Heeelp!! Controlling MPC500 with midi controller

First time posting, hello!
I need help, because I'm at a loss after going through the Akai manual and the manual for my controller.

I'm trying to trigger the MPC 500 pads using the MPC-style pads of my Korg Kontrol 49.http://www.korg.com/product.aspx?pd=458. I essentially want to put the MPC in my rack drawer while performing and mainly use the Korg. I want to be able to trigger the MPC pads with the Korg and also be able to hit the pads on the actual MPC as well. Possible? Well, I can't seem to get it to work. I'm not running sequences, just playing isolated drum and voice samples on individual pads.

I have, just to test, tried to assign pad#1 on the Korg to pad#1 on the MPC. Both pads are on MIDI channel 2, and are assigned to the same note. MIDI cable from out A of the Korg to MIDI in of the MPC.

Nothing happens, no sound. I've tried adjusting parameters on the Korg like velocity etc to no avail. The pads of the MPC still sound when pressed. Is there something I'm missing?

Please help! I am losing my mind over this, I have a tour in a few weeks and this would really help!!

-Steven

It is definitely possible. Is the MPC set to recieve ALL MIDI channels?

I have used both the trigger finger, and a basic midi keyboard.

I had to switch some things on the Trigger Finger to get it to work.

Is there some type of external editor for the Korg? Where you can edit more in depth on the computer, then transfer the MIDI bank/assignment to the unit via USB or something?

Its been a while, but I think I had to change more than just the MIDI channel.. like the CC or PGM on the trigger finger before it would recognize.

Good luck.

Thanks for the response. The interface on the Korg is actually pretty good by itself, so I've just been working with that.

I have the MPC receiving on channel 2 only.

Maybe I need to ask a more fundamental question, just to be sure. If I assign the Korg pad note# to the same assigned note# as the MPC pad I want to trigger, is that the way to do it? Or is there some other MIDI command I need to be transmitting in order to trigger? A control change, like you mentioned? The only thing is the MPC pads can only be assigned note numbers, so... ?

Maybe I need to go in to the Korg and try to see if there are some global parameters I haven't noticed yet.

Yea I havnt messed around with MIDI seriously in years, and only briefly toyed with the 500 and the Trigger about a year ago. I would definitely say it is something in the Korg. The MPC is pretty straightforward when it comes to MIDI. I know it's possible.. have you tried any Korg forums?

Thanks for the tip! I'll try the Korg forums too.

In the meantime, could someone list the settings I need on the MPC end?

Right now I have,

Track>Parameters: MIDI channel: 2 (same as the Korg pad)
Track type:DRUM (I've tried setting it to MIDI also, either way it doesn't work).

Mode>MIDI/Sync: Receive Channel: 2
Soft Thru: OFF
Pad to Sampler: ON
Sync: Slave (I've tried OFF too)
Default Assign: pad A10 set to C#2 (49)*

does that sound right?
i'm supposed to assign the same note number on the MPC pad as on the Korg pad to trigger the MPC pad right?

thanks again!

Figured it out. I was trying to assign the midi note numbers for each MPC pad in MIDI/sync mode, but I had to change them in Program mode. Also, the note numbers in the MPC are 1 octave below those on my controller. So, once I realized I had to set the controller pads 1 octave lower, they linked up and it worked.

Thanks for the help! Now what I'd like to be able to do is assign a slider/knob on my midi controller to control the Q-link so I can modulate pitch with the controller.

HellWig wrote:Figured it out. I was trying to assign the midi note numbers for each MPC pad in MIDI/sync mode, but I had to change them in Program mode. Also, the note numbers in the MPC are 1 octave below those on my controller. So, once I realized I had to set the controller pads 1 octave lower, they linked up and it worked.

Thanks for the help! Now what I'd like to be able to do is assign a slider/knob on my midi controller to control the Q-link so I can modulate pitch with the controller.

As far as I know, you can only control the 500's pads. Let me know if you succeed on that.