very well. I can't, however, find a way to save the swing value for each seperate sequence. Is this only a global setting for the project. Cheers.
If you wanted to add instruments/samples to make a chorus after youve created your 86 bar sequence, can you just go to say bar 24, set up your new track and program to lets say a string, and click overdub and record the string at bar 24 and end it at 32 and it will just stay there? Or will it populate the entire sequence. Thanks again for another great video def subscribed.
If you have a sequence of any length you can overdub whatever you like at any point. That’s how I work - I create my main theme or idea over 16 bars, double it a few times until I have the desired duration (256 bars in my case for jungle), then I go back and reverse engineer it by cutting elements out here and there and over dubbing new material where necessary
It also makes sense to just build your whole song in one sequence, because after you do all that work making multiple sequences and add them in song mode, it converts it all into one sequence anyway right. Thanks again.
@@TUBEDIGGA sorry to be a bother, another thing thats happening is i convert to sequence and everything plays fine now. But only after i export as a mixdown, the same sequence i exported then suddenly plays my bassline out of tune. I check the exported file and it also plays the bassline out of tune. Im using a midi keyboard to play the bassline. In the sequence thats out of tune, if i turn the keyboards pitchwheel once it kicks it back in tune. But even when i try and export again, it throws it back out of tune? Im at a loss.
@@johnnylawrence Without sounding like I’m being mr salesman, you’d have to book a zoom lesson with me and I’d be able to diagnose that issue. It could be many different things which could take forever trying to explain on here. Email me if you want to book/details etc
Tell me if this is possible: 1. Can you make each sequence and infinite Loop? That would eliminate the need to specify the length. 2. Then assign each infinite loop to a pad? 3. Then record yourself "padding" as you please? That seems like a less stressful process. Can this be done?
Sequences loop by default, the sequence length still needs to be set to loop. You can’t assign a sequence loop to a pad, only a sample but even then a workaround is required (of which there are a couple) to infinitely loop a sample. I have videos on here that show that or I can show you these tricks and more via zoom lessons. I also have a Masterclass course which explains terminology and processes so they don’t get confusing. Course links and my email are in the description if you need my personal guidance 👍
Cool article. I was just wondering why you didn't use the fade of the amp envelope in program mode instead of the destructive Flatting Pad and Fade Out as in the video. Any special reason for that?
I’m always thinking of ram and keeping it at a minimum - by flattening the pad I’m creating a new shorter sample to keep the ram usage low. It’s a habit and also good practice, even if you’re not using a lot of samples or large samples. It also helps to save storage space when saving projects. I’m always on top of my housekeeping in the MPC for these reasons and also to avoid potential crashes which I find occur when ram usage is high.
Hey Mate, thanks for the video cool tips, love you channel. I like this workflow but I tried to use it and I get crashes often. My CPU and RAM bars goes very high which I guess is causing the issue. Do you have any tutorials or tips on how to reduce CPU and RAM low as you progress on a project? Also how to keep project clean and how to delete things like samples that you bring to the project but never used.
A lot of people complain that they create 4 bars or so and don’t know how to develop an idea further. This workflow let’s you use that loop as your main idea but spread it out so you can get inspired to add more elements and have room to work. It’s not just practical, there’s probably a psychological aspect to it, knowing you have more space to make changes.
Great video! I really like the idea of this approach. Are midi notes chased / followed? Say for example, you start playback from bar 8 and have long notes (samples) that start on bar 4 and which carry on through bar 8 and beyond? And what if that note on bar 4 was only a short note but had a long delay echo or reverb tail that went past bar 8, would you hear that tail if starting playback from bar 8? I hope this question makes sense! It seems that for the approach outlined in this video it would be ideal to start playback from any point in the song and not have any note that preceeded that point cut off. Cheers.
Samples triggered via midi won’t be heard if the play head is beyond their start point. They need to be triggered to be heard. From memory I think the MPC5000 had the option to play a sample even if the play head had passed the note. With the new MPCs this can only be done with samples on audio tracks.
@@TUBEDIGGA thanks. I didn't know that about the MPC5000. Do you think this could ever come to the current MPCs, given that it was possible on the 5000? It's something I can do in Renoise when I have long samples, and I think Ableton also can chase midi notes.
