Akai Professional MPC Live III: build a kit

8 drum sounds this box makes on its own, in the order to build them.

Record each hit with the sampler, recorder, or DAW you use.

This block draws on the MPC Live III / MPC XL User Guide v3.7, pp.44-521; its values are starting points.

Everything else about the Akai Professional MPC Live III

  1. 1KICK 1DrumSynth Kick, transient forward and the low band lifted

    kick · hard

    • Track TypePlugin(Audio, Drum, Keygroup, Plugin, MIDI, CV)
    • PluginDrumSynth(Bassline, DrumSynth, Electric, Fabric XL, Fabric, Fabric Select, Fabric Electric Piano, Fabric Piano, Hype, Mellotron, Odyssey, OPx-4, Organ, Solina, Stage EP, Stage Piano, Studio Strings, TubeSynth)
    • Drum TypeKick(Clap, Crash, HiHat, Kick, Perc, Ride, Snare, Tom)

      One DrumSynth instrument per plugin track

    Drum Sound

    • Velocity30%(0…100 %)
    • Gain-2dB(-68…12 dB)

      p.431 prints "-Inf, -68.0 – 0 – +12.0 dB"; -Inf is a setting below the range, not part of it

    Transient

    • Transient Attack45%(-100…100 %)

    Distortion

    • Distortion Drive6dB(0…60 dB)
    • Distortion Mix25%(0…100 %)

    EQ

    • EQ Low Freq58Hz(20…1000 Hz)
    • EQ Low Gain3.5dB(-12…12 dB)

      A `Cut` setting sits below the numeric range on the same page

    • EQ High Gain-1.5dB(-12…12 dB)

    Compressor

    • Comp Ratio4(1…100)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.0:1 - 100.0:1; this is the left-hand number

    • Comp Attack8ms(0.1…300 ms)

      p.432 prints the low end as 100 us

    • Comp Threshold-14dB(-60…0 dB)

    Record one hit with your recorder as KICK 1.

  2. 2SNARE 1DrumSynth Snare compressed flat, high band left open

    snare · hard

    • Track TypePlugin(Audio, Drum, Keygroup, Plugin, MIDI, CV)
    • PluginDrumSynth(Bassline, DrumSynth, Electric, Fabric XL, Fabric, Fabric Select, Fabric Electric Piano, Fabric Piano, Hype, Mellotron, Odyssey, OPx-4, Organ, Solina, Stage EP, Stage Piano, Studio Strings, TubeSynth)
    • Drum TypeSnare(Clap, Crash, HiHat, Kick, Perc, Ride, Snare, Tom)

      One DrumSynth instrument per plugin track

    Drum Sound

    • Velocity45%(0…100 %)
    • Gain-3dB(-68…12 dB)

      p.431 prints "-Inf, -68.0 – 0 – +12.0 dB"; -Inf is a setting below the range, not part of it

    Transient

    • Transient Attack30%(-100…100 %)
    • Transient Sustain-20%(-100…100 %)

    Distortion

    • Distortion Drive4dB(0…60 dB)
    • Distortion Mix20%(0…100 %)

    EQ

    • EQ High Freq6000Hz(1200…20000 Hz)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.20 - 20.0 kHz

    • EQ High Gain2.5dB(-12…12 dB)

    Compressor

    • Comp Ratio6(1…100)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.0:1 - 100.0:1; this is the left-hand number

    • Comp Attack3ms(0.1…300 ms)

      p.432 prints the low end as 100 us

    • Comp Threshold-18dB(-60…0 dB)

    Record one hit with your recorder as SNARE 1.

  3. 3CLAP 1DrumSynth Clap spread wide, sustain trimmed off the tail

    clap · bright

    • Track TypePlugin(Audio, Drum, Keygroup, Plugin, MIDI, CV)
    • PluginDrumSynth(Bassline, DrumSynth, Electric, Fabric XL, Fabric, Fabric Select, Fabric Electric Piano, Fabric Piano, Hype, Mellotron, Odyssey, OPx-4, Organ, Solina, Stage EP, Stage Piano, Studio Strings, TubeSynth)
    • Drum TypeClap(Clap, Crash, HiHat, Kick, Perc, Ride, Snare, Tom)

      One DrumSynth instrument per plugin track

    Drum Sound

    • Velocity55%(0…100 %)
    • Gain-5dB(-68…12 dB)

      p.431 prints "-Inf, -68.0 – 0 – +12.0 dB"; -Inf is a setting below the range, not part of it

    Transient

    • Transient Sustain-35%(-100…100 %)

    EQ

    • EQ High Freq8000Hz(1200…20000 Hz)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.20 - 20.0 kHz

    • EQ High Gain4dB(-12…12 dB)

