How to Create a Custom Drum Kit on the Akai MPC Key 37

How to Create a Custom Drum Kit on the Akai MPC Key 37

The Akai MPC Key 37 is a adapable standalone music production tool, combining 37 three-octave keys, velocity-sensitive pads, and a 7” touchscreen for a seamless music workflow. One of its standout features is the ability to craft custom drum kits, allowing you to curate your own sounds for beat-making, whether you're producing deep house, hip-hop, or experimental tracks. Building a custom drum kit on the MPC Key 37 lets you personalize your workflow and create unique rhythms tailored to your style. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of creating a custom drum kit from scratch, using onboard samples, external sounds, and the MPC’s powerful editing tools.

Why Create a Custom Drum Kit?

A custom drum kit ensures your sounds match your creative vision. The MPC Key 37 comes with preloaded sounds and expansion packs, but crafting your own kit gives you full control over each element—kicks, snares, hi-hats, and more. You can mix samples from different sources, adjust their parameters, and save them as a reusable kit, making your production process faster and more intuitive. This is especially useful for live performances or quick studio sessions, where having your signature sounds at your fingertips can spark inspiration.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Custom Drum Kit

Step 1: Start a New Project and Create a Drum Program

To begin, power on your MPC Key 37 and set up a new project where your drum kit will live.

• Create a New Project: From the Main screen on the 7” touchscreen, tap the + icon to start a new project. This gives you a blank slate to work with.

• Select a Drum Program: In the Main screen, locate the track section. By default, the first track may already be a Drum program. If not, tap the track type icon (it’ll show a small drum symbol for Drum programs) and select Drum. This sets up a program designed for drum kits, where each pad can trigger a different sound. The MPC Key 37 supports various program types, but Drum programs are ideal for kits, as noted in Akai’s official guides on program types.

Step 2: Load or Record Your Drum Samples

The MPC Key 37 lets you use onboard samples, import external sounds, or record your own. Here’s how to gather your drum sounds:

• Browse Onboard Samples: Tap the Browser button on the touchscreen (or press the Browse hardware button). Navigate to the Content tab, then tap the Samples icon to view internal samples. Scroll through the list to audition sounds like kicks, snares, or hi-hats. Double-tap a sample to load it into your project’s Sample Pool.

• Import External Samples: If you have your own samples (e.g., from Splice or a sample pack), transfer them to a USB drive or SD card. Insert the drive into the MPC Key 37, then in the Browser, navigate to your external drive under Places. Select your samples and tap Load (or hold Shift and tap Load All to import multiple samples at once). The MPC Key 37’s Wi-Fi and Splice integration also lets you sync samples directly from your Splice account, a feature highlighted in Akai’s product overview.

• Record Your Own Samples: Connect a microphone or instrument to the MPC Key 37’s 1/4-inch stereo inputs. Go to Sample Record mode (tap Menu > Sample Record), set your input source, and record your sound (e.g., a live drum hit or vocal sample). Once recorded, the sample will appear in your project’s Sample Pool.

Step 3: Assign Samples to Pads

Now that you have your samples, assign them to the MPC Key 37’s 4x4 pad grid for playback.

• Enter Program Edit Mode: Tap Menu > Program Edit (or press the Prog Edit hardware button). This mode lets you edit your Drum program and assign samples to pads.

• Assign a Sample to a Pad: Select a pad by tapping it on the touchscreen or hitting it on the hardware (e.g., pad A01 for a kick). In Program Edit, tap the Samples tab. You’ll see four layers (S1 to S4) per pad—each layer can hold a different sample for velocity switching, but for a basic kit, we’ll use one layer. Tap the S1 field, then use the data wheel or tap to select a sample from your Sample Pool (e.g., a kick drum). Repeat this for other pads, assigning a snare to A02, hi-hat to A03, etc. For a more ergonomic layout, consider assigning core sounds to the second row (A05-A08) for easier finger drumming, a tip from MPC-Tutor’s drum kit building guide.

• Alternative Drag-and-Drop Method: In Main mode, you can drag samples directly from the Project panel (tap Menu > Project) to a pad. For example, drag a kick sample to pad A01. This method is faster for quick assignments.

Step 4: Fine-Tune Your Drum Sounds

The MPC Key 37 offers powerful tools to shape your drum sounds, ensuring they fit your mix.

• Adjust Sample Parameters: In Program Edit, select a pad and tweak its settings. Adjust the Level to set the sample’s volume, Pan to position it in the stereo field, and Tune to pitch the sample up or down. For example, slightly detune a kick for a deeper sound.

