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Chapter 8

Arranging & performing

From loops to a finished song, live or on the timeline.

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In this chapter · 9
  1. 8.1Arrange Mode
  2. 8.2Recording arrangements
  3. 8.3Editing arrangements
  4. 8.4Arrangement track editor
  5. 8.5Saving and exporting arrangements
  6. 8.6Track Mute Mode
  7. 8.7Pad Mute Mode
  8. 8.8Next Sequence Mode
  9. 8.9Song Mode
8.1BasicsMPC 3.10+Manual Arrange Mode p.151, Enhanced Arrange Mode Editing Workflows p.9, Arrange Mode Editing Tools (3.9 manual) p.9

Arrange Mode

Arrange Mode lays your tracks out left to right on a timeline, DAW style. You can capture MIDI or audio straight onto it as you perform, edit the result, then mix down to a stereo audio file or export separate stems.

Its edit tools work from the loop brace, the marked region along the top of the timeline. Set the brace, then cut, copy or duplicate what is inside it. The region is always on display, whether Loop is on or off. Since MPC 3.10 the MRQ, TRK and ARR icons also let you choose how you select (Editing arrangements).

Key combinations

ARRANGE | SOUNDS
Opens Arrange Mode.
Hold MAIN | TRACK VIEW
Opens a four-by-four window of all your tracks, laid out like the pads. Tap a track or press its pad to select it.Arrange Mode
Hold SHIFT
Shows the six Locator buttons at the bottom of the screen.Arrange Mode
DATA DIAL or – and +
Moves the loop region.Arrange Mode, loop brace selected
Hold SHIFT + DATA DIAL or – and +
Changes the length of the loop region.Arrange Mode, loop brace selected

You can also press MENU | PREFS and tap Arrange. In the window that holding MAIN | TRACK VIEW opens, tap Tracks, Submixes, Returns or Outputs to show that type of track.

The toolbar

Arrange, Grid, List
Tabs in the top left that jump between the three event editors: this mode, Grid View and List Edit Mode.
Bars
The length of the arrangement.
MRQ, TRK, ARR
Choose how you select: a free-form marquee, a single track lane or the whole arrangement (Editing arrangements).
Loop
Turns the loop brace on or off.
Pencil Edit
Opens a list of quick edit actions. Tap More Options… in it for the Sequence Edit window (Editing arrangements).
Time counter
Shows the playhead position. Double-tap it to open the Locate window (The time counter and Locate).
Gear icon
Opens the Grid Settings (Grid View).

Function buttons at the bottom of the screen

ButtonWhat it does
CutRemoves the contents of the loop brace and copies them.
CopyCopies the contents of the loop brace.
PastePuts the copied or cut contents at the playhead.
DuplicateCopies the contents of the loop brace and pastes them straight after it. The brace moves onto the new copy, so you can keep tapping to repeat the section.
BusesShows the bus tracks: Submix, Return and Output. Their automation can be recorded, edited and viewed just as on any other track.

Working on the timeline

  • Tap a track to select it.
  • Each track header shows its Record Arm, Mute, Solo and Track Automation states, as long as the track is zoomed tall enough to fit them.
  • Pinch and expand to change the zoom, or tap the square expand icon above the first track to fit the sequence on the screen.
  • Tap the timing correct value above the track headers to open the Timing Correct window.
  • Tap the loop brace to select it, so DATA DIAL and – and + act on it. If the brace is out of view, a Loop icon appears in the track timeline: tap it to bring the brace back on screen.
  • After you duplicate or paste, the view scrolls to bring the new events on screen.
  • Arrange Mode remembers its zoom and scroll position when you leave and come back, and saves them with the project. The scroll position is only recalled with Auto Scroll off, according to Akai’s 3.10 release notes.

Set a Locate marker

  1. Move the playhead to where you want the marker. There are six markers to use.
  2. Hold SHIFT to show the six Locator buttons.
  3. Tap one to place a locator at the playhead. You can also edit the markers in the Locate window.

From the community

Getting Started on MPC One G2 | Arrange Mode

Akai Professional

A short official route from loop to finished track in Arrange Mode on the G2; filmed on 3.9, so the 3.10 selection modes aren’t in it.

