Akai MPC Synth Workflow- 3 Ways to Use Synths in the Akai MPC Series Grooveboxes

In this video I discuss my studio workflow using the Akai MPC series with synthesizers. I give a live demonstration of how to use the MPC 4000 with Virtual Synths via Korg Gadget along with MIDI Sound Modules such as the Studio Electronics ATC-1 analog synthesizer. This video video should give you more clarity an insight on how to get a simple and effective workflow using synthesizers as additional sound sources for the Akai MPC series.
*****
Visit my website:
www.altruwest.com
*****
More information about my studio routing:
altruwest.com/2020/09/24/usin...
*** Looking for help getting your Akai MPC Setup in your studio?
Let us Help You!
altruwest.com/product/akai-mp...
***

[@Altruwest]

Here's more information about my studio routing and setup: altruwest.com/2020/09/24/using-the-uad-apollo-console-with-the-akai-mpc-and-hardware-synths/

[@jerry-rk7yw]

thanks for keeping us updated

[@kaydenrylan9558]

you all probably dont give a damn but does anybody know a tool to get back into an Instagram account..? I was stupid lost my login password. I would love any assistance you can give me!

[@lawsonpablo8125]

@Kayden Rylan instablaster =)

[@kaydenrylan9558]

@Lawson Pablo I really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and im in the hacking process now. Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@kaydenrylan9558]

@Lawson Pablo It worked and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much, you really help me out :D

[@producerboy29]

I miss this sound In the music industry

[@DJDouglasWarden]

Nice funky groove! I have an XL and this is pretty much how I work as well. The MPC's sequencing is so easy to get the original ideas down and groovin. I love it.

[@TheCShorte]

This has demonstrated some things that I did not think that the MPC could do. For example, sampling a note and re-triggering the note from the keyboard. I had seen this with NI Machine and I had thought that it was a unique feature. Thanks for the thought provoking demonstration.

[@matiasss550]

Machine is just plastic, knobs and pads like any other controller.

[@absolute0815]

Maschine* Spelled like“ musheeennaa(„a“ like in „a Synth“) i mean Germans spell english names the way u all do and not in german (as english speaking people do with „german“ names/words) But hey-No problem u can just ignore it BUT if not u all would appear a way more smarter!😉😎👍

[@OilRacki]

I just heard about the MPC today, kinda knew to the hardware world when it comes to making music. Thought this video was really great at showing how useful a tool the MPC can be.

[@Russplight]

Wow! Real old school classic workflow. Used this method for years. I may have to revisit this workflow

[@quentincoleman4222]

I hear Bruno all over this. But love the work flow man, gave me some ideas to use with maschine and outboard gear. Thanks alot.

[@RickyTinez]

insanely informative. Also Big up 4k users!

[@Mirchitunes]

Really liked what you by did recording a single note and then using it to play a tune. Lot of neat ideas on building up the pieces for the final track. Kudos

[@slumdandy3536]

really cool man.. i just got an Mpc 2 days ago and i want to resell it cause workflow is damn long.. i'm used to sp404 straight workflow but this video open up my mind with what u could do w this machine .. you are an amazing tutor.. very clear explanation how you do this full time

[@YrjoPuska777]

Great stuff as always! I bought a mpc 5000(that should arrive today or after the weekend) and planning to use it with ipad as a sound module(and likely for arranging loops and finishing tracks) with it(along with yamaha cs6x and minibrute). I have been trying to look for videos about this stuff for a few days and your videos were the most helpful and even this the workflow tip with recording chords from gadged was awesome, especially since im not very good with keys.

[@OutspokenRap]

Nothing like a beat with that G-Funk feel.

[@Altruwest]

Yessir!

[@jermainelong1843]

You're a gifted musician and an inspiring demonstrator. This one was definitely a beat for a sunny day:-) Peace from the U.K.

[@BlahBlah2Music]

Man! the best video you've done so far! I've never understood the MPC Synth workflow. Thanks

[@sosickhcdrums]

Man those chords you were laying down are fire!!! 🔥🔥🔥 that beat knocks!!!