@@user-hl9rw4ww9o I’ve no idea if that feature will come to the new MPCs. In the 5000 it’s called CONTINUOUS SAMPLE TRACK. Check out page 37 of the manual. It’s an option you can switch on for a particular track.
KS Rack, same as the KS4 and 5 but just a module/rack. They are great because if you use a program/preset/patch in a multi you can edit it and the original is not affected. One of my favourite synths.
So, Mr TubeDigga. I like you white skin (on the MPC), not getting weird like “I like the shape of your skull” etc...🤞🏻So I just posted on an Ave McCree video this same question as you two got me up and running on this wonderful machine a year ago. So here’s the conundrum: I made a midi track when my sequence was 32 bars. It is 64 bars and now but my midi track is still doing a 32 bar loop. How do I “merge” it to become 64 bars so I can go pencil on it?
Hey I've recently put an MPC one on laybye iv got like 1 month left of payments then ill be hitting you up about courses involving 1on 1 tutoring and more can you help me decide what I want to do im going to be making hip hop so a course involving that would help, I've had a look on your website and can't decide because I'm not sure if the course comes with 1on 1 tutoring.
Hi Billy, the course was designed as a cheaper and more convenient option for people who want to learn from me. So it’s without 1 on 1, that’s a separate thing. Send me an email and we can discuss options 👍👊
@@TUBEDIGGA I'm considering the Live 2 but I'd like to know if you think it's as good of a deal as the One... I've heard people say the One is better for the price as well as the workflow.
Wes Darling The One has less in terms of auxiliary outputs, USB and midi ports and also the Live 2 has a speaker and is fully portable as it can run off the battery. You can also fit an SSD inside which you can’t do with the One. If you need all those extra things then get the Live Mk2. I got the One because it was enough for me, although part of me wishes I’d got the Live 2 because of the SSD bay. But it’s no biggie. I also prefer the gloss finish of the One over the Live as I don’t like the rubbery feel of the chassis. I have a bad phobia of abrasive surfaces like chalkboards etc :)
@@TUBEDIGGA Portability is a nice feature. I also have an extra SSD laying around here somewhere, so that's attractive. And they sell skins on that MPCStuff site. I was mostly concerned about the workflow, I guess. You're hella zippy on that One.
It’ll work if you have an independent/ separate program assigned to each track in your sequence. There’s also an EXPLODE TRACKS feature in the AUDIO MIXDOWN window
MPC Stuff but I modified it to look the way it does so you wont be able to buy this actual skin I have. it is a plain white skin that I sliced up a bit.
so he working in this way because MPC does not yet have the MPC force arranger view; but presumably this workflow will be null and void once the arranger view is added to MPC
I work this way because I always have. Back in the 90s all I had was a workstation with a very small screen and no ‘timeline’ - just bar values from 1 to 300 for example. It made more sense to me to plot my music along one timeline instead of several small timelines. It also meant any automation I wrote was uninterrupted and smoothly flowed which it wouldn’t if using multiple sequences/ patterns stitched together or played sequentially. I personally don’t like having separate sequences because I feel detached from any sequence I’m not currently working in. But that’s just me, and in my world it won’t be null and void - I have the Force and don’t use the arranger too much. It works well for the Force but I won’t stop using this workflow for MPC if / when it has the arranger.
It’s not that simple, or at least the MPC doesn’t do the best job at detecting them. Particularly with stereo samples because the zero crossings on the left and right and channels will often be misaligned. My MPC 2500 does a better job in this area.
![선재 업고 튀어 OST '그랬나봐 I Think I Did’ reaction [Newjeans,도경수,이영지,(G)I-DLE,QWER,이영탁,정동원]/KGMA](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1SpHvJYBas8/mqdefault.jpg)
The difference between you and other you tube MPC tutors is that I can tell you’re actually a musician that has developed techniques over years of use. Other guys are just making generic tutorials, just to put out content, but they don’t actually make music, so they don’t have any original ideas. Thanks for this workflow tip. It’s very helpful.
Thanks Brian - glad you’ve benefited from my knowledge 👍
Completely agree. His content is grades above any other.
