You can then configure this as the default project template in MENU > PREFERENCES > PROJECT LOAD/SAVE Re-mapping External Pad Controllers? When you save this project, check the ‘ Save As Template‘ box on the ‘Save As’ screen. Make sure you assign a blank ‘chromatic C1’ DRUM program to one of the DRUM tracks. pre-define your favourite track order, track configuration parameters, preferred FX inserts and returns, submixes, output routings etc. To create a project template, first start with a new blank project and set up your preferred project configuration, i.e. Unfortunately there is currently no way to choose CHROMATIC C1 as the default layout for a new MPC drum kit, so either get into the habit of editing the MIDI mapping as soon as you create a new DRUM kit, or set up a project template that already contains blank ‘chromatic’ DRUM programs. It is worth noting that re-assigning MIDI notes on a program will mean any sequencer tracks that were recorded using the old kit layout will no longer play in the correct order, so it’s best to edit program note mapping before you record any sequences with it (or retain the original version of the kit for these existing sequences). The whole process should only take a few seconds. And if you have built-in pads on your keyboard these should also now mirror the mapping found on the MPC pads (if it doesn’t check out the ‘ Re-mapping An External Controller‘ section below).Īfter editing the MIDI mapping of your pads, save this as a separate ‘chromatic’ copy of your kit and you’re all done. kick, snare, closed hat, open hat, bass tones 1, 2, 3 and 4), which makes it much easier to play on a MIDI keyboard. Now the MIDI keys run in the same order as the MPC pads (i.e. With our basic DRUM program remapped to ‘CHROMATIC C1’, the kit will now look like this on a MIDI keyboard: Typically I would use CHROMATIC C1 for an MPC drum kit, as this will assign midi notes to the pads in a chromatic order starting with note C1 (36) on pad A01. While you can change the MIDI note for each pad individually, it’s quicker to use one of the presets.
#CHANGE EZDRUMMER MIDI LAYOUT SOFTWARE#
While in the MPC Software and MPC Beats, simply go to Edit > Program > Note Mapping: In a standalone MPC such as the MPC One, MPC X or MPC Live, make sure the program you wish to edit is assigned to the current sequencer track in MAIN and hit the ‘ pencil‘ icon at the end of the program row.
![change ezdrummer midi layout change ezdrummer midi layout](https://dt7v1i9vyp3mf.cloudfront.net/styles/news_large/s3/imagelibrary/r/reaper_0518_02_diamonds_and_note_names-mI_3kAGjYfGHCaWBlVxVn7VoU.Fakpwe.jpg)
It’s actually quite easy to completely re-map the MIDI notes on an existing MPC Drum kit, but you’ll need to be running MPC 2.8 or greater. So what’s the solution? Editing the MPC Program’s Note Mapping Owners of keyboards with built in pads (such as the Akai MPK and Arturia Minilab) experience similar issues as the pads on these controllers will be set to play chromatically, often starting at MIDI note C1, so again, there will be empty pads and an unintuitive order for the samples that are present. But on a MIDI keyboard, the sample order is all over the place, just take a look at the first octave on a keyboard, starting at C1: When this kit is played on the MPC pads, there’s no problem – the drums run in the order you set them to, as do the bass tones. Consider a very basic MPC kit, with kick, snare, closed hat and open hat assigned to pads A1 to A4 (a very common layout), and some chromatically mapped bass tones assigned to pads A5 to A8 (because MPC DRUM programs are often used for musical one shots as well!): The problem is that this layout isn’t particularly intuitive for finger drumming and it also isn’t typically compatible with the way most modern kits tend to be set up. This is same MIDI layout used by every MPC since the MPC60. While keygroup and plugin programs use a standard ‘chromatic’ MIDI note layout identical to what you would expect when playing a keyboard, DRUM programs use a layout that seems based on a General MIDI Drum standard (I’ve added the GM instruments in green below): The problem is down to the default MIDI note mapping found in MPC ‘DRUM’ programs (this is the default type of program used for building drum kits). So why is this happening and how can we fix this? The Crazy MIDI Layout For DRUM Programs
![change ezdrummer midi layout change ezdrummer midi layout](https://dt7v1i9vyp3mf.cloudfront.net/styles/news_large/s3/imagelibrary/r/reaper_0518_01_standard_piano_roll_view-XqoTaSzMzhCjiwQ3jfKAfHOKo6r1q.wR.jpg)
One thing they are quickly discovering is that while keyboards work really well for plugins and keygroup programs, they experience a strange mapping issue if they ever try playing MPC ‘DRUM’ program using their keyboard. These days a lot of MPC users are attaching MIDI keyboards to their MPCs, which are perfect for playing expressive, multi-octave instrument parts.