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Akai Pro MPC Series | Why Do My Drum Samples Disappear When I Press Certain Keys?

This article provides guidance on how to troubleshoot missing drum kit samples when pressing the MPC's keyboard.

Pad and Keyboard Mapping Overview
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Pad and Keyboard Mapping Overview

If you own an MPC with a keyboard, you may notice that hitting a key causing your drum kit/sample to disappear to an empty pad bank.

The reason samples are disappearing when you hit some keys is because those keys are not in the current/active pad bank range. And so, if you press a key that is not in the note range - the MPC will switch to an empty bank where that actual key note is.

Please see the following details below to learn why this happens and how to resolve.

When you load a drum kit, or place samples to the pads - the samples will be mapped across the 16 pads to a specific bank (BANK A - H).

On default, drum kits samples will load to the 16 pads on BANK A

Each pad is mapped to a specific note. These notes are the same notes that the keyboard will use.

See an example below:

Note 1: The MPC's pads may not always correspond to the MPC's keys in a linear and chronological fashion. The mapping layout will depend on pad note mapping for the specific drum kit program.

Note 2: Most of the included factory expansions will usually spread across the above 16 note range, whereas some other expansions will use a different mapping.

Resolution

If you notice that pressing some keys causes your samples to disappear - we recommend mapping the pads chromatically using the C1 Chromatic preset.

1. Create a new Drum Track

2. Select the Pencil Icon on your drum track:

3. Select Edit Pad Note Map

4. Use the Pad field to select a pad, or press the pad on your hardware. Use the MIDI Note field to set the desired MIDI note value for the pad:

5. Use the Presets buttons to assign a preset layout to the pads

Chromatic C1 (an ascending chromatic scale, beginning with C1)

Chromatic C-2 (an ascending chromatic scale, beginning with C2)

Classic MPC (the default MIDI note map of classic MPCs).

Akai Pro MPC Series | Why Do My Drum Samples Disappear When I Press Certain Keys?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pad and Keyboard Mapping Overview

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