MPC Live II | Using Song Mode

[@alexandrosroussos]

Nice video. My take out from it is that tip allows you to export everything into one master sequence, which brings a kind of arrangement mode allowing us to position our elements transversally. I didn’t know that it’s really cool. However I’m quite surprised it wasn’t showed the ability to enable REC mode and drop your sequences in the song by tapping on the pads. This feature is dope !

[@jmfhsmith4923]

Isn't there a simple mode where you can just play the sequences in order and the song mode will remember them?

[@SoundFreqsOnline]

yes easily

[@jason3534]

I should get one just in case I have to be homeless again. Perfect for that.

[@JGW-im3nf]

Lmao

[@throwdealz4081]

I have to leave my spot soon and I Just copped this hahaha

[@throwdealz4081]

Throwdealz on soundcloud

[@acerome1595]

I’m just happy I’m not the only one with this logic. Peace be with y’all

[@garethevans9570]

Lol...Save your dollar you'd have nowhere to charge it.

[@XanderEwald]

So will MPC get the arranger and matrix Force has at some point?

[@va941]

Can we have the aranger from the Force migrate to the MPC's?

[@keitomineproductions4133]

I'm begging for this

[@spindlenine]

Me too - I would love to have both options. And hey, while we’re dreaming, maybe a tracker mode too.

[@shatteredsquare]

hope so!

[@shatteredsquare]

@@spindlenine tracker mode would be great

[@davidwagner85]

@@shatteredsquare I think if you go to "list view" from the main menu you get a tracker like setup for each track on a sequence.

[@VerseOsmoBeats]

So when I'm in song mode, after I arrange it how I want, and it plays good in song mode. But when I click on convert>seq. The sequence that is converted onto the sequence I chose is all out of place and out of sync. It's plays some tracks muted and the arrangement is not the same as when I first arranged it in song mode. Any ideas here?

[@tenariusmccullough2403]

I'm having this problem on my MPC keys could you please give me some help thanks.

[@SticksAandstonesBozo]

You already made the arranger for force. Why the f&$k isn’t it on MPC’s in 2023.

[@DorinJacota]

I noticed that the lights from the pads are not blinking when playing the sequence which was created from the arrangement. Is that the default behaviour, can it be changed?

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

Will the ability to record automation in song mode get added in 3.0? It’s a huge limitation to have to convert the whole song to a sequence to automate things as a song progresses, and it’s legit putting me off buying.

[@Kyle-wb7wx]

This was my very next question.

[@mechanicalman4531]

convert the song to a sequence and record your automation

[@bashali7245]

Andy is a MPC Beast🔥✌🏾

[@sirvidia]

I’m also wondering if once you’ve created the song sequence can you then add more song length tracks, e.g. jamming on a piano? And you add automation data to that?

[@groovehog1]

If I have sequences that have different time signatures and BPM settings, will all of these be applied when converting the song to sequence? And are you able to then do a final mix with that entire sequence?

[@sederquest]

Should be able to tap the pad or on the screen to select which one you want to insert instead of using the data wheel to scroll after pressing insert Long time has passed now still the same

[@Jedson66]

Hi! can you load the backing tracks of a song, so you can play the whole song to perform live? Im talking about having at the same time many samples of abour 4 minutes long. In the worst case can you have one?

[@MacyPruitt]

is there a rationale for why the blinking pad selector doesn't change to a new pad when you click it? seems unintuitive to always insert the first pad, then leave the user to change the entry to the correct sequence

[@sledgrenmurray5775]

Same problem I’m having

[@VerseOsmoBeats]

When I press convert>seq it actually plays random notes in the sequence and not the song I arranged within song mode... whhhyy I've been at it for awhile now

[@AkaiProVideo]

Hello. I'm sorry to hear you're having some issues with this process. Please reach out to our support team for assistance. akaipro.com/support

[@justindtackett]

Akai. Please make videos that align with new updates. Thanks!

[@emjay946]

how many songs can it store please

[@sledgrenmurray5775]

When I try to insert my sequence it inserts a blank one instead of the one I selected to insert

[@alexandrosroussos]

Question : supposing I have created many copies of my sequences, created a song with mutes like I’m this video and then changed my mind about one of the programs I use, like change the sound design or the whole program preset/sample group. What’s the best way to populate my changes most easily on all my song ? Will modifying already created program affect all sequences using it or did the sequence duplicate function also duplicate the programs inside them, meaning I have to apply the change throughout all the sequence copies created to make my song ? It’s been a few weeks I have the Live MK2 (mostly used on the M+ & MV-1 workflow), but I haven’t gone to the step of creating a full track yet so I’m still a bit confused about the structure of songs on MPC.

