Before and after

OK, so I bought a mpc to really make some hyped beats. I have friends that have one and they told me I had to get one. So I did, I now have a 1000. I've had it a grand total of 5 days now. So now, to learn how to use it in a manner to get the end results I want. If you got to

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/twelvizmmusic.htm

and listen to Sakura (the only thing I have made on the mpc thus far)
and then listen to High on the Moon (The last thing I made prior to getting a mpc)

You will notice a big difference.

There's still a long way to go until my mpc made beats will match up to the ones I was making using a sampler pedal, Adobe Audition and my Turntables.

So the question is?

What should I be learning? What info should I be looking for?

I am completely in the dark as far as what to do to make the mpc make the beats I want to make.

SO, if you know, point a finger in the right direction.

Thanks.

ok first off- what sampler pedal did you use before getting the mpc?
Second, when you say you used your turntables, are you talking about recording live turntable mixing/scratching into adobe?
Can you be alittle more specific about your beat making process prior to getting the mpc. Maybe then we can try to break down how to go about a similar process with the mpc. Let me know. Peace

the beats are so typical of 'Soundclick'.

everyone does the same ol thing...

like 10 kicks then 1 snare, then 1000 kicks come in with the note repeat pushed down.

listen to some of your favourite CD's, Producers, etc... and try to emulate thier patterns, and from there play around a bit.

sampie wrote:ok first off- what sampler pedal did you use before getting the mpc?

Akai Headrush E-1 hooked up to my Rane TTM-56

Second, when you say you used your turntables, are you talking about recording live turntable mixing/scratching into adobe?

By recording various sounds, snippits and loops and then arranging, time stretching, cleaning, and editing them. Also, for recording scratch tracks

Can you be alittle more specific about your beat making process prior to getting the mpc. Maybe then we can try to break down how to go about a similar process with the mpc. Let me know. Peace

I would make a beat either by chopping up waveforms or by using Fruityloops3.

I would import it into Adobe.

I would make a note of the time/length of a beat loop.

Then using whatever samples, I would edit them (time stretch, cut) down to a multiple of the beats time.

Each sample would be assigned to it's own track.

Then I would arrange the loops into the songs end result.

And then, I wuold adjust the levels/eq of each track to make it sound good.

I probably left out some info, but, that's the basics of my Adobe Audition system.

I agree Roopish. The song Sakura isn't my perferred destination in beat making. High on the Moon is more my flavor. I think you missed the question, I wasn't asking for an evaluation of Sakura, but how to get my MPC process to make beats along the lines of High On The Moon.

No worries.

lets see where i can begin-- ok first off the high moon beat is better because you learnt the equipment you had and made it work for you. It aint about having a mpc and what not. The beat you made with adobe is tight and thats the bottom line. If you use a mpc long enough you can do the same thing. Treat the mpc as a storage device for those turntable snips. Then just create everything inside the mpc/ then later go from the mpc into your computer to add vst fx/ mastering fx to give it a finish. But i would say stick with the formula you used with adobe --- cause that beat was tighter than the mpc beat. But eventually you will make bangerz with the mpc too. Better yet why dont you do your beats with adobe, fl and whatever else, then sample each track into the mpc. Then resequence everything so its all in the mpc.

Word. That's a start. Thanks. I was looking at this thing (MPC) thinking, what the hell can it do for me? That helps iron things out a bit.

yo one more thing.. try recreating that beat you did on the computer-- what i mean is-- seperate each snippet and samples from the how high beat and put them in the mpc1000. Then just resequence it all. Try to get a feel for workin the mpc.. holla

I think Sampie nailed it, but is there any other thoughts on this?

Well, I have'nt listened to the beats, nor do I have an mpc yet, but from my experience as a fellow song/beats/noise making creature I would say.. Don't mess with (or throw out) an inspiring, ergonomic, flowing way of working once you've found it. Add to it, experiment with it's components, and by all means keep a look out for new ways. If you got something happening with that sampler pedal and turntables going into the computer live - ultra cool! I like recording on the fly too, especially with loop/synth/electronic based stuff. In addition to what has already been said, a smooth mpc introduction to your style/setup could be that you use it as an ..err beatbox - say you got something rolling with the decks & computer, then sync up the mpc1000, start jamming on it, soon enough you have a 'layer' there, then back to the decks, do what you do etc, back to the mpc and so on. H*ll do both at the same time. If you put a little effort in recording the results of each 'switch', then some hours (and a lot of fun) later you'll have a load of hopefully very happening variations, overdubs, breakdowns to pick and choose from. Last bit - I try to do a bit of household sampling and editing offjam so to speak. Prepare a bunch of samples before you start, it will save you some of the button pushing and give you musical clues to start off from. Don't spend that much time on cleaning up takes and samples when jamming.


Peace,

Donca

Word, more good advo. I have to say that that bit of stress of paying $850 clams for a 1000 has eased up a bunch. Thanks. And more advice is always welcome, even if it's to say my mpc skills are only good for vidoe games...lol.