He learned everything from a guy named Sizzaz.
I’ve been using a workflow like this on other hardware sequencers since the 1990’s. As a brand new MPC user (just got a Live 2) this video was exactly what I wanted to see. Thanks!
I just bought one of these and I have to say that it has kind of a steep logistical learning curve. That is, it's fairly easy to learn what everything does, but it's much harder to learn how to get to all of those things quickly and efficiently. If you just want to make some music, that's a drag. This is a really helpful video. Thanks for making it.
It does fall into place fairly quickly, I'd say it's an exponential learning curve meaning the initial first few weeks/couple of months may be steep but once you get one thing that ties into another and so on, things ramp up fairly quickly as long as you stick at it and enjoy the process. Don't be too precious about the music you make, make mistakes, experiment and refine your workflow as you progress. Email me if you're really struggling and interested in lessons which will accelerate your learning. tubedigga@gmail.com
Oh yes, the one sequence workflow was the key to produce better stuff. Especially using analog gear with external effects. The trasition between the sequences was very oft frustrating and sounds boring. The one sequence workflow gave me back the control over my projects. First I define a comfortable long sequence length. Than it is very helpful to use the start and end point setting in the sequence setting. You can loop there like the multi sequence workflow without losing the overview over the whole project. It is sometimes a little bit tricky in the beginning but worth it. Thank you for sharing.
Peace Tube Digga. Good contents. May i add two very helpful tips to this?
1. Using the Qlink is a great way to move through steps especially when working in one sequence (1st Q LINK, Second knob from the top)
touching the blue bar locator can be a little awkward, maybe cuz i got big fingers lol.
2.I think its much better to use the automation to mute and unmute stuff rather than deleting.Which is also very easy on the grid edit page.i say this because if you change your ming on some part you have the option to quickly put back what you muted. much more flexible
hope you get where im coming from.
Peace
Gemsmiff I know everything about this machine but don’t always use it in the best way, particularly when making videos as I’m thinking of other things further ahead. But thanks for your input :)
Definitely agree on the use of mute, although you don't need to use the automation feature, just overdub and use the Mute grid to choose your tracks as you play. A nice use of live production.
Good to start with everything muted to... So you can build up the the track instead of removing things.
MPC novice here, gave this a try today and it really did help get me out of ""loop mode". Thanks!
Another nail in the ol' FL Studio Coffin!!! Just watching this workflow video I see some more things I can do like add in transition effects where I want. Thanks for this one. Now I see why the price on the used Stand Alone units isn't moving very much.
Whoop! Thank you for an alternative approach to making a song with one sequence that gets tweaked here and there. Also, I love dnb and appreciate the tip to begin with about 32 bars of a somewhat repetitive sound before adding more tracks/sounds!!
Thanks!!!
So far your the most advanced mpc teacher I’ve seen on RUclips… good stuff
I learned so much from you when I first had an MPC Live, having never owned an MPC before. I sold the Live and 'downgraded' to an MPC One a little while ago, which I prefer by a mile, and I'm not sure a week passes where I don't look up how to do something on your channel. Thank you mate.
👊👊
man, this opens up a new way to arrange songs for me. this vid is gold, sir!!!!
It’s pretty much how I work all the time, good to hear it’s appreciated 👍
you'r channel is a goldmine for beginner on MPC's, just thanks for your work!
I’ve only had my MPC One for a month and have been experimenting with different workflows. This though is THE workflow for me. Absolutely love it. Thanks man. 👏👏👏
only started using my Mpc X in standalone yesterday, and it feels so refreshing to just work inside the box, and then your video came for recommendation, blessings brother 🙂
Good Video! I started doing that Process! It spreads up the Work Flow
I'm loving this.. I thought for a second, it was more of a GET THE CLICKS OUT, sound editing video... I Almost left the video, but I'm glad I didn't.. this is what I needed!!! I'm not new to sequencing, but this is a good workflow, makes sense!! Linier is my style, so this is GREAT!! I'm new to MPC, so I was doing intro, verse and hook together for transitions, then back to verse and hook... but this is Perfect!! I'll take it from here.. THANK YOU!! Liked. SUBBED!!