[@spindlenine]

So, the MPC uses several constructs. - Sequences are just notes and samples played. - Sequences contain tracks which send midi note data to samples, or internal or external synths - The synths and samples are part of a program. Programs belong to the entire project ACROSS sequences. In other words, sequences that use the same program share that program. So for example a program might be a drum kit, or a soft synth in the MPC assigned to a specific preset. - The programs end up having their own audio tracks that are part of a mixer. The mixer is also shared across all sequences in the project. So, if you made ten different sequences that all used the same drum program, and then you edited the drum program to have a different snare sound on the same pad as the original snare sound, that change would be represented across all sequences since the sequences share the same drum program. Likewise, if you changed the FX on the mixer for the drum kit, it would affect all the sequences. Sequences are just note data and velocity/other MIDI control data. Sequences also contain things like track mutes which are really just telling the sequence not to play note data for the muted track. Hope this helps.

[@ezskreet]

@@spindlenine very helpful thx

[@kingchron1798]

My song mode doesn't open. I've been working around it for a year (Mpc Live MK1)

[@alogenius7244]

Make sure the beat isn’t playing

[@troypol343]

So you can only chain an 8 sequence max in song mode right?

[@jayonbaby]

How do I delete or start the song over fresh? I didn’t like the way I sequence the song but I can’t delete it

[@puertoricanism]

Thanks for sharing. I've got some strong ideas already laid out. Time to arrange into songs.

[@Bigjuggs64]

If its internal battery, do you charge the battery like your phone ?

[@Donesyboy]

@@silviagarcia601 These... are the questions that must be answered!

[@herbertscott9575]

Plug it in, it charges. Unplug it, it uses battery life. Gets about 5.5-6 hours in.

[@ElektronicCricket]

question, I want record midi , than save 20 and more songs :) and after that , making a set list for the gig. (I don’t want to use audio!) ... hmm it’s hard to find. ... maybe I missed something... there’s no explanation about this and also how fast can you load songs. And ,Oh yes ... also no pc live ;)

[@dhewave3983]

So if you tryna copy 5 or six sequence why did you to set it to un use 9?

[@jrapheal1]

song mode won’t allow me to add more than 8 sequences. What am I doing wrong?

[@gamingconnected4859]

Yo, can I buy that beat somewhere? That's fire!

[@DeivSmoka]

Akai mpc live 2 Retro are they still making it?

[@googlerep366]

How do I mix down a song or render it to put it on my phone so I can share it with other people? Can I do that on the MPC live 2 with out using my pc?

[@spindlenine]

A few ways. 1. You can export the tracks inside the MPC. You can then save the audio files to a SD card, plug that card into your phone, and copy them on to your phone. 2. You can buy a class compliant USB audio interface for your phone. You can then hook up the MPC to the audio interface with TRA cables and use an app on your phone to record the audio. 3. You can buy adapter cables that adapt the MPC outputs to your mic input on your phone and record into it that way. Sometimes this results in a mono recording - it depends on your phone and the mic input. Hope this helps.

[@gurtana]

Hi, what if I've created sequences but when I go to song mode, they are not listed on the pads?

[@gurtana]

Just an answer my own question: I was using the MPC connected to my computer and I was page B of the pads in desktop software, so the pads didn't have the sequence names on page B, because they were in page A. So, I switched to pad page A - and they were there.

[@alterekporterfield8956]

How u turn up the volume

[@flotteur]

Nice one guys ! Do you know if, in Song Mode, we can still run the song while doing other stuff (use the pads to finger drum on a program, use the X/Y effect on the master). Because each time I launch a song in song mode, if I go to the X/Y, it exits the sequence ordering of the song and loops the current sequence, impossible to catchup the song.... Thanks again !

[@olsonwaters4116]

You should make the entire song into its own sequence like he did near the end in the video and then play it. From there you can mess with the other fx with no issue. Also you can make more songs in to sequences and chain THOSE together to create even longer songs lol.

[@Bigmojo75]

Great video. Before I commit to an MPCx for gigging, can I ask, is it possible to have more than 1 song sequence? I noticed at 1:40 it said “1 [unnamed]” which indicates it might. (Yes I know I can only have 128 sequences, but this will still give me 10 songs)

[@olsonwaters4116]

i know im late, BUT basically yes.

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

Yes, but all the songs must be built from the same project. You can't sequence projects. You could build mutiple songs, or multiple versions of one (or more) songs.

[@Fobsheim]

Unfortunately on my mpc live 2 (purchased last month) song mode doesn’t work. Can you help. I guess it’s a bug

[@AkaiProVideo]

Please contact our support team at akaipro.com/support

[@clemlysergy3335]

Did you ever get this sorted out? It doesn't seem to be working for me either.

[@Fobsheim]

@@clemlysergy3335 on the Screen right lower corner you insert any sequence to the list on the left. Than you rename/choose what sequence it actually should be.

[@jason3534]

Forgot about the Force?

