Why Does the Standalone MPC Step Sequencer Exist? 

Here's a little hint no one fking tells you. If you hold Shift in Step Sequencer, it then let's you pick which pad you're about to start adding notes to in your sequence. Thank me later.

Mpc one step sequencer is near essential. It is the best option for quickly editing drum velocity. It is better than the overly touchy piano roll when you want to edit just one pad in a beat. I think it's easier to use than the piano roll for writing drum patterns as well. Using both brings the best out of the mpc.

I think its meant for sequencing modular gear, I actually like it for sequencing drums because my fingerdrumming skills are non-existent

I'm not a "finger drummer" and I really like step sequencers on my gear. I like the step sequencer on the MPC (at least for drums, it's weird for melodic stuff). The layout with the "one" in the bottom left is the same as with Native Instruments Maschine step sequencer, being a former Maschine user this made total sense to me. The pad selection method is very similar too. I'm guessing Akai might have "borrowed" some of these ideas. I actually didn't realize you could add steps by using the knobs, but it makes sense to me if you wanted to really precisely control the velocity.

Coming from FL Studio it's very helpful. I can create a pattern using the pads, then use the step sequencer to edit the pattern to get a different feel without having to erase and re-record it differently to see what feels good. A great feature.

I just noticed that they have changed up some of the newer mpc marketing images. When the mpc one first came out, the step sequencer seemed to be THE screen featured an all of the product images.

Fully agree. It would be better with another workflow: Knob was for picking sound (with optional preview). Knob for selecting the bar. Knob for selecting which step to affect. Knob to set velocity at selected step. But yeah it is an odd one.

Variety, is the spice of life :-) Thanks for posting this. So many helpful posts in the comment section, about different ways to use it. More of those, please, fellow MPC lovers. I like it, as I am used to entering drum notes that way, on my other gear. Also makes sense for sequencing control voltages, for my eurorack gear. And as another poster mentioned, it is designed, to emulate a vintage, analog, step sequencer, Like my Korg SQ-1.

Too funny. I woke up this morning and specifically looked up MPC step sequencer and a made a new video! Have a good day!

I have an Akai Force and I don't think I have ever explorered this Step Sequencer function. But what I discovered is that - it's actually quite convenient for velocity control. Great video, Subbed. :)

So glad you posted this! Using my RD9 step sequencer drum machine is the most fun way to make beats. and that’s why I have wanted to learn how to make the best use of the step sequencer in MPC. Suggestion: if you have other cool videos tied together over a longer discussion thread, please post a link that lets me quickly see the whole longer evolving discussion.

As someone into idm and breakcore, there’s so many uses for this that speed up work flow for specific things

My best guess considering I've never used an MPC is to give people more options for sequencing other gear and performing live. I would imagine being on stage in front of a crowd it's more interesting having visual feedback from the pads and using the knobs to add fills or change parameters instead of tapping little icons on a touch screen which at that point why not just use a laptop? The artist Daedelus comes to mind. He uses a Monome to launch clips which could easily be done in various ways using a computer and any number of midi controllers but the way he does it is incredibly performative and entertaining.

Better question. Why is it so clunky and useless? Plus those waveforms for the velocities (eh?). It could be so much better. But really, just record into the sequence in real-time with record quantize on, one pad at a time as it loops if you want (the tried and true MPC way). It just doesn’t make much sense, in use, especially without a Follow mode for the bars.

It would be a good step sequencer if you could see the whole pattern without switching the pages. The q link function could be cool. I didn't knew that.

really wish they would make an easy way to duplicate/copy/paste a page at a time

The step sequencer *was* an afterthought. It was added to the MPC as part of an update based on user demand. It’s also on the Force. The step sequencer is pretty awesome actually, particularly with the CV IO. I use it frequently for that purpose.

Without have a lot of experience or knowledge with my MPC ONE yet- I kind of assume that the step sequencer is designed for more of a live jam/dj type thing & not really for writing out complete song....I’m just guessing.

I always see this feature on my MPC studio but never knew how its used until now. I wasnt even searching how to use it I just happen to find this vid looking at the MPC one lol

You see where it says 'velocity'? Try selecting any other parameter you can think of and you get a per step modulation sequencer that is really very powerful. I can understand why you tried to use it like you did, as that is how a lot of other gear uses step sequencers.

