Ok after a 2kxl and a soundmodule whats next?

OK I've been posting on producer forums for a while looking for helping choosing equipment and this site is where I always get the good look out. Especially Void.
Anyway I'm trying to setup an all hardware bedroom studio where I can finish a beat right to CD all mastered and everything... so far I just have a MPC2KXL, a MicroKorg for a sound module and midi controller (to play multisamples off the mpc), and Technics and a Rane TTM56...
I know I need synths/sound modules, effects, a mixer, a hard-disc recorder, and better moniters, but since I'm a beginner and the experience I do have is on software, I'm confused about how everything is going to come together...
Basically, I like sequencing on the MPC, and I like bangin on the pads, but there is a lot of work I need to do on samples, so how do I send samples out to have effects and eq applied to them, and then send them back to the MPC?
And with the mixer, do I have all sound modules chained to the MPC with midi thru, and then also have an audio out from each sound module go to a channel on the mixer?
I decided on a compressor but where do I place it in my setup? Between the tables and the sampler, or between the mixer and the hard-disc recorder, or between the sampler and the mixer... f*ck I just don't get it...
Most importantly how should I prioritize my next few purchases? I know the main thing stopping me from finishing beats right now is that I can't eq anything, so what do I need to purchase to get to the point where I can sample, eq the sample, and then get it back on the mpc to sequence?


Why do I get the feeling I'm about to get flamed for this post...

BTW, please no one say skills I posted this on another forum and that's as much help as I got...
I know this is going to take work to get good but even when everything else is right in a track I make on the MPC today, I still won't be happy because I like to EQ each sample individually and that just can't be done with my current setup...
Also the friends I have that produce are all software heads, so I really have nowhere to turn to get these answers except a message board...
Hopefully someone could describe their setup, or a hypothetical setup, that includes mpc, soundmodules, effects, eq, mixer, monitors, hard-disc recorder, and explain how each piece is interconnected... And I would have to be able to get the samples back to the mpc for sequencing after applying the eq and effects...
Please help I know you cats do the knowledge...

what u mean whats next?????


You start makin beats thats whats next. You dont need a multitracker unless youve got some beats ready to be tracked into computer or a hardware tracker and you dont really need effects until youve got everything tracked and ready to put in effects..... So make some beats and worry about whats next when you get good at makin beats!!!!!!!!!!!!!

to answer your fisrt question,, You can use soundfroge or something similar to add effects, eq etc then dump the sounds into the mpc. Then you can make full beats. When you actually make full beats then thats when you ask about what to do next. Youre gonna confuse yourself if you dont take it one at a time man relax and make some beats. I was like you a few months back and I didnt actually make beats but just worry about what the hell vst what multitracker to get without learning the mpc. Now I just **** with the mpc and soundforge. I havent actually made a full song so Im not worried about multitracking but I have a multitracker(software) waitin for me when the time comes.

shyda wrote:what u mean whats next?????


You start makin beats thats whats next. You dont need a multitracker unless youve got some beats ready to be tracked into computer or a hardware tracker and you dont really need effects until youve got everything tracked and ready to put in effects..... So make some beats and worry about whats next when you get good at makin beats!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I couldnt say it better myself

shyda wrote:to answer your fisrt question,, You can use soundfroge or something similar to add effects, eq etc then dump the sounds into the mpc. Then you can make full beats. When you actually make full beats then thats when you ask about what to do next. Youre gonna confuse yourself if you dont take it one at a time man relax and make some beats. I was like you a few months back and I didnt actually make beats but just worry about what the hell vst what multitracker to get without learning the mpc. Now I just **** with the mpc and soundforge. I havent actually made a full song so Im not worried about multitracking but I have a multitracker(software) waitin for me when the time comes.

First helpful reply I've received on any board. I honestly don't know what is so dumb about my question, but I recognize it must be dumb because no one will answer it. Maybe when I get to the level you all are on I will see what is so dumb about it, but if someone asks I will still answer because I will remember the frustration.
I AM making some beats. But every time I make a beat there is a sample that would fit if I could just eq it, or a bassline that would sound better if I could just layer with a synthbass... The thing is I switched to hardware from software and I can't get over the fact that I can't eq anymore. Shyda Soundforge was my sh*t I'm just looking for a hardware replacement for the environment I had with Soundforge, Reason, and Acid Pro, but maybe I will just get another laptop, no one will suggest a good way to do what I want to do with hardware on a budget... maybe it just doesn't exist...
I know, Madlib can make beats with just a SP-303, Pete Rock is wicked wit a SP-1200 etc., but they got wall to wall crates too...
I'll try to post the beat I made yesterday, I think it's a already-been-used sample but that's cool I'm still learning... The point is you can hear the bass sounds a little too muddy cuz I filtered it out of a part with other instruments and some of the samples are chops and it's like, I don't mind some hiss and vinyl crackles on loops but when you chopped the sample into 1/8ths and rearanged them the hiss starts sounding real weird...
Sorry for the rant but the point is, with my software setup I could just use some noise reduction and EQ on the chops, I could take each note in the bassline as a chop and detect what musical note it is, program the exact same bassline on the subtractor and layer it, eq'ed so it doesn't interfere... etc.
Believe me I'm not on some MWalker, talkin about software is better but I can't post a beat type ish, I am totally a beginner and I used software long enough to know I would rather be sitting in front of the MPC than the computer screen, but there's certain things I could do with ease on the software that I miss, and I'm trying to get some recomendations on the most cost-effective way to get back to where I'm comfortable by purchasing a few more devices... that's all...
Sorry if I came at it incorrectly...
EZ