MPC 3.10 Update | Walkthrough

Akai Professional

Starts at the Arranger chapters, the part that matters on a G2: the MRQ, TRK and ARR selection modes and Loop to Marquee. The 8×8 chapters need MPCe pads.

How To Use MPC Arranger Mode Step By Step MPC 3 9 Update

Doswell Beats

Beginner-paced: turning loops into intro, verse, hook, bridge and outro in Arrange Mode on 3.9, filmed on a Live III.

8.2BasicsManual Recording Arrangements p.153, Working with the Linear Arranger p.19

Recording arrangements

Recording into the timeline uses the same buttons as recording a sequence. The track needs arming first, and as you play, Arrange Mode draws regions of audio or MIDI into the track lanes.

Record into the timeline

  1. Arm the track. In Main Mode, tap the Rec Arm function button, or in Arrange Mode, double-tap the track header and set the Rec Arm field to On.
  2. Press REC | RECALL to arm recording.
  3. Press ARRANGE | SOUNDS to enter Arrange Mode, or open the Arrangement header in Main Mode to see the arrangement from there.
  4. Press PLAY to start recording.

Replace a section with a new take

  1. Tap the Loop button at the top of the screen to turn the loop on.
  2. Drag the start and end of the loop region to set Loop Start and Loop End. Drag the middle to move both together.
  3. Arm the track and press REC | RECALL as above.
  4. Press PLAY. Recording starts at Loop Start, then switches to overdubbing when it reaches Loop End.

To swap out part of a take, you can also use Auto Record and Punch In/Punch Out in the Arrangement section of Main Mode. For a guided example, see Your first arrangement.

Playing the arrangement back

PLAY START | METRONOME
Plays from 1:1:00, or from Loop Start if the loop is on.Arrange Mode

PLAY starts from wherever the playhead is now. To move it, tap the Playhead Position field in the toolbar and use DATA DIAL or – and +, or tap in the lower half of the timeline.

From the community

Getting Started on MPC One G2 | Arrange Mode

Akai Professional

A short official route from loop to finished track in Arrange Mode on the G2; filmed on 3.9, so the 3.10 selection modes aren’t in it.

How To Use MPC Arranger Mode Step By Step MPC 3 9 Update

Doswell Beats

Beginner-paced: turning loops into intro, verse, hook, bridge and outro in Arrange Mode on 3.9, filmed on a Live III.

8.3IntermediateMPC 3.10+Manual Editing Arrangements p.154, Enhanced Arrange Mode Editing Workflows p.9, Arrange Mode Editing Tools (3.9 manual) p.9

Editing arrangements

There are three layers of editing tools. A quick menu of loop-brace commands handles everyday moves. More Options… opens the full Sequence Edit window. And each track’s header has its own menu of track-level functions.

To open the quick menu, tap the pencil icon in the Arrange Mode toolbar, or double-tap the loop brace. Cut, Copy, Paste and Duplicate are also on the function buttons at the bottom of the screen (Arrange Mode).

Choose a selection mode

IconModeWhat you can select
MRQMarqueeAny time range across one or more tracks. Draw it freehand in the track area.
TRKTrackOne track lane. The selection follows whichever track is selected and takes its range from the loop brace.
ARRArrangementA time range across the whole arrangement.

The quick menu

FunctionWhat it does
CutRemoves the contents of the loop brace and copies them.
CopyCopies the contents of the loop brace.
PastePuts the clipboard at the playhead, replacing what is there.
Paste (Merge Time)Puts the clipboard at the playhead and merges it with existing events.
Paste (Insert)Puts the clipboard at the playhead and moves all later note events to after the pasted ones.
DuplicateCopies the contents of the loop brace and pastes them straight after it. The brace moves onto the new copy, ready to repeat.
Duplicate (Insert)Copies the contents of the loop brace, puts the copy at the playhead and moves all later note events to after it.
ClearClears all note events inside the loop brace.
Loop to Marquee SelectionIn MRQ mode: snaps the loop brace to your marquee selection, lined up with the nearest whole bar.
Delete BarsDeletes the bars inside the loop brace, contents included.
Insert Blank BarsAdds as many empty bars as the loop brace is long, moving later note events to after them.
Copy Bars PopupOpens the Copy Bars function (see below).

