I NEED XMAS $$$

whats the best(and cheapest) way to record to the laptop from the 2kxl???

I want to get rid of my mbox to get some xmas cash, and record to my laptop on CEP, but my mic in sucks, any cheap suggestions?

You didn't like the Mbox?

ehhh....i did....but it's not for me....i'd prefer the digi001....but like i said, i need xmas $$, i work 2 nice payin jobs durin the summer so... i can buy ish then....so please let me knwo what y'all think..1

You can go stereo in, but it's a little retarded. What I mean is, even with the MBOX, you're not really 'tracking' unless you have a midi interface to sync the MPC up to the master recorder (laptop/software), and start every pass of recording at the exact same time, everytime. In this manner, you will never have to cut or slide audio regions, and can do pass after pass of recording tracks, with everything already lined up. Even with the Digi001, or any other 8 input device, if you had more than 8 tracks coming out of the MPC or triggered keyboard, you would have to do a second pass. So, with a stereo audio input, whether it's the stock souncard, or the Mbox, you will have to do a single pass for every stereo sound, OR, at least a pass for every 2 sounds if they are mono. If you are just tracking the entire mix in stereo, then there is really no reason to have an expensive audio interface. You can buy those ardvaark cards for like $160, that come with a basic interface for stereo input, separate 'guitar' input, stereo out to your board/speakers, and a headphone output. Pretty good deal, and it comes with Sonar or Cubase or some s*%t like that. Used, probly much cheaper
Now, if you want to MULTITRACK and really save your beats as mixed sessions in a DAW evironment, just say so, and I'll run it down how you can do that w/ just the stereo input, so that all your tracks will lock up. It's a waste of time, but saves dough. Lemme know.

trupro,

The next step in my setup is to sync my equipement(lx20 dat recorder & 2000xl). The problem I am having is, The dat recorder syncs with a db-9 connection & the mpc uses smpte. I have not been able to find a cable consisting of both db-9 & smpte, and the only unit I have seen that might have been able to handle it cost about $800 and is usually used to sync video equipment.

Also, I have fully loaded power mac G4 that I am not using(bows head in shame). I am looking for a sound card with a sufficient amount of audio inputs/outputs and have the ability to sync up to the dat or mpc, or both would even be better.

Would the sound card be the way to go, or should I find a unit to solve my sync problem?

I am real new to this whole syncing shit so if I am not making sense, sorry.
If you have any advice I would greatly appreciate it.
thanks.

You may not want to part with your ADAT, but, you could sell it for cash and get a slick DAW/souncard interface for your mac. If you want to run 'borrowed' pluggins, you will have to get a Digi001, which may be out of production. The 002 must use legal plugins. I am not condoning theft, but if you Or go used on a 001. Very good value for the dough. And with that, or most other audio interfaces, you can shoot midi timecode out of the interface (using the software/recorder as master) into the mpc via mdid cable. That's how I do it with ProTools LE; perfect lock everytime. Now, you can integrate the ADAT into all of this, with or without the computer, but you may have to get the BRC. You are probably familiar with it. Stands for Big Remote Control, and is a remote locator for ADATs, and has SMPTE and MIDI in and outs. with that, you could get sync from the DAW on your MAC, to the ADAT via MIDI timecode into the BRC, and then go either MIDI or SMPTE timecode out of the BRC to the MPC. You could probably get a BRC used for under $400 if you search carefully. If not, maybe consider scrapping the ADAT for some cash. Lemme know if you decide to **** with an audio interface. I have sync protocall for the MPC saved in a text file, I can just PM it over.
Peace

OH S*#%! I'm sorry, did you mean ADAT or two track DAT recorder?

How many physical discreet audio ins and outs do you need, if you were to cop an audio interface? Are you familiar with ProTools and MOTU Digital Performer? Do you have collaborators who use a particular system, that you need to stay compatible with? These three answers, coupled with your budget, will determine what interface you should cop. Lemme know.
One.

Well this is all still a little confusing to me, but I think I am comming around. I really would like to keep the dat recorder in the set up(its 8 channels in/out). Unfortunatly I don´t have to many collaborators, so that is not an issue. My budget is kinda tight, but I will make extreme sacrafices to get a proper setup. For the amount of audio ins/outs I really only need one. Oh ya, I am not using this set up for hip hop, all though I would like to. Currently I am using my set up to produce jungle. What I have been doing is tracking out all my breaks/samples on the mpc, then recording one track at a time onto the dat recorder.

trupro I really appreciate you helping me, I leave this message a little short. I am on vacation in barcelona spain. I will be back in a week or so.
thanks

You have a multitrack ADAT, it sounds like. Why are you tracking one track at a time to the recorder? Do you have the 8 analog outs on the MPC, or no? If not, you need to get that, as the first step. If you are tracking one at a time, how do you sync up everything? I mean, are the tracks off-time from eachother; are you just hiting play in the 'right spot' at every recording pass?
Then, I would really get protools or a comparable computer solution, especially if your main focus is jungle. I commend live programming, but you just can't so 64th note drum rolles on an mpc as quick as with a DAW editor. Once you get that, your options are almost limitless. An adat is very linear, and really has been outmoded by the computer solutions. Again, get the 8 outs fot the MPC, so you can track 8 at a time instead of one, or one stereo. That will multiply your productivity by at least 400%! Then, if you are set on keeping this adat, you will need a brc remote control, as I mentioned earlier, which will read smpte and/or midi time code(s) from the mpc, and slave to the sequencer in that machine. Lemme know about this stuff..

