Muddy Results!

Oi, first off does anyone know how to recover your old account with just the email address? I had to make a new account. It's been a minute since I've been mp-forums!

Anyway, My setup is as follows.. dj setup: two technics 1200s mk2, pioneer djm 909 mixer, mpc 1000, microkorg and to record into ableton live i use an M-Audio Fast Track Pro with quarter inch cables running from the mpc to the djm 909 and from the 909 into the M-Audio box and into ableton... My problem is I will create a song and record it into ableton and my results are undoubtedly muddy!! I use the internal compressor on the mpc along with tweaking the eq to sound good in my headphones but the final result from ableton is muddy and not crisp! Can someone offer some great insight on how to improve my sound? Are the cables an issue? I've been told running xlr out to the mbox may improve the sound but it will still be quater inch from the mpc to the mixer... Been searching everywhere for answers on this but nothing solid!! Thanks

Sloth

slothbeats wrote:Oi, first off does anyone know how to recover your old account with just the email address? I had to make a new account. It's been a minute since I've been mp-forums!

Anyway, My setup is as follows.. dj setup: two technics 1200s mk2, pioneer djm 909 mixer, mpc 1000, microkorg and to record into ableton live i use an M-Audio Fast Track Pro with quarter inch cables running from the mpc to the djm 909 and from the 909 into the M-Audio box and into ableton... My problem is I will create a song and record it into ableton and my results are undoubtedly muddy!! I use the internal compressor on the mpc along with tweaking the eq to sound good in my headphones but the final result from ableton is muddy and not crisp! Can someone offer some great insight on how to improve my sound? Are the cables an issue? I've been told running xlr out to the mbox may improve the sound but it will still be quater inch from the mpc to the mixer... Been searching everywhere for answers on this but nothing solid!! Thanks

Sloth

I might plug the quarter inches directly to the Fast Track, just to eliminate an extra gain stage, and potentially any extra noise it might add to the signal. I don't know if you meant the EQ in the 1000 or on the Pioneer, but I'd probably skip both and do the EQ'ing in Live. Personally I would give the compressors built into Ableton the edge over the one in the 1000, and retail VST ones will be even better than Live's in built compressors.

Quarter inch balanced is the way to go, but yes sometimes 1/4" to XLR results in a better, cleaner signal. They are analog, so it's not always perfect depending on your setup, and probably more importantly the quality and consistency of your home's electricity. (I know noise/hum isn't your issue, but it's related to cabling so I mentioned it) There's always the option to go totally digital and send the MPC's signal to the Fast Track over S/PDIF. Although I should mention when I tried that with a Fast Track Ultra I couldn't adjust the S/PDIF levels on either the MPC or the FTU and was left with an extremely low signal. The interface I use now allows the gain to be set on it's GUI control panel. Maybe check your Fast Track control panel and documentation to see if you'd encounter the same inability to change the digital S/PDIF I/O levels.

Thanks man, I will try to grab a 1/4 to xlr cable soon! And run it directly to the mbox... do you have any tips on compression? I find when it's on (mpc internal compressor) it gives my sound a bit of a pop however im sure I'm not using it correctly. I understand compression a little but I think there should be some basic guidlines for settings when producing hip hop and then something different when producing let's say dubstep or dnb.

slothbeats wrote:Thanks man, I will try to grab a 1/4 to xlr cable soon! And run it directly to the mbox... do you have any tips on compression? I find when it's on (mpc internal compressor) it gives my sound a bit of a pop however im sure I'm not using it correctly. I understand compression a little but I think there should be some basic guidlines for settings when producing hip hop and then something different when producing let's say dubstep or dnb.

The optimum compression ratios will vary wildly depending on the sound and what you want the compression to achieve. At it's simplest it's just like you have someone working a tracks volume from millisecond to millisecond, and is used to keep mix elements in check or to add a little more db's without going into the red. The further you get into it, the more complicated it gets. You have various types of compressors and compression is often used quite differently in different genres like you mentioned.

The tutorials on Music Radar (reprinted from CM UK and Future Music) are probably a great place to start. I'm sure Dubspot has a few tutorials, and Tweakheadz may have some stuff as well. There are lots of You Tube videos too. I'll PM you if I find any PDF articles on it on my HD.

slothbeats wrote:Oi, first off does anyone know how to recover your old account with just the email address? I had to make a new account.

If you send MPC-Tutor a PM with all the details he may be able to recover the account for you.

What was your previous username here?

safe! Thanks man...

my last login was dustin def i believe!