How to Make Beats & Rolls on an MPC 2000XL
- 1). Load each of the sixteen pads with the samples you want to use. Press "Load" and "Pad 2" to access the "Load" screen. Choose the "Load From" field with the navigational buttons, then select either "Internal Memory," "Memory Card," or "Hard Disk" as the location from which the samples are to be retrieved. Choose the folder that contains the sample files, then press the "Window" button. Press the left and right navigational buttons to go through the sounds contained in that specific folder, then press "F5" to load them to a pad. Press the pad you wish to assign the sample to, then press the "F5" button again to store it to that location. Repeat for each of the pads, until you have assembled your drum kit.
- 2). Set up the MPC2000XL to record a looped sequence. Press the "Main" key, then choose a "Unused" sequence from the "Sq" field by pressing the navigational keys, or by turning the "Data" wheel. A sequence without any recorded data will come up as "Unused" on the display screen. Select "Drum 1" as the track to record your performance in the "S" field, then press "Bars," set the first bar to "1" and the last bar to "2" with the "Data" wheel, then press "F5."
- 3). Set the metronome to play while recording only by selecting "Count In" and "Count Out' with the cursor keys, then entering the first and last measure of the loop with the "Data" wheel. Set the sequence to loop by navigating to "Loop," then turn the "Data" wheel to the right until the value is set to "On."
- 4). Press the "Play Start" and "Rec" buttons at the same time. Recording will begin after four counts have played. Hit each of the drum pads in a rhythmic fashion, until you have constructed your drum beat in full.
- 5). Add drum rolls to your drum beat sequence. Press the "Note Repeat" button, select the timing signature by pressing buttons "F1" through "F6," then hold down the pad you want to make roll. Buttons "F1" through "F6" allow you to choose either "1-8," "1/8-3," "1'16," "1/16-3," "1/32," and "1/32-3" timing. Repeat until you have added as many roll sequences as desired for each of the sixteen pads.
- 6). Press the "Stop" button when your drum beat is complete, then press "Play" to hear the drum beat that you have sequenced.
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