Skip to main content

How to Drum on an MPC

MPC systems produce the sound of live instruments, including drums. A music production center -- or MPC -- includes drum sounds that can be activated through a simple graphical interface. Learning to use one of these systems is similar to learning to play a musical instrument. It takes practice and a little bit of talent. With just your fingertips and the sides of your hand, you can accurately produce the sound of real drums.

Step 1:  Press the "Shift" button located near the middle of the MPC system, and then hold down the "Song" button. This creates a song, so you can save a group of sequences into a single unit. This allows for pushbutton recall of extended sequences.

Step 2:  Use the wheel in the center of the system to scroll through a list of drum sequences, and listen to a sample of each one by stopping on the sample and pressing one of the grey buttons on the side of the console. Each button will play the sequence at a different pitch. You will have to experiment to learn what all the sequences sound like.

Step 3:  Stop turning the wheel when you get to a sequence you like. Select the sequence by clicking on it with the wheel.

Step 4:  Select the "Wraps" button and use the data wheel again to adjust the number of times you want the sequence to repeat. You can continue adding to the sequence by navigating to the end of the current sequence and then selecting a new one, or by looping the sequence. Once you have selected the appropriate sequences, press the "Song" button to save them as a complete song.

Step 5:  Play the song you created by selecting the song bank that you saved in the previous step. To play the song, just press the song button. The song banks are located on the left of the keyboard. You can save up to seven different songs on the pad.

Use the drum boxes on the right of the system to change the notes in a sequence. Each box will interact with each sequence in a different way. You will have to experiment with the pads to learn how each one effects sequences. You can improvise by selecting a sequence and then simply hitting the drum pads with your fingertips. You may also use the record option to record your sequence or simply play the drum system in real-time.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

List of Musical Techniques and Their Meanings

Musical techniques are the building blocks of any basic music training. These techniques allow performers to improve their coordination and develop accuracy through repetitive daily exercises. Musical techniques progressively build upon previously learned techniques. Scales Scales form the basis for other musical techniques. Student may study major and minor scales as well as modern scales, such as the whole-tone and octatonic scales. A scale consists of patterns of half steps and whole steps. These whole steps and half-step arrangements will be different for each scale. Scales are musical techniques that can help a performer to play faster and more accurately, and make learning new pieces easier. Chords Chords require knowledge of major and minor scales. Chords come in several different forms that affect the sound. Triads consist of three notes spaced a third apart and classified as major, minor, augmented and diminished chords. Seventh chords build on triads and have an additional no
Post a Comment
Read more

Why Claude Debussy Never Cared About Music Theory

  Claude Debussy was born on August 22, 1862. So, I felt writing a blog post to celebrate would be appropriate. Debussy was a revolutionary composer who challenged the conventions of Western music. He was influenced by the impressionist painters, the exotic sounds of gamelan music, and the symbolist poets. He created a musical language that was expressive, colorful, and atmospheric. One of the most remarkable aspects of Debussy's music is his use of harmony. He did not follow the rules of tonality and functional harmony that dominated the music of his time. Instead, he used modes, scales, chords, and parallel movements that created a sense of ambiguity and fluidity. He also experimented with timbre, texture, rhythm, and form to create musical images that evoked moods and emotions. Debussy's music can inspire us to think outside the box and explore new possibilities in our own compositions. We can learn from his innovative techniques and his artistic vision. We can also apprecia
Post a Comment
Read more

Similarities of Classical and Baroque Music

Music has evolved through the centuries and undergone drastic changes. One of the most significant transitions was from the Baroque to the Classical period of music. In this paragraph, I will compare and contrast some of the main features of these two styles, such as ensembles, instrumentation, and counterpoint study. The Baroque and Classical periods of music have many similarities. While the style of music changed drastically, certain key elements remained the same between the two styles. Composers in the Classical period sought to simplify music and create clearly audible musical lines. In contrast, composers from the Baroque period were interested in creating complex and highly ornamented musical lines. The Baroque period occurs from approximately 1600 to 1750, and the Classical period extends from 1750 to 1820. Ensembles Ensembles are groups of musicians that perform together. Both the Baroque and the Classical period had similar types of ensembles, such as operas, orchestras, str
Post a Comment
Read more