WETTER, JUCIER SAMPLES

what is the best way for me to get better sounding samples on the 2kxl......I have 3 options i can go through.....

1.the EB-16 board on my MPC
2. a focusrite pre-amp
3. lexicon mpx 500

basically, i want a more professional (thick/wet/etc.) sound, i have some good samples but they sound a lil weak to me right now and want to know what you guys with experience would recommend....

also....anyone know what the big boy producers use to heighten their samples?

thanks

does your focusrite have dynamics? if so, use the compressor to get a fatter sound, maybe eq stuff on the way in if you're wanting fatter bass or more hi end, or less of either, depending on what you want to do. but focusrites are real dope, so i would try that. the effects unit can be cool if you're going for something real different, but you might get yourself in trouble if you sample with efects, try adding effects later. word

There are lots of things you can do to pimp out your samples, you'll need to experiment with your sounds and placment to find a quality fit. From my kits- I will often layer 2 or three kick drums and snares.

Try placing Kick 01,02,03 as follows

X---|-XX-|----|X---

Kick One should be full velocity
Kick Two can be hard panned to either left or right and reduce velocity (If you have FX you can apply a small flange or reverb to this kick)
Kick Three should be trimmed a tad at the beginning or at the end (start time)

The concept will fatten each of your drum sounds to give it some more depth. I process mine with various fx prior to loading them on the MPC. I also sometimes layer with different bit rates. Try using the exact same snare sound at 12bit along with your 16bit snare and you should get a lo-fi after taste on each hit.

Also, if you want to do some external editing, there are allot of great Dxi plugins that will plump up your sounds (I prefer layering the sounds as polyphony is never an issue for me) but the Parametric EQ plugins can give your sounds a massive bottom end.