Audio Interface and new Computer, Mpc 2000 xl

Hello MPC Heads,

after googling for weeks and using this forum to wrap my head around this topic, which i failed at, i decided to register on here and finally ask you guys.

I got an mpc 2000xl, and im currently (trying) making boom bap sampled hip hop. I got a turntable hooked to my mpc, and my mpc stereo outs are hooked to a channel in a 2 canal dj mixer. Im making beats like this since probably two years. I have to admit i hate it, because i realized i need to eq my sh*t more to make it sound how i want it to.
So i decided i want to make use of the 8 out board that sits in my mpc. I found out that i could get a reasonable audio interface (like a focusrite saffire pro 40), attach my 8 outs to it, and via midi and firewire connect everything together.
I was really happy that i was able to understand all this stuff just from reading my way through hella lot of pages in forums and webpages (I'm a total beginner soundwise). So here I am, all ready to buy cables and audio interface, itching to make beats.
Aswell i decided, i want to purchase a new computer. I'm still unsure wether to buy a new laptop, a tower pc or even a macbook. Anyways, it's all about preference. After googling some more, i found out, that most audio interfaces can have problems with a newer version of windows & iOS (clicking, not transmitting sound correctly ect.). And here i am now, feeling completely lost in what to buy & how to transmit my beats to a daw on a new computer.
I contacted different hiphop producers on social media, and they all gave me an answer, but each one was different. Some of them told me to buy a mixing board with usb, some of them told me to buy a audio interface.

Now before buying anyhing, i want to ask you guys for recommendation. I'm trying to buy, let's say a windows computer, and i would like to get my sounds out of the mpc 2000xl to a daw to eq it in there. Please help a fellow mpc user out of this tangling mess so he can start making them baning boomp bap joints.

peace to all you guys

Welcome to the forum.
Some hard decisions to make
Mac or PC? (What computer do you have right now? A laptop is nice but some laptops have bad internal design which could cause issues. I had one that produces noise/hum as long as I use a power supply. The noise was gone when I used the laptop with battery).
USB or firewire?
8ins or less? (with 8ins you can record all channels at once but you can also go with less inputs and record for example the first 4 channels and after that record the channels 5-8)
I would recommend a good audio interface. I have no first hand experience on this here
https://www.thomann.de/de/focusrite_sca ... rd_gen.htm
but a friend o mine use the 4i4 with his mac and havn't run into any issues.

I wouldn't recommend a mixer at this stage. Yes there are mixers with intergrated audio interface but for the same price of such a mixer you can get an audio interface with more quality. There are tons of FX plugins (even freeware) that sound better than cheap mixers.

peace



EDIT: The saffire pro40 you mentioned is kind of old and doesn't work with Windows10. But if you decide to use a Windows PC you can still use Win7 (It might be a good idea to dedicate this PC just to music so you won't get interrupted by email, messenger,internet,porn when makin music)

Mister peterpiper,

before everything, thank you so much for your answer. Feels good to have someone to talk about this.

Currently I am using a Samsung Laptop with Windows 7 on it. And as you mentioned, it does make this disturbing noise here and there. I still didn‘t figure out what Pc or laptop i want to buy, but i will figure that out in a second moment.

About the 8 ins, you were right. I dont have to get a audio interface with 8 inputs when i could get the scarlet one you showed me. I realized i probably wont need too many anyways since the boom bap joints i want to create, only exist of kick, snare, hi hats, samples, and bass (dubsbanger on youtube is a good reference for example). Its probably best to get a usb interface since firewire is dying out, what do you think?


I really dont want to use windows 10, since i don‘t like how it feels. If i could i would still stick to windows xp. Love me some oldschool. I still use an ipod classic wherever i go ahah.

peace

Hy Lampdog,

thank you for this firm and quick answer. I think this is exactly what i needed to hear & read. What do you think about the Focusrite Scarlett 18i8? Would you say its a good piece of gear to start off with? I'd really just like to produce boom bap beats, extract them with the 8 outs board (dont really need all 8 outs) in a daw on a pc, and eq them in there. Nothing fancy really. I also saw, that Scarlett one has a midi connection, so i could sync it with the daw for recording.
Just really have this urge in my soul of expressing myself through those kind of beats. Dj Premier is one of my favourites, aswell as DubsBanger is. They got this uniqe sound i try to recreate just with drums and the flow of the sample.

hope all you guys are healthy and safe during those crazy times. Stay home and bang them 16 pads.

(im currently stuck in Sri Lanka as an Italian and cant go home. Wish i had the XL in my hands right now)

peace

What do you think about the Focusrite Scarlett 18i8?
I think it’s a good audio interface. Gen1, Gen2 and Gen3 are slightly different.
Closely look at the rear view of each, Read the specs of each also.

https://fael-downloads-prod.focusrite.com/customer/prod/s3fs-public/downloads/Scarlett%2018i8%203rd%20Gen%20User%20Guide_EN.pdf

....extract them with the 8 outs board (dont really need all 8 outs) in a daw on a pc, and eq them in there.
Yes, you can. Doesn’t matter the type of music. As you grown you might and figure out more, you’ll be glad you have those 8 outs.

All Scarlett ins/outs show up in your computer daw.

Gear connection diagram is also detailed in the manual..

Okay, i made my mind up. I'm gonna get a Scarlett 18i8 Interface.
I have one more question on this topic. For example, i connect my 4 outs of my pc into the ins of the audio interface, it's all connected to the pc. Can i now, lets say i have a kickdrum, eq that one in the software of the interface, and play it like that live in the mpc, or do i have to put it in the daw, eq it & then resample into the mpc?

I hope this question makes sense

peace

Lampdog thanks man,

you really helped me understand a lot of things. Last question: The in's on the front panel of the audio interface are mono if i understood it right. Plus the line ins on the back are stereo I found out that the 8 outs of the mpc are mono aswell, so can i only ue the ones on the front or the line in's on the back of the interface aswell?

peace my friends

stay healthy

ludwigoos wrote:Lampdog thanks man,

you really helped me understand a lot of things. Last question: The in's on the front panel of the audio interface are mono if i understood it right. Plus the line ins on the back are stereo I found out that the 8 outs of the mpc are mono aswell, so can i only ue the ones on the front or the line in's on the back of the interface aswell?

peace my friends

stay healthy

I have the 18i8, all those inputs are mono, (pairs for stereo) so you have 8 inputs for your MPC's 8 ouputs.

yo lampdog,

i was cruisin' around the forum a bit more, and i saw you in some posts, where people talk about the tascam us1800 interface paired with the 8 outs. i found a cheap one and was wondering if i can achieve the same one like with the scarlett one?

pace