• Add Effects: Tap the Effects tab in Program Edit to add insert effects like EQ, compression, or reverb to individual pads. For instance, add a touch of reverb to a snare for a spacious feel. The MPC Key 37 supports a wide range of insert effects, as noted in its product specs.

• Set Velocity Layers (Optional): To make your kit more dynamic, assign multiple samples to the same pad across different velocity layers. In Program Edit, select a pad (e.g., A02 for a snare), and assign a soft snare hit to layer S1 and a hard hit to layer S2. Adjust the velocity range for each layer (e.g., S1 for velocities 1-60, S2 for 61-127) to trigger different samples based on how hard you hit the pad. This technique, often used for realistic acoustic kits, can be extended to four layers per pad, as explained in MPC-Tutor’s cycle kit tutorial.

Step 5: Mix Your Drum Kit

Balance the levels of your pads to create a cohesive kit.

• Access the Program Mixer: Tap Menu > Prog Mix (or press the Prog Mix hardware button). This opens the program mixer, where each pad has its own channel.

• Adjust Levels and Panning: Use the touchscreen to adjust the volume slider for each pad (e.g., lower the hi-hat if it’s overpowering the kick). Pan sounds to create a stereo image—perhaps pan the hi-hat slightly left and the snare slightly right. You can also apply effects to the entire program using the program channel on the right. This mixing approach ensures your kit sounds polished, a technique emphasized in MPC-Tutor’s drum kit tutorial.

Step 6: Save Your Custom Drum Kit

Once your kit is ready, save it for future use.

• Save the Program: In Program Edit, tap the disk icon to save your Drum program. Name it something descriptive, like “MyHouseKit.xpm”. The MPC Key 37 uses the .xpm format for programs, compatible with all modern MPC hardware, as noted by Kit Maker.

• Save as Part of a Project Template (Optional): To use this kit in every new project, save it within a project template. Save your project via Menu > Save > Project As, then set it as your default template in Preferences > Project Load/Save > Template File. This ensures your custom kit loads automatically, a method covered in my previous blog post on project templates.

Step 7: Test and Refine

Play your kit using the MPC Key 37’s pads or keybed to ensure it feels right.

• Test with the Pads: Hit the pads to check if the sounds trigger as expected. The velocity-sensitive RGB pads should respond dynamically, especially if you set up velocity layers.

• Use the Keybed: Switch to chromatic mode (tap the keyboard icon in Main mode) to play your kit across the keys, useful for melodic elements or pitched drums. The aftertouch-enabled keys can add expression, a feature highlighted in the MPC Key 37’s design.

• Refine as Needed: If a sound feels off, return to Program Edit to tweak levels, effects, or sample assignments. Resave your program after adjustments.

Tips for Building Effective Drum Kits

• Source Quality Samples: Use high-quality samples from Splice, MPC expansions, or your own recordings. The MPC Key 37’s stem separation feature (MPC Stems) lets you isolate drum parts from loops, providing fresh sounds for your kit.

• Organize Your Samples: Rename your samples (e.g., “Kick_Hard1”, “Snare_Med1”) to make them easier to identify, a practice recommended in MPC-Tutor’s cycle kit tutorial.

• Experiment with Effects: Use the MPC Key 37’s onboard effects to add character. For example, apply a transient shaper to a kick for more punch, a capability supported by the DrumSynth plugin, which is compatible with the MPC series.

• Create Variations: Build multiple kits for different genres (e.g., a house kit with punchy kicks, a hip-hop kit with gritty snares). Save each as a separate program for quick access.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Pads Not Triggering Sounds: Ensure the correct MIDI channel is selected in Main mode. If using a DAW or external controller, verify that the MIDI channel matches the track’s settings, a common issue noted in MPC forums.

• Samples Not Loading: If a sample doesn’t load, check that it’s in a supported format (e.g., WAV). Also, ensure it’s saved with the project—when saving, the MPC prompts you to include associated files.

• Velocity Layers Not Working: Double-check the velocity ranges in Program Edit. If layers aren’t triggering, your pad hits might be outside the set range.

Conclusion

Creating a custom drum kit on the Akai MPC Key 37 is a straightforward yet powerful way to personalize your music production. By curating your own sounds, assigning them to pads, and fine-tuning with effects and mixing, you can craft a kit that’s uniquely yours. Whether you’re chopping breaks, layering velocity-sensitive samples, or integrating Splice loops, the MPC Key 37’s intuitive workflow makes the process seamless. Save your kit as a program or within a project template, and you’ll always be ready to create, whether you’re in the studio or performing live in an underwater nightclub.

For more MPC Key 37 tips, check out resources like MPC-Tutor.com or the official Akai support page. Got a favorite drum kit setup? Share your tips in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re using your MPC Key 37 to spark inspiration! Happy beat-making!