Akai MPC User manual

User Guide
English
Manual Version 1.9

2
Table of Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................12
System Requirements and Product Support ...................................................................................12
About This User Guide .......................................................................................................................13
Important Notes ..................................................................................................................................14
Installation ...........................................................................................................................................14
Windows®........................................................................................................................................ 14
Mac®OS X®......................................................................................................................................15
Unlocking the MPC Software ..........................................................................................................16
MPC Hardware Overview ........................................................................................................................ 17
MPC Renaissance...............................................................................................................................17
Top Panel ........................................................................................................................................ 17
Front Panel ......................................................................................................................................23
Rear Panel ....................................................................................................................................... 23
MPC Studio..........................................................................................................................................25
Top Panel ........................................................................................................................................ 25

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Quick Start / Tutorial................................................................................................................................31
Starting Up...........................................................................................................................................31
Creating a Drum Kit ............................................................................................................................32
Recording a Drum Sequence.............................................................................................................33
Organizing Samples and Editing Note Events .................................................................................34
Making Basic Sound Edits .................................................................................................................36
Recording a Bass Track.....................................................................................................................37
Creating a Song ..................................................................................................................................41
Exporting the Song .............................................................................................................................41
Other Features Explained...................................................................................................................42
Step Sequencer............................................................................................................................... 42
Drum Loops and Chop Mode..........................................................................................................43
Pad Muting and Track Muting .........................................................................................................46
Sample Recording ...........................................................................................................................48
Sample Editing ................................................................................................................................ 49
Recording Automation with the Q-Link Knobs................................................................................ 50
Using MPC as a Plugin....................................................................................................................51

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Operation (Software)................................................................................................................................52
General Features.................................................................................................................................53
Adjusting the Controls ..................................................................................................................... 53
Program Types ................................................................................................................................ 55
About Programs............................................................................................................................................. 55
Drum Programs.............................................................................................................................................. 55
Keygroup Programs ....................................................................................................................................... 57
Plugin Programs............................................................................................................................................. 59
MIDI Programs ............................................................................................................................................... 63
Browsers..........................................................................................................................................64
File Browser ................................................................................................................................................... 64
Expansion Browser ........................................................................................................................................ 67
Mode Tab Section ........................................................................................................................... 69
Transport Section ............................................................................................................................73
Grid View .........................................................................................................................................77
Entering and Editing Note Events.................................................................................................................... 82
Recording Automation.................................................................................................................................... 85
Manually Entering and Editing Automation ...................................................................................................... 88
List View ..........................................................................................................................................89
Entering and Editing Events ............................................................................................................................ 91
Entering Automation....................................................................................................................................... 94
Editing Automation ......................................................................................................................................... 94
Software Menus .............................................................................................................................. 95
File Menu ....................................................................................................................................................... 95
Edit Menu ...................................................................................................................................................... 98
Metronome Menu......................................................................................................................................... 106
Time Correct Menu ...................................................................................................................................... 107
Tools Menu .................................................................................................................................................. 109
View Menu ................................................................................................................................................... 110
Help Menu ................................................................................................................................................... 111

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Main Mode .........................................................................................................................................112
Q-Link Section............................................................................................................................... 113
Program Mode............................................................................................................................................. 114
FX Mode ...................................................................................................................................................... 116
Pad Bank Section..........................................................................................................................117
Sequence Section .........................................................................................................................118
Track Section................................................................................................................................. 120
Drum Programs and Keygroup Programs ..................................................................................................... 121
MIDI Programs ............................................................................................................................................. 121
Plugin Programs........................................................................................................................................... 123
Program Channel Strip ..................................................................................................................124
Project Information ........................................................................................................................ 126
Program Edit Mode........................................................................................................................... 129
Master Section .............................................................................................................................. 131
Simultaneous Play Section (Drum Programs Only) .......................................................................133
Mute Target Section (Drum Programs Only) ................................................................................. 133
Keygroup Play Modes Section (Keygroup Programs Only) ..........................................................134
Key Group Section (Keygroup Program Only)............................................................................... 135
Edit Layers Section........................................................................................................................137
Filter Section.................................................................................................................................. 141
Anatomy of an Envelope............................................................................................................................... 143
Pad Play Modes Section (Drum Programs Only) ..........................................................................144
Velocity Sensitivity Section ........................................................................................................... 145
LFO Section................................................................................................................................... 146
Controller Mod Section (Keygroup Program Only)........................................................................ 147
Insert Effects Section ....................................................................................................................148
Pad/Keygroup Audio Route Section .............................................................................................149
Program Edit Mode for MIDI Programs and Plugin Programs ......................................................149