    Distortion

    • Distortion High Cut18000Hz(1000…20000 Hz)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.00 - 20.0 kHz

    • Insert 1AIR Reverb(AIR Delay, AIR Diff Delay, AIR Multitap Delay, AIR Non-Lin Reverb, AIR Reverb Pro, AIR Reverb, AIR Spring Reverb, Delay Analog Sync, Delay Analog, Delay HP, Delay LP, Delay Mono Sync, Delay Mono, Delay Multi-Tap, Delay Ping Pong, Delay Stereo, Delay Sync (Stereo), Delay Tape Sync, Reverb In Gate, Reverb Large 2, Reverb Large, Reverb Medium, Reverb Out Gate, Reverb Small, Sample Delay)

      p.87: each pad, keygroup, track, submix or output takes four

    • Insert 1 · TypeSmall Chamber(Off, Booth, Club, Room, Small Chamber, Medium Chamber, Large Chamber, Small Studio, Large Studio, Scoring Stage, Philharmonic, Concert Hall, Church, Opera House, Vintage 1, Vintage 2)
    • Insert 1 · Mix14%(0…100 %)

    Record one hit with your recorder as CLAP 1.

  4. 4TOM 1DrumSynth Tom, skin forward and the high band left open

    tom · bright

    • Track TypePlugin(Audio, Drum, Keygroup, Plugin, MIDI, CV)
    • PluginDrumSynth(Bassline, DrumSynth, Electric, Fabric XL, Fabric, Fabric Select, Fabric Electric Piano, Fabric Piano, Hype, Mellotron, Odyssey, OPx-4, Organ, Solina, Stage EP, Stage Piano, Studio Strings, TubeSynth)
    • Drum TypeTom(Clap, Crash, HiHat, Kick, Perc, Ride, Snare, Tom)

      One DrumSynth instrument per plugin track

    Drum Sound

    • Velocity50%(0…100 %)
    • Gain-6dB(-68…12 dB)

      p.431 prints "-Inf, -68.0 – 0 – +12.0 dB"; -Inf is a setting below the range, not part of it

    Transient

    • Transient Attack35%(-100…100 %)
    • Transient Shape62%(0…100 %)

    EQ

    • EQ Low Freq180Hz(20…1000 Hz)
    • EQ Low Gain2dB(-12…12 dB)

      A `Cut` setting sits below the numeric range on the same page

    • EQ High Freq7000Hz(1200…20000 Hz)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.20 - 20.0 kHz

    • EQ High Gain3dB(-12…12 dB)

    Distortion

    • Distortion High Cut16000Hz(1000…20000 Hz)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.00 - 20.0 kHz

    Compressor

    • Comp Ratio3(1…100)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.0:1 - 100.0:1; this is the left-hand number

    • Comp Attack12ms(0.1…300 ms)

      p.432 prints the low end as 100 us

    • Comp Threshold-16dB(-60…0 dB)

    Record one hit with your recorder as TOM 1.

  5. 5TOM 2DrumSynth Tom tuned low, transient pulled back and the shell let ring

    tom · dark

    • Track TypePlugin(Audio, Drum, Keygroup, Plugin, MIDI, CV)
    • PluginDrumSynth(Bassline, DrumSynth, Electric, Fabric XL, Fabric, Fabric Select, Fabric Electric Piano, Fabric Piano, Hype, Mellotron, Odyssey, OPx-4, Organ, Solina, Stage EP, Stage Piano, Studio Strings, TubeSynth)
    • Drum TypeTom(Clap, Crash, HiHat, Kick, Perc, Ride, Snare, Tom)

      One DrumSynth instrument per plugin track

    Drum Sound

    • Velocity40%(0…100 %)
    • Gain-4dB(-68…12 dB)

      p.431 prints "-Inf, -68.0 – 0 – +12.0 dB"; -Inf is a setting below the range, not part of it

    Transient

    • Transient Attack-15%(-100…100 %)
    • Transient Sustain20%(-100…100 %)
    • Transient Shape30%(0…100 %)

    EQ

    • EQ Low Freq95Hz(20…1000 Hz)
    • EQ Low Gain5dB(-12…12 dB)

      A `Cut` setting sits below the numeric range on the same page

    • EQ High Freq5000Hz(1200…20000 Hz)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.20 - 20.0 kHz

    • EQ High Gain-4dB(-12…12 dB)

    Distortion

    • Distortion Drive3dB(0…60 dB)
    • Distortion Mix18%(0…100 %)
    • Distortion High Cut6000Hz(1000…20000 Hz)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.00 - 20.0 kHz

    Record one hit with your recorder as TOM 2.

