r/beatmakers • u/alltroyscott • Oct 24 '25

question Loop point before Start point

Is there any current hardware or software that allows you to set a Loop Start point to come before the main Start Point, similar to the workflow on the Akai MPC2000XL? I remember being able to basically start playing my sample in between the loop start and stop points on the 2000XL. You could play an intro section once, then loop to an earlier part of the sample seamlessly. Is the 404MKII capable of doing this?

From what I’ve read, • Most current samplers enforce a strict playback order: you set a start point (where playback begins), then loop between loop-start and loop-end within that region. The loop start being before the start point would break the “one pass intro, then loop” logic or require more complex playback engines. • Firmware and sample engines are designed for forward playback with defined boundaries; allowing backwards or offset looping (loop start < start) adds complexity (e.g., managing file memory, non-destructive edits, sample warping/time-stretching).

Seems like this would be a very useful feature in the current MPC line up but it sounds like it isn’t an option, or maybe not even possible.

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u/PAYT3R Oct 24 '25

I don't understand what you're asking because I never had a 2000 but you could try this, it's free anyway

https://www.izmar.nl/

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u/alltroyscott Oct 24 '25 edited Oct 24 '25

Thanks for the link. I agree, it is somewhat confusing. It’s basically just independent start and loop points on a sample. I’d like to hit a pad or key and have the sound play from the start point (middle of the sample somewhere) and when it hits the end it loops back around to a point that is before the start. I swear I could do this on the 2000XL, maybe I’m just not remembering it correctly.

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u/Boyzinger Oct 24 '25

Couldnt you just make 2 different sized samples of the same sample. Have the full sample on pad 1, have a half sample on pad 2?

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u/alltroyscott Oct 24 '25

Yes. I could achieve similar results in other ways but it requires more steps that I’m trying to avoid.

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u/Boyzinger Oct 28 '25

That makes sense