[@veegee1974]

This was classic all the way right here! Reminds me of my old set-up, which I will be putting back together with a modern twist. Gonna run my old 1K with my old skool Triton Extreme as a controller and module with a couple of other modules all in to Logic. If that set-up can't get it done, I need to quit! LOL!!! Nice video Bruh. 👍🏾

[@ghostfrom1950]

Love your sound selection

[@MakingMadBeats]

That bassline was pure funk 🙌🤤❤️!!! Then that lead sound in the end, damn...

[@edgi55]

Altruwest you the man! Amazing track

[@samgrossman5752]

Much respect man. Just getting into producing and this helps a lot. Keep keepin it 100

[@BkBangatv]

funky stuff baseline has that groove jamming . your workflow setup is dope as well. #KeepBangin!

[@awkwardsquadproject]

Excellent work and an inspiration.👌

[@andersonthomas2012]

Now this video is right up my alley. You do the damn thang righteous.

[@Altruwest]

Thank you fam, much appreciated.

[@willmich1]

This is a very well explained video, and I love that funky sound. I use an MPC1000XL and I use exactly this same workflow! Audio tracks are nice because I often use samples of my synths. God bless!

[@MatthewYates1]

Awesome. Thanks so much for sharing. Love that G-Funk Feel.

[@ccfunk1]

That program change is so cool. so is the beat and the bass. sounds like a Moog.

[@Doeja]

Dope! Drums are knocking...

[@dsrecords22]

I love your setup, I hope to get my studio on the same level.

[@dt8607]

That is some professor level sorcery! Great vid man!

[@rickiejacobssr790]

Don Brascoe xggg

[@losbeats657]

Dope beat ! Like the work flow .. More MPC 4000 using some of the dope features it has. PLZ

[@Altruwest]

Thanks fam, I'm not a hard core sample based producer like many of the MPC 4000 users you may find on KZbin. I've always been a heavily MIDI based producer and the MPC is the king of hardware based MIDI sequencing. The 4000 just happens to be my favorite because of its combination of MIDI features along with its full keyboard sampling capability. I think a lot of people still dont realize that you can load multisample libraries in the MPC 4000 and use it to play pianos, strings, bass guitars etc.

[@charlierodgers7637]

Great tutorial bro. Kia Ora from New Zealand.

[@maritatjamburo168]

Pure West Coast magic. I love it.

[@BJMifsud]

That mopho 4x sounds soooo good! I remember playing one a while back and I really liked it even tho i wasn't a huge fan of the prophet 08

[@Altruwest]

Man! The sound that you may be thinking is the X4 is actually Korg Gadget. I just had the X4 Midi'd to my iPad in this video. I definitely like the sound of the X4 over the 08 though. I had the 08 a decade ago (have a video discussing it a bit as well on my channel). I still have my X4, but I do a lot more sampling with it because 4 voice polyphony is not quite enough for me.

[@22pirate]

I used this type of set up all throughout the 90s. I found it really inspiring. I had a lot of keyboards many of them multi timbral that enabled me to do pretty complex arrangements with a lot of sounds. As i switched over to DAW during the 2000s it obviously became easier to edit and do larger scale projects but a few things always bugged me and took many years to understand. Basically looking at a screen all day just sucks. Its counterintuitive. Working with MPC has its limitations but its strengths are highly musical. Timing is fantastic. Less options than a DAW force you to think ahead more. Not looking at a screen for everything puts the emphasis on your ears over your eyes and overall the experience is more satisfying. In addition using all you analog keys by midi is enjoyable as well. Hands on tactile use of the keyboards and changing parameters gives u more control of your sounds and opens up more originality in sound design over just using presets. I was wondering if u have both MPC and your DAW set next to each other as a way of offsetting the monotony of looking at a screen all the time and injecting fresh energy into music making. I think I want to do that again. Thank you for your video. Not many people do this anymore.

[@Altruwest]

Dope, thanks for sharing your experiences fam. The main reason I still use hardware is because I value human performance over editing. I want my music to be about capturing the moment of an inspiring performance and not so much about how creatively I can edit within my DAW. I get the most inspired when I see someone performing live on their instruments at a high level. Having the instruments around keeps me focused on what's most important for me musically. I still use a DAW for certain professional audio projects that require serious editing and recall, but largely I consider myself a musician first and recording artist second. Many of us forget that we can be musicians without focusing on chasing fame as a recording artist.

