MPC 2kXL Effects?

Hey all.

Just bought an mpc 2000xl, and i have found out today that i am missing an FX board inside. How am i supposed to do effects without purchasing the board?

I really need EQ and compression

I do have the 8 outs. And i hear that you can run the MP into Pro Tools, but how the hell does that work? I do not understand one bit.
How does it plug into the computer?
How does it work anyways? Does it control protools? Or send signals into it and back out so you can use effects in that?

Would it just be easier to use the effect card? With the card would i be able to eq individual sounds, or have the choice to do a full group?

Yes, before you all go smart-ass on me and tell me to us the search button. I have, and i have googled for hours trying to find an alternative. It has given me very vague answers, just like "run it in protools". But i have no idea how that works, or even if i can get effects for that matter.

sorry for the shitstorm of questions

~Chase

first of all, the eb16 fx option for the 2000/2000xl..

it doesn't have compression, it has a limited EQ.. it has an archaic reverb (nothing as modern and sophisticates sounding as your reverbs in your pro tools) it has delay/echo, it has distortion/gain, and some other little things.

These are basic fx best used in slight moderation, mainly for shaping your original sound a bit... nothing really post production quality.


secondly, your 8 outs is designed for recording your beats into multiple tracks using a computer interface such as the 003 or what ever you have (mbox maybe?) you would run output 1/2/3/4/etc into the 1/2/3/4/etc of your interface so you can record each pad's sound on a separate audio track inside pro tools... it has nothing to do with syncing the computer with the mpc or controlling anything... basically, you may want the kick, the snare, the sample, and the bass all on their own track (or wave recording) so you can add effects on individual instruments instead of over the entire beat... lets say you want mega reverb on only the snare... well you dont want that on the sample, the kick, and the bass too... right?

M (1) -----> (1) D
P (2) ------>(2) A
C (3) ------>(3) W

mr_debauch wrote:
secondly, your 8 outs is designed for recording your beats into multiple tracks using a computer interface such as the 003 or what ever you have (mbox maybe?) you would run output 1/2/3/4/etc into the 1/2/3/4/etc of your interface

What is this interface you talk about.How are you supposed to plug it in? My MPC has 8 outs, but im sure that no computers have 8 in's. What do i run the MPC into before the computer? What DAW would you recommend for Mac?I have Live right now, but im not sure if it would work with that.

EDIT: Also what is Mbox?

PrhymeBeats wrote:

mr_debauch wrote:
secondly, your 8 outs is designed for recording your beats into multiple tracks using a computer interface such as the 003 or what ever you have (mbox maybe?) you would run output 1/2/3/4/etc into the 1/2/3/4/etc of your interface

What is this interface you talk about.How are you supposed to plug it in? My MPC has 8 outs, but im sure that no computers have 8 in's. What do i run the MPC into before the computer? What DAW would you recommend for Mac?I have Live right now, but im not sure if it would work with that.

yeah it doesn't matter what daw you use for the most part.. I am sure live is capable of recording audio...

the interface is a box you would use instead of your stock PC or MAC soundcard (the headphone jack where you plug the mic) .. look up products on google like the motu ultralite, the motu 828, the RME fireface, the digi 003... etc.. these are called "audio interfaces". When you have one of these, you no longer will use your stock computer sound card because not only does it only have 2 ins... it isn't as high quality as a dedicated audio interface...

now when looking at pictures of these interfaces (lets say you check the motu 828 mk3) you will see how there are 8 inputs on it... you can fit 1/4" cables (guitar jack sized cables) into it... and so, you have your 8 cables from the 8 outs of the mpc running into the 8 ins of the interface... then in your DAW (live, protools, cubase, logic, fl studio, what ever) you set it up to use the sound card... when you record... each of those 8 outs will be recorded onto it's own audio track.. you can mute/solo the tracks... you can compress individual tracks instead of the whole song... the whole 9.

now, until the day comes where you get an interface... you wont be recording all 8 tracks into your computer at once.. so for now, there is something else you can do.

get a 1/4" to 1/8" Y cable adapter if you dont have one:



now... you have the mpc stereo outputs connected to the input on the computer stock sound card (you dont have an interface yet, right?) so.. now on the mpc with your beat you made... click the button to solo each pad (so lets say you solo the kick drum... it will mute the rest of the sounds) and now play and record the entire sequence or song into the computer and save the wave file... now mute the kick, and unmute the snare... record the sequence again... now do the same for every other sound... and you will have all these tracks each with their own instrument on them. now piece the song back together in your DAW... line the tracks up properly.. and you got the same effect at using the 8 outs.. but it takes way more work.

ohohoh i understand now. What would you suggest for the best one for a low price? I can spare like 200-300, but 700 is pretty steep haha.

Also, thank you for that, i completely understand now.

look into the motu ultralite... not the mk2, not the mk3 hybrid... just the regular motu ultralite... those go for under 300 bucks. it takes firewire though.