I'd like it if there was a view that would show 16 steps for all 16 pads in a big grid on the touch screen.

HI MAN! I have been watching your videos for a while now , and i use some of the gear that you also use . one thing i am struggling with is to Play with the Volca bass/ keys and my MPC1 , i wish i could use the step sequencer on the MPC to control the Volcas, but every time i try it is super bugy , it trigers the sounds on the synth but it if i want to erase notes it get stuck on the mix, and i cant undo anything , wierd stuff, have you experienced that ?

Hi Freebeat, in the past I read customers reviews complaining the MPC didn’t have a step sequencer unlike other groove boxes, so I guess Akai ended up adding one to functionally be on par. I agree the implementation is a bit weird. I am ok with the first step being bottom left where pad number 1 is, makes sense in MPC world, it’s rather the screen layout which confuses me. I would have liked the ability to view all steps of several measures at once (with a grid of squares shapes instead of verticals bars), I do get lost quickly with switching from one bar to another all the time. About the Q links, in some situations it might be useful to finely adjust the velocity maybe. Did someone try to map them to a different function ? Personally, my only use of the step sequencer so far is to automate/sculpt the velocity (snare roll etc.), in this case it is really useful.

I really haven't messed around with the step sequencer much on the MPC, but that method for melodic note entry seems silly. I wonder if you can enter multiple notes with an external keyboard.

One huge workflow feature MISSING in the firmware is a "follow" toggle switch so it follows the bars automatically. Fine for a one bar loop, but for a more common 4 or 8 bar loop, it's tedious to manually select which bar is showing.

Would be so cool if they also offered a classic step sequencer mode. You select the beat you want to alter with the pads, and then turn a knob to adjust the pitch. Also this would be useful for modulations as well as v/oct for eurorack.

Super cool. ❤

I rarely use it for entering notes but do use it for automation. The presets make it very quick to add accurate automation patterns or just to experiment

Thank you for posting this! I use a Roland TR-08 and the work flow of the MPC seemed way diff to me. Now knowing this program is in the MPC (as time consuming as it is) I think I will be more comfortable with it. Again thanks!

The step sequencer is something that needs to be as an option in every DAW including MPCs. If you want to play complex arpeggio lines or guitar riff or melody and even drums, the step sequencer is the best tool for that. For beats and basic melodies and chords you can use real time with quantization, but trying to make complex arrangements in real time is not that easy unless you're a good keyboard player.

Could be used for making custom arps on the fly but just you wait, there will most likely be some updates in the future that will put the MPC "One" up on the upscale "step sequencers" on the market.

With the cv gate outs you can run eurorack gear with it I reckon. Not even sure if you can but seems possible. Anything else with a gate trigger in would work as well. I have the old version with no cv so can’t say for sure.

It’s pretty cool for faster music.. complex hit hat lines not everyone can play etc. It’s great for modulating synths too. I guess it’s not so useful for some types of music, that you can easily play in on the pads. it also means you can try dropping in a few Tom hits or whatever and easily remove them if they aren’t right.

I use both sequencers at the same time, the step sequencer for randomizing/tune shifting with drums programs,and the main sequencer to add additional tracks, Its like working with a second person.

Yeah I would agree its more for live performance. If you think in these terms that makes the One more of an all in one tool.

It's always fun to try out the features you never use, you can forget about this stuff sometimes

I'm used to the Elektron step sequencer and this is really bad for anything except drums imho. It would be amazing if you could select a step and then input a chord or a note for that step. I'm sure they could update it, but will they?

I’ve made some nice beats with the step sequencer. At the end of the day it works. Depends on what type of beat you wanna make.

It seriously helped me out in a jam recently. For whatever reason, my MPC wasn't recording my pads so I went into the step sequencer and put in the pattern that way. You never know. Besides the 4x4 pad placement, it really isn't that much different than a Roland drum machine step sequencer

Hi FB, I think I remember that pressing SHIFT takes you to choose PAD function on the fly.