I had been thinking of a way to work like this lately. I have come to a hybrid way of working where I use your method but still flash out a few sequences first. This works for more complex dnb songs. I would maybe work out 3-4 variations of bass leads for the main chorus / verses on different sequences ( mutes if needed ). Write an 8 bar intro with everything sound I want in it.
I will then put these into song mode using the intro sequence for as how many bars I want for an intro, then use the 3-4 different sequences for as long as I want for the drop, then use the intro again for the breakdown part, and then do the same for second drop etc etc. Once I have a lose structure I convert to one sequence and work like you do above, taking out stuff, adding stuff and doing turn arounds etc
lots of useful information for both beginner's and advanced mpc owners.
Great stuff. Practical, to the point, and very useful! You demonstrated so much more than just the single sequence idea and that's great. So many others assume or speed past certain steps but your close up shots and attention to details was very valuable. Akai resources are a joke IMHO. I feel the MPC has a steep learning curve and Akai are blind to this element.
🙏👊👌🏻
Thanks for this, been wrapping my head around this box the last month. Love the workflow..
Just got the mpc one and these tutorials have been super helpful keep up the good work 💪.
Cleared up a lot of general workflow issues I’m having. Nice work!
Easily one of the better tutorials, pretty much how I used to build tracks on my MPC 1000 back in the day!
Perfect thanks for this. I've spent time using Cubase, Logic and others and always in this format so great video to encourage me to go ahead and buy one of these!
Nice, just bought an MPC One and this is a great little overview of some of the features. Interesting workflow too.
More please. Subbed.
I always use 1 sequence for my tracks anyway. Thanks for the useful tip. Cheers
Needed this, thanks! I think this subtractive arranging is going to speed things up a lot.
This is a great tutorial even for the MPC LIVE II. Thank you.
I always record it live to Logic, adapt the BPM in Logic from my MPC sequence and cut it like i want. So u can mess around with filter etc and find happy mistakes.
You can do a lot more with automation when your whole track is in one sequence as well. I purposely convert my song mode songs to a sequence because of this. I may give this a try but I feel like it would take me more time for the way I work. I only use one sound per program per track.
That made so much sense thank you! Do you have a vid that incorporates using banks for different sounds? Haven’t been able to find anything that clearly defines using the banks
It’s personal preference really, there’s no rules. For example, I personally always keep all my drums in the same program and programmed on the same track. That way I can see all the notes in one view and it makes editing much quicker. So if you were to do that, you could manage your banks in multiple ways. One way is to just use one entire program for all your sounds. You could assign all your kicks to Bank A, all your snares to Bank B and all your hats to Bank C for example. Or all your drums to Bank A, sound effects to Bank B, and vocals to Bank C etc. It’s good to think ahead with these things and be organised because often you’ll get 2/3rds of the way into a complex project and it’s easy to get lost or overwhelmed with all the assets you have to manage.
Interesting method.
Mine is a variation of this method
Usually start with a 16 or 32 bar loop
Il create the whole track in one sequence muting different sections. Once I'm happy il copy out that sequence. And utilise mutes to create each section. Bounce it to one sequence and record my automations.
That was awesome. MPC one arrives very soon and this has been a great help 🎵🎶❤️🙏
Love your tutorials. You go deep!
👍🙏👌💥
Thanks for the video. Interesting approach. I suppose it would work if the entire piece is basically a set of variations of the same pattern, with occasional mutes and variations in effects. That’s what contemporary dance music is of course, so the MPC makes it easy to produce repetitive music,
However I don’t see it working for songs, because they typically have 5 to 8 quite different sections (intro, verse, chorus, bridges, outro , alternative versions of verse patterns), each with a quite different rhythm pattern, baseline, chords, vocals. You would need a DAW or something like the Force or Maschine, where you can build and arrange a song from its different sections and record audio (vocals, guitar etc) across the full timeline.
Good explanation. But for me the next method of recording on my MPC is with the usb 32 channel output to a mixer and record off live each channel in a separate Daw like Ableton. The main reason I am keeping the MPC is the playability and jaming and sampling. quite frankly it really really sucks for song arrangement and all that jamming fee goes out the window. The song mode and sequencing on MPC is terrible, there isn't even a way to erase a sequence in the Next Sequence window. Once sequence is a way round this but its very slow and zero jamming feel.
