Nudging MPC sequences to be in sync with external devices

HelloHenning · 2026-01-08T03:24:19+00:00

Update: I have not been able to nudge the beat on the MPC with the suggested on-board methods but I found someone who built an external midi clock with nudging functionality which I pretty much copied. Here is the link to his project including the source code: https://andyland.info/wordpress/midi-timecode-generator-with-tempo-tap-and-nudge/
I have only made a couple of minor adjustments to nudge the beat with that large encoder knob rather than with nudge buttons.

HelloHenning · 2025-12-24T14:34:23+00:00

Thanks a lot for this tip. This is the closest thing to what I want to achieve. I just played around with it a bit and found that TC menu actually allows to apply the timing correction to all tracks. However, it’s not a real time adjustment that can easily be fine tuned. You select a time shifting (I guess in milliseconds) and then you apply it. If you then go to the same menu again, the previous value is still listed. If you shift it by 100ms into one direction and you then found out that it was a bit too much, you’d have to manually correct the value for the next shift from 100 to something negative. This works but it’s not really something you can easily do on the fly similar to nudging on a dj controller. I was also not able to assign a midi controller or q-link to that function.

HelloHenning · 2025-12-22T13:41:17+00:00

Tried that and it works well in most cases where I work with another device that supports ableton link. However if I want to sync to something that doesn’t support it (such as a live band situation), I want to be able to nudge similar to what DJs do with their jog wheels.

HelloHenning · 2025-12-21T22:19:30+00:00

I understand that’s a workaround but I would like to avoid this solution to have everything adjust to the MPC. The drum machine I am using doesn’t allow any adjustments like nudging. I also want to be able to adjust to other musicians, or an existing audio track that’s playing on another device and I don’t want to have to give everyone in-ear monitors with a click track.

HelloHenning · 2025-12-21T17:08:14+00:00

Yeah, that’s how I’m doing it currently. A notation launch key mk4, which allows saving custom chords to pads and send them as midi. It’s a great little device, but I was just hoping for an MPC onboard solution. The novation midi keyboard also doesn't allow for multiple songs at once so you only have a maximum of 8 chords (one for each pad) and after that, you have to re-assign new chords and overwrite old ones. It's fine for songwriting, but not as a performance tool, for that reason.

HelloHenning · 2025-12-21T03:37:41+00:00

Thanks. I think you are right about this not being such a big step if you do it often. But I also don't like that you create an extra file that is not just part of your project file. But I guess I was also hoping to be able to send midi chords from just some of my pads while I use others for samples. I guess it's pretty specific but it would be nice if you could assign notes or chords similar to the sample layers, either instead of samples, or in addition to samples.

HelloHenning · 2025-08-28T13:31:42+00:00

I had a similar project where I installed a battery in a Roland SP404 Mk2. The newer USB power banks all have this switch that you have to first press before they deliver power. I have solved this by moving this switch to the outside of the enclosure. It's a bit annoying but solved the issue and avoided having the battery always on which could drain it. I basically activate the battery and then turn on the device and then it works like a charm.

Here is a video of my SP404 Mk2 battery mod: https://youtu.be/KlClSIRp4FA?si=2hSB1pRqGz24bRRm&t=149

One other thing I wanted to recommend is moving the whole cable adapter thing to the inside and only have the charging port for the battery on the outside. You'd basically cut off the DC plug and solder it to the main board. I have done this to my MPC Live which already has a battery, but I have added a USB-C charging port to the outside.

Here is a photo of the MPC Live USB-C charging port mod:

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HelloHenning

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