MPC Live: Recording Midi Devices Into Audio Samples Using the Live's Sequencer

In this video, we go over how to use the MPC Live to first sequence midi gear, then turn those sequences into audio recordings that can be triggered in programs.
It's a pretty short tutorial, if I've left anything unanswered or you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below.
Thanks for watching!

[@flameoftruth1781]

Thanks for the time put into making this video! No one is speaking on this in detail! The MPC is powerful but can be "menu tricky" if you wanna say thanks for giving us the cheat codes! Many Producers MPCs get sold or collect dust because of this issue.

[@rngleaderband806]

This unlocks another important facet of how to manipulate the MPC. So thankful, as i'm just starting to emerge out of the novice MIDI and MPC realm! 😎

[@okinawa1312]

Cats seem to love Syntesizers.

[@CaidicusProductions]

They sure do. I have one cat who's ok in the room, one cat who likes to jump ON the synths, and one cat who likes to bit wires. Needless to say, they're not often allowed in the room. :D

[@ryannbakerbeats]

Facts

[@krakapoww]

Respectable set up m8

[@CaidicusProductions]

Thanks, brotherman.

[@Nathanaelsun22]

omg been trying to figure thi out first day with mpc .. as a pro tools user.

[@Staypift]

Thanks bro

[@hwj1822]

there's a kitty on my moog ... 😂😉👍 nice to sample, dumdidum

[@mikedegrazia]

Thank you!

[@Bernstein_Electrum]

uff... if no idea .. so how can you control all this synth with one mpc ? do you hav a video .. how to connect everything? i have an mpc one and 2 other synths .. but dont know how th play all of them on the mpc

[@dustyrhodes1655]

So I have a MPC Live 2....I also have a Polybrute. Is it possible to to record two midi tracks with different patches from my synth yet still have control of cutoff, envelopes,filters, etc...? Currently when I setup 2 midi programs in my MPC on different channels as soon as I change the patch on my synth for the 2nd midi program it changes the sound of my first midi program. I'm currently just recording separate audio tracks but that completely takes away any control of my polybrute cutoff, envelopes,etc...Takes away from any live performances. Basiclly what if you only have one synth and want to have multiple parts and still be able to control ASDR etc.. from the synth. Also nice EMX-1(still love mine)Great content BTW!

[@Azzor-Electronic]

exelente video.! como enviar proyecto del MX Electribe a MPC..pliss tutoríal..abz

[@CaidicusProductions]

Thank you for the compliment. I'm sorry, though, I can't speak Italian.

[@anthonyfontaneza7778]

Way you don’t bounce sample to new audio track ?

[@skade613]

Great

[@flameoftruth1781]

how can you use the same synth for a different sound? when I go to add a new sound it changes the sound I thought i recorded to that track nobody seems to make this clear not even Akai

[@CaidicusProductions]

For me, I create the patch on the synth, then sequence it with the MPC Live. So, first I'll either create the sound I want on the synth first, then sequence and record it, or I'll choose the preset on the synth and record that. The MPC shouldn't be changing whatever preset you've chosen, though, sometimes a synth will be multi-timbral and have multiple midi channels for the same synth. In this case, you'll choose what you think is the midi channel for the synth and preset you're trying to record, but it will always sound like the same preset. Make sure, in the synth's global settings, that there aren't multiple midi channels available for the same synth. If that's the case, you might choose a preset, but the MPC will keep playing the same preset, regardless of what YOU are choosing. I hope this helps.

[@tensorize]

Hey man did you ever figure this out?? You asked the same question I’ve been trying to get the answer to, I know this comment is late.

[@flameoftruth1781]

@@tensorize no one speaks on this but I found I had to record the synth as an audio track mpc offers 8 tracks to work with ,forget midi for the moment, plug yr synth into one of the audio inputs on the Mpc and record as audio Akai did make a video on this

[@tensorize]

@@flameoftruth1781 thank you!! and you are right, I had to dig for this, recording to audio track is I guess the way to do this from what I understand, thank you again.