Tap More Options… to open the Sequence Edit window, then choose a tool. On tools that have them, Do It confirms; the X, Cancel or anywhere outside the window backs out.

One-tap Sequence Edit tools

ToolWhat it does
Clear AllWipes every event and resets the sequence’s settings. Tap Clear All to confirm or Cancel to back out.
Clear EventsErases all events only. Tap Clear Events to confirm or Cancel to back out.
TrimCuts the arrangement down to the Bars value shown in the main Arrange Mode window, straight away.
Half LengthHalves the length of the arrangement, straight away.
Double LengthDoubles the length of the arrangement, straight away.
Bounce to SampleRenders the arrangement as an audio sample in the project’s sample pool. By default it is named Bounce plus the sequence name.
Bounce to Audio TrackRenders the arrangement to a new audio track, named Audio 001 or the next available number by default.

Erase: remove all or part of the sequence

Track
The track to erase within the sequence.
Bar, Beat, Tick
The time range. The left fields set the start and the right fields set the end.
All
Erases all pad events in the range and resets its settings.
Automation
Erases only automation in the range. Use the Parameter field to choose which type.
Note
Erases notes from the pads you select in the range. Use the hardware pads to select or deselect them.
Except Note
Erases all notes in the range except those on the pads you select.

Transpose: shift a range of events (MIDI tracks only)

Track
The track to transpose within the arrangement.
Bar, Beat, Tick
The time range. The left fields set the start and the right fields set the end.
Pad (source and destination)
On drum tracks, the pad whose events move and the pad they move to. Tap each field and press the pad.
Note (range)
On keygroup, plugin and MIDI tracks, the range of notes to transpose. Notes outside the range stay put.
Transpose
On keygroup, plugin and MIDI tracks, how many semitones up or down to move the notes.

Delete Bars and Insert Bars

First Bar, Last Bar
In Delete Bars, the range of bars to remove.
# of bars
In Insert Bars, how many bars to add.
Before Bar
In Insert Bars, the bar the new ones go in front of.

Copy Sequence: copy one sequence over another

Copy Contents of Sequence
The source sequence, whose events you want to copy.
Over Contents of Sequence
The destination sequence.

Copy Bars: repeat a range of bars elsewhere

First Bar, Last Bar
The range of bars to copy.
After Bar
The copied bars go in after this one.
Copies
How many instances to add.

Copy Events: copy from one track to another

From Track
The source track.
Copy All Events, Copy Only Selected Events
The field below From Track sets whether everything on the track or only the selected events get copied.
Bar, Beat, Tick (source)
The time range to copy. The left fields set the start and the right fields set the end.
To Track
The destination track.
Bar, Beat, Tick (destination)
Where to add the events or audio. They go in after this point.
Copies
How many instances to add.

Both copy tools finish the same way: tap Replace to overwrite the destination, Merge to add without erasing anything, or Cancel to back out.

For track-level edits, tap and hold a track’s header on the left of the screen to open its menu. There is one menu for MIDI tracks and another for audio tracks. Copy Events works as above; on audio tracks it copies selected regions.

Track header menu

FunctionWhat it doesMIDI menuAudio menu
ClearErases all events from the track, and on audio tracks also resets its settings. Tap Clear to confirm or Cancel to back out.YesYes
Delete TrackGets rid of the track and everything on it, straight away.YesYes
Duplicate TrackCopies the track to a new track, straight away.YesYes
Copy EventsCopies a range of events or regions to another track.YesYes
Double-Speed EventsHalves note lengths and the gaps between them on the track. Pitches and tempo don’t change.Yes—
Half-Speed EventsDoubles note lengths and the gaps between them on the track. Pitches and tempo don’t change.Yes—
Pitch QuantizeForces notes into a scale, with the same fields as in Grid View. Turning Only apply to selected events off applies it to the whole track.Yes—
Bounce to SampleRenders the track as a sample in the project’s sample pool, named Bounce - plus the track name by default. Doesn’t work for MIDI or CV tracks.YesYes
Bounce to Audio TrackRenders the track as an audio track, named Audio plus a number by default (such as Audio 002). Doesn’t work for MIDI or CV tracks.Yes—
Reset Channel StripClears all insert slots; turns Mute, Solo, automation and Monitor off; centres the pan; sets the level to 0.00 dB; and turns Record Arm off.—Yes
Flatten TrackRenders all edits and regions in the track’s arrangement to a new audio file.—Yes
Flatten Track ElastiqueAs Flatten Track, but renders time-stretching and pitch-shifting with the Elastique Pro algorithm, for higher quality with fewer artefacts than the standard algorithm.—Yes

