EQ / FX / Outs / EB / etc / ? / ??

Hi,

I know there has been nuff debate about what is best for FX and EQing etc...but am getting to the point where I need to do one or the other.

I've got a 2Kxl, an 8 channel mixer and a P.C with 8 ins & outs. I have been considering buying the EB16, but I am also thinking what will be best for the long run.

If I get the 8 outs that will give me the ability to use the software plug ins...is that correct? I need to be able to add different reverbs to the drums and to the samples etc....

Are there any external FX units that will allow me to reverb & eq all in one machine?? I was going to opt for the EB16 because I don't have loads of money to spend and it seemed like the cheap option.....but I really don't know whats best....

Any guidance would be much appreciated,

Bless,

LB

If you need to save money and don't have ANY fx gear then the EB16 is a good choice, people speak neg on it but it's actually a good peice of card to have.

You can use software fx plugs with or without the 8 out board on the mpc.

As long as the audio from the mpc is getting into the pc you can do whatever you want inside the pc. What the 8 outs in the mpc is for is that if you have a hardware or software multitracker you can place all 8 outs from mpc into their own channels for seperate processing and control inside you multitracker.

I don't have the 8outs on my xl, I use the main outs, I have the eb16 which I most of the time use heavily, AND I also use my software plugin efx on pc.

Think of this option also, if you have software plugs and no eb16, if your pc crashes or something like that then you can still make music on your mpc but no fx. If you have the eb16 you can roll with efx whenever you turn on your mpc. It would be a stand alone solution for your mpc.

If I use the plug in fx on the P.C I cant apply the effects individually to each track though can I?

Just the one output from the MPC to the computer would mean I can only apply it to the whole beat.

Is that right?

bless,

LB

Living Bate wrote:Hi,

I know there has been nuff debate about what is best for FX and EQing etc...but am getting to the point where I need to do one or the other.

I've got a 2Kxl, an 8 channel mixer and a P.C with 8 ins & outs. I have been considering buying the EB16, but I am also thinking what will be best for the long run.

If I get the 8 outs that will give me the ability to use the software plug ins...is that correct? I need to be able to add different reverbs to the drums and to the samples etc....

Are there any external FX units that will allow me to reverb & eq all in one machine?? I was going to opt for the EB16 because I don't have loads of money to spend and it seemed like the cheap option.....but I really don't know whats best....

Any guidance would be much appreciated,

Bless,

LB

I agree with Lampdog.

If you travel around with your MPC the internal FX will always be with you when you need them.

If not, as Lamp said, don't rely completely on plug-in effects, but of course use them in your productions. A good compromise is to use a mixer with onboard effects. This will allow you to use ANY of its effects on ANY channel.

As for the 8 outs? No you dont NEED them, but they give you much greater control over your mix. Once you have experienced the full benefits of using 8 outs you will NEVER go back to using the stereo outs. For example, would you rather record/ track your beats ONE TRACK AT A TIME or 8 TRACKS AT A TIME?

but unless I get the 8 outs how can I route just the drum track into an external effects unit?

I want to be able to do this so that I can apply effects to my drums that I dont want to add to everything in the song.

I cant see how that can be done with only the one stereo output.


Bless!,

LB

Living Bate wrote:If I use the plug in fx on the P.C I cant apply the effects individually to each track though can I?

Just the one output from the MPC to the computer would mean I can only apply it to the whole beat.

Is that right?

bless,

LB

1. Record your tracks ONE at a time into separate tracks your computer (remember those 8 outs?)

2. Use your plug-in effects on the individual tracks and/or the whole mix using your computers mixer. It's up to you!

I guess that's how lampdog does it, I use the 8!!!

yeah mustard....i'll have to do it like that for now...

much thanks,

Bless,

LB

how come you cant have the effects board and the 8 outs at the same time? they dont take up the same space or nothin so i dont understand

cop an ensoniq dp/4. 4 in 1 multiFX. then you can use it more flexibly on other gear as well as the mpc.

how do you sync the tracks when you record them into the comp....could you just solo different tracks and run through to stereo to do kinda the same thing as the what 8outs do?

Scott if I could afford to just go out and buy both of them I would...trust me.

I'd get the 8 outs personally..... this helps greatly for mixing down tracks.

en2 wrote:how do you sync the tracks when you record them into the comp....could you just solo different tracks and run through to stereo to do kinda the same thing as the what 8outs do?

when you tracking into the pc...you will be able to see your mix...then you will just line it up.........

I have the eb16 and the 8 outs......I love the flexability of both......but if i was to cop 1 I really don't know because I would try to work around any situation....if you are mobile type of guy(my setup stays in my setup)....remember that the eb16 is a 4 bus efx card....so that means you can have 4 totally different effect signals running at the same time while most low end mixers(if you went the 8 outs route) either have no efx or 1 bus(which means same efx on all of the mixed tracks)......so while your eq mixdown maybe on point by copping the 8 outs....but you might have efx that collide and fux up your mix quick fast.......so with the eb16 you can roll smooth...just learn how to use it and don't dismiss it at first use......

MAKE BEST DUE OF WHAT U GOT