[@22pirate]

@@Altruwest 100% agree. In the whole history of music we concentrated on our instruments. Even when we recorded onto tape we used our ears but now the visual element is so important. We literally "see" the music but not notation but a visual representation of the waves. That started the modern obsession of "perfection" or what i like to call the "photoshopping of music" which has resulted in the sterility we hear now. You inspired me to set up the old way again. Thank you for that. By the i really dig your music. Keep it up!

[@KiLLACAiN]

13:25 awwee maann dope! i wanna hear you drop VST effects on a mix of the motif and all! sick bro! i love doing this ish! lol

[@goodahrecords507]

Thanks fam. Really help

[@brr557]

great video and awesome west beat 2 ride

[@Metamophisis]

Man this is such a dope video! Your process is in depth! 🎹🎸🥁🎧💉👂🎼🎵🎶🔥💣🔥💣🧨👀. I was so used to sampling vinyl records. I recorded a few tracks with my drums sampling notes or chords for beats only. My friend has been using midi for years. I’m really trying to find the best way for me. I don’t like when I have my Mpc midi to a keyboard or sound module and I go to another sound and the previous one overlaps.

[@InterplainMusic]

Nice sounds, reminds me of the early Street Sounds in the era of Captain Rock.

[@Altruwest]

Great ear! 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@digitaldiezel5870]

Damn Brah! I used to have the XV5050 back in the day. I was running it with an RS7000, I sold both to cop a Fantom-S.

[@carlitofunk69]

excellent man, i like it !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@UniqueThaPoet]

I used to enjoy my hardware days...but honestly software is faster and can do everything hardware can do .I even have all my samples for reason from the motif,fantom, and Triton...so I'm super str8.

[@gatlinproduction]

Very Nice My Brother. Love your track. MPCX User

[@ronrobins3513]

digging that west coast Bounce all the way to Bmore 😎

[@phatdrums]

Great video!

[@s.ishmaelbey9343]

I've be wanting that Studio Electronics ATC-1 since the mix 90's. That along with the Novation Super Bass Station. These keyboards seem to be a rarity these days. Which reminds me of how popular the Kurksweil 2000 was then and how I have yet to see one floating around anywhere anymore.

[@dcptracks564]

Man this is phat crazy ice cold! I really wish presonus would allows us to control their software with the midi program, the workflow would be so much more doper, this got me understanding the workflow of the Akai Beast, the one thing I would like to have in my daw is that option of Midi Program because this would give me the ability to switch drop sounds at free will, which I feel that's the only pain in my workflow. I want a mpc live but I have decided to wait until all of their beta bugs are done and then cop it around the holiday hopefully you will have a course up because this workflow got me like I need in my life, come put it in my life, I'mah keep it in my life lol mann that fresh way

[@dcptracks564]

Man they need to have you to do one of these for the mpc live.

[@john4157]

Wow I really like your mpc work flow!!! I have a Mpc 4000 . I never thought of sampling from keyboard into the 4000. You share some really tight tips. Thank you. Can you make some more videos on producing with the mpc 4000? I have had the 4000 for a while. I still don't know how to use it fully. The 4000 is really really deep Thanks John Thanks John

[@claudefox2882]

great video, thanx for sharing

[@mosestechnology50]

And it was a great video you are very very talented Be blessed

[@dwaynemusik]

wow this is so summer day out just enjoying it type of groove hey what minor scale are using "j"

[@Kaninooss]

Thank you for this video! I'd like to know more about the way your synths and MPC are connected to the sound card in order to track out, record and mix everything. The way I see it, all the synths line outs are routed to the sound card ins, same for the MPC outs. And then you've got the outs of your sound card routed to the ins of the MPC (to sample your synths as you show in the video) and of course to your speakers. Am I right?

[@Tony_Anthemz]

You made a dope record is less than 15 minutes.. I'm here to learn that 4000 mane... lol just got mine yesterday with the Modx8

[@ramonkey2939]

That bass line at 3:17 is funky as hell

[@pjdahmen]

sound are great and good job

[@Altruwest]

Thank you fam, I appreciate you!