Great vid on the one sequence workflow. Exactly what I was looking for.
I enjoyed your video nice work and well explained, looks like you need a lot of patience getting what you want.
Love your tutorials…very clear and informative
how awesome this bass sounds super awesome!
Thank you! I found this very useful and will be watching at least one more time to take it all in before walking through it while on my One.
When editing/cutting down the samples i've had good experience using the "0-snap" mode to avoid clicks.
I've been using the 1 sequence since the 1k.
A very timely tutorial, great explanation, this is going to be extremely useful... ✊🏻
Je débute sur MPC et c'est pas simple... je vais essayer cette méthode ^^ :)
This has blessed me I'm new to production and just got my MPC one, it's intimidating but I determined to learn this 🙏🏽🙏🏽 God is faithful 🙏🏽 thank you for explaining I'm simple way
Thank you for uploading a very useful workflow. .
I also love the nice top overlay. Was it specially ordered?
It’s a plain white skin from MPC Stuff but I modified it to be two tone
Do you have Videos on creating multiple Sequences?
Loved this video bro. Can you punch in say a solo at bar 32 for example? Does this workflow still apply following the Beta release? I’m still on 2.15 because the beta version deactivated my paid plugins. I like this workflow here.
Yes you can punch in and out over a pre determined bar range. And yes, the one sequence workflow most definitely will work. It derives from having used very basic sequencers in the 90s that only had one sequence to work with.
very insightful. learning a lot from this. Thanks for sharing!
Coming from an old school Cubase / Logic background, this really helps. The simpler the better in my books😁.
Tell me, when you save a project, does it save all the sample and programme settings with it?
Yes, saving an MPC project saves an associated project data folder with all the assets. When you load it back up it’ll be just as you saved it.
@@TUBEDIGGA
Thanks! I bought an MPC X earlier this week and I'm a bit lost😁
I worked with 2 S950s for 20 odd years, then learned the ESX in Logic a few years back so this is a whole new challenge!
Top Tutor more like this on the mpc one just subbed. Bought mpc one and need this may even have to book lessons! New sub
I don't like multi sequence workflow either, but I struggled with this one sequence workflow without solving some problems: With a single sequence you can't create track loops, and it will be extremely hard to modify a drum/plugin track of 1/2 bars repeated when you already have a 128 bars sequence setup.
I wanted to point out also that in your workflow you can also make the drum start without erasing, but simply with volume or mute automation. In this way, if you change your mind, you can alter the start point or intermediate points when you want to stop the drums without having to rewrite the notes on the track.
I don’t dislike multiple sequences. I just prefer to use a one sequence workflow. Both of your examples (repeating 1/2 bars and reinstating any erased notes) can be easily remedied by using the functions in the sequence edit menu, by choosing note ranges and copying them to other positions in the timeline. Unless I misunderstood what you meant about track loops. Using a one sequence workflow doesn’t mean you can’t use an additional sequence for a loop, you can have that alongside the main one sequence. Or use a clip track, or resample a section and loop it separately. But yes, automation is one solution. I personally prefer to destructively edit as it forces me to make decisions and commit so I can move on instead of getting caught up with choices and options.
Yeah, that is how I do it as I am coming from the mighty FL Studio. More agile than cueing many sequences.
I think I remember seeing another way which is very similar to what you demonstrated. but you take the main sequence of the song like you did, duplicate the sequences name them (intro, verse,verse2,chorus, etc), make all the changes to each sequence, them merge them all back together again as 1 full song sequence. An I THINK that option was in the song mode with the convert to sequence button after you put your sequences in order. So its very similar except it breaks it all up to mange each part of the seq then brings it all together again to modify the entire song.
The whole idea of building the most complex section and the taking away, is a good idea both in terms of workflow and musically. My question is how to develop and work with a full on B section or a refrain.......
@@HIFI1965 You mean a verse (A) to chorus (B) or alternatively are you speaking about verse > chorus (A) > bridge > verse > chorus (B)?
