The Alchemist MPC Sampling Technique Deconstructed

[@AveMcree]

Who should I do next???

[@Elliott.Revell]

Pete on the sp1200

[@AveMcree]

@@Elliott.Revell If someone will loan me a SP 1200. I'll gladly do a deconstructed video.

[@nickynorka]

Conductor Williams

[@Elliott.Revell]

If you got a 2500 do some preemo goodness.

[@carbonvibes]

Just Blaze

[@malakinesis3584]

That Larry June Alchemist Project been on repeat for me. Alchemist ain’t never missed

[@taylamayde]

for 60 days lol

[@Trakaholiq]

One of Uncle Larry's coldest projects! 🍊

[@barboncitodechilly7612]

Yeehee

[@amillionbeats1]

Showing how to do it on multiple different daws and machines is awesome nice work. It’s important that the newer gen sees that the tools don’t matter .

[@davido3109]

they say mind over matter...

[@exodusgrindtimerecordings1778]

I love my mpc live 2 but I need a older mpc these look so amazing

[@rashad9187]

Love how you went thru multiple Devices to achieve the same dope outcome. This is Hip hop ✊🏾

[@przmatic_]

This was the best part.

[@terrymiller111]

Natural teacher.

[@Diaghe]

Never knew I can timestretch on MPC live and change the tempo efficiently like that! I've been doing random math changing the semitone til now. Thank you!

[@seasonbeats6221]

Dope! I think it’s cool how this is explained as to how the different generations of samplers all can translate the same sample the same way.

[@AdamFraserTv]

You can actually chop , stretch and pitch with stock FL plug-ins . There are several ways to achieve this . For me though , I prefer analog / hands on a piece of gear as opposed to clicking a mouse or typing keyboard but it can be done .

[@MrOuija-rr8kq]

I want more old school MPC stuff. It can easily be applied to any sampler really.

[@osirisofthesouth2853]

why tho, aesthetics or functionality. and can i hear your beats

[@smehta5577]

I've been listening to alc's beat all day and happened to come across this awesome video - perfect timing and breakdown thank you

[@proudpolishherbsman2583]

4:06 You're not using JJ OS, that's why you might be missing some options. But JJ OS gives you all of these options and more. Your MPC will get another life with the JJ OS, trust me bro.

[@geniusthegod9832]

Word!!! I was just about to mention JJOS to @Ave Mcree. Time stretching and, more especially, if you use XL.

[@Jim_KYB]

So much easier with JJOS destructive chipping. Killer machine.

[@arifmemovic3383]

That's because the Alchemist doesn't use JJOS.

[@gsmith11172]

What I like most about this video you showed us the same technique within the workflow of various MPCs and Daws

[@lindasson]

Yo Ave, this is NICE bro!!! I love videos like this, digging deeper into classic producers/beat makers, and what makes them unique. Great job bro!🙏🏾✊🏾💚

[@AveMcree]

ty so much fam

[@K4SET]

Also really easy in FL, just align it to the grid and do manual chops. Done manual chops a grip of times. Not as intuitive as with using a actual groovebox but eh is good enough. People have even recreated JDillas songs in Audacity lmao. If theres a will theres a way

[@DjiRocJoe]

My dude. This was on point! Thanks for putting in the time and effort for this video.

[@AveMcree]

I greatly appreciate it

[@Passarinho86]

My goodness, this is comprehensive yet with a simple explanation. Well done.

[@PS-wu2ym]

i got love for you bro but. im not feeling the way you say "and then the alchemist would do this". theres actually many different ways to chop on the 2500, we dont know exactly how he does it so we shouldnt act like we know his exact process its miselading to the viewers. honestly id think he doesnt use the chop feauture, he probably chops manually. but thats just my opinion

[@permanentfacelessness]

i second this comment. it isn’t confirmed what he would or wouldn’t do, and especially not something specific like how he chops, using bros example. much love, ave.

[@obi-wankenobi4959]

On his masterclass he does chop manually

[@maarawoe]

Reminds me how terrible and frustrating the stock OS on this unit was :-D These units were soooooo limited without jjos. I have doubta on the 32 slices technique though - if you check his video, some of the chops are much longer so I don’t think he blindly chopped to 32 regions…

[@djestouff]

agreed lol he’s way off

[@lawrenceboardjr.8509]

You can adjust the endpoints after chopping if you set your new program to pad parameters therefore u can have as king of a slice as u want still using that technique

[@AfferbeckBeats]

Yeah, I couldn't believe the things they didn't update from the 2000XL I was used to. Having to jump through every pad to change the pitch instead of the whole program. Thankfully JJOS added so many little things like that which makes it much more comfortable to use.