Insert Clip Row (MPC Pro Pack with Clip Launch Behavior on)

Clip Row
Which row of clips from the Clip Matrix goes in (Clip launching and Clip Matrix Mode).
Playhead Position
Where in the arrangement the row goes.
Bars
How many bars the row is inserted for.
Bars follow longest Clip in Row
Checked: the length is set by the longest clip in the row. Unchecked: the Bars field sets it, and clips longer than that get truncated.
Close popup on action
Closes the Insert Clip Row window automatically.
Replace
Overwrites what is in the arrangement with the clip row.
Insert
Adds the clip row at the playhead and shifts the existing content forward.

From the community

MPC 3.10 Update | Walkthrough

Akai Professional

Starts at the Arranger chapters, the part that matters on a G2: the MRQ, TRK and ARR selection modes and Loop to Marquee. The 8×8 chapters need MPCe pads.

MPC 3.9 Update | Walkthrough

Akai Professional

Akai’s chaptered tour of the update this guide’s manual covers: oscillators, the Arranger edit menu, Insert Clip Row and per-sequence time signatures.

MPC 3.10 Marquee tool Beat Making

MALO BEATS

A beat built on an MPC XL with the 3.10 Marquee tool in Arrange Mode, to see the new selection workflow in use rather than listed.

MPC 3.9 FULL TUTORIAL

Tubedigga

Tubedigga’s 38-minute tutorial on 3.9: oscillators on every layer, per-sequence and per-clip time signatures, and the new Arranger edits.

8.4IntermediateManual Arrangement Track Editor p.163, Working with the Linear Arranger p.19

Arrangement track editor

The track editor is a panel at the bottom of Arrange Mode that holds a full grid editor for the selected track. You can fix notes while you can still see the song around them. It edits in the same way as Grid View.

Open, resize and close

  • Tap the up arrow icon at the bottom of the screen to open it.
  • Drag the arrow icon, or anywhere in the editor toolbar, to change its height.
  • Tap the down arrow icon to close it.

Tabs

TabUse it to edit
GridMIDI events or audio regions.
AutoThe track’s automation.

Key combinations

SHIFT + tap Select All
Selects all events.Arrangement track editor
SHIFT + tap Cut
Cuts the selected events.Arrangement track editor
SHIFT + tap Copy
Copies the selected events.Arrangement track editor
SHIFT + tap Paste
Pastes the events at the playhead.Arrangement track editor
SHIFT + tap Delete
Deletes the selected events.Arrangement track editor
SHIFT + tap Duplicate
Duplicates the selected events, placing them after the last selected event.Arrangement track editor

On drum tracks, tap and hold a pad header in the editor to open a menu where you can quickly Mute or Solo the pad, or change its Color.

Duplicate some notes into the next section

  1. Tap the track to select it, then open the editor.
  2. Tap the box icon to use selection mode.
  3. Drag over the notes you want.
  4. Hold SHIFT and tap Duplicate. The copy lands on the next available beat marker.
  5. If it needs moving, tap Nudge at the bottom of the screen and turn DATA DIAL.
8.5IntermediateManual Saving and Exporting the Arrangement p.164, Save Window p.66

Saving and exporting arrangements

When the arrangement is finished, the Save window gives you two ways out of the MPC: an audio mixdown, as one file or as stems, or an Ableton Live Set (ALS) you can carry on with in Ableton Live.

Open the Save window with SHIFT + LOAD | SAVE (The Save window), or press MENU | PREFS and tap Save.

Mix down to audio

  1. In the Save window, select Audio Mixdown.
  2. Under Audio Length, set Start Bar and End Bar.
  3. Set Audio Tail to add some seconds at the end, which catches ringing notes and effects such as a reverb tail.
  4. Set up the render with the fields under Render Source and Render Options. Check Separate Tracks to get each track as a stem.
  5. Set File Format, Bit Depth and Sample Rate at the bottom of the screen.

