MPC2000 Classic - Trim Waveforms Missing Without Rec Gain

Yo, wha's up? I'm new here and have already looked in the forums aswell as other places for information regarding my problem, but unfortunately I haven't found any information on how to completely fix it.

So... I recently got myself an MPC2000 with 32 MB and FX-card on floppy disk OS 1.72 (I live in Sweden) and it seems to be working pretty much flawlessly with the exception of a squishy F4-button. I'm loving the machine and have already sampled some vinyl.

My setup currently consists of a Panasonic SL-J7 turntable, who's RCA cables I have plugged into my MPC2000's recording inputs with two RCA to 1/4" converters. In the stereo outputs of the MPC I've plugged in (through RCA to 1/4" converters) RCA cables which, on the other end, are plugged into a Panasonic SA-HD52 stereo connected to a pair of two Panasonic SB-ZM52 speakers. I do not own a DJ mixer nor a pre-amp, therefore: turntable > MPC > stereo

Anyway, on to the problem: Sampling is overall fine for what I know, however, on the level meter, I get an extremely low volume/value of about four bars, far from the threshold, which is on -20 by default. As far as I know it's supposed to go all the way up to the threshold and past it to the end of the meter. I recorded a 15 second sample off of a record while the level meter showed up this low, the recording worked fine (recorded on left mono with rec gain turned all the way down) and when I went to the trim screen to chop the sample, I saw no waveforms - only a black box with a yellow/white line in the middle of the box. I could hear the sample perfectly (at good volume, too) if played or if I hit a pad, but I could not see waveforms, my guess is... way too low volume, strangely enough.

However, I tried recording another sample with the rec gain knob turned all the way up (and my stereo volume knob turned almost all the way down, because of the extreme noise the gain introduced, close to making my speakers explode), and when I finished recording and went to the trim screen, the waveforms showed, to my short-lived relief. But now the sound is extremely loud and I have to turn the master volume knob on my stereo down to listen to the distorted ****. I don't feel like this is a good permanent or even temporary solution, and I fear it may have to do with my turntable and/or stereo (my stereo has an equalizer). How do you suggest I deal with this? Thank you for any input, I would really appreciate help.

Most turntables don;t put out enough power to feed straight to the mpc. You will need either a preamp or a DJ mixer (which contains a preamp).
This will adjust both the level of the signal and the EQ curve so it is at a suitable level for the MPC.
One alternative is: Plug the TT into the[ phono in] of the HiFi amplifier, and then connect a pair of leads from the [tape out] (if it has one) to the inputs of the mpc.

turntable>stereo>mpc

Thanks for the reply.
No '[tape out]' here - phono and aux.

So, not directly to the MPC - turntable > pre-amp/signal level-adjusting machine > MPC

'Thinking of getting myself a preamp, then. Any suggestions on quality stuff?
Otherwise, I have this strange machine with apparently built-in EQ (http://www.numark.com/product/m101) - Numark M101. I'll check if I can work with it, not sure, though.

Aweno wrote:Otherwise, I have this strange machine with apparently built-in EQ (http://www.numark.com/product/m101) - Numark M101. I'll check if I can work with it, not sure, though.

That is a DJ mixer, it has phono inputs and a line level output.

Plug the phono outputs of the turntable into the phono inputs on one channel of the M101 DJ mixer, and connect the ground wire from the turntable to the ground post on the rear of the M101.

Plug the master outputs of the M101 DJ mixer into the MPC inputs.



Then you would need to set the M101 channel that you have plugged the turntable into to Phono, set the fader for the channel that you have plugged the turntable into to the thick black line 3/4 of the way up, set the lower crossfader to the left or right depending on which channel you plugged the turntable into, set the gain on the M101 so that you are getting a decent level on the M101 meters which should probably be averaging at 0dB, etc.

'Thanks for the instructions. I went through with everything, although I seem to be missing a ground wire for my turntable.
I don't know I would go about connecting the DJ mixer/MPC to my stereo & speakers after that, however.

Connecting to the AUX IN would be ok.
Don't use the phono input or you will overload it

However for sampling TT>DJ MIXER>MPC>HiFI would be fine.
Just make sure the MONITOR thru, on the MPCs sampling page is set to ON.
Then you will be able to hear it.

You could use the DJ mixer just as a phono and mic input to the MPC, to begin with, until you know exactly what you want.

You could leave the MPC output connected to your stereo.

The Master outputs on the M101 are line level outputs, you need to connect them to the inputs on your MPC, so that you can use the M101 phono inputs when recording the turntable into your MPC (through the M101).

Just looked at a manual for your turntable.

It actually has a Phono Out/Line Out switch on the rear panel.

You should be able to plug it directly into the MPC, without a phono preamp, if you set the turntable to Line Out.

You could forget the M101 idea, and the turntable 'should' work directly into the MPC when set to Line Out.

Oh, damn. Let me see that manual, 'cause I can't see a switch. xD

It is in Japanese, so I can't read it, other than the labelling on the Phono Out/Line Out switch.

Maybe your model is different to the Japanese model, and doesn't have that switch?

http://dl-ctlg.panasonic.com/jp/manual/sl/sl_j7.pdf

Ah... No, it doesn't seem to have the switch. Black blank plastic panel where it's supposed to be, unfortunately. Wrong model, it seems. Not sure what to do now, I think I'm running out of cables, if I'll need any more.

OK then, sorry for the sidetrack.

I think you are back to having to use the M101 as a phono preamp on the input to the MPC, and the stereo to listen to the output of the MPC.

- Turntable into M101 phono inputs on either M101 channel
- Master outputs of M101 to MPC inputs
- MPC outputs to line inputs (not phono inputs) on stereo

No problem - alright, let me try it again...

SimonInAustralia wrote:- MPC outputs to line inputs (not phono inputs) on stereo

As in aux inputs? No other inputs than phono and aux on mine.

Yes, use the Aux inputs, they are a line level input, and your MPC is outputting a line level signal.

While the Phono input is a phono level input, and expects a phono level signal.

Got it. Alright, got it plugged in now. I'll record a sample and return in a minute or so.