MPC Renaissance & MPC Studio: Sampling Laid Bare (1.9 Edition)

Inside you'll find 360 pages of MPC Renaissance & MPC Studio tutorials and workshops, covering all aspects of sample editing, sound design and program building in the MPC Software. Below is a complete listing of all tutorials inside the book:

000 How to Use This Book                                                     

001  Getting Started                                                         

• The MPC in a Nutshell                                                                    
• The Sampler                                                                                    
• Pads & Programs                                                                             
• The Sequencer                                                                                
• Your First Project                                                                              
• Loading & Assigning Sounds                                                         
• The File Browser                                                                              
• Navigating The File Browser                                                          
• Setting Folder Shortcuts                                                                  
• Loading Sounds                                                                              
• Sampling Audio into the MPC                                                       
• Record Sample Settings                                                                
• Sampling Your Sound                                                                   

002  Sample Edit Mode    

• Introduction to Sample Edit Mode                                                 
• Sample Editing: Hardware vs Software                                        
• Edit Points                                                                                         
• Zooming In For Accuracy                                                                
• Discarding Unwanted Sample Data
• The History Panel
• Normalizing 
• Saving Sounds

003  Introduction to DRUM Programs 

• Understanding DRUM Programs & Banks
• Assigning Sounds to Pads in the Software 
• Loading Sounds From Expansion Packs  
• Assigning Via the Hardware
• Pad Keys      
• Naming & Saving Programs
• Saving Entire Projects
• Auto Save
• Loading Programs 

004  PROG EDIT Mode  

• Creating Your Own Program
• Discovering Program Parameters
• Sample Layers
• Level
• Changing Layer Pitch
• Adjusting Layer Panning
• Shaping Sounds with Amp Envelope
• Filters   

005  Program-Based Sound Design  

• What is Drum Layering?
• A Simple Drum Layer
• Making Adjustments to Each Layer
• Adding More Layers
• Manipulating Stereo Width
• Layer Panning vs Pad Panning 
• Layer Offsetting
• Limitations of Pad Layers
• Layering With Simultaneous Play
• ‘Painting’ With Sample Elements
• AD and ADHS Envelopes
• Applying Filters to Individual Layers
• Combining Layers & Simultaneous Pla
• Experimenting With LFOs
• Tremolo Effect 
• Emulating Vinyl Crackle
• Wacky Bass
• Bit Crushed Drums
• Effects in Sound Design
• How to Create Dirty Drums
• Vintage Effects 
• Dynamics & Transient Shapers
• EQ For Corrective & Creative Applications
• Using Send Effects as Inserts
• Resampling Your Sounds  

006  Sample Processing       

• Emulating Vintage Sampler Crunch
• Increasing Grit While Sampling
• Emulating Scratching Sounds
• Time Stretching
• Looping Samples
• Understanding Loop Points
• Looping Drum Breaks
• Setting Loop Start Point
• Creating Loops With the Looper
• Using Loops in a Program
• Extending the Length of Instrument Notes
• Differences Between Drum Break & Instrument Looping
• Setting the ‘Looping Region’ 

007  Chopping Part 1     

• Chopping Using Extract
• Using the Dedicated Chop Mode
• Threshold Chopping
• Controlling Preview Playback 
• Adding Slices From the Hardware
• Cue Play Mode
• Split/Combine 
• End Point Dilemma
• Converting Slices ‘Destructively’ 
• Crop Samples or Not?
• Fixing the End Clicks     
• Working With Events
• Editing Note Events to Change Existing Drum Hits
• Overdubbing  Additional Drum Hits
• Dealing with MONO Playback Issues
• Applying a Quantize Template to Change Groove
• Creating a Completely New Break

008  Chopping Part 2      

• Fine Editing Chop Points
• The Shared Edit Point                                                                     
• The Speed Chopping Workflow 
• Unlinking Slices                                                                                      
• Applying Processes to Slices                                                        
• Patched Phrase                                                                                
• Tuning a Patched Phrase                                                                 
• Changing Musical Pitch of Notes in a Bass Loop        