Jonathan Scott I don’t see that it would make that much difference, just a song that a more traditional song structure. Again I think the approach of building the structure of all of the components and then removing to create the evolution of the song is both efficient and works musically. I am just wondering how this works with song structures that have different sections.....
Jonathan... I just reread your post.....never mind......your approach does this... I was referring to tube Digga s approach.
Thank you for yet another legendary video lesson !
Hey sir and how would you mix the track ?
Certainly an interesting workflow, but have you ever tried with 128 bars or more? MPC really struggles and the device becomes nearly useless in grid mode. When I hit pads, sometimes it takes up to 5 seconds to select all notes... so I guess I stick to the song mode ;)
Hi, nice tutorial, thanks for sharing. I think i'm more a multi-sequence type of producer, however it's always good to check out and evaluate alternative approaches! Thanks for sharing, keep it up! :-)
What I don’t understand is why didnt akai provide any multisample instruments like a nice piano, etc. to go with keygroup mode? Do you know where I can get a good multisampled piano for the One? Thx.
Excellent video.
If you are using the same instrumentation from song to song is it possible to use sequence 2, 3.....etc to also hold complete songs and in this way have a whole set in one project. This would save time in waiting for projects to load. Anyone know any reason not to do this??
That’s completely fine and what this video is all about but the main consideration would be RAM memory as usual. However, drum programs allow for so much manipulation of samples per pad that you could simply reuse the same set of samples for each sequence (song).
This video shows how much you can get out of manipulating samples with the facilities available and next to no ram usage: ruclips.net/video/KWceglsskRk/видео.html
This would be a great workflow for me if you could manipulate a master track. I don't like having to repeat the process with each individual tracks. There should definitely be a master track view and the ability the effect all the tracks at once while in this midi view mode😕
Brillant video. Thanks a lot for this!
Bonjour
Peut on voir comme un séquencer type cubase ou autre,tous les conteneurs des différents instrument sur une même page pour pouvoir les déplacer?
Et ainsi créer son mix
I have been trying this method of putting songs together and for me it's working out very well. I can't, however, find a way to save the swing value for each seperate sequence. Is this only a global setting for the project. Cheers.
Swing can be set independently per track.
@@TUBEDIGGA
Thanks so much. I must have missed something.
Amazing Video. This helps me alot. Thank you!
Using
track lengths different of the one of the sequence is also useful.
If you wanted to add instruments/samples to make a chorus after youve created your 86 bar sequence, can you just go to say bar 24, set up your new track and program to lets say a string, and click overdub and record the string at bar 24 and end it at 32 and it will just stay there? Or will it populate the entire sequence. Thanks again for another great video def subscribed.
If you have a sequence of any length you can overdub whatever you like at any point. That’s how I work - I create my main theme or idea over 16 bars, double it a few times until I have the desired duration (256 bars in my case for jungle), then I go back and reverse engineer it by cutting elements out here and there and over dubbing new material where necessary
@@TUBEDIGGA Excellent sir, Thank you
It also makes sense to just build your whole song in one sequence, because after you do all that work making multiple sequences and add them in song mode, it converts it all into one sequence anyway right. Thanks again.
@@TUBEDIGGA sorry to be a bother, another thing thats happening is i convert to sequence and everything plays fine now. But only after i export as a mixdown, the same sequence i exported then suddenly plays my bassline out of tune. I check the exported file and it also plays the bassline out of tune. Im using a midi keyboard to play the bassline. In the sequence thats out of tune, if i turn the keyboards pitchwheel once it kicks it back in tune. But even when i try and export again, it throws it back out of tune? Im at a loss.
@@johnnylawrence Without sounding like I’m being mr salesman, you’d have to book a zoom lesson with me and I’d be able to diagnose that issue. It could be many different things which could take forever trying to explain on here. Email me if you want to book/details etc
Great video man
Really nice tutorials! 👌 Considering taking a few skype lessons from you once my mpc live has arrived.. I‘m pretty sure I‘ll have questions 😅
👍👊
Tell me if this is possible: 1. Can you make each sequence and infinite Loop? That would eliminate the need to specify the length. 2. Then assign each infinite loop to a pad? 3. Then record yourself "padding" as you please? That seems like a less stressful process. Can this be done?