I could be wrong, but I think machine also goes bottom to top in the sequencer ? I don't mind it but the option to switch would be nice indeed. I notice a difference between the "sound pad select" on the mc101 and this. The mc 101 also has this "select a note and go in the sequencer" or use the parameter knob to select the sound. A nice thing the MC101 does I notice the MPC doesn't is highlight the pad of the sound we're sequencing. The kick drum here is pad 1, on the MC101 pad 1 would highlight as white while you're sequencing, and if you change sound by scrolling to say the sound on pad 2, the pad 2 would highlight. It's nifty :) Oh yeah that qlink is weird. I would expect one to select the step, and others to change velocity or timing offset or pitch etc... And the big scrolling knob to change the selected sound, or maybe the -/+ buttons to navigate left and right. That flip thing is weird lol hey at least it's an option. The note thing is always complicated in sequencers, I have the flip problem with my MC101 where to sequence notes, you need to select a step then go in note and press the note you want. Having the reverse thing of "select the note and then go in the sequencer and put it where-ever" is nice, ideally one would have both. So far the best sequencer is novation circuit imo when it comes to doing melodies. Cheers for pointing it out, hope Akai improves this :)

Reminds me of the og beatstep 😅 It's kind of oldschool, strange workflow, but i guess some people vibe with this? Who knows, you might come up with new ideas 😁

It really comes into its own when you are controlling hardware. I use it a lot with my live stuff, its ace.

As others have said, it seems more geared to sequencing external gear. In fact, I’m going to give it a whirl and sequence a hardware synth.

Thanks for this, your demo of the capability is 100x better than Akai's! ...And as many have noted...if you're not a capable finger drummer, this is the way your MPC can work for you like an RD9, or what have you. ...And hey, if you want to get *really* crazy, the MPC One also has event-list editing, and it's basically the same thing as an old-school tracker. One of MPC's superpowers and drawbacks: about five ways to do just about anything!

For OG's. For cat's that grew up with the TR-606, 808, 909, Doepfer Schaltwerk, etc. It is kinda weak in the MPC-X because you can't see all the other lanes in this mode. But it's cool to change things up from the traditional MPC-X way of working. And would be useful for particular things in track building but it's lacking some critical features but I'm glad it's there.

Hi FB.. I think AKAI should have a good look at the pattern editor on Studio One. Its pretty darn similar on the most part but it just goes deeper with polyrhythms and repeats and delays and all sorts. On the happy side it shouldn't be too hard to add those superb S1 features to the MPC. I appreciate polyrhythms can be done at the track level but it could be right useful being able to do it within a kit/program..... Or perhaps it can be done.... am I missing something??? Thanks for the videos.... They are helping.

I’m on the force, but I wish they had a “record by step” sequencer, it’s one of the few things I’m missing. To be clear, I mean where you set the length of the sequence, and then each note you enter gets stored and then it moves to the next step. I find that to be an interesting way to record melodies/basslines

MPC always had a step sequencer. The new ones bite the Maschine method which is based on the 808s from the 80s. The original mpc you had to pick a quantinization and tap what you want on each step as soon as you hit a pad it jumped to the next step. Then you’d use the jog wheel to go back change the velocity transpose to form chords etc…

I think it makes perfect sense 🙂

je ne suis pas une adepte du finger drumming, j'utilise presque toujours le Step séquenceur ! il est aussi super pour réaliser des automation en CV ou midi !

A month into MPC One use, I have not found an excuse to go mess with the step sequencer, so thanks for that overview which confirms my first impression. I wonder if its presence has roots in former generations of MPC. Or is it just a nod to users coming from drum machines and expecting a step sequencer ?

With cv I can see a lot of use cases. Custom modular drums maybe.

Strangely I found this a couple of days ago. I'm a total newb and struggling with the work flow. I liked the use of this sequencer but just ordered a digitakt to try the work flow on those.

can anyone tell me the maximum number of steps a sequence can be on the mpc one? thanks!