[@jameseugene3882]

First of all great video - I have an mpc renaissance I have not gotten a chance to used yet - will able to use the JJOS feature? - and I just purchase 2 mpc 60ii a few day ago - you did not mention them on your list

[@RudyrhythmzRudyrhythmz]

Wow that's how i used to work I had the MSB and LSB codes to all my synths so when i load up a song like magic all my synths would go to the correct presets and i love the keygroup in the MPC4000 it was the only true sampler of the hardware line i never figured out the INT- functions tho I still use the 4000 at times i just hate that the up cursor button is dead so i have to page up just to navigate around it ( this the 2nd one it happened to EA ski said i have heavy hands lol )

[@moogish]

Hay what's up this vid is great. If you have picked up on the new MPC X or Live, would you say it's close to unbeatable as a sequencer for a hardware synth collector? I'm almost full circle with my setup & looking for a solid sequencer.

[@DocTheopolis]

Very nice

[@Altruwest]

Hey Fam, thanks for checking out this video. Make sure that you check out my latest project entitled "T.H.E" (The Human Experiment). There is a free promo edition of that project on my site, as well as two premium versions with a bonus track included. Download the project here: altruwest.com/?post_type=product&p=9052 Be Blessed!

[@brianholloway7468]

bang! nice work fam

[@tarasvandevoorde4248]

which device did you use to connect the iPad? nice video, great jam!

[@normanosbourne5050]

Brother you cold on the setup.

[@Altruwest]

Thank you fam 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@GuidedSteps]

Beast Mode!!!!

[@terstapes]

That whole iPad setup is a cool idea

[@Altruwest]

I wish more people would get into it! The addition has been a game changer for me. Thanks for your comment, be blessed.

[@TeleporterM11]

Altruwest- Which is your fav hardware synth for sounds, Especially dance music. I need a synth with a lot of sounds.

[@michaelhartmann9971]

I'm learning the MPC Touch, I'm a turntablist of over 25 years. Trying to blend my knowledge of Tables, keyboard with sampling . I am a little intrigued over the iPad.. that's really cool What Gen do I need to run virtual synths like that? -- big question,.. how many ms is the lag thanks a bazillion

[@BLAZINBEATS123]

nice track, did you have quantize on or off on the synths? thanks

[@nateandrew9953]

What are you running in that studio? I see the old Mac pro. Respect for keeping that computer going!

[@jerzboybeats9555]

With the new MPC’s you can use key groups or the on board synths. The Akai Force will let you record audio in bars and loop them. I’ve been experimenting with my iPad and the Force where I just watched your video this morning?

[@Altruwest]

Definitely, I think having MIDI sync/timestretchable audio loops on a hardware unit is always a plus.

[@jhbo84]

Great video! I had a question i was hoping you or someone else on here might be able to help me with. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Im trying to connect my JDXI to my akai force. I have all 4 tracks from the JDXI loaded as individual MIDI tracks on the force. The problem is that if i change the loaded program for one of the tracks, it changes the loaded program on all 4 tracks to different programs. Is there a way to change the loaded program on each individual track, without it changing the loaded programs of the other JDXI tracks? If that makes sense.... I know its probably a simple fix, but Im stumped at this point. thanks again in advance for the help

[@timeTravellin]

Dope!

[@MikeMatzke]

Dang, cool setup. I'm trying to get my mpc1000 to time sync with the korg ms2000r while being controlled by the arturia keystep. What you have setup seems attainable but I just vibed with the vid. haha.

[@Altruwest]

Thanks for your feedback! I'd be curious to know where you're getting hung up with your setup. It seems that operating the Keystep in Slave mode with the MPC 1000 sending MIDI Clock as the master could work.

[@MikeMatzke]

@@Altruwest Oh dang! I will have to review the keystep settings and make sure its in slave mode. I think I'm also confused about the proper midi cabling setup too. This is my first time with midi so I'm a total noob.

[@Altruwest]

Mike Matzke heres a good diagram showing the common mpc MIDI setup instagram.com/p/CDChsx5j5kk/?igshid=10dcv8l0zkeqq

[@99MUZIK]

Can the old school MPC save all sequence midi notes and load them back into sequence midi notes workflow. Without turning on the analog synthesizer. The reason why I ask I'm considering getting the Dave smith ob6 desktop module and a used MPC 1000 with jjos. I have notice the analog hardware synth market is back!! like they say it's nothing like the sound of analog.

