Chapter 14: Arpeggiator; Editing The Arpeggiator - Akai MPC5000 Reference Manual

Chapter 14: Arpeggiator

The MPC5000's Arpeggiator is a powerful new feature that lets you play repeating patterns in perfect time, much like
Note Repeat, simply by holding down one or more notes. This is very useful feature because it allows you to play
extremely complex (or repetitive) passages of music with ease.

Editing the Arpeggiator

To use the Arpeggiator, try the following:
01. From the MAIN page, select a track you wish to use with the
Arpeggiator.
Each track in a sequence can have an arpeggiator (or 'Arp' for short) assigned to it.
Arpeggiators work best with synth type programs, or external MIDI devices, but
using one on a drum program can yield unusual and exciting rhythms as well.
02. Press either [MODE]+[PAD 10] or the [ARPEGGIATOR] button.
This will open the ARPEGGIATOR page as shown on the right. Note that the current
track, and the current program are displayed in the 'Track' and 'Program' fields,
respectively.
03. Press the [ARP ON/OFF] button to turn on the Arpeggiator.
04. Press and hold down three or four pads, or hold a few notes on your external MIDI controller.
The MPC5000 will play the notes you've selected in a pattern defined by the Arpeggiator settings.
05. Adjust the 'Arp Pattern' field as desired to vary the pattern.
The following settings are available:
Up
The notes being held will move upward from lowest note to highest note.
For example, if you hold down the notes C3, E3, and G3, the arpeggiator would play the following repeating pattern:
C3, E3, G3
While holding down the above, if you were to add a D4, the MPC would then play the following.
C3, E3, G3, D4
Down
The notes being held will move downward from highest note to lowest note.
For example, if you hold down the notes C3, E3, and G3, the arpeggiator would play the following repeating pattern:
G3, E3, C3
While holding down the above, if you were to add a D4, the MPC would then play the following.
D4, G3, E3, C3
Inclusive
The notes being held will move upward then downward from lowest note to highest note then from highest to lowest, playing the
lowest and highest note twice.
For example, if you hold down the notes C3, E3, and G3, the arpeggiator would play the following repeating pattern:
C3, E3, G3, G3, E3, C3
While holding down the above, if you were to add a D4, the MPC would then play the following.
C3, E3, G3, D4, D4, G3, E3, C3
Exclusive
The notes being held will move upward then downward from lowest note to highest note then from highest to lowest, without repeating
the lowest and highest note.
For example, if you hold down the notes C3, E3, and G3, the arpeggiator would play the following repeating pattern:
C3, E3, G3, E3
While holding down the above, if you were to add a D4, the MPC would then play the following.
C3, E3, G3, D4, G3, E3
Random
The notes being held will play in a completely random pattern.