[@michaelhilario3407]

Yes to a MPC 2500 Master Class🎉

[@Sinosure]

Great great video Ave!! This is why when I find my own samples, I create perfect loops out of them!! For this very reason! Once done everything falls into place! That's why overall I think my style leans into cinematic!! It's similar to the jazzy loop the Alchemist flipped! You broke it down on different versions of gear to flip it on too!! Nice bruh!!🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@AveMcree]

thank you for stopping by I really appreciate it

[@Sinosure]

@@AveMcree yes sir my brother!!💯

[@MOIRECREATIVEPARTNERS]

You can press SHIFT and change the tune in all of them all together. I think the JJ OS also has time stretch. I would have to take my 2500 to confirm which function that was.

[@itsgoldn931]

Yooo upgrade to JJOS3! It’s got time stretch. Not as user friendly, but JJ did an excellent job of getting us as close to modern with the machine.

[@AveMcree]

I have jjos version 1 but don’t know how to use it 😑😩

[@itsgoldn931]

@@AveMcree ngl i had to take a day out, but it was totally worth it! You’re prolly not missing out on anything with the new MP’s

[@DJ2109]

always a good day when ave uploads

[@AveMcree]

ty so much!!! I took a lot of time with this.. Especially dealing with some of my MPC 2500 weird issues lol

[@Rio-uv1gs]

Excellent ... I nice practical breakdown for people like myself who might have been intermediated by this type of equipment.. Still in Logic for now but I definitely see the benefits and the quality of sound.

[@AveMcree]

Well I appreciate you being here

[@tracksphantom540]

This was fire bro please keep them coming. Can you please do a master class for all the MPC 's like the 500 to newest one in 2023😅😊❤ and the ones with JJOSXL.

[@Chron0Unboxing3ra01]

on FL it can absolutely be done with SliceX. I myself stick to Serato sample though

[@callumgillies9611]

A clever man breaking down the work of a clever man. Fantastic.

[@zobangerz]

The MPC 2500 + jjos software has time stretch Capabilities. I'm sure you were referring to the stock MPC 2500 though Great video! 🫡

[@GRXXNS]

My MPC500 has time stretch so does the 2500. It's in trim mode. It doesn't sound very good but it's always been there.

[@duskytcg]

Recently found your channel and its sooo nice that you know wtf you're talking about. Subbed !

[@mastaboog749]

thanks for this, i have a mpc 1000 that ive been using as my main piece but it makes me just want a 2500!! sick video loved it

[@jazzbwooy8889]

they are basically the same units. anything you can do with a 2500, you can also do with a 1000. same OS, only difference is in the nr of ins/outs and q link sliders

[@MrJonblundmusic]

You can do it all on MPC 1000 that you can with 2500. Serious

[@NeekRusher]

Salute Ave. This was a good video for people trying to understand how the sample chop game works. A good friend of mind in 1996 figured out how DJ Premier, chopped the original song for Jeru The Damaja song Ya Playin Yaself. It took him 2 days to figure it out. You know what equipment he was using to do it? The gemini sampler and Tascam 4 track. This is before I got my MPC 3000. He got that shit down perfectly how Preemo did it. Like you said, you have to have an ear for music. It took me a good while before I became nice at chopping samples. Learning that the original instrument players never played rigid. Anyway good video as always. Keep teaching brother. ✌🏾

[@BuckpLAYZnOGAMEz]

Cold video bro ! The Alchemist has always been in my top 5

[@patkelly111]

Great video ! But I’m an fl user and I can accomplish something almost identical using Edison and slicex both stock plug ins.

[@lovelyeagleye]

Legend ! 🔥 great vid! Gave me loads of ideas! 🙏🏼 Thank you

[@carbonvibes]

Thanks for sharing Ave, really enjoyed the 2500 sound. Can’t put my finger on it but the sonics are definitely different. Great job 🫡

[@AveMcree]

Yeah AD/DA & DAC are definitely special on older units. Even if this is a 16 bit sampler.

[@jonesconrad1]

@@AveMcree same on the 1k right ?

[@kenzoblytheproducertv4934]

Mpc 2500 sounds better,definitely why alchemist still using it,i miss my mpc 2500,dope video

[@SDSOverfiend]

I’m short.. Alc basically played the drums chops and everything that came with it. That gives it the off-balance-ness that makes it kick. Using time stretch to fill in the “Air”.

[@warnutztheloser]

I was jus asking today if solange quit... & look u have her vinyl wow

[@skilletburritos8464]

A more advanced technique is how ALC makes the chops sound less "choppy" if you catch my drift. He has absolutely mastered that. Like you can tell it's chopped but its subtle and almost sounds natural.

