Manual

207
Modulation
A
modulation influences or changes a sound-shaping component via a modulation source.
Modulation sources include envelopes, LFOs or MIDI messages. The modulation destination
is a sound-shaping component such as a filter or a VCA.
Note On & Note Off
This is the most important MIDI message. It determines the pitch and velocity of a generated
note. A note-on message will start a note. Its pitch is derived from the note number, which
can range from 0 to 127. The velocity lies between 1 and 127. A velocity value of 0 is
equivalent to a note-off message.
Normalize Normalization is a function to raise the level of a sample to its maximum (0 dB) without
causing distortion. This function automatically searches a sample for its maximum level and
consequently raises the entire sample’s level until the previously determined maximum level
reaches 0 dB. In general this results in a higher overall volume of the sample.
Panning
The process or the result of changing a signal’s position within the stereo panorama.
Pitch-Bend
Pitch-bend is a MIDI message. Although pitch-bend messages are similar in function to
control change messages, they are a distinct type of message. The resolution of a pitch-
bend message is substantially higher than that of a conventional controller message. The
human ear is exceptionally sensitive to deviations in pitch, so the higher resolution is used
because it relays pitch-bend information more accurately.
Program
A
program is a file that contains a list of all samples to be used, and settings for each sample
(e.g., pad assignments, loop points, pitch tuning, effects, etc.) MPC’s Program Edit Mode is
where you can edit and assign samples. You can have a total of 128 programs in a project.
There are two kinds of programs that use samples for their sound source: drum programs,
mostly used for creating drum programs and easy and quick assigning of samples to a pad,
and keygroups programs. With keygroup programs, you can use one sample (or more) and
spread it across two or more keys and play the sample chromatically over a keyboard. That
way, there is no need to sample every key of, for instance, a piano.
Program Change
These are MIDI messages that select sound programs. Programs 1 through 128 can be
changed via program change messages.
Release
A
n envelope parameter. This term describes the descent rate of an envelope to its minimum
value after a trigger is terminated. The release phase begins immediately after the trigger is
terminated, regardless of the envelope’s current status. For instance, the release phase may
be initiated during the attack phase.
Resonance
Resonance or emphasis is an important filter parameter. It emphasizes the frequencies around
the filter cutoff frequency by amplifing them with a narrow bandwidth. This is one of the most
popular methods of manipulating sounds. If you increase the emphasis to a level where the
filter enters a state of self-oscillation, it will generate a relatively pure sine waveform.
Root Key
The root key defines the original pitch of a recorded instrument or of a sample. Samples in
MPC Live contain the dedicated root key information. This information will be created
automatically during recording or importing.
Sample
When you tap the pads on your MPC hardware, you can trigger sounds that we call
samples. Samples are digitized snippets of audio that can be recorded using the recording
(sampling) function of your MPC Live or loaded from the Browser.
You can edit and process a sample in different ways. For example, a sample can be
trimmed, looped, pitch-shifted or processed, using various effects. When you have finished
editing your sample, you can assign it to one or more drum pads to play it. Samples can be
either mono or stereo.
Sample Rate
This is the frequency representing the amount of individual digital sample scans per second
that are taken to capture an analog siginal digitally. For normal CD audio recordings, 44100
samples per second are used, also written as 44.1 kHz. MPC Live offers sampling rates up
to 96 kHz.