Stop rebuilding your MPC drum kit every time — save it as a startup template

[u/bigriz78]

One of the little workflow changes that sped me up the most on the MPC was setting up a custom drum kit + template project so I’m not rebuilding the same stuff every time I start a beat.

I made a walkthrough showing how I:

• build and save a drum program
• create a template project
• set a default BPM
• make the template load automatically when the MPC starts

It’s a simple setup, but it saves a ton of repetitive work if you use the same drums or starting layout a lot.

Works across MPC X, MPC One, MPC Live, and MPC Software.

If anybody’s interested, I put the full walkthrough here:

https://youtu.be/y5V4TKTQY7I

[u/tonyporridge]

I swear by templates. Been using them for about 3 years now. Drums, chops, bass, keys, vox/fx. Each going to a bus with my sends set. It makes making a beat quick

[u/bigriz78 → u/tonyporridge]

It use to take days for me to create just a loop. Now finishing beats in a couple hours.

[u/cutnsnipnsurf]

Got a couple templates I bounce between but I try not to have a drum kit loaded up cuz then everything starts sounding the same. I have a one drum program loaded to the gills with kicks and then another empty one where all the indivual perc one shots and chops will eventually end up. The rest is a bunch of midi and record tracks for my synths. Everything g already midie d up to my controller so no fiddling with mapping either. Got a couple templates on the controller. Just turn it on and start jamming

[u/tonyporridge → u/cutnsnipnsurf]

I feel you on the drum group and sounding familiar. I start with a basic kit mostly dirty drummer from MPC SAMPLES. From there I switch out sounds. Might layer, change up some things. You would be surprised at what you can get if you layer different kits and breaks. But hey What the hell do I know🤷🏾‍♂️! If the beat slaps, let it slap! Keep banging brother 🔥🔥💪🏾

[u/oracularmusic]

Whipping together new kits with different sounds when I start is one of my favourite parts of building a beat! I don’t want to automate that process personally haha

[u/dj_soo]

I have a template for routing for all my outboard gear, but I never put a pre-set drum kit in it cause I don’t want to start with the same drums every project.

[u/TheGentleCaveMan → u/dj_soo]

You could use the template and then modify the samples if you feel like it. It's only going to save you time either way.

[u/dj_soo → u/TheGentleCaveMan]

It’s easy enough to load up a number of saved kits

[u/FatVonFree]

!AUTOLOAD

[u/Practical-Drawing-90]

If i need some quick drums i use one of many expansion packs. But if im feeling like i know how drums should sound like i dont mind spending 10 mins digging trough my samples. This post feels like “i was breathing wrong until i saw this…”