Get Started; Assign Samples To The Pads - Akai MPC Quick Start Manual

Get Started

Connect, Open & Configure
1. Connect MPC Studio to a USB port on your computer, as shown in
2. Power on MPC Studio and open MPC software. (The first time you open the software, you will be
asked for information required for authorization. Follow the on-screen instructions to authorize
your software.)
3. In the software, go to Edit > Preferences, and click the Audio tab. Under Output and Input,
select your sound card.
4. Click the MIDI tab. Under Active MIDI Inputs, check the MPC Studio Black box, and select
MPC Studio Black as MIDI Out Port A. Click OK.
5. Test your sound setting: Increase the volume of your computer, speakers, etc. and click Test, next
to the Device pop-up menu. You will hear a tone, indicating your sound is properly configured.

Assign Samples to the Pads

1. On MPC Studio, press Browser.
2. User the Cursor Buttons and Data Dial to navigate the file structure on your computer, and find
the samples you want to use with the MPC software.
3. You can press F3 (Play) to preview the sample before loading it, or you can press F2 (Auto) to
enable Auto Preview (selecting a sample will preview it immediately).
4. Whenever you find a sample you want to use, hit the pad you want to assign it to (it will light up
green), and press F6 (Open). The sound will be assigned to the pad as well as added to that
program for future use.
5. Repeat this process for additional pads. Hit those pads to hear your samples in action!
Record & Perform
1. Press Main to return to Main Mode.
2. Press Overdub to record-arm the sequence.
3. Press Play to start recording. You will hear the metronome count 4 beats before the recording
starts.
4. The sequence will start playing in a loop:
5. Perform using the pads! Each note will be recorded in the sequence. Even if you aren't playing
exactly in time with the beat, the software's Time Correct feature (T.C.) will automatically
"quantize" the notes so they are lined up in the grid.
6. You can erase notes by holding the Erase button and pressing (or holding down) a pad whose
notes you want to erase. As the audio pointer moves through the sequence, any note from that
pad will be erased.
Tip: If you are a beginning performer, we recommend playing one pad at a time. The Sequence
will keep looping, so there's no rush to record all the pads at once!
7. To stop recording, press Stop. To play back the sequence without recording, simply press Play.
Important!
To save your project, press Shift+Save. Select where you want to save your file and enter a file name.
We recommend leaving the Also save samples box checked, so you won't have to reload your
samples when you want to open that project. Save often so you don't lose any of your great work!
We highly recommend going through the tutorial in the MPC User Guide: In the software, go to the
Help menu.
10
Setup > 2. Connection.