The quirky pitch isssue you mention from 8:33 and on is almost the like programming way it would work if Elektron would implemented it. Comparing different workflows side by side is kind of fun. Generally I wish I could do this before I puchase gear so I don't end up with time consuming equipement that never really fit you way of thinking no matter how much you try (cough cough Octatrack)

I sometimes use it for high hats

YO!!! If you never posted this video, I would’ve never went back to the sequencer and found out that by pressing the Q like button the Q link knobs work for the rest of the steps. That plus holding SHIFT to pad select makes the sequencer not as stupid. I still think it’s stupid, but not as stupid

Interesting is sometimes great n sometimes = bad , instrument creators should work with novice musicians to ask what would be most intuitive or easy to understand, keep grinding brother, sounds are awesome 🔊🌍

Ok...nice to have...but usability...? Maybe for interesting hihat patterns btw nice Outrotune...😀

I wish you could shrink the steps to see more bars to get a better feel of what you’re doing. Very difficult when you got a long sequence..

Its weird no doubt, everything about this workflow and machine can potentially be baffling.. like adding expansions and resampling.....i had mine since last December and everytime i use it i get stumped...lol...while i know there are plenty of people who know everything instantly...im happily oblivious. Just figured out how to use it as the control center for midi....i feel accomplished now..

Im glad people are confused on this if u don't know now u know

It's nice for say a live techno performance, instead of using the ugly metronome sound... you can just put 4 on the floor in the sequener and start it.. and tap in the other drums or sequence those if you like live. :) I love this feature.. something MPC was missing compared to TR-909 Tr-808 etc.

It would be way more useful if there was another mode for plugins or key groups where notes (in a scale) are set the same way as velocity, probability and ratchet (using the touchscreen sliders or the Q-links).

It’s weird to add velocity? Sequencing out an entire song is an old school way to compose. I would definitely spend my money on a different MPC but I can see how this appeals to musicians that are more used to that format. Akai has been using the pad/pitch thing for a long time. It might seems weird if you’re new to sequencing hardware.

It has its own button! But no, I've never integrated step sequencing into my MPC workflow. Seems more like an afterthought. Funny enough, I've recently learned I love dedicated hardware sequencing (like elektron boxes). Still haven't really messed with the MPC One's sequencer because it just feels wrong to me.

I agree, this is one of the least thought-through features of the MPC. About the only thing I use it for is the occasional automation programming, but I don't like that you are completely lost when using it that way because it doesn't show you any ghost notes of where the actual notes are that you're automating, so you're kind of flying blind. BTW, one small tip is to hit Shift+Pad to select the active pad.

(Before watching) Haha! I was just thinking the same thing a couple days ago when I was experimenting with it again. It was pretty unintutitive and I just came out confused.

Step sequencers are awesome, that's why it exists. Also after you finger drum your pattern, you can still view the step sequencer and edit the velocities in the step sequencer rather than the grid, ymmv it's a step sequencer, if you weren't aware the grid is a type of step sequencer. using swing with the step sequencer is how you get those intricate rhythms without having to play them in by hand

One day a third hand will appear and we’ll realise Freebeat is actually a group of music loving sentient arms.

Heh... It's for those of us who's timing is still something approaching crap. :) It's also probably for folks who are coming over to MPC from sequenced synths or groveboxes like the Circuit line. My 50 cents.

I would say that more than anything, programming in comparison to the mpc’s live performance feel are two different feelings. I would think that a large contributor to the feel of the electronic music is it’s programmable nature. I was saying the same things too about the step sequencer on my mp live 2 but I’m definitely considering using it now more than before because it can produce a totally different sound but from the same machine

Dude.. Its weird for sure but when i use it on top of drum tracks i made in the main modes sequencer and lets say set the step sequencer to master semi tune and either play with the presets or draw in the step parameters i cam create so many drum patterns i can improve on the fly or save the patterns to new sequences and add new tracks... make sense? if your someone making electronic music you can make this mpc do things it isnt supposed to and get awesome results. This sequencer is limited to an imagination. I litterally made two songs in a couple of days using both sequencers

Yeah, I don’t see what the purposes because it has Midi they can easily be adjusted

I understand the concept for people who are well versed in step sequencing but the layout is indeed stupid. That being said, I really dig my MPC for everything else it does incredibly well.

