If anyone is curious to explore the MPC platform, Andy Avgousti has published the definitive MPC BIBLE.


https://www.mpc-samples.com/product.php/268/mpc-bible/


You can download a free preview of his step-by-step guide at:


https://www.mpc-samples.com/demos/MPC%20Bible%203%20Look%20Inside.pdf


I found this massive 1381 page Guide to be indispensable for anyone new to the MPC workflow. This guide covers MPC Firmware 3.6 with a free update to 3.7 coming soon. I love how Andy approaches the MPC Workflow in a structured format assuming the reader is a complete beginner. Every chapter builds upon lessons learnt in the previous chapter.

The size of the download is a 1,185 MB ZIP file. It includes the 80MB PDF Guide and 55MB EPUB version that can be opened in your tablet or smartphone. The remainder covers 27 Project Files, Drum kits and Instruments.

I am impressed with the sheer amount of information presented in this package. This is a work of passion, a labor of love.

Andy Avgousti <andy@mpc-samples.com> is the founder of MPC-Samples.com.

These are the top MPC resource sites:

MPC-Samples.com - MPC format sample packs & MPC books
MPC-Forums.com - The world's largest MPC community
MPC-Tutor.com - The original free MPC Tutorial site

If you are curious to learn the evolution for the MPC line starting from the MPC 60, here is an archive of all the User Guide and Service Manuals for legacy MPC devices:


https://www.synthxl.com/service-manual/akai/

Sweetwater posted my detailed review of the AKAI MPC XL standalone Music Production Center.


https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/...-center/reviews


I mentioned I was 100% satisfied with the MPC XL and concluded my review with this request:

I have one enhancement request for Firmware 3.8 that could further expand the usability and appeal of the MPC platform. Let’s say I make a 4-bar beat pattern using a drum, bass, piano, and guitar using MIDI tracks in the key of C. Imagine if I could trigger this pattern to respond to the chords I play in Real Time on my MIDI controller keyboard like F, G7, Am7, Em7, Dm7, etc.

This is what Arranger Keyboards like the Genos2 excel at. It comes with thousands of factory programmed loops that can be triggered in real time by the chords you play.

The AKAI MPC XL is just a whisker away from realizing this functionality. As of now I would need to manually create separate loops for all the Chords I would be using in a song. Real Time Chord transposition based on a single loop made in the key of C would be an immense time saver.


Best regards,


David

The problem here is that an arranger doesn't just transpose a loop or adjust the 3rds or add 7ths, etc. for different chords.

Most arrangers can have an utterly different loop for maj/min/7ths/dims etc. Plus there's a fair amount going on out of sight to make sure instruments don't play outside their natural range, that if there are lines going on, changing to another key or chord doesn't make the pattern jump around like a jackrabbit, and there's some pretty complicated stuff going on to smoothly jump to the correct note WITHOUT RETRIGGERING THE NOTE if you play the new chord a few ticks late.

A modern arranger engine is a marvel of some VERY complex stuff going on to interpret the simple chords we play into musically accurate parts. I doubt that Akai (who've never really made a true 'proper' arranger) are likely to want to dive into something as complex as a brand new arranger engine, particularly as most people in the MPC ecosphere are only using audio loops, and MIDI is less important.

A tie in between Akai and someone like Korg would probably be the only way this might happen, and I just don't see that type of inter-company cooperation happening here...

Hi Diki,

I hear you. Yes, the algorithm behind generating musically pleasing voicings for Minor, Dominant 7th, Diminished, Augmented, Suspended, 6th, 9th chords, etc. derived from a Major Chord pattern is very complex.

This is done through Note Transposition Tables. This Arranger Tutorial video attempts to unravel how Korg approaches the problem.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT8bA314CCQ


Fortunately, Korg, Yamaha, Roland and Ketron have already hammered down the mathematics behind this. Akai does not need to reinvent the wheel. As you mentioned, Akai needs to collaborate with one of these 4 major Arranger Manufacturers, preferably Korg, to implement Real Time Chord changes to the MPC platform.

Obviously, this is not applicable to audio tracks which most MPC users work with. This can only be done within MIDI tracks. Nevertheless, I see the inevitable merger between static beat boxes and real time arrangers somewhere down the line. It is the next logical step up the evolutionary ladder.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Chord ID feature introduced in Logic Pro 12. It can analyze an audio file and figure out the Chord. Next, you can convert that chord into MIDI data and copy it to a new MIDI track.

Things are evolving fast in the AI landscape. It is possible to create fully orchestrated musical scores with a simple text input specifying the genre, the singer you wish to mimic, the language spoken and other specifics.

Here are a few examples:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzddQoCKKss


Why bother to learn music theory or master a musical instrument when AI delivers such good results!