Ipod sampling quality...

I was wondering why the quality is bad on every song when I try to sample from my ipod?

Im using $20 phillips head phones but I dont think that should be an issue.

a bit of common sense wouldn't go astray here...

it's only ever gonna be as good as the quality of the files you import onto your ipod.
if you import 128kbs mp3s, then that's what you get.. stick to vinyl or original cds.

peace!

Padlock has a good point. My thought was something more hardware oriented - if you are sampling from the headphone output on the iPod, then you are probably overloading the inputs on your sampler. They are meant to accept a line level signal, not an amplified signal like the one that drives your headphones. Could that be the issue?

scsiforsamplers.com wrote:Padlock has a good point. My thought was something more hardware oriented - if you are sampling from the headphone output on the iPod, then you are probably overloading the inputs on your sampler. They are meant to accept a line level signal, not an amplified signal like the one that drives your headphones. Could that be the issue?

nope, not if you use a y cable. It still outputs a line level amplified signal, much like a preamp does for a turntable. I would recommend running your ipod thru a mixer first, so you can tweek your frequencies, otherwise your just gonna get flat MP3 audio.

another thing.. have the volume around 80% or lower, never on 100%!

padlock wrote:a bit of common sense wouldn't go astray here...

it's only ever gonna be as good as the quality of the files you import onto your ipod.
if you import 128kbs mp3s, then that's what you get.. stick to vinyl or original cds.

peace!

Well first off I dont think this has nothing to do with common sense.

And second of all I would be using my vinyl records but all I have is an mpc and a turntable for now(I do not have studio monitors or any type of mixer)...I wanted to sample from the Ipod for learning purposes only so I could practice and get to know the machine more with samples,breaks...etc before I get the rest of my equipment.Besides that everything I will be doing and did in the past was all off(and will be off in the near future) vinyl.

not sure if some one mentioned it already but an ipod is OK to use to use as long as you have a mixer between the ipod and mpc. yes, of course vinyl or CDs are better, but if all else fails use your ipod like a TT, or cd player...youre def would want a mixer if you're sampling from a TT so, why not an ipod? then start adjusting to what you think is best... i think its all trial and error when switching between sampling sources.

90'sHip_Hop_Head wrote:I was wondering why the quality is bad on every song when I try to sample from my ipod?

Im using $20 phillips head phones but I dont think that should be an issue.

what do you mean the quality is bad? Is it distorted? static? post a clip or something, also make sure that your recording levels(inputs) on the MPC is not turned up to loud.

mumkai wrote:not sure if some one mentioned it already but an ipod is OK to use to use as long as you have a mixer between the ipod and mpc. yes, of course vinyl or CDs are better, but if all else fails use your ipod like a TT, or cd player...youre def would want a mixer if you're sampling from a TT so, why not an ipod? then start adjusting to what you think is best... i think its all trial and error when switching between sampling sources.

I didn't even think that not using a mixer could be apart of the problem....Thanks for the advice man

CoolHeff wrote:

90'sHip_Hop_Head wrote:I was wondering why the quality is bad on every song when I try to sample from my ipod?

Im using $20 phillips head phones but I dont think that should be an issue.

what do you mean the quality is bad? Is it distorted? static? post a clip or something, also make sure that your recording levels(inputs) on the MPC is not turned up to loud.

It is distorted.Even If I turn the levels down really low it's still distorted but Im thinking it's cause' I dont have a mixer like the guy above stated.

What I am doing is pluging a plug from the mpc straight into the ipod and that is probably what im doing wrong.

90'sHip_Hop_Head wrote:

CoolHeff wrote:

90'sHip_Hop_Head wrote:I was wondering why the quality is bad on every song when I try to sample from my ipod?

Im using $20 phillips head phones but I dont think that should be an issue.

what do you mean the quality is bad? Is it distorted? static? post a clip or something, also make sure that your recording levels(inputs) on the MPC is not turned up to loud.

It is distorted.Even If I turn the levels down really low it's still distorted but Im thinking it's cause' I dont have a mixer like the guy above stated.

What I am doing is pluging a plug from the mpc straight into the ipod and that is probably what im doing wrong.

I dont think that a mixer is needed. I bet its possible to sample without a mixer and get a relative good quality.

What ipod do you use? Use the correct cable: 3,5mm TRS (to plug into the ipod) on one end and 2x 1/4" TS on the other end (to plug into the 2 sample inputs of the MPC)

Dont turn up the volume to 100% (as mentioned above) use ca. 80% instead
Turn down the MPC Rec Gain and slowly turn it up while monitoring the input signal.
If its still to loud when the rec gain is all the way down you'll have to turn down the volume on the ipod.

The problem I see when using the ipod (besides the bad mp3 quality) is the noise from the amp at low volume. I only got an ipod shuffle and as soon as I turn this **** on (without hitting play), I can hear noise.

peace

Naw man sampling from a Ipod shouldn't be a problem, it's the same as sampling from a cd player, which in most sampler manuals is described a sampling source. If anything I think your problem lays in the wrong cables or your Ipods output being to loud. Also make sure to turn your gain down on the mpc and work it up untill you start hearing distortion.

Peter piper and I need an mpc:

I am using an Ipod nano the 8gb kind.Now that I think about it Maybe I could be using the wrong cable...the cable im using is the same cable that I use as aux in my car to play music from my ipod...so i plug the cable into my ipod and the other side of the cable i plug into the left record in input on the mpc.

90'sHip_Hop_Head wrote:Peter piper and I need an mpc:

wrong cable...the cable im using is the same cable that I use as aux in my car to play music from my ipod...so i plug the cable into my ipod and the other side of the cable i plug into the left record in input on the mpc.

Go to radio shack, buy a 3 foot 1/8 inch to RCA, then but 2 1/4 inch to rca adapters, shouldnt run u more tan 5 bucks. Or paypal me 5 bucks and ille send u some, but yeah thats ur problom right there

Problem solved I guess lol thanks alot everyone.I would buy the cable from you if I was going to use it alot but honestly I wouldn't use it much if I brought it.As soon as I buy studio monitors and a mixer I will be sampling from my vinyl records.