[@TKDmasterX]

Should be easy to do this by just giving the sample a slower attack. Or side-chain comp. Though not only those things alone will make it sound natural but may help

[@Rightly_Divided]

Every time I see an MPC video I want one more and more haha

[@bt_8498]

This was one of your best videos Ave 🔥🔥🔥🙏✌️

[@freesocietybeats]

I Love my 2500. Had it since again dropped it. 🔥 video

[@chairmanmaf]

The 2500 does have time stretch?!

[@kamjohnson23]

This was a dope tutorial 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@GenocidePanda]

the 2500 sound so so nice. should have put the track in mono in Ableton for a more accurate sound.

[@gravitygal47]

Are the new generation of MPCs able to pitch change samples in the old/simple way (that results in the sample length changing as well)?

[@Schemez-16vhiphopbeatz]

The alchemist gotta be one of the best producer names ever i cant come with a name as bad ass as that iv been using rorschach as my name lately but im not 100% on it a good producer name makes u stand out if someone likes the name they are more likely to check your stuff out

[@365OTG]

I use that method now. Good video

[@AveMcree]

Nice!

[@raimem642]

The most prolific!

[@dmims2779]

This was cool a nice lesson.

[@marclemar]

Great video Ave!!! Making me miss my 2500xl

[@sayredstudios]

Nothing like that AKAI though. Great video

[@loophome]

super dope video and content!!

[@Audiolot27]

Great Work 👌

[@bonafidebeatz20]

Ah the MPC2500 is my go to …can’t get enough

[@Dubbudha]

I miss the cursor button too. They should have kept the layout of the studio black for the live.

[@nicklaserna]

Thank you sir! This was super helpful and you have a new fan. :)

[@thatailorproductions5924]

love the lessons I miss my 2000 XL and My 4k🤑

[@abovegrungproductions]

I wanna thank you for taking the time out to explain but it doesnt help me if I do not have the perfect looped sample. How would I achieve that?

[@nathanchennell]

massively appreciated thank you.

[@burgzdidit]

Great video Ave. Thank you 💎

[@jordanr843]

Thank you for the breakdown!

[@mlou4902]

This is amazing man thank you so much for posting this.

[@AveMcree]

For sure

[@eddsmusicuk]

Helpful as always🙌

[@beatzdoccrump1297]

Great video Ave

[@oggregproductions6399]

This is tough🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@lariatolariato]

I think Alchemist uses JJOS on his MPC 2500, which would allow him to time stretch

[@moinlabs]

As a MPC noob with no understanding whatsoever, here's something that has me scratching my head: The Alchemist brought up the source sample (which you explained is 66bpm) by 6 semitiones, not pitch-shifting it but varispeeding, which would result in around 93bpm (which you confirmed when you showed the approach on the MPC2500). Now to go to a target bpm of 87 (which you were aiming for) and the same +6 semitones in pitch, you shifted by 6 semitones, then time-stretched to 87. This induces artifacts from pitch-shifting by 6 semitomes (a ca. 1.4 factor) and by timestretching from 66 to 87 (a ca. 1.32 factor). The same result (bpm and pitch) could be achieved by first varispeeding by six semitones (which is a linear process, i.e. does not generate artifacts), and then timestretching by a relatively small factor of ca. 0.94. Why did you do it the way you proceeded?

[@AveMcree]

Because the modern MPCs have elastic pro time stretching. So you can do more with it.

[@maeksu]

The newer MPCs (and likely older models too) can process timestretch from bpm as well as pitch shift independent from one another… if I understand your question

[@melanatedafrikanaquarian4687]

At 4:10 The Mpc 2500 does have Timestretch in the Trim Mode doesn't it? It sounds quite bad on samples and contains weird artifacts though.

[@BlkOMNI]

I was just about to say that there is time stretch on the 2500. It depends on the jjos you running. I know the 2xl has it

[@melanatedafrikanaquarian4687]

@@BlkOMNI All versions of JJOS has that feature including the stock Akai OS.

[@jayjibsbeats]

This is legendary 🔥

[@madnotez]

Columbia no cut my nimble ninja great video you are very knowledgeable on the gear and the process/procedures. I know a few producer's with very expensive equipment but are not well versed in how it works with other equipment. I like this strategy because if Gaga wants our tracks and loves the way the studio sounds were almost there. If she wants to use sl board's or nothing else and we only know how to use Yamaha and she walks for that. Everyone is fired !

[@StrosB4Hos]

I miss my 2500 sometimes but I’d be surprised if anyone on an mp from that era isn’t using JJOS.

