Just bought an MPC and don't know what to do...

Alright, don't worry, I feel pretty stupid right now.

Basically I've been making beats for about four years now on computer software. After doing some thinking, I decided that buying an MPC would be creatively beneficial to me.

So I purchased the 2000XL used on Ebay and it seems to be working fine. It didn't come with any zip disks or anything, just the MPC and the power cable.

I plan to go purchase some zip disks, but what I never really understood (or even thought about) is how I get samples onto to the disks. I have no experience with zip disks and like I said, I'm new to the MPC. Do I sample directly into the MPC?

I know these are basic questions that everyone who owns an MPC probably already knows, so if someone could give me a quick lesson on how to use this machine, I would really appreciate that.

Thanks,

VDR

Another quick question...

Do I need to have a zip disk in the drive in order to sample or play sounds on the MPC?

No you don't need a ZIP in to sample, but you should have ample RAM for the sample length.

Get a CF reader ASAP...

(Cue JD in 5...4....3.....2.....)

vdrascal wrote:Do I sample directly into the MPC?

yes, because it is a sampler.

This isn't aimed at you, but in general around the forum when it comes to new mpc users... why is it that sampling into the mpc is the last thing people think of when it comes to getting audio files on there? Sometimes I wonder why people even get an mpc when the main feature of the machine is not something they even considered using. I mean, why not just stick to fl studio or what ever if drag and drop is what you're after?

that was just a thought, again not intended to offend.

also, I suggest avoiding zip disks entirely. got for a CF reader as it's the fastest, most stable and reliable, one of the cheapest, and high capacity expansions you could possibly do for the 2000xl.

Thanks. Basically I assumed that I was able to sample directly into the MP. But when I did more research it seemed that ever tutorial help forum discussed the use of zip disks. If you don't mind me asking, why should I avoid zip disks? Won't I need them in order to save sounds? like i said, i'm very inexperienced with all of this, haha.

and I'm not sure what a CF reader does.

vdrascal wrote:Thanks. Basically I assumed that I was able to sample directly into the MP. But when I did more research it seemed that ever tutorial help forum discussed the use of zip disks. If you don't mind me asking, why should I avoid zip disks? Won't I need them in order to save sounds? like i said, i'm very inexperienced with all of this, haha.

and I'm not sure what a CF reader does.

Yes you should sample directly into the machine... it's a sampler... it samples.

zip disks are very unreliable and you will lose data and projects eventually by using them. Google the terms "click of death" to find out more.

CF cards also called compactflash memory cards work the way floppy disks or zip disks work except with no moving parts, and more storage space. They are also the easiest way of transfering sounds from the computer to the mpc if you refuse to sample with the mpc.

zip disks are old, unreliable technology. ive never even used one, but read on here a bit.... the "click of doom/death", exposure to differences in humidity/temps/ and just time breaks sheet down and they fail - and you lose your work...


CF card or a CF/SD combo drive uses solid-state memory and is far more reliable - and you can save more information.

CF cards, SD cards, Zips, Floppies, HDs - are all just ways to store data

word, and when you're storing sounds/data on the Cf reader, you're doing it via the mpc, right?

mr_debauch wrote:

vdrascal wrote:Do I sample directly into the MPC?

yes, because it is a sampler....

...why is it that sampling into the mpc is the last thing people think of when it comes to getting audio files on there? Sometimes I wonder why people even get an mpc when the main feature of the machine is not something they even considered using...

Yo, not to thread jack but I swear, I had a homie I had met because he wanted to get on one of my mixtapes. I mean bad! We lost contact and a few years later we met again through some mutual friends. He turned over a new leaf into Christian Rap and wanted to come to his "STUDIO" and make some tracks. No prob. I get there and he has a 2kXL and a Proteus plus a kurzwiel board. NICE! I load up some drums and get started and this cat turns to me and says "Mike, how do you get that old school sound?" "You know like when you take someone else's song and make it yours." I say, "You mean SAMPLE???" He's like, "Yeah I want to but I dont have the right equipment." This dude flipped out when I showed him how to plug in the audio cables from his CD player in. It was like I turnt water into Hennessy!!!

Yeah man get that CF reader and you will NOT be disappointed!

vdrascal wrote:word, and when you're storing sounds/data on the Cf reader, you're doing it via the mpc, right?

sure,

lets say you have your cd player, record player, or computer audio output (or what ever else you may be sampling from)... now you built a beat and you want to save it.. you save it all on to the cf card that you inserted into the CF reader before powering on the mpc.

another thing you could do is insert the cf card into your computer's cf reader (or if your computer does not have one, you can get a USB cf adapter/reader for like a couple of bucks) and it will pop up on your desktop or in my computer or what have you. you may drag and drop standard wave file samples such as drum sounds etc... onto the card and load those up on the mpc... I still suggest sampling them in because you wont run into file compatibility issues (such as the wav being the wrong bitrate or what have you, mp3's will not load in the mpc, but can be sampled in, also the mpc does not do .flac, oog, or any other file type really... ) also the converters on the mpc while it may be small on that model... it adds to the mpc sound.

a microphone can also be useful for sampling - especially if you have a few pieces of hand percussion - cowbells, bongo, etc.
a shure sm57 or 58 is a good inexpensive microphone.

+3.7 on the cf reader

research more before you buy next time. A mpc 1k wouldve have suit u better

Some pots and pans would've suited you better... and been cheaper.