Every option is explained in Audio Mixdown.

Export an Ableton Live Set: select Ableton Live Set in the Save window

Export MIDI As
How MIDI tracks are exported. With Plugin, Drum or Keygroup tracks, Audio preserves the sound of the instruments, and MIDI exports the note data.Range Audio, MIDI
Include Track Volume/Pan Settings
Checked: these settings go into the export. Unchecked: volume and pan are set to 0 dB and centre (C).
Bypass Track Effects Plugins
Checked: any third-party effect plugins on the track are deactivated for the export. Unchecked: they stay active.
Audio Tail
Extra seconds added at the end of the audio files this creates.
Bit Depth
The bit depth of the export.Range 8, 16, 24
Sample Rate
The sample rate of the export. Akai recommends 44.1 kHz in most cases.Range 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz

From the community

MPC 3.7.0 tutorial 5 Song Mode Masterclass: Arrange, Edit & Export Like a Mpc Pro

Damian Lemar Hudson

An hour on 3.7: adding a final idea, blending sequences together in Song Mode and finishing with a clean export.

Akai MPC (Standalone) to Ableton Live: Export Stems & MIDI Fast

Mr. Faia

Exploding drum tracks, Audio Mixdown and MIDI export: getting stems and MIDI from a standalone MPC into Ableton, filmed on an MPC Live running 3.4.1.

8.6BasicsManual Track Mute Mode p.256, Pad Muting & Track Muting p.30

Track Mute Mode

Track Mute Mode maps your tracks onto the pads so you can drop parts in and out by hand. It is handy for hearing a sequence without one part, for isolating combinations of sounds, and for testing out a song structure. It has two tabs, Track Mute and Track Group, in the lower-left corner.

Key combinations

TRACK MUTE | PAD MUTE
Opens Track Mute Mode.

You can also press MENU | PREFS and tap Track Mute. Use the Sequence field at the top of the screen to choose a sequence. The screen also shows the time counter in the upper right and the global automation button (Automation).

Mute tracks

  1. Tap the Track Mute tab if it isn’t already selected.
  2. Choose a pad bank with the pad bank buttons, or tap one on the left of the screen.
  3. Choose Event or Audio mute with the toggle in the toolbar (see below).
  4. Press a track’s pad, or tap it on the screen, to mute or unmute it.

Reading the pads

PadMeaning
Lit orangeThe track is muted.
Lit in the track colourThe track is unmuted. Pads are yellow instead if Use Track Colors is off.
No information shownThe track is unused.

Event or Audio

Mute typeIconApplies toEffect
EventMIDI plugDrum, Plugin, Keygroup, MIDI and CV tracksSilences new MIDI events and lets anything already playing ring out.
AudioWaveformDrum, Plugin, Keygroup and Audio tracksMutes the track’s audio.

The toggle matters on tracks with both MIDI and audio paths: Drum, Plugin and Keygroup. MIDI and CV tracks always use Event mute, and Audio tracks always use Audio mute, whatever the toggle says.

Buttons at the bottom of the screen

ButtonWhat it does
Time DivisionSets the value mutes line up with, from 1/16 to 2 Bars (T marks a triplet value). At 1 Bar, a mute lands at the start of the bar after you press the pad.
TCTurns this quantising of mutes on or off.
Pads: Mute/SoloSwitches the pads between muting and soloing.
Clear SolosUnsolos any soloed tracks.

Track Mute Settings (gear icon)

Track Mute State Per Sequence
Keeps separate mute states when you change sequences, so each sequence can have its own mute setup.
Track Mute Events Write Automation
Captures muting and soloing when you record automation. Set the global automation button to W (write) before recording (Automation).
Track Mute and Solo Events are Undoable
Lets you undo mute and solo changes, and shows them in the Undo History.
Use Track Colors
Applies each track’s colour to its pad, on the Track Mute page and on the hardware.
Solo Behavior
Whether only one track can be soloed at a time, or several together.Range Single, Multi

Group tracks to mute together

  1. Tap the Track Group tab. A group lets one pad press mute or unmute several tracks in a sequence, and you can have up to 16 groups.
  2. Choose a pad bank with the pad bank buttons.
  3. Press a track’s pad, or tap it on the screen, to select it. Its pad lights green, and pads for other tracks in the same group flash yellow.
  4. Tap the number of the group to add the track to it, or tap Off to remove it.