Sequences loop by default, the sequence length still needs to be set to loop. You can’t assign a sequence loop to a pad, only a sample but even then a workaround is required (of which there are a couple) to infinitely loop a sample. I have videos on here that show that or I can show you these tricks and more via zoom lessons. I also have a Masterclass course which explains terminology and processes so they don’t get confusing. Course links and my email are in the description if you need my personal guidance 👍
Cool article. I was just wondering why you didn't use the fade of the amp envelope in program mode instead of the destructive Flatting Pad and Fade Out as in the video. Any special reason for that?
I’m always thinking of ram and keeping it at a minimum - by flattening the pad I’m creating a new shorter sample to keep the ram usage low. It’s a habit and also good practice, even if you’re not using a lot of samples or large samples. It also helps to save storage space when saving projects. I’m always on top of my housekeeping in the MPC for these reasons and also to avoid potential crashes which I find occur when ram usage is high.
Hey Mate, thanks for the video cool tips, love you channel.
I like this workflow but I tried to use it and I get crashes often. My CPU and RAM bars goes very high which I guess is causing the issue.
Do you have any tutorials or tips on how to reduce CPU and RAM low as you progress on a project? Also how to keep project clean and how to delete things like samples that you bring to the project but never used.
Literally just about to upload a video on this very subject
Hey man help me please, acabo de adquirir el mpc once pero no puedo cargarle los plugins como el mini grand y el loom como lo hiciste?
Could you expand on what you said at 0:42 regarding getting out of being stuck at a single loop
A lot of people complain that they create 4 bars or so and don’t know how to develop an idea further. This workflow let’s you use that loop as your main idea but spread it out so you can get inspired to add more elements and have room to work. It’s not just practical, there’s probably a psychological aspect to it, knowing you have more space to make changes.
Great video! I really like the idea of this approach. Are midi notes chased / followed? Say for example, you start playback from bar 8 and have long notes (samples) that start on bar 4 and which carry on through bar 8 and beyond? And what if that note on bar 4 was only a short note but had a long delay echo or reverb tail that went past bar 8, would you hear that tail if starting playback from bar 8? I hope this question makes sense! It seems that for the approach outlined in this video it would be ideal to start playback from any point in the song and not have any note that preceeded that point cut off. Cheers.
Samples triggered via midi won’t be heard if the play head is beyond their start point. They need to be triggered to be heard. From memory I think the MPC5000 had the option to play a sample even if the play head had passed the note. With the new MPCs this can only be done with samples
on audio tracks.
@@TUBEDIGGA thanks. I didn't know that about the MPC5000. Do you think this could ever come to the current MPCs, given that it was possible on the 5000? It's something I can do in Renoise when I have long samples, and I think Ableton also can chase midi notes.
@@user-hl9rw4ww9o I’ve no idea if that feature will come to the new MPCs. In the 5000 it’s called CONTINUOUS SAMPLE TRACK. Check out page 37 of the manual. It’s an option you can switch on for a particular track.
Beautiful customization. Where'd you get the encoders? Thanks for this awesome vid!
chriscauldermusic Skin and qlink knobs from mpcstuff.com 👍
great tut
I like to create the song in one sequence then export the tracks to a DAW for mixing.
thanks these vids make sense
Great video
great overlay that
Also is that a KS4? I have a KStation still, but that was The One!🤘🏽🤣
KS Rack, same as the KS4 and 5 but just a module/rack. They are great because if you use a program/preset/patch in a multi you can edit it and the original is not affected. One of my favourite synths.
So, Mr TubeDigga. I like you white skin (on the MPC), not getting weird like “I like the shape of your skull” etc...🤞🏻So I just posted on an Ave McCree video this same question as you two got me up and running on this wonderful machine a year ago. So here’s the conundrum: I made a midi track when my sequence was 32 bars. It is 64 bars and now but my midi track is still doing a 32 bar loop. How do I “merge” it to become 64 bars so I can go pencil on it?
lovely
Hi tube digga.How do u add plug-in into Mpc one? I saw there are over three more plug-ins in your device.Will you make a video for it?
Thank you.