009  Building Advanced Drum Kits   

• Timbre Variation Using Multisampled Drums
• Velocity Switching Pad Layers
• Loading Using Shift & Drag
• Performing Velocity Switches
• Layer Switching
• Muting the Open Hat
• Program Mixer
• Emulating Timbre Changes
• Adding Random Play Emulations
• Creating a Dedicated Soft Kick
• Velocity Sensitive Timbre Emulations
• Utilizing the LFO
• Time Stretching The Open Hats
• Dealing with Pad Sensitivity
• Program Specific Pad Sensitivity
• A Practical Kit Set Up
• Using the Coloured Pad Lights

010  Musical DRUM Programs & 16 Levels  

• Using DRUM Programs to Emulate Real Instruments
• Amp Envelope & Sample Play Settings
• Tuning a Sample Across the Pads
• Monophonic Playback For Bass Programs 
• Using 16 Levels For Instrument Performances
• Understanding the Sequence Modifier Lane
• Other Uses of 16 Levels

011  Multisampling & Keygroup Programs

• What is a Multisampled Instrument Program?
• Creating Keygroup Programs
• Musical Notes & Keygroup Pads
• Creating a Piano Keygroup Program 
• Sourcing Multisamples
• Setting Up Your First Keygroup
• Adding Keygroups 
• MIDI Keyboard & MIDI Keys
• Applying ADSR
• Timbre Emulation Within a Keygroup
• Utilising The Root Note
• Using Filters & Effects
• Applying LFO 
• Pad Perform Mode
• Playing Chords
• Chord Progressions

012  Non Destructive Chopping Techniques

• Introduction to Non-Destructive Chopping
• Assign Slice to Pad
• PROGRAM Chop Mode
• NDC Over Multiple Layers
• Chopping Musical Pieces
• Lazy Chopping
• Chopping By BPM
• Chopping Using Pad Parameters
• Experimenting With Your Initial Chops
• Tightening Your Chops
• Converting Non Destructive Chops                                              

013  Final Words        

Appendix A: Setting Up Your MPC 

Appendix B: Sequencing 101   

Appendix C:  MPC Resources   

"So I love your book. Very easy to understand, step by step. It’s like  a bible for me. Specially I like the chopped section. Your instructions are very detailed. You should work for Akai, I hate their manuals !!! It looks like they do not care about their customers…I discovered your tutorials on mpc tutor website. So thank you for your great work, and I hope you are already working for the next Mpc software 2.0 !!!!"
Dorian Sarrus, Paris, France

"I think the book is great. It’s well laid-out and covers everything I want to learn, allowing me to grow into a more proficient user of the MPC."
Tico Hudson (Tico Hudson Productions LLC), Atlanta, United States

"I am a happy customer as your approach to writing a tutorial is far more intuitive than anything I've used to date. Many thanks for a great book and for providing the first and only MPC Ren tutorial that is written properly."
Kirk Pawlak, Philadelphia, United States

"I bought your MPC Studio book, it's very informative, totally on point. It's got me going with it steady. Thanks again!"
Jesse Masson (City Speak Music), New York, United States

"I would like to thank you for writing the only manual ever worth reading for any piece of gear made! Great job!!!Having now spent some time with my MPC Renaissance grinding out a song or two and now having worked through your Sampling Laid Bare I have a much better idea of what I can get out of the MPC. Thanks again for helping me take the training wheels off this little beast."
Solemn Splendor

"The book is extremely well organized and easy to follow. I consider myself an intermediate MPC Ren user and I still picked up quiet a few tips and shortcuts that I was not aware of. The book has really made my workflow more seamless and enjoyable. Keep up the good work."
Eric (Anomus Productions)

"Bought it! Very usefull tips - worth every euro! peace"
mcroepster (MPC-Forums member)

"Bought the book Tutor. Very well thought & laid out. Informative as hell. I'll be renaming my copy "The REN Companion". Thanks man."
GedaBlaq

"@mpctutor, 2 chapters in and learning alot. Stoked to finally have the book. Keep up the work on the sequel!!"
Properhandsome

"Bought it... and no doubt: worth the money. Like you said, not just as a extra smart manual, but really as an inspiring way to look at beatmaking!"
Erik Blokpoel, Zoetermeer, Netherlands

"The book is awsome! Thanx Tutor"
T_Lab