There is a faster route on either tab. With the Q-Links in Screen mode (hold Q-LINK | EDIT and tap Screen), turn Q-LINKS to assign each pad to a track group. Each pad’s group number shows in its upper-right corner.

From the community

MPC Live - 3.X Track Mute Automation Needs Automation in Write Mode...

NearTao

A 3.x gotcha, filmed on an MPC Live: why track mute automation won’t record unless automation is in Write mode.

8.7BasicsManual Pad Mute Mode p.260, Pad Muting & Track Muting p.29

Pad Mute Mode

Pad Mute Mode does for the sounds in a kit what Track Mute Mode does for tracks: press a pad to silence that sound, so you can hear the beat without it or isolate certain combinations. It works with drum tracks only. It has two tabs, Pad Mute and Pad Group, in the lower-left corner.

Key combinations

SHIFT + TRACK MUTE | PAD MUTE
Opens Pad Mute Mode.

You can also press MENU | PREFS and tap Pad Mute. Use the Track field at the top of the screen to choose the track. The screen also shows the time counter in the upper right and the global automation button (Automation).

Mute pads

  1. Tap the Pad Mute tab if it isn’t already selected.
  2. Choose a pad bank with the pad bank buttons, or tap one on the left of the screen.
  3. Press a pad, or tap it on the screen, to mute or unmute its sound.

Reading the pads

PadMeaning
Lit orangeThe pad is muted.
Lit in the pad colourThe pad is playing. Pads are yellow instead if Use Pad Colors is off.
No sample name shownThe pad is unused.

Buttons at the bottom of the screen

ButtonWhat it does
Time DivisionSets the value mutes line up with, from 1/16 to 2 Bars (T marks a triplet value). At 1 Bar, a mute lands at the start of the bar after you press the pad.
TCTurns this quantising of mutes on or off.
Pads: Mute/SoloSwitches the pads between muting and soloing.
Clear SolosUnsolos any soloed pads.

Pad Mute Settings (gear icon)

Pad Mute and Solo Events Write Automation
Captures pad muting and soloing when you record automation. Set the global automation button to W (write) before recording (Automation).
Pad Mute and Solo Events are Undoable
Lets you undo pad mute and solo changes, and shows them in the Undo History.
Use Pad Colors
Applies each pad’s colour to its pad, on the Pad Mute page and on the hardware.

Group pads to mute together

  1. Tap the Pad Group tab. A group lets one pad press mute or unmute several pads on a track, and you can have up to 16 groups.
  2. Choose a pad bank with the pad bank buttons.
  3. Press a pad, or tap it on the screen, to select it. It lights green, and other pads in the same group flash yellow.
  4. Tap the number of the group on the left of the screen to add the pad to it, or tap Off to remove it.

There is a faster route on either tab. With the Q-Links in Screen mode (hold Q-LINK | EDIT and tap Screen), turn Q-LINKS to assign each pad to a pad group. Each pad’s group number shows in its upper-right corner.

8.8BasicsManual Next Sequence Mode p.316

Next Sequence Mode

Next Sequence Mode gives every sequence its own pad, so you can change a song’s structure as you perform it. Press a pad during playback and that sequence comes up next. If you don’t choose another, the current one simply keeps repeating.

Key combinations

NEXT SEQ | XYFX
Opens Next Sequence Mode.

You can also press MENU | PREFS and tap Next Sequence. The time counter sits in the upper right. On the left, the sequence playlist lists all the sequences you have used. The current one is highlighted, and you can tap another to select it.

Sequence playlist columns

ColumnWhat it shows
SequenceThe sequence’s name.
LengthIts length in bars.
BPMIts tempo in beats per minute.

Pads run in order from Pad A01, which holds Sequence 1. Press a pad or tap it on the screen to choose the next sequence.