[@briansingleton1338]

I recently started chopping like that after a 2 to 4 count....fire

[@thefreshprince3294]

I need a “What the alchemist would do” tee

[@normantaffefiny8227]

i fucking love the alchemist, ft game prodigy - dead bodies

[@kltz78]

Use the shift and Rotary dial at the same time, to move it quicker

[@Khebel2311]

Needlez, black milk, hi tek, mail man, Devin da dude, Rick rock

[@rafelswing]

Nice video! Good stuff!

[@curtiskeller7852]

None of these “new” MPCs sound this good

[@hostilesavage4299]

Exactly these "new" MPCs sound better than the o.g's 😂

[@ambaden2]

I’m glad you showed this Thank You🙏

[@AveMcree]

🫡my pleasure

[@altonpettaway961]

Do all that on the mpc live 2 dude.

[@wallyking1]

You can time stretch on the 2500

[@_rorshack__]

Don’t forget to buy your samplers y’all vsts are nice but having actual hardware is game changing

[@murphy.1947]

Crazy tutorial. Thank u 🙏

[@HoodHandyman]

Ave your a genious you've always got something interesting . Can you do this with the mpc 500?

[@AveMcree]

Thanks but I don't have any experience with the MPC 500. As, it's extremely rare.

[@joeboo9801]

@@AveMcree there's a few for sale on kijiji in my area from $290 (Canadian) and up

[@dustinmoore9398]

Simple, but effective

[@CarlosSixJulyBroady]

Love that sample bro🔥🔥

[@AveMcree]

Thanks los

[@Donsolo78]

Or you could trim it,loop it to match your tempo.then just chop equally and play pads to the tempo

[@vmoney2004]

It’s definitely TS on the 2500 , love this vid though

[@TheStatOfCT]

Great video

[@devondetroit2529]

Surely the 2500 has timestretch? The 2000XL did and the S2800

[@eduardolemon1]

REALLY nice content!!!

[@intihumala9087]

Madlib was one of the first producers to make albums strictly using chops, J Dilla as well and a few years later Black Milk did this on almost all of his albums. If you listen to black milks "so gone" you can really hear the chop.

[@jafilly]

Am I trippin, can you do the same thing is fl slicer or slice x that he did I'm ableton? Especially with a perfectly looped sample with bpm? I could do that in 10 seconds lol wtf

[@AveMcree]

You’re definitely Trippin. Fruity, slicer or slice X doesn’t have shopping in increments. We did our first matter fact, it has the exact opposite. It has low, medium and high. That’s not like the MPC, or abelton live at all. The problem with image line is they weren’t musicians when they develop FL studio. Matter fact, they were the exact opposite they were gamers. Which explains their poor musical terminology. Which has effected their user base.

[@Francisco12G]

You can chop in several increments on fruity slicer

[@jafilly]

@Ave Mcree sir this is incorrect, with all due respect. If you know the tempo you can slice to beat at increments of 16 and 32 , I've used that feature many times. Set the tempo, set the number of beats then click slice button and you can do to beat, 1/4 up to 1/6 of the beat... thats essentially the exact same thing.

[@pantherharri12224]

thank you

[@Donsolo78]

Bro,the guy tunes the sample before it enters the mpc the best ya can.Then copies the sample onto as many pads as chops ya want.then chops each copy per pad.similar to the asr and the way it chops.and the 2500 does timestretch ma dude

[@SekouTV]

Bruh! Legit demo video

[@tomdunn6416]

Love what you do

[@Tubefish07]

Allegedly Prodigy said he ended up going to jail after having dinner with the Alchemist. I believe in my heart that was just a coincidence!

[@stolimoli]

I noticed that some alchemist beats don’t seem bpm locked. Like the beat on Bundy & Sincere. The tempo constantly drifts. It’s a lot harder to make samples sound good when they aren’t perfectly on the grid already like splice loops

[@AveMcree]

Trust anything that’s sampled on the mpc2000xl or 2500 is bpm locked. The loop has to be chopped perfectly every time. Otherwise, it will sound like trash.

[@stolimoli]

@@AveMcree I see what you’re saying. I think what he does though,is have a main loop that’s bpm locked and the intro section might be locked to a different tempo. He’s actually said in interview that he doesn’t care if the intro section is at a different tempo. I think in the case of the song I mentioned, he plays out a long stretch of the sample at a free tempo before it starts looping a section. My other point is that when you chop an old vinyl sample rather than a splice loop, the tempo fluctuates because players weren’t playing to a metronome. So even if you have a perfect bpm synced loop, drum hits and things will be off which makes it difficult to chop right. This isn’t the case with splice loops since they’re quantized pretty perfectly.

[@LeedyFGC]

Bro where YOUR beats at? 🤯

[@lazaraustanti4190]

Nice Sample 🔥