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Program Mixer Mode........................................................................................................................150
Show/Hide Buttons ....................................................................................................................... 151
Routing ..........................................................................................................................................152
Levels ............................................................................................................................................152
Pad (Drum Programs only) ............................................................................................................ 153
Panning.......................................................................................................................................... 153
Mute and Solo ............................................................................................................................... 153
Automation (Program Channel strip only) ..................................................................................... 154
Effects............................................................................................................................................ 155
Insert Effects ................................................................................................................................................ 155
Send Effects ................................................................................................................................................ 155
Track Mixer Mode .............................................................................................................................156
Show/Hide Buttons ....................................................................................................................... 157
Program Assignment.....................................................................................................................158
Levels ............................................................................................................................................159
Panning.......................................................................................................................................... 161
Mute and Solo ............................................................................................................................... 162
Automation (Program Channel strips only).................................................................................... 163
Effects............................................................................................................................................ 164
Insert Effects ................................................................................................................................................ 164
Send Effects ................................................................................................................................................ 164
Master Effects .............................................................................................................................................. 165
Track View Mode .............................................................................................................................. 166

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Next Sequence Mode .......................................................................................................................168
Triggering Sequences................................................................................................................................... 169
Sequence Playlist ..........................................................................................................................169
Pad Bank Section..........................................................................................................................170
Next Sequence Section................................................................................................................. 171
Project Information ........................................................................................................................ 172
Sample Record Mode .......................................................................................................................173
Setting Up to Record with MPC Renaissance ..............................................................................174
Waveform Display ......................................................................................................................... 175
Record Controls ............................................................................................................................176
Threshold..................................................................................................................................................... 176
Record Arm ................................................................................................................................................. 176
Input Source ................................................................................................................................................ 177
Input Monitor................................................................................................................................................ 177
Sample Length............................................................................................................................................. 177
Sample Rec and Sample Stop...................................................................................................................... 178
Direct Record............................................................................................................................................... 179
Project Information ........................................................................................................................ 180

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Sample Edit Mode.............................................................................................................................181
Waveform Display ......................................................................................................................... 183
Trim Mode ..................................................................................................................................... 185
Edit Section.................................................................................................................................................. 185
Pad Section ................................................................................................................................................. 187
Settings Section ........................................................................................................................................... 188
Process Section ........................................................................................................................................... 190
Project Information ....................................................................................................................................... 192
Chop Mode....................................................................................................................................193
Edit Section.................................................................................................................................................. 194
Pad Section ................................................................................................................................................. 196
Settings Section ........................................................................................................................................... 197
Chop To Section .......................................................................................................................................... 199
Process Section ........................................................................................................................................... 200
Project Information ....................................................................................................................................... 203
Song Mode......................................................................................................................................... 204
Sequence Playlist ..........................................................................................................................205
Pad Bank Section..........................................................................................................................207
Song Section ................................................................................................................................. 207
Edit Step Section...........................................................................................................................208
Step Section ..................................................................................................................................209
Project Information ........................................................................................................................ 209

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Pad Mute Mode .................................................................................................................................210
Pad Mute .......................................................................................................................................211
Pad Group .....................................................................................................................................213
Project Information ........................................................................................................................ 214
Track Mute Mode..............................................................................................................................215
Track Mute..................................................................................................................................... 216
Track Group................................................................................................................................... 218
Project Information ........................................................................................................................ 219
Step Sequence Mode .......................................................................................................................220
Pad Section ...................................................................................................................................221
MIDI Control Mode............................................................................................................................223
Effects ................................................................................................................................................226
Overview........................................................................................................................................ 226
Insert Effects.................................................................................................................................. 227
Pad/Keygroup Effects .................................................................................................................................. 227
Program Insert Effects.................................................................................................................................. 229
Send Effects .................................................................................................................................. 232
Master Effects ............................................................................................................................... 236
Operation (Plugin)................................................................................................................................... 237
Differences Between Plugin and Standalone Usage.....................................................................237

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Appendix .................................................................................................................................................238
Keyboard Shortcuts..........................................................................................................................238
File Menu .......................................................................................................................................239
Edit Menu ......................................................................................................................................239
Time Correct Menu........................................................................................................................ 240
Tools Menu....................................................................................................................................240
View Menu .....................................................................................................................................241
Transport Controls.........................................................................................................................241
Miscellaneous................................................................................................................................ 241
Effects and Parameters.................................................................................................................... 242
Reverbs .........................................................................................................................................242
Delays............................................................................................................................................247
Flangers .........................................................................................................................................253
Chorus ...........................................................................................................................................254
Autopans ....................................................................................................................................... 255
Tremolos........................................................................................................................................ 256
Phasers..........................................................................................................................................257
HP (High-Pass) Filters ...................................................................................................................258
LP (Low-Pass) Filters.....................................................................................................................260
Parametric EQs..............................................................................................................................262
Distortions ..................................................................................................................................... 264
Compressors .................................................................................................................................267
Bit Reducers ..................................................................................................................................271
Other..............................................................................................................................................272