[@krolkoolmarek7074]

very cool ! now i want to do some beats west coast 😉

[@KWMusiq17]

can you lay synth down when there are no drums in the track yet? Just like, tell the mpc the bpm or something and then have a little click in my headphones? I would prefer to put in the drums after the keys/synth and am wondering if that is doable.

[@dangerousbeatz309]

@altruwest so where is the midi sound coming from? The DAW? How do you get the midi sound to sequence with the mpc help me out?

[@LukezyM]

Hi Altruwest, do you use Maschine Jam?

[@davidgoodwin3935]

Hey bro how did you link you iPad into you work flow

[@bukaglasna]

Can the mpc4000 record filter cutoff midi cc modulation from the ds x4 when u play it on its midi input? Thanx

[@susu-mi7kx]

hey Al I have the mph 49 keyboard.also Maschine, so the VST would be like the different sounds?? I ask because I don't understand how you get the different types of sound to plat that baseline you did On around the 3.1/2 minute mark. New to this all hope you reply. and Nice beat you made for real.

[@Altruwest]

Thanks for checking in. The Maschine comes with a license for Monark (Reaktor VST) which is a great source for some for the type of bass sounds you heard me playing in this video. Also check out Massive and Scarbee Mark 1 which also come for free with a license of Maschine.

[@youtubenatan]

Hey Altruwest, I don't know if you can explain this to me on here, but how would I hook up my Roland JD-XI, via midi to the MPC One, and get it to record a bass let's say, and be able to switch it to another patch once it's recorded? I can't wrap my mind around on how that can be possible? I just can't see if I record a synth sound from the Roland synth into the MPC One, how I could change that synth sound once it's recorded? Maybe I didn't understand what you meant here? If you would want to verify that, it would be great. Thanks brother Altruwest...SBN

[@Altruwest]

Hey SBN, all you need to do is record the sounds as audio tracks in the MPC One. That way you can use multiple patches from the JD-XI. You could similarly create programs from some of the sounds and use them as synth patches in the MPC as I did with the lead sound in this video.

[@youtubenatan]

Hey Altruwest, say that you record a synth sound from the Tubesynth in the MPC One...when you record a synth sound, can you switch to a different sound after you've recorded it? Or say that you have been working on shaping and molding a sound with eq and effects, Can you then switch to another sound, and will it still have the same parameters that you we're working on? I got a MPC One backordered, and I'm just curious before I get my hands on it. Thanks alot man. Appreciate it...SBN RESONATE

[@swishyfish325]

Yep the tube synth has a lot of great presets and will change the sound as you browse through them once something is recorded

[@EarthUPC]

So when you recorded the initial midi part, will you have to have your synth module connected in the future to hear the sound? The midi is programmed in, but assigned to what sound..?

[@Altruwest]

Absolutely, the sound lives in the module until you record it as audio.

[@fmagic2000able]

I know this is a late question to pose given the video's post in 2017. But when you were recording your chords into the MPC, would it not been somewhat easier if you just recorded the chords in one take with some pausing in-between each chord, then take that sample as a whole and do auto-chop? Seems to me that would make your flow somewhat smoother and quicker in having the hardware do more of the work for you - just a thought.

[@Altruwest]

Hey fam, in order to keep this video simple I chose to use as few model specific features as possible. Not all MPCs have auto chop/transient detection. I chose to minimize the use of system specific features so that more MPC users could get value out of the video. Hope that makes sense!

[@SuperHonkyPodcast]

I have an MPC X and I've never been a hardware producer. I've always relied on DAWs and because of this I'm a complete newb when it comes to the MPC X. My issue is this. I'm able to make dope drum patterns/loops etc. with my MPC X but I struggle when it comes to making melodies since I don't have my usual plugins that I would use with FL studio. Because of this, I'm considering purchasing a keyboard that has sounds built in and would like to set this up with my MPC X where I can utilize all the sounds built into the keyboard with the MPC X. I want to make drum loops and chop up samples etc. with the MPC X but then I want to rely on a keyboard to come up with my melodies etc. and record those out from my keyboard into the MPC X and it's sequencer. This is possible I imagine? I'm pretty sure that's what you're essentially doing in this video. I have no idea how to make this happen though and because of this my MPC X has been sitting for almost a year without ever being used. It's just collecting dust and it's killing me bro! 😥

[@randomguy6127]

Somebody help this man! 🙌

[@remshawmusiek7565]

What tempo is the best for making Gfunk?