  6. 6CLOSED HAT 1DrumSynth HiHat, closed and dry, nothing on it

    closed-hat · clean

    • Track TypePlugin(Audio, Drum, Keygroup, Plugin, MIDI, CV)
    • PluginDrumSynth(Bassline, DrumSynth, Electric, Fabric XL, Fabric, Fabric Select, Fabric Electric Piano, Fabric Piano, Hype, Mellotron, Odyssey, OPx-4, Organ, Solina, Stage EP, Stage Piano, Studio Strings, TubeSynth)
    • Drum TypeHiHat(Clap, Crash, HiHat, Kick, Perc, Ride, Snare, Tom)

      One DrumSynth instrument per plugin track

    Drum Sound

    • Velocity65%(0…100 %)
    • Gain-9dB(-68…12 dB)

      p.431 prints "-Inf, -68.0 – 0 – +12.0 dB"; -Inf is a setting below the range, not part of it

    Transient

    • Transient Sustain-55%(-100…100 %)

    EQ

    • EQ High Freq11000Hz(1200…20000 Hz)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.20 - 20.0 kHz

    • EQ High Gain1.5dB(-12…12 dB)
    • TC Swing54%(50…75 %)

    Record one hit with your recorder as CLOSED HAT 1.

  7. 7OPEN HAT 1DrumSynth HiHat let ring, high cut wide open

    open-hat · bright

    • Track TypePlugin(Audio, Drum, Keygroup, Plugin, MIDI, CV)
    • PluginDrumSynth(Bassline, DrumSynth, Electric, Fabric XL, Fabric, Fabric Select, Fabric Electric Piano, Fabric Piano, Hype, Mellotron, Odyssey, OPx-4, Organ, Solina, Stage EP, Stage Piano, Studio Strings, TubeSynth)
    • Drum TypeHiHat(Clap, Crash, HiHat, Kick, Perc, Ride, Snare, Tom)

      One DrumSynth instrument per plugin track

    Drum Sound

    • Velocity60%(0…100 %)
    • Gain-8dB(-68…12 dB)

      p.431 prints "-Inf, -68.0 – 0 – +12.0 dB"; -Inf is a setting below the range, not part of it

    Transient

    • Transient Sustain25%(-100…100 %)

    Distortion

    • Distortion High Cut20000Hz(1000…20000 Hz)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.00 - 20.0 kHz

    EQ

    • EQ High Freq12000Hz(1200…20000 Hz)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.20 - 20.0 kHz

    • EQ High Gain3dB(-12…12 dB)

    Record one hit with your recorder as OPEN HAT 1.

  8. 8RIDE 1DrumSynth Ride, ping intact, a small room behind it

    ride · bright

    • Track TypePlugin(Audio, Drum, Keygroup, Plugin, MIDI, CV)
    • PluginDrumSynth(Bassline, DrumSynth, Electric, Fabric XL, Fabric, Fabric Select, Fabric Electric Piano, Fabric Piano, Hype, Mellotron, Odyssey, OPx-4, Organ, Solina, Stage EP, Stage Piano, Studio Strings, TubeSynth)
    • Drum TypeRide(Clap, Crash, HiHat, Kick, Perc, Ride, Snare, Tom)

      One DrumSynth instrument per plugin track

    Drum Sound

    • Velocity70%(0…100 %)
    • Gain-11dB(-68…12 dB)

      p.431 prints "-Inf, -68.0 – 0 – +12.0 dB"; -Inf is a setting below the range, not part of it

    Transient

    • Transient Attack20%(-100…100 %)

    EQ

    • EQ High Freq9000Hz(1200…20000 Hz)

      p.432 prints the range as 1.20 - 20.0 kHz

    • EQ High Gain2.5dB(-12…12 dB)
    • Insert 1AIR Reverb(AIR Delay, AIR Diff Delay, AIR Multitap Delay, AIR Non-Lin Reverb, AIR Reverb Pro, AIR Reverb, AIR Spring Reverb, Delay Analog Sync, Delay Analog, Delay HP, Delay LP, Delay Mono Sync, Delay Mono, Delay Multi-Tap, Delay Ping Pong, Delay Stereo, Delay Sync (Stereo), Delay Tape Sync, Reverb In Gate, Reverb Large 2, Reverb Large, Reverb Medium, Reverb Out Gate, Reverb Small, Sample Delay)

      p.87: each pad, keygroup, track, submix or output takes four

    • Insert 1 · TypeRoom(Off, Booth, Club, Room, Small Chamber, Medium Chamber, Large Chamber, Small Studio, Large Studio, Scoring Stage, Philharmonic, Concert Hall, Church, Opera House, Vintage 1, Vintage 2)
    • Insert 1 · Mix12%(0…100 %)

    Record one hit with your recorder as RIDE 1.

Not in this kit

Bring rim and metallic from another box or a sample library.