For discussion about setting up your studio and advice on the gear and equipment within it.
By mpc user Tue May 18, 2004 12:50 am
I was planning on using my MPC 2000 to controll some "virtual instruments" the 2 reasons are:

1) I dont want to fill my limited space with bulky sound mods (but will if I have to)

2) I like using the computer to chop samples, and find it easier for me to get around in the bigger computer screen.

I know chopin samples is totaly different from using midi mods and virtual instruments, but Id like to start learning how. Take my music to the next level.

I'd like to have more controll over the sounds, and maybe use some midi controls or filters for dance music. Progressive/Hard House

My question then is... what VSTis/DXis/virtual instruments do you use for Bass and Drums. What program do you use them inside off? Whats your setup like?

Thanks for helpin a newB
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By digital_bastard Tue May 18, 2004 8:17 am
I use Cubase SL as my main sequencer, for arranging and writing everything that's not drums (that's what I use my 2k for). But you don't need anything fancy to run vsti:s, since there are free vst hosts available.

Don't use a lot of vsti's though, mostly freebies like:
- synth1, nord lead-inspired (lots of nasty aliasing, which I like)
- http://www.tweakbench.com/

When it comes to commercial ones, I usually stick with:
- Waldorf PPG Wave 2.V (not as much for bass, more for leads, pads and stabs)

What you need to think about when combining your MPC with a computer-based setup is latency. Get a decent low-latency soundcard and you'll be set.

Check out http://www.kvr-vst.com for more instruments and fx.
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By ieism Tue May 18, 2004 2:42 pm
tadataaa! dadaaaa! (sorry, it's sunny as hell here)

I use Cubase sx, but if you just want to check out some synths and don't record in your computer you can't go wrong with Chainer. There's a free demo that works 100%, although you can't save presets.
There's a similar program called Brainspawn Forte that's even better but it will cost you some.

By kvisko Tue May 18, 2004 6:18 pm
KVR VST has literally hundreds of great free VST's for you.

a lot of them are made with synthedit which is a great program to make VST's in, which im learning to do at the moment.

so yeah, check out KVR and explore a little, try some of the quality free VST's before you pirate the commercial stuff, its a good learning process.

By mpc user Tue May 18, 2004 6:53 pm
Good stuff, heres the thing.

I would like to have more controll over my bass and drum sounds, to make them more chunky, dirty, crispy, original.

I know I can tweak in the MPC with Filter, Tone, Resonse, Layering etc. (I don't have efx card) so it just doesn't do as much as I want.

A friend showed me how he makes sounds with fruity loops, and Recycle, then loads them to his MPC. I liked how they sounded.

I like the standalone player idea so that I can get to makin music rather than learning a new program. (I'm still learning Protools)

I guess I'd like to trun my extrta computer into a sound modual, I'm just wonderin what programs have good bass and drums and are "easier" to hook up to the MPC.

By Mindtravel Tue May 18, 2004 7:10 pm
I would like to have more controll over my bass and drum sounds, to make them more chunky, dirty, crispy, original.

I know I can tweak in the MPC with Filter, Tone, Resonse, Layering etc. (I don't have efx card) so it just doesn't do as much as I want.



You need to get some better samples or somethin dog.....pick up a giant crate of vinyl and go to work....

By mpc user Tue May 18, 2004 8:36 pm
I got mad vinyl, athough alot is scratched up. I just didn't want to sample someone elses sounds in the same style of music as mine, basicly I didn't want to sample House/Teckno sounds from those kinda records. Theres alot of extra noises/layers in there so its hard to get issolated samples.

I also have had problems with background noise hiss and stuff. Even though I know how to get rid of these extra sounds it takes time and it aint makin music.

I find it easier to sample from digital sources. You can keep it all in the box, save to floppy and not worry about picking up any extra noise along the way.

Anyway thats how I've been doin it. Guess I'll break out some more vinyl tonight look for some drum loops, damn those crates are heavy though...