[@saltybeatz1]

man I'm trying so hard to use my mic 3000 and trigger some vst"s on my daw. I cant figure out how to connect it like it was triggering a old school sound module. Any idea how to achieve this? thx

[@hikeanrobinson3960]

I appreciate you takin the time to respond,first of all ,i gotta give you your credit.You are simply a BEAST at your craft.I really like your videos and ordering your material.Im buying most of my hardware from Reverb.com[mpc 2000xl, motif,effects pedal for my fender].So you will be hearing from me,needing help.Thanks again.[Did you take piano lessons].

[@youtubenatan]

12:12 got that 90's type feel that I love...SBN RESONATE

[@goldenlion8123]

AKAI'S MPC 4000 IS THE ULTIMATE..

[@lemonderangello]

Dude, after u have the groove in the MPC, do u record each track into your daw for mixing? Or?

[@Altruwest]

I usually track out the individual samples and loops from the MPC into my DAW. I have other videos on my channel discussing tracking if you're interested.

[@tomstegeman4344]

If I have multiple midi sequences on the MPC playing simultaneously ( assigned to different pads), can the external synth play them back simultaneously by itself? Or does there need to be a midi return from the synth back to the MPC? I basically want to know if I can have (for example) a bass line sequence playing simultaneously with a lead melody sequence using a different preset on the synth, all coming from the same synth. Thanks.

[@Altruwest]

Which synth are you using?

[@tomstegeman4344]

@@Altruwest Roland D-05 (boutique version of the D-50. D-05 has internal sequencer which I currently control with Arturia Keystep internal sequencer.

[@Altruwest]

The D-05 is monotimbral, however you could potentially use the Split Mode on the D-05 to make 1 half of the keyboard the bass and the other half of the keyboard the lead sound. They would be accessed on the same MIDI channel however you could program them on different tracks on the MPC. You should refer to the D-05 manual to learn more about split mode.

[@tomstegeman4344]

@@Altruwest that's a very valid work-around that I haven't thought of. Thank you for your wizardry. Fly on

[@PharoahsKingdom]

I want to hear you make an east coast beat.

[@youtubenatan]

So if you don't record your synth with midi into the audio tracks, then you can't go into the grid mode to change notes or volume, etc? I'm trying to figure this out, so I guess I would record vocals through the sampler instead of audio tracks then, because without recording midi synth into the audio tracks, there's no way of changing anything or readjusting anything in the grid right? Or is that even possible? I don't know why it's taking me so long to get this right, but I never owned an MPC until about 3 months ago, and it's pretty much to learn at one time. Thanks for the feedback...SBN RESONATE

[@mcdjpartyplannerhongva4746]

mpc4000 great!

[@doobiehammer7366]

Dope

[@camillachristensen6759]

Hey Altruwest thanks for all the great stuff :-) Can you please help me ? I am pretty new to music production, but I have some okay gear already (Mpc3000, mpc2500 and mpc5000, roland jv2080, emu planet phatt, Yamaha motif es6 and a ASR10 board) Cab you tell my what I need to rocord my tracks in to a computer.. What gear I need to do that ? How big the computer should be PC/Mac and what else I need to be able to do this ? Keep up with all the good stuff :-)

[@Altruwest]

Hey, thanks for reaching out. You didn't speak much about audio interface equipment and that is a must for recording the amount of gear you have. I made a video about choosing an interface for the Akai MPC so you should definitely check it out on my channel. That video should provide you with a few consideration to take for purchasing. If you need more specific help please consider booking a consultation here: altruwest.com/product/akai-mpc-configuration-support/

[@camillachristensen6759]

I been looking at the Soundcraft signature 22 MTK mixer for my setup it comes with 22 Channel USB interface (including Ableton Live 9 Lite software) and I have a pair of KRK monitors allready :-)

[@veegee1974]

Dude... get yourself an Apogee or Focusrite and you're all set. You'll figure out how many audio inputs you'll want by how much you want to spend. the gear you named has ALL the sounds you'll ever need and will Get 'er done!

[@DroppedandSkrewed]

Track is so tuff at end