This is the MPC version of how to chop a sample. Menus vary slightly between models and software versions, but the workflow is the same.
Step 1: Get the sample in
Record your sample or load it from your library, then open it in Sample Edit.
Step 2: Enter Chop mode
Switch Sample Edit to Chop mode. You'll choose one of several ways to slice:
| Mode | How it slices | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold | At every hit louder than the level you set | Rhythmic material, stabs |
| Regions | Into a number of equal slices | Quick even chops |
| BPM | By musical timing at a set tempo | Loops that sit on the beat |
| Manual | Wherever you place markers | Chord progressions, full control |
Step 3: Adjust the slices
Whatever mode you use, check each slice:
- Does it start right on the chord or hit?
- Is it long enough to be musical?
- Does it click at the edges? Nudge the start and end, or add a short fade.
Step 4: Convert to a program
Convert your chops into a new program, so each slice lands on its own pad. From here the sample is an instrument.
Step 5: Play it
Turn off the metronome for a minute and just play the pads. Find a pattern that feels good, then record it. Use note repeat for rolls, and try swing to lock chops into a groove.
Step 6: Shape each pad
Because every chop is its own pad, you can:
- tune individual chops up or down
- filter or add envelopes per pad
- mute groups so chops cut each other off, like a real record
Questions producers ask
How do I chop a sample on an MPC?
Open the sample in Sample Edit, switch to Chop mode, pick Threshold, Regions, BPM or Manual slicing, adjust the slices, then convert them to a program so each chop sits on its own pad.
What's the difference between Threshold and Regions on the MPC?
Threshold places slices wherever the audio gets louder than a level you set, so it follows the hits. Regions just divides the sample into a set number of equal slices.
Which MPC chop mode is best for soul samples?
For smooth chord progressions, Manual usually gives the cleanest, most musical chops. Threshold works well for rhythmic material and stabs.
Skip the paperwork
Original soul, cleared before you press play.
Every sound in Soul Sample Club is an original composition, pre-cleared for commercial releases. Download it, flip it, release it. Nothing to negotiate.
Chris, Founder of Soul Sample Club
Producer and the person behind Looplair and Soul Sample Club. I started SSC so producers could sample soul without the clearance headache.
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For a specific release, talk to a music lawyer.
Keep reading
How to sample soul music: the complete guide
Everything that goes into a great soul flip, from choosing the record to building drums that sit right with it.
How to chop a sample
How to chop samples cleanly: where to cut, how to avoid clicks, how many slices to make, and how to rearrange chops into something new.
How to chop samples in Ableton Live
Two ways to chop samples in Ableton Live: Simpler's Slice mode, and Slice to New MIDI Track with a Drum Rack. Step by step, with tips for soul samples.