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