[@THEREALTWISTEDINSANE]

Ok why are my sounds playing back all distorted and disgusting sounding after recording into audio ? The midi bass file sounds smooth like silk then after I do this the audio file sounds disastrous, FML😕

[@CaidicusProductions]

This could be a couple of things, but I would check your levels to start. Check your mixer levels (if you're running things in from a mixer) and make sure it's not peaking. Check the little record volume knob on the back of the MPC Live. This one's different from the output volume knob. Basically, you have two "volume" knobs on the back of the MPC Live. The one near the headphone jack is the output volume, the one more near the input jacks is the record in level knob. Make sure that one's starting almost off, then turn it up as needed till you've got a good clean signal. If you're unsure how your levels are, check your meters inside of the live audio input screen, if they're all red, your input levels are too high. If none of those fix it, it might be your cables, but I'm guessing it's probably your levels are too high going into the Live. Let me know how it goes and good luck.

[@THEREALTWISTEDINSANE]

@@CaidicusProductions you were right thank you. Been subscribed for like 3 years, question , its all running thru a mixer but every time I record the midi to audio when I press stop. It goes all loud and I have to turn the mpc down , something must be going on , sounds like mic feedback type of loud , only happens after I record the midi to audio, I have to turn the MPC track on the mixer down or it will feedback

[@TheXxjmpxxx]

Hey man, at mm 9:45 when you record it to an audio track, whenever I do that I'm not getting any audio to come through even though it's armed :( And for some reason whenever I try to record from midi to audio like your doing, it records over and erases whatever midi I had there. Any suggestions? Otherwise, great video and very well explained... just wish it worked for me too

[@CaidicusProductions]

Hmm, I really don't know what's going wrong in your setup. I'd say disconnect everything, then try reconnecting it one piece at a time. Make sure your midi is midi out to whatever you want to control and midi in is only used for whichever device you want to use as your controller. Last, make sure the recording volume knob is up high enough to hear it, and make sure the switch in the back is toggled correctly. I don't remember exactly what the two settings are, but one's phono (the red and white old style connector, this is used for turntables and such) and the other option is the one for the left/right inputs that you actually want to use. Once you're sure that's set correctly (and you still just have one thing going in there first, just to test it out), try turning up the input volume (the knob on the back of the MPC) until you hear something. I hope you get it sorted out.

[@BlacPac211]

same issue record + play/play start deletes midi notes

[@BlacPac211]

figured it out. unarm the midi track then record/playstart on audio and your notes wont delete.

[@CaidicusProductions]

@@BlacPac211 The thing with this is process. After you finish recording your midi notes, go to the audio screen and before recording the audio, just play it and listen. If it plays, you can rec+start the audio track. Stay on the audio screen (and have the audio track armed) and it shouldn't arm the midi track (causing it to delete it when you rec+start it). By default, only one thing should "arm" at a time, whichever thing you're focused on. It sounds like you were perhaps arming the audio track, then going back to the midi track screen and recording. You don't have to be (and shouldn't be) on the midi screen when you're recording into the audio track. The audio track won't record all of the other tracks you made internally on the device, only whatever input is going into it. Unless you're feeding the MPC's output back into the input, the only thing it should record is whatever device is being triggered by the midi track you created. So, create the midi track, play and listen to make sure it's done. Go to audio track screen, hit rec+play start and stay on that screen. (making sure the audio track is armed, which should automatically disarm the midi track, which won't allow it to record over itself). If your midi track isn't automatically disarming itself while you're on the audio track screen, I'm not sure what's going on with your machine. Make sure to update your firmware to the latest firmware from Akai, firmware version 2.10, I believe. (an absolute BANGER of an update, by the way)

[@joshuarodriguez5143]

Hey I can’t get this to work ? What is your connectivity on the back ? I have 1 midi out able in the mpc live into my synth midi in , like this I get the synth playing but I’m not getting any audio to record , are there any additional cables that need to be plugged in ?

[@Trife_G]

I haven’t done this in a long time so I forgot how to record the audio from my midi much appreciated

[@CaidicusProductions]

I'm glad you found it useful!

[@madmaximilian5783]

@@CaidicusProductions dude how did you get to that particular screen? I'm seriously trying to follow you but the midi screen on my Akai mpc live 2 is different. I can't find how you started out to get there.

[@CaidicusProductions]

@@madmaximilian5783 Let me take a look, one sec.

[@CaidicusProductions]

@@madmaximilian5783 Do you have an exact time in the video for me? Put the time in, (for example 12:22) or whatever, and I'll take a look at it and explain how to get there from step one.

[@skade613]

thanksalot

[@Tirso425]

Hi man, this method doesn't work when the hardware synth plays midi notes with it's own reverber or delay... They'll be cut at the end of the sequence 🥺

[@CaidicusProductions]

Indeed, this is why you'll want to first convert your many sequences into one long sequence using song mode in the menu screen. You could do one whole song worth, or you could do two sequences, finish the recording (which is only one sequence) and you'll have that recording which you can place into the song as a pad program sample and it will not be cut off by the end of the sequence.

