MIXER FOR SAMPLING

As my MPC Ren has a phono pre amp, I only need a mixer for its equaliser, thus I'm wondering if I should get something like an MFC 42, SP-404 or Korg KP3 to run my vinyl samples through - as they have a wider variety of effects and filters available.

Would you recommend this approach or should I stick with an analog mixer, if so which one would you recommend?

Any and all help/advice is much appreciated, peace!

welcome to the forums!

one problem with your proposed setup is the fact that you need to connect your turntable directly to the rca phono preamp inputs on your mpc, as that riaa amplification has to come first to have a useful audio signal.
that means you cannot connect any sort of eq between your turntable and the mpc, because then you would only send a unusable low and distorted signal to the eq.

so while your thought has something to it, the reality prevents you from doing it that way.

you either can use a regular dj mixer with its preamp and eq and then bypass the phono pramps on the mpc, or you can use the phono pre on the mpc and then use the mpc digital eq fx on your samples.
or you can use a turntable that has a built in preamp and a line out -> then you can insert any eq between the turntable and the mpc and also bypass the phono pre on the mpc.

edit: a kaoss pad of any sort or the glorious akai mfc 42 (one of the nicest filter modules ever built!) would also function between a regular turntable and the mpc, because they also have a phono pre amp built in to allow a direct turntable connection.

if you don´t need any mixer functions in the sense of mixing multiple tracks together, then one of these two devices might be the better choice for creative sample mangling.

have fun!

peace, jo

Hi Jo, thanks for taking the time to give such detailed and comprehensive advice!

Thanks for clearing up my misconception regarding the equaliser, that makes sense when I think about it!

Given that I don't actually mix with the mixer (lol) I'm thinking I should give the KP3 a go, since the MFCs are virtually impossible to get hold of in the UK

Thanks again for all your help!

i don't think / didn't know all the kaos pads have a phono pre, so that might not work (i've mostly used the minis).
however just about any dj mixer and a kaos pad or any multi fx would, so you've got options.

@tapedeck: yeah, i forgot about the mini kaos pads - those are indeed a bit different than the "big" ones. but all the older "big" ones kp1, kp2, kp3 have a phono pre.

now i did look it up and there are also other newer big kaoss pads with no phono preamp: those are the kp3+, the kp entrancer (for video) and the kaoss pad quad.

sorry for the incomplete information...

peace, jo