Parison Lu I had it in controller mode, they were the extra plug ins like the 809, Hybrid and Loom etc, plus you may have seen some of my VSTIs
@@TUBEDIGGA So appreciate for the information🙏
Cool skin bro. Where did you get it from, or you made it yourself?
Whatnickname Bit of both, it’s a plain white skin from www.mpcstuff.com but I modified it myself. 👊
Tube Digga Nice!!! 👍🏾
Mpc one. Created the whole song on one program.
Is there a way to send them to different tracks to be able to play them with track mute?
From the track with the one program, press the pencil icon (right middle of main page) and choose EXPLODE
@@TUBEDIGGA thanks dig
Hey I've recently put an MPC one on laybye iv got like 1 month left of payments then ill be hitting you up about courses involving 1on 1 tutoring and more can you help me decide what I want to do im going to be making hip hop so a course involving that would help, I've had a look on your website and can't decide because I'm not sure if the course comes with 1on 1 tutoring.
Hi Billy, the course was designed as a cheaper and more convenient option for people who want to learn from me. So it’s without 1 on 1, that’s a separate thing. Send me an email and we can discuss options 👍👊
@@TUBEDIGGA what's your email please
It’s in the description above ☝️
where can i get those sweet q-link caps / data dial from?
Viktor Roloff www.mpcstuff.com
Great tutorial, still don't know whether to get the x or the one
Nath Jones If you can afford the X the get that, if you need the facilities it has. If space/money is an issue then get the One.
@@TUBEDIGGA I'm considering the Live 2 but I'd like to know if you think it's as good of a deal as the One... I've heard people say the One is better for the price as well as the workflow.
Wes Darling The One has less in terms of auxiliary outputs, USB and midi ports and also the Live 2 has a speaker and is fully portable as it can run off the battery. You can also fit an SSD inside which you can’t do with the One. If you need all those extra things then get the Live Mk2. I got the One because it was enough for me, although part of me wishes I’d got the Live 2 because of the SSD bay. But it’s no biggie. I also prefer the gloss finish of the One over the Live as I don’t like the rubbery feel of the chassis. I have a bad phobia of abrasive surfaces like chalkboards etc :)
@@TUBEDIGGA Portability is a nice feature. I also have an extra SSD laying around here somewhere, so that's attractive. And they sell skins on that MPCStuff site. I was mostly concerned about the workflow, I guess. You're hella zippy on that One.
The problem w this would be exporting the stems, correct?
It’ll work if you have an independent/ separate program assigned to each track in your sequence. There’s also an EXPLODE TRACKS feature in the AUDIO MIXDOWN window
Where did you get that MPC one skin??
MPC Stuff but I modified it to look the way it does so you wont be able to buy this actual skin I have. it is a plain white skin that I sliced up a bit.
my mpc got really slow when using this method, it crashed my today´s project :/
yes i´m pissed. great tutorials though
so he working in this way because MPC does not yet have the MPC force arranger view; but presumably this workflow will be null and void once the arranger view is added to MPC
I work this way because I always have. Back in the 90s all I had was a workstation with a very small screen and no ‘timeline’ - just bar values from 1 to 300 for example. It made more sense to me to plot my music along one timeline instead of several small timelines. It also meant any automation I wrote was uninterrupted and smoothly flowed which it wouldn’t if using multiple sequences/ patterns stitched together or played sequentially. I personally don’t like having separate sequences because I feel detached from any sequence I’m not currently working in. But that’s just me, and in my world it won’t be null and void - I have the Force and don’t use the arranger too much. It works well for the Force but I won’t stop using this workflow for MPC if / when it has the arranger.
where you get that one skin man!
It's a standard white skin from www.mpcstuff.com, however I modified it so it's half black/half white.
I do the same
one like is not enough
Łukasz Bieliz 1 dislike is too much! Peace ✌️
@@TUBEDIGGA Haters gonna hate!
All you have to do to get rid of sample clicks is turn on snap to zero crossings.
It’s not that simple, or at least the MPC doesn’t do the best job at detecting them. Particularly with stereo samples because the zero crossings on the left and right and channels will often be misaligned. My MPC 2500 does a better job in this area.
Move start to the end and fade out. Obvious but was not using!!!!