You have a multitrack ADAT, it sounds like. Why are you tracking one track at a time to the recorder?

first I will sequence my entire song on the mpc, programing each break on its on track in the sequences. I do that because I need to compress and eq each break differently. So once I have my song done on the mpc, I will go back into each sequence and mute every track besides the desired one that I am recording. I will record just that one track with the desired compression and equilization settings on the dat recorder. repeating that step with the rest of the breaks/samples.

Do you have the 8 analog outs on the MPC, or no? If not, you need to get that, as the first step.

Yes I have the 8 outs.

If you are tracking one at a time, how do you sync up everything? I mean, are the tracks off-time from eachother; are you just hiting play in the 'right spot' at every recording pass?

Basically I am. I will record an extra 2 measures of a break running at the desired bpm. once the 2 measures are up I hit play on the mpc running in "song" mode. With only the one desired break being recorded at a time on the dat recorder. usually it will take about 4 or 5 takes but it is nearly persice. But by no means Perfect.


Another part of my problem is getting my breaks to sound "proper".
I have aquired alot of the breaks used in the jungle I listen to, I just cant get them to sound like they do on the records I listen to. I was first under the empression that is was the lack of compression, so I got a compressor. Along with an eq thinking that it would only help. The eq and the compressor helps, although it doesn't do what I expected. I really need to figure out how to properly process my breaks?

An adat is very linear, and really has been outmoded by the computer solutions. Again, get the 8 outs fot the MPC, so you can track 8 at a time instead of one, or one stereo. That will multiply your productivity by at least 400%! Then, if you are set on keeping this adat,

I am not neccesarlly set on keeping the adat. I was first under the empression that it would help the sound, you know being that it is analog.

Lemme know about this stuff..

The ADAT is not an analog device. It laces 8 tracks of digital information to the vhs cassete. You can jack analog plugs into it, but the info is converted to digital. In thier heyday, they had extrememly good conversion algorithms for the price. In fact, they sound great regardless. But, just because they use physical tape does not make them analog. ADATS are digital, so there is no audio on those tapes, only 0s and 1s in strips, like on a CD.
Trying to manually sync up even two tracks is not the pro way to do it, and, as I know from doing it, can be rediculously time consuming. Although satisfying when your done, it's really time wasted when the technology could be syncing all the tracks like you sequenced them, tight from the start at every take. Man, I would really scrap that adat and just get protools. You can sync out of protools to the MPC w/ a midi cable and lace up to 32 tracks, then mix with plenty of compression, effects, etc. I am not condoning illegal behavior, but if someone is cheap they can get tons of cracked software plugin compressors and effects for protools and mix professionally. I used to down software effects and especially dynamic processors like compression, cus I liked knobs and stuff better than a mouse. Once I got over it, I was glad. Cus, you know what, analog is only better when you spend a ton of cash on professional, 2 inch analog reel-to-reel. And, unless you are spending alot of cash on an analog compressor, your not going to hear much difference in the compression quality. If you like your outboard gear, you can lay the tracks dry, then bus them back out of protools, thru the gear you have, then record on a new track in protools. All with no latency. Like I said, if you want to sync takes properly with adats, you need a BRC from Alesis, but the adat seems to be limiting you to 8tracks.
Compression seems to be the key to getting pro drum sounds, whether it be hiphop, jungle, whatever. There are alot of secrets and tricks. Heavy compression with medium attack times is good on an overall kit or break, but after you have done some mild compression on each drum sound to gove them punch. Experiment with that. Its your gear, and your technique certainly, but my advice would be to sell the adat for whatever you can get, then turn around and get a used digi001 w/ Protools LE from a reputable place that will give you at least a year warantee, or from someone that will let you see it work before you pay. You can get one used for $600, maybe even less. I mention the 001, versus the 002, only because it's cheaper and can run the software plugin effects that are floating around. With the 002 you have to buy all your plugins. Again, I would never suggest anything illegal, just referencing what alot of people have done as a solution.

Well I am going to scrap the adat, I figure I should sell my outboard compressor & eq. I will be able to do all that on my mac.
I'll let you know what I think of the protools shit when I get it


thanks for all your help