drums

quick one:

any tips to boost your snare & kick? Is it just down to the quality of the original sample or is it possible to tweek it somehow?

u can layer ur drums

easiest way is to layer more than one drum sample using the simultaneous play option in the pgm window otherwise for a kick you can make two pads with the kick put the low pass filter on one and adjust the decay on the other and layer them it gives the kick more dynamics more boom in the low but still punchy in the highs works like a chram for breaks where the kick just doesnt hit like it should...

for highs not so much you can use the low pass filter to enhance a certain freq range like take the freq down to 75 and turn the resonance up itll pop more but with too much resonance itll sound metallic so in moderation is best..

InsiteTheG-A wrote:easiest way is to layer more than one drum sample using the simultaneous play option in the pgm window otherwise for a kick you can make two pads with the kick put the low pass filter on one and adjust the decay on the other and layer them it gives the kick more dynamics more boom in the low but still punchy in the highs works like a chram for breaks where the kick just doesnt hit like it should...

for highs not so much you can use the low pass filter to enhance a certain freq range like take the freq down to 75 and turn the resonance up itll pop more but with too much resonance itll sound metallic so in moderation is best..

nice one fella
will give it a shot

InsiteTheG-A wrote:easiest way is to layer more than one drum sample using the simultaneous play option in the pgm window otherwise for a kick you can make two pads with the kick put the low pass filter on one and adjust the decay on the other and layer them it gives the kick more dynamics more boom in the low but still punchy in the highs works like a chram for breaks where the kick just doesnt hit like it should...

for highs not so much you can use the low pass filter to enhance a certain freq range like take the freq down to 75 and turn the resonance up itll pop more but with too much resonance itll sound metallic so in moderation is best..

I've recently read about the same technique from DJ Shadow's old interview. Since then, I use that technique too, usually it works well for kicks, it gives MPC sound character too. It is easy, and no need to resample.

If you are sampling from analog source (vinyl records, CDs, tapes, etc.):

For drum, I usually sample them in mono (1 channel). You can use stereo to mono converter jack that Radio Shack sell. (It is technically not correct way to convert stereo to mono (in worst case it would damage device on input side, but it gets things done.) I've made a custom TRS stereo to TS mono converter cable with 1k ohm resistors integrated. Of source you can use mixer to make stereo source to mono.

Other way to optimize the sound quality is to sample each drum shot, adjust sound level for each shot.

Also listen to right and left channel separately, and sample the channel you like.

Also EQing before sample would help sound quality too.

If you are taking drum sample from WAV sample (i.e. sample is already in digital format), check waveform. Normalize, apply compression if necessary.

JVC wrote:I've made a custom TRS stereo to TS mono converter cable with 1k ohm resistors integrated.

That's great you made that cable, that is the correct way to 'mix' two signals via a Y-adapter (using resistors). Still, it's worth noting that if you are gonna do this you really need to preview the material first...in a lot of stereo recordings, summing the two channels together creates nasty phasing issues and in the absolute worst case scenario will completely kill all sound output.

When sampling a stereo track in mono, you'd ideally check the left, then the right, then the summed channel to see which one sounds best.

nogginj wrote:

JVC wrote:I've made a custom TRS stereo to TS mono converter cable with 1k ohm resistors integrated.

That's great you made that cable, that is the correct way to 'mix' two signals via a Y-adapter (using resistors). Still, it's worth noting that if you are gonna do this you really need to preview the material first...in a lot of stereo recordings, summing the two channels together creates nasty phasing issues and in the absolute worst case scenario will completely kill all sound output.

When sampling a stereo track in mono, you'd ideally check the left, then the right, then the summed channel to see which one sounds best.

good point. hey I dont remember off hand since I haven't sampled a stereo sample in a good while ... but you know when you use the internal stereo to mono conversion? well does it just pick a side or does it layer both?

it splits the stereo track into two mono tracks.

RTFM NOOB

just kidding ;]

nogginj wrote:it splits the stereo track into two mono tracks.

RTFM NOOB

just kidding ;]

ah yes, right as I read that it hit me hahahaha...


nah for real though, those manuals aren't too bad. I much prefer reading the mpc60 manual though because I like the way it was written (I think roger wrote them himself) and it states at the beginning that they were written specifically for people who hate reading manuals .. even if you dont own one of those machines, you might find it worth checking it out anyways.