Reason as a Virutal MPC

milk · #1 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 07:15 PM

just a quick one...

zSHARE - beat45.mp3

using the whole reason as an MPC thing, opinions welcomed.

DJEther · #2 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 12:58 AM

i like it, simple to me not too much goin on to distract you, but exactly what did you use in Reason to make it like an mpc like redrum, dr. rex, recycle,nn-xt,scream,so so on you get the point.

Downstroke · #3 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 05:47 AM

Yeah man, I just found that Youtube tutorial the other week where he whacks up the release and reduces the polyphony to 1 on the NN19. I tried that shit on the NNXT and it works a treat. I'm now banging my MPD like it was an MPC and I couldn't be happier. I do sometimes have to duplicate the slices and take off the release if I want to cut the sound off before the whole slice plays out, and when laying drum tracks you need to keep the polyphony up otherwise you wont be able to play a kick & hi hat at the same time, but that's all good, Reason is definatley a tweakers tool!

Your beat sounds dope, nice and minimal (in a good way)!

Here's a beat I just knocked out the other day using those techniques:
zSHARE - beat 62.mp3

DJEther · #4 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 01:39 PM

i posted that vid too in a post called "is an mpc really worth it" with another vid where a guy hooks up his mpc2000xl and midi keyboard to his lap top to control Reason.
I liked ur beat also downstroke very nice and laidback type beat the sample was sick. do u have the mpd16,24 or the new 32?
i was thinkin the 24 until the 32 came on but after seeing the 2000xl hooked up to reason it changed my mind but might still get the 32 so its less weight to carry with my laptop. right now all i have is my akai mpk49 which is a beats but so big and clunky to carry left and right.

milk · #5 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 01:40 PM

yep - thats exactly how I did man. Its extremely cool and am gonna keep messing with it some more and see where I get! I just wanted to try this out real quick and see what I get.

your beat is really sick btw, leagues ahead of mine. I like it!

Downstroke · #6 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 02:06 AM

Yo Milk, cheers for the props, but for a quick beat your's is dope as hell. I'm just using an mpd16 right now. I was planning on laying down the bread on an MPC1000 or 2500, but I might put that off now I've found this technique and get Serato instead. The only thing I'm not happy about is I cant figure out a way to set the 16 levels to play the one shots at different levels, cos that's one of the things that give MPC drums that real live feel.

milk · #7 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 02:15 AM

yeah as of now I'm just using my M-Audio midi keyboard... But hopefully upgrading soon.

You pretty happy with the MPD?

Downstroke · #8 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 12:07 PM

Haven't realy got much to compare it with, but suffice to say it's doing what I wanted it to do so I can't say fairer than that. I've had a play on my freinds Korg PadKontrol, and I relaise this has loads more features, as do the newer MPD's, but all I wanted was something to hit other than my keyboard and have that nice hands on feel while making beats.

One thing I did notice was how much easier I've found it for programming basslines. I used to use Midikeys (a software midi controller that maps the keys accross your keyboard), and I always thought a midi keyboard would be the most sensible way to do basslines cos you can see how the notes would be in order, but I've found hitting the pads you can get well funky with it. When using a conventional piano roll, I think you automatically try and play your basslines logically, but for some reason, I felt a bit of an Obiwan Kenobi moment (let go, use the force luke!) and just hit the pads a bit more randomly, which seemed to work well for me.

Right now I'm pretty happy with my set up although it couldn't be much more basic, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before gear lust kicks in and I start salivating over some more hardware.

milk · #9 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 12:18 PM

Awesome, I'll be looking to pick one up soon!

[grimeshine] · #10 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downstroke

Haven't realy got much to compare it with, but suffice to say it's doing what I wanted it to do so I can't say fairer than that. I've had a play on my freinds Korg PadKontrol, and I relaise this has loads more features, as do the newer MPD's, but all I wanted was something to hit other than my keyboard and have that nice hands on feel while making beats.

One thing I did notice was how much easier I've found it for programming basslines. I used to use Midikeys (a software midi controller that maps the keys accross your keyboard), and I always thought a midi keyboard would be the most sensible way to do basslines cos you can see how the notes would be in order, but I've found hitting the pads you can get well funky with it. When using a conventional piano roll, I think you automatically try and play your basslines logically, but for some reason, I felt a bit of an Obiwan Kenobi moment (let go, use the force luke!) and just hit the pads a bit more randomly, which seemed to work well for me.

Right now I'm pretty happy with my set up although it couldn't be much more basic, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before gear lust kicks in and I start salivating over some more hardware.

Yup. Playing basslines on pads is a secret that many producers have yet to discover. Welcome to the club