It's to sequence and correct velocities easily. 👍

What would be cool is if you could use the akai fire controller (built for fl studio) as a step sequencer for the mpc when plugged in via usb....I mean its $99 and would be way better than pads or touchscreen especially if you could do 4 sounds at a time on the 4 rows.....I've never liked step sequencing on a 4x4 or 2x8 layout prefer 16 steps in a line...

I was scratching my head the whole vid and laughing The sequencer behaviors are like 🤔

I need to make a little sequence and upload it, but I'm just SO LAZY.

as a Nanoloop user, the bottom to top sequencer direction is super weird to me.

I use it to send clock pulses to my hardware instruments

I didn't like the step sequencer. But now I like it. Mind you all those grooves are placed on the pattern in regular grid/drum mode. Secondly when you use a synth press the pad and know what you want to enter in the steps, I don't understand why you'd have to know any scale, just press what you hear or feel to sequence. The stuff you laid didn't sound bad and had context in a modern hip hop beat. Remember hip hop takes sounds, styles and genres and flips it's so nothing DOESNT have a application. As long as it can be stored in the grid, it can be used. With my deluge i get great results mixing the mpc to deluge as master. Use mpc style tripplet rolls and use deluge for everything else. Use all the plugins and use some boards of deluge synths and plucks to add. It's overkill but easy. I use the mpc like 20% when it's in midi with deluge. Program, Program. Create a loop in deluge. Send to Aranger mode. Lol. Or do the complete reverse and use mpc efx on the deluge sounds and drums 🥁 💯💯💯🙌🏾

I was wondering the same thing

Good video 👍. I messed around with this (for notes, not drums) but it doesn't seem to modulate with keyboard entry which is a fundamental must-have feature for me for step sequencing. For my Behringer Neutron I slave my Korg SQ-1 to the MPC to send CV and use a regular MPC MIDI track to modulate the sequence by sending MIDI notes to the Neutron. So, for me the MPC step sequencer is useless.

If it is fun to use, than maybe it is meant to be for having some fun on sequencing. Since it's a bit fiddly to adjust beats with multiple voices in the piano roll view, the step view is nice to have. You don't need it? So what, don't use it. That easy. If I had your (finger) drumming skills, I probably would also ask myself why it exists.

I use i all the time. I Never finger drum.

Ummm. Yeah. The step sequencer is amazing. And essential for my workflow. Someone already mentioned the ease when editing velocity or probability. As for anything besides drums and samples, yeah. It's pointless.

I thought you were joking at first…. You were not. It’s far from an after thought. Seems like you are getting your mind wrapped around it.

“I’m not really complaining because it’s fun to use” says it all 😆

I actually use it to sequence drums.

So you can automate velocity

It's designed to emulate step sequencers on vintage drum machines and does so really well and the best I've ever used. You can zoom in/out in your sequence with the TC button and input triplets or whatever and/or in tandem with note repeat. Shift+pad let's you switch pads on the fly. Automating tone, for example on snare and hi hat fills are a breeze. Switching between grid and step sequence is simple enough via shortcuts. It's well worth learning all the functions and shortcuts of your machine to unlock it's full potential and it's very powerful. This step sequencer is more than just an afterthought, it's one of the best out there as far as drum machine hardware is concerned. You just have to know where you are in your sequence, bar, step.

Thats kinda a goofy question imo. Why does a synth have a sequencer? Why does a drum machine have a sequencer? Why would a SEQUENCER not have a SEQUENCER?

Ok firstly . I never ever use the step sequencer in my mpc .. but COME ON BRO .. of causes pad 1 would = step 1 .. why would it default any other way .. n as for q links adding data to steps .. it’s clearly. Designed to emulate a vintage analog step sequencer.. nice subject to make a video .. just not sure if u really understand modern or vintage hardware work flow . .tnx .

Honest opinion, it's kind of shit but works pretty well with the drum synth for quickly building tracks that arent sample based. Buy a Beatstep pro if you want to sequence things better

You could always turn the device 180 degrees to get the pads sequence how you would like them 🤔🤣wait no then the sequence will be running backwards 🤣🤣🤣

First!

pita

in my opinion, a reason the step sequencer exists, is for the people that suck at finger drumming