Reading the pads

PadMeaning
Bright yellow, showing a nameA sequence with something in it.
Dim yellowAn unused sequence.
Flashing greenThe selected pad, waiting to play.
Solid greenThe selected pad, playing.

Buttons at the bottom of the screen

ButtonWhat it does
Next BarSwitches to the selected sequence at the start of the next bar, so you can leave early and stay in time.
SuddenSwitches to the selected sequence straight away, whether or not the current one has finished. Good for hitting a cue.
ClearDeletes the selected sequence from the playlist. Only available when that sequence isn’t playing.
HoldRepeats the current sequence indefinitely and ignores pad presses for now, so you can select other pads without queuing them. Tap again to return to normal.

Turn the playlist into a song

  1. Stop playback.
  2. Tap Song to open the Copy to Song screen.
  3. Select a song, then tap Do It to continue or Close to cancel.

The result is ready to refine in Song Mode.

8.9IntermediateManual Song Mode p.326, Creating a Song p.36

Song Mode

Song Mode puts your sequences in a running order. Each step in the playlist holds a sequence and how many times it repeats, and you can change the structure while it plays, which makes it easy to compose on the fly. A project can hold up to 32 songs, each with up to 999 steps.

To open it, stop playback, press MENU | PREFS and tap Song.

Top of the screen

Song
The song to show. Tap the keyboard icon to rename it.
BPM
The tempo of the sequence.
Seq/Gbl
Whether the sequence follows its own tempo (Seq) or the global tempo (Gbl). SHIFT + TAP TEMPO | GLOBAL does the same (Tempo).
Time counter
The playhead position, in bars:beats:ticks.

Sequence playlist columns, left to right

ColumnWhat it holds
Step numberUp to 999 per song.
SequenceThe sequence’s number and name.
RepeatHow many times it plays, up to 999. Set it to Hold, the lowest value, to repeat the sequence until you stop playback.
BPMThe tempo of the sequence.
BarsHow many bars the step takes up, given how many times it plays.

Each used sequence sits on a pad, and empty pads are unused sequences. Use the pad bank buttons to reach sequences on other banks.

Key combinations

REC | RECALL
Record-arms the song, so pads enter steps.Song Mode
OVERDUB
Record-arms the song, so pads enter steps.Song Mode
PAD
Adds that pad’s sequence as a step. Press it again to add to the number of times it plays.Song Mode, record-armed
STOP | RETURN
Stops recording steps.Song Mode, record-armed

“Record” a song from the pads

  1. Press REC | RECALL or OVERDUB to record-arm the song.
  2. Press or tap the pad for the first sequence. It appears as the first step.
  3. Do the same for each following step. Press a pad several times to raise the number of times it plays.
  4. Press STOP | RETURN to finish.

Edit the playlist

ToDo this
Insert a stepTap the step you want it to follow, then tap Insert in the lower-right corner.
Change a step’s sequenceTap the sequence name in that step, then use DATA DIAL or – and +.
Change how often a step repeatsTap the step’s repeat field, then turn DATA DIAL.
Delete a stepTap it, then tap Delete in the lower-right corner.
Delete all stepsTap Clear.

During playback

ButtonWhat it does
NextSwitches to the next sequence at the start of the next bar, so you can leave early and stay in time.
SuddenSwitches to the next sequence straight away, whether or not the current one has finished.

Convert the song to one sequence (tap Convert > Seq)

To Sequence
The sequence the song is written into.
Track Status
Whether muted tracks go into the new sequence.Range Exclude Muted Tracks, Include Muted Tracks

Tap Do It to confirm your selections, or Close to cancel.

Export the song as audio

  1. Tap Export at the bottom of the screen to open the Audio Mixdown screen (Audio Mixdown).
  2. Make sure Start is set to 1, and set End to the last bar of your song.
  3. Set Audio Tail if you want to catch the ringing end of the last notes, and choose a file format in the lower-left corner.
  4. Tap Export and choose where to save. Tap the File Name field to name the song, then tap Save to start exporting.

From the community

MPC 3.7.0 tutorial 5 Song Mode Masterclass: Arrange, Edit & Export Like a Mpc Pro

Damian Lemar Hudson

An hour on 3.7: adding a final idea, blending sequences together in Song Mode and finishing with a clean export.