Tracking a beat from my MPC 2XL

I was wondering how I could track my beat from my MPC2XL to my computer. I want to get each individual track in my computer lined up(automatically) so I can put effects each specific track (i.e. hat,snare,drum) while I listen to the beat. I have Cakewalk HomeStudio2 and Acid XPress 4.0 which both have recording capabilities. I had heard that if I synced the MPC with software I could solo each track and record them into my software recorder and I wouldn't have to line up the tracks to make it sound right in the software. I was wondering if somebody could walk me through the steps I would need to get this done . And if this is not possible through the software that I have, could u recommend another way to do it.

Don't double post, it will get not get you a response any quicker. You might actually catch grief from some peeps up in here cause of that, so let's not do that ok.

You need a multi-ins sound card to your pc. Each input can be routed to an individual track via your multitrack software ie. acid pro 4.0.

Have you got the 8 outs board on your MPC? If you did you would need multi inputs on your computer if you wanted to record a lot of different MPC parts simultaneously. If you are just using the stereo outs, & don't forget you can use these as two separate mono outs, you will just need stereo ins on your computer.

If you have multiple outs on your MPC & ins on your computer & can record all your separate MPC parts in one take you wouldn't need to worry about syncing so much. Just start the computer recording & then press play on the MPC. If you later needed the audio in your computer tempo-synced to midi you would do that within the computer program.

I'm using Logic on a Mac G4 & haven't used the software you mention but I doubt there are that many differences with recording audio....

nah, I only have the 2 stereo outs and the stereo ins on the computer soundcard. Could somebody walk me through how to do this using just these.

could you tell me how to do it with just the stereo outs and the ins on my soundcard.

You are limited to 2 tracks at a time with your setup the way you described it, you will have to record 2 tracks with each pass which will be somewhat of a headache.

Are you at least getting sound from your MPC into your computer?

Here is one very basic way..... Activate a track in one of your computer programs to be recording from your soundcard inputs. If you don't know how to do this you need to check that software's manual.

Choose a sequence on your MPC. Mute every track apart from the kick. Start the computer recording & then play the MPC.

Repeat this process for other MPC tracks until you they are all in your computer on different audio tracks of your software. Then you need to edit the start points to get them lined up. One thing that can help is, with tracks in the MPC sequence such as snares that probably won't fall on the first beat of the bar, add a little click sample on that first beat so you have a reference point when editing audio tracks on the computer.

But I would then have to go and add a click in every individual track wouldn't I? Because when I solo the track, just that sound would play. I was leaning more towards trying to sync it using the midi out on my soundcard,and the midi in on my MPC. Technical support for my software told me how to do it on that side. I was wondering if you could tell me how to sync it on the MPC2XL. But if I can't figure out how to do that, I will just do it the old fashioned way like u suggested.

You could put the click just once on an empty track & then, rather than SOLO the one you want to record, mute all the others except for the click. Get your cursor onto track On (YES/NO) & then OPEN WINDOW so you can select & mute your tracks with the pads.

Yes, syncing to midi would be better. I was suggesting the most basic
way to test the recording software rather than to get the better result. Have you at least tried it this way though?

If you are syncing the computer & MPC you need a midi cable going from the out of one to the in of the other. Just use one cable in one direction though, don't have two & risk causing a loop. It depends which you want as the midi master & which as the slave. Although it is nice to use the MPC as the master so you can use its transport controls a lot of computer software (Logic for example) works better if it is the master. Your sync settings on the MPC are under SHIFT 9. You will need to experiment with the syncing settings on both machines, but if you are using the MPC as the slave you might get away with just sending midi clock from the computer.