Starting up a new user

Hi I am only starting sampling, no very little about it. I know some of these questions might be very obvious but I would be really really grateful if you could help me out
1 I want to sample stuff from cd player or even my own computer is it possible to sample from a cd player or your own computer to mpc or can you only use vinyl
2 What would be the best mcp for sampling from cd player I am thinking of buying mpc100 or mpc500 is that ok
3 Will I have to buy a special usb to hook up to mpc to my cd player or computer or will it come with the mpc
4 I know this might sound a stupid question when you sample can you sample a whole song from start to finish and remove the drums and the voice or is this impossible can mpc do this or reason 4
5 I have reason 4 does anyone know if the sampler s on reason are any good. Can I sample a song of my computer on to reason 4 samplers? Do I need to buy mpc if I have this? If the answer is no I would still like to hear the answer to the questions to the above I might still buy mpc

I know some of the these question ,might be a bit obvious but im only Starting out and it so hard to find out info on sampling . I would be really really appreciate if you could help me out with the above question thanx again

1. You can use anything that has sufficient audio output connections (likely line level).

2. All MPCs are fundamentally the same, they only differ in how those concepts are manifested. For simply recording basic samples, it shouldn't make a difference unless we're comparing converters (in which case any MPC is at best, modest - though some people favor certain units for this modesty). Which MPC is best is the one that does what you want, how you want it to, at the price you can afford -- this is totally a personal preference that none of us can decide for you. Both can sample from most cd players (see 1). Of the two, the MPC1000 is probably more versatile.

3. There is no such thing as a "special USB", be it USB cable or standards. Even the proprietary connections (which aren't relevant to MPCs) are still standard USB, it is just the connector ends that differ for interfacing reasons. There are different iterations (some call them "speeds") and different connector types (A, B, mini B, etc)...but most of that is moot in most cases. The MPC will likely come packaged with the applicable cabling, if bought new. These will likely, like most common electronics, use with typical type A to type B cables.

4. The duration of a sample depends on how you work and how much system resources whatever you're sampling with has. Some people do sample an entire song, though the majority will likely say this is bad work flow, preferring to instead sample in sections as needed. Currently there are no technologies that can remove a vocal entirely from a previously recorded record, though passable results can be had if the recording is old and/or mixed in a way where the vocals are mostly mono/centered or off to one side. There are many ways to get the previous effect, using M/S techniques, toggling phase (more correctly, polarity), masking, eq'ing, replaying, and so forth. Your results depend on the recording, your tools, and your method. A MPC and Reason 4 are not your best options for this task as neither are really designed nor have facilities for even half of the usual methods people use to attempt vocal removal, but feel free to try.

5. Most modern tools are adequate for some degree of music production, we're at a point where people without inclination or creativity are really the limiting factors. People have endless debates about silly things when in all honesty most of them have not even exhausted a quarter of the possibilities of their tools. It comes down to preference really, these days, not really limitations of the gear (except in a few cases). It's up to you to decide, through use, if Reason 4 or some other tool are adequate for you. As to the matter of, "Should you buy an MPC if you have Reason", you first need to ask yourself two questions.

• 1. Why did you buy Reason 4 not knowing if it's "samplers" were any good or seemingly anything else about it?
• 2. What does Reason do or doesn't do, or rather why do you believe you need an MPC?

If you didn't buy Reason, good luck with that, but that would be the end of my advice. However, the one thing to consider definitely is that Reason does not record audio, it's "samplers" are actually just sample playback software...as they do not actually sample (record), whereas the MPC does. Do some research. We have entire sections of this fora dedicated to various MPCs, many posts discussing Reason and even it's integration with the MPC, and so forth. Most people here are glad to help others, but don't expect to be spoon fed information all the way through your personal journey -- you will only cheat yourself -- and if this forum isn't enough, you're on the internet (read: easily accessed information).

There. I hope that helps. In return, all I ask is that you promise that once you get it all sorted out that you will never..ever....ever....say, "I have my MPC midi'ed up to my Reasonz".

Answers very short :

1. yes u can sample anything !!! ANYTHING !!! u need the appropriate wire. (headphone jacks)
2. if ur serious about it , get the 1000. Not to take anything away from the 500, but the 1000 is a comfortable machine with visuals, and the 500 is skimpy on display.
3. if ur hooking up the mpc to comp, u want a wire with a small head phone jack on one end for the headphone port of ur comp, and 1 big headphone jack on the other to put in the INPUT jack of the MPC. Just Common sence. All u have to know is "Input or Output)
4. impossible. u cannot remove elements of a song with an mpc. U can however modify a song in editing software to sorta hide different elements, but once a track has been mixed down , u cannot "remove" anything from it.
5. Sorry never really messed with reason....HOWEVER....a sampler is a sampler. People chose software over hardware everyday AND VICE VERSA. Its all about preference. if u feel comfortable on a comp, then dig in ...if u want to try ur hand at a hardware sampler....DIG IN.

FYI : the manuals for mpc models are on the akai website to download for free, they are your friend. Also, there are tons of youtube videos dedicated to mpc's . have a look at them, and i guarentee u will learn some stuff.

good luck.

^ Twice. Now you know. So go research.

Thanks for the above advice. I really appreciate the responses they are hugely informative and helpful. I would be grateful though if you could clarify a few responses. I have just a few queries - I have done research but I it find hard on you tube and the internet to get exact certain answers so I can get started
1 It was said in the above responses that reason or akai mpc are not adequate to remove a whole song and voice from song, what would be the best piece of equipment that could do this how much would it cost estimate
2 It was said that reason does not record audio or sample record – I know that this might sound stupidbut just to clarify - those this means that reason cannot sample song of your cd player or computer eg james brown song
3 When you sample a song on mpc 500 is it it possible to record your own words over the sample for example what equipment would be used for this process and how much would it cost
4 This is the question I really need answering - Im thinking about buying mpc 500 , I have read information that it runs on batteries and it is the crappiest mpc. How do you rate it, can I sample a a song of my computer or cd player ( James Brown , coldplay any pop song ) -would you recommend the mpc 500 – final question about mpc 500 can you record your words / lyrics over the sample, how is this done , can it be done with mpc or do you need other equipment
I know some of these question might be a little bit obvious but i have found it hard to get exact answers to 3- 4 questions before I get started and buy the equipment and start my personal journey on learning how it works by myself. Just before I do that it would be great to get the answer to these questions. I really appreciate the advice that has been given so far it has been hugely helpful thanx

You know, I saw a thread on the MPC Studio Enviroments or Production Techniques of users using Photoshop to cancel instruments in a song. It takes time and effort but it works.

You can get a voice-canceller at any Radio Shack though. They go for 30 to 50 dollars, but they're totally effective with stereo signals only, not good with mono. Also you can stick either R or L jack into the L input of the MPC to cut out sounds but the signal has to be in stereo and the MPC has to record them in mono.