Adobe Audition. My favorite recomendation. Easy to use and work nicely with everything. Get it use it and you will be able to do everything you listed that you need.

Aster wrote:...I honestly don't know what is so dumb about my question, but I recognize it must be dumb because no one will answer it. Maybe when I get to the level you all are on I will see what is so dumb about it, but if someone asks I will still answer because I will remember the frustration...

you know what...NO question is dumb and shouldnt seem that way. Dont ever think that. Your learning and ill help as much as I can. Im also learning all this shit now as we speak so I DO know the trouble...but learn it all and its gon be easy from there...

im gon pm you bout this shit.

Yea no question is dumb however, I dont think you understand the advice that was given. Dont worry you will, I think you will get what we are saying as you progress. I will never tell anyone to do a search cuz I think it si rude as hell. If you got nothin nice to say than dont say it beeyaaaach

Why is everyone recommending software, obviously this guy doesn't want to use any...

There is a simple answer, though it probably will be more expensive than going the software route. Hey, you wanted hardware, I'm telling you hardware.

Get 8 outs on your mpc if you don't have it already. Get a mixing board with at least 8 inputs. On a budget, you could probably get a mackie 14 channel vlz pro or something for like $300 off ebay. Got more money? Get an Allen and Heath. Anyway, then you will need a recorder. Plenty of choices here - for a guy on a budget you could do worse than an adat machine, they're cheap, maybe $300 or something for an 8 channel adat. Make sure it's the 24 bit one. They sound okay IMO. Finally, you'll need a reverb box. Start with one decent one, use it as an aux send off the mackie. Or even better, run your mix back from the adat to the mackie, and add effects how you want. Finally, get yourself a standalone CD burner, Phillips makes a dual one that is pretty damn cheap, a friend of mine had it and is was very reliable. For better quality go for HHB. There you go, ya got eq's on the mackie, efx, you're good. Probably can be done for under $1,500.00

Thank you for reading my post before you replied! That's the lookout right there for sure. Big UP!!

@ jontakiff: How about compression, limiting, mastering...
I'm not debating software vs, hardware here, but I used to be in a pretty similar situation, coming from software and buying an mpc.... I would say spending $1500 on hardware will not do you much good right now.

I use this now:
mpc2000xl
2 x yamaha tx16w samplers
Focusrite compressor.
Lexicon reverb
Waldorf pulse synth
Crumar bit 1 synth\
Spirit mixer
PC running Cubase sx, Recycle, Wavelab.
RME soundcard with 10 inputs.

In your situation, i would get a decent set of monitors first. Then concentrate on making some beats, and save up some cash before deciding wich way to go.
For $1500 you an get what jontakiff said, or something like a secondhand Akai DSP16 with some exra stuff, or a superfast computer running the latest and greatest software. All of these are good set-ups producing similar results.

Well, it's like this. What's your budget? My recommendation was for minimum budget, no software, and getting eq. I personally wouldn't go that way, but if you want hardware, what can you spend? That would help.

I don't know about other folks, but too many questions at once get me confused when I consider answering anything. And in general I don't study forum questions. I studdy forum responses or converstaions about a subject. I think that may be why folks get so many people disrespectful responses. (Maybe not.)

Anyway, a simple but expensive solution for all of the differennt issues with acquiring studio hardware for a newbie or anybody else with a short budget may be a digital mixer. I have a Yamaha O1v. It may be perfect for you. Compression/Limiting, Reverb/Delay and EQ on all channels.

You can then connect all of your mics, guitar amps, synths, samplers and turntables into it and output either to you computer's recorder like me (Pro Tools-Digi001) or to a DAW or traditional 8 track recorder.

To get sounds in and out of your MPC/computer use computer audio editing software that allows you to save into WAV file format. Your XL can read those. Save the sounds to Zip disk. Get a zip disk for your computer and one for your XL. And there you go. If you wanna get really involved use MPC Editor or MPCPGM Maker to do this and more for you.

Peace and good luck.