[@CaidicusProductions]

You could also copy the sequence you want to record into and make the new copied sequence longer than the first one, an extra bar or two. The stuff you made in that sequence will end at 4 or 8 bars (or whatever you set it to) but the audio recording will end whenever the new sequence is set to. From that point, you could record the hardware input into the audio track and let all of the reverb or delay or the notes themselves finish organically. From there, the MPC will automatically create samples from the audio track. So, mute the audio track, go to the midi tab, create a new program at the bottom and set it to the default pad program. Select assign samples (I forget the actual name, just the button in that section that lets you choose samples to assign to pad) and find the new audio recording you just made, it'll be there in the list of samples you've made or selected for this project. Assign it to a pad and get back out of that screen. (just hit the main button) At this point, you'll hit rec+play start and you'll trigger that recording at the start of the sequence. Now, set the sequence length of this sequence to your previous sequence length and copy it to the next sequence. Remove that sample from the new "copied" sequence, go back to the one you just recorded the sample into, press play on this one and set the sequence at the top to automatically move to the next sequence when it's done playing this one. Listen and you should hear the sample play all the way into the next sequence.

[@Tirso425]

@@CaidicusProductions God, that seems too cucumbersome 😅😅 i will try as soon as possible, thanks! What do u think about a Tascam Dr40x? 🤭

[@CaidicusProductions]

@@Tirso425 Sorry I never replied to your comment, KZbin doesn't tell me when people reply to me. I've never used a Tascam device before, I'm afraid.

[@Expectaz]

You can connect your synths with usb to not have to choose midi channels. The virus can play 16 channels at the same time for instance 😉

[@CaidicusProductions]

I'd love to know more about how to do that, to be honest.

[@MountainBlade]

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just have and out coming from your mixer or the synth you want to record going into one of your audio ins, and just record the synth as an audio track?

[@kadeestelle5268]

The ability to quantize or write midi on-screen then tweak synth parameters as it auto-plays is why I record this way personally.

[@ryannbakerbeats]

I always wonder why is there not a unified midi/audio channel. So you can do things like filter sweeps/portamentos etc..

[@CaidicusProductions]

Can't this be done using an external midi controller? (not asking facetiously, I just realized I've never actually tried to do this using an external controller before...)

[@ryannbakerbeats]

@@CaidicusProductions so yes with a midi controller you could control expressions in real time, however one the midi and audio tracks which are done separately are recorded, if you were to alter the midi like adding a sweep or a pitchbend it would not affect the audio. It does not work like a key group. So as for now i think the only option would be to autosample maybe?

[@ryannbakerbeats]

This is a very confusing area for me as well to be honest…

[@cheodelpino581]

This is great but you too advance for me but I’m glad I’m learning

[@CaidicusProductions]

I have another video where I take you from step one to a finished track. Maybe that'll be more helpful for you?

[@cheodelpino581]

@@CaidicusProductions oh yes for sure it will help

[@cheodelpino581]

@@CaidicusProductions oh yes for sure it will help

[@MrQmason]

Is your cat name Moog ?

[@CaidicusProductions]

Hahaha, it totally should be!

[@ATOMSCOLLIDE]

MPC workflow with external gear is such a mess imho

[@CaidicusProductions]

I think a part of it is that we're spoiled by the MPC workflow, in general. It takes no time at all to do most things on the MPC, making most music composition lightning fast. Then we get to the midi part and it forces us to slow down a bit (or a lot) and take our time with it.

[@ATOMSCOLLIDE]

@@CaidicusProductions yea agreed , i was an early user of the MPC growing up and the workflow that they are at now took a lot of years to get to. it just seems like they have always been a few steps behind on some things due to the focus being on other aspects. still love my MPC dont get me wrong. I still would rather plug the MPC into the MAC and use Logic when bringing in external synths etc. which is a shame cause i would love a more straight forward software design from AKAI with the MPC to do these things and run it in standalone. thanks for the video and info though keep up the great work!

[@CaidicusProductions]

@@ATOMSCOLLIDE Thank you for your kind comments!

[@MountainBlade]

The MPC 1000 with JJOS is dream for sequencing external midi gear. I don’t know what the complaint is?

[@donovanfisher6945]

Your all over the place

[@CaidicusProductions]

I get around.