[@touristinfo6947]

How many channels are allowed on the mpc live 2.Can everything be exported from mpc to ableton Suite for further editing or enhancement etc.

[@fakshen1973]

The MPC software supports export to Ableton Live and other DAWs. Search for "MPC export Ableton" on KZbin and you'll find some tutorials that will show you how it's done. Just bear in mind that the feature has been improved over time so look at the date.

[@blue.sunset]

Native Instruments is building a Maschine Stand Alone perhaps to compete with Akai Force. You will learn how to make a Song Mode / Arrange View. I'm sure of it

[@bazibada]

I'm trying to understand the features of these as I'm really interested into going dawless but... you can't even record an audio track over and along the "sequenced" sequences ???

[@kingchron1798]

I guess just convert to sequence and then add tracks to that.

[@spindlenine]

They don’t show them in this video but there are audio tracks. They’re contained within the sequences so think of them as audio clips that belong to the sequence. You can also record vocals and other instruments as samples and play them as clips or samples. Lots of ways to skin the cat.

[@bazibada]

@@spindlenine Thanks for your answer !

[@sledgrenmurray5775]

My song is locked to one sequence and no one is explaining how to lock it how to unlock it ..

[@PlasmatronNL]

Same here.

[@PlasmatronNL]

Found it! Press the sequence and then scroll to the sequence you want on the left side.

[@swedishdriller]

Are these sounds vst plugs or from an akai sample pack!? Do anyone know? Looking for the flute/lead sound.. like i alot!

[@franohan1880]

Sounds incredible even when no leads plugged in!

[@entropyhi]

i get that it looks cleaner but this makes it feel so much less authentic

[@kreep8744]

@@entropyhi what are you talking about

[@entropyhi]

@@kreep8744 there's no cables connected to the mpc

[@PhoenixFilmTV]

You know it’s got a battery, right?

[@JW-rm3cj]

Hey, I made an intro sequence at 100 bpm and following sequences at 120bpm I like it but when I put it into song mode the whole track is in 120 bpm. Any suggestions??

[@zacordene8946]

Tick the master button below the sequence BPM.

[@JW-rm3cj]

@@zacordene8946 ok il try that out

[@JW-rm3cj]

@@zacordene8946 so I can change it from sequence to master manually by pressing that button whilst it plays yes but I want it to play the first sequence at 100 bpm and the 2nd sequence to play at 120 bpm.. so like I say I can do that manually but is there a way to bounce that track so that the intro plays at 100 then the following sequences play at 120??

[@JW-rm3cj]

@@zacordene8946 because if I press the master button even the intro jumps from 100 to 120

[@Salamantine]

@@JW-rm3cj did you manage to find out?

[@4nja]

Bit confused, it always adds the same sequence and I can’t select or insert the others in the same view :-S

[@sledgrenmurray5775]

Same

[@savv.e2088]

3.0 when you going to drop it akai.

[@epigon1]

I hope so too

[@dct028]

thanks!

[@Inhaleinhell]

Thank you. Sub added!

[@thahyst]

Is this Andy Mac speaking right here?

[@AkaiProVideo]

The one and only!

[@dhewave3983]

I try what you did step by step and it doesn’t work I don’t kno but this shit makes my head hurt.for such a pricey equipment akai should make sequencing way more straight forward, no bugs or rocket science should be involve.

[@MemfisToJa]

Is this really how song mode works? Why not drag and drop seq to the playlist? Impossible? I really love mpc gear (live 2 owner) but mostly because it is one of its kind having speaker and battery. the software you provided does not use the potential of the device, which is designed wonderfully. not very intuitive, annoying, not well thought out. I sincerely hope that the reason for this is that functions like the one I mentioned in the case of song mode are impossible to implement due to lack of technology and not lack of thought. Don’t want to be a hater but I really think it could have be done much better.

[@DJMOFUNKTV]

Nic3 1n3

[@julian-vo2fk]

Need tempo automation :/

[@andreasstephan8155]

Where is the Problem to make a good visual Arrengement Mode? The Song Mode is a fail. Sorry, but it is true! Please, change them with a upgrade. I think a many people need this one and will pay for this feature.

[@mrlotto32]

Perfect tutorial

[@andrejohnson6102]

what if you have three sequences, but seq 1 has six tracks, { kick, snare, etc.} can you copy the tracks to the other sequences 2 & 3??

[@AkaiProVideo]

On the Main screen, tap the pencil for the Sequence section. Then, hit Copy Events. You'll be able to select the sequence you, track, and events you like to copy to any other track in another sequence. Hope that helps.

[@SticksAandstonesBozo]

Hands down the most unintuitive way of arranging ever. On any hardware or software. Period.

[@scott21113]

Do NOT remove song mode in MPC 3.0! You will be destroying my workflow if you do. Again. Do NOT remove Song Mode!