Post your views and questions about the Akai MPC2500
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By O.B.E Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:00 am
Ok.....Ill put this out there, i basically suck using the filters......and was looking for some advice in the way of filtering, in any description.....when im filtering a sample, i filter out as much of the sample as possible to get the bass, but then the bass sounds as muddy as hell, and my eqing doesnt seem to clear it up. Is there somethin im doing wrong?? or does it all come down to practice??

I am using a 2500 btw.
Any help or tips would be greatly apprecitaed!!

thanks
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By Menco Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:35 am
First u have to search the right sample (takes practice)
Sample it how u want it (I always use a 7band graphic eq, takes practice to find the results u want)
Then filter out the high end (takes also practice)
Cut the low end a little bit with a high pass filter when u have too much mudd (more practice)
Cut boost and filter it to ur liking in the mixing process(PRACTICE!!)

BTW use monitors or good speakers
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By O.B.E Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:19 am
Thanks man! practice practice practice!
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By Menco Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:14 am
I'm working on filtering bass for more then a year, and still I'm not satisfied with the results, eventhough I really improved on that.

Just another few tips:
Most of the times I keep my filter somewhere around 20. Sometimes it's 13, sometimes 28, depends on the sample. Experiment with double lowpass filters
If u have a lot of distortion set the attack of the filter to -6.
U can use resonance to boost the volume when the bass is not loud enough. But lately I only use that when the signal is too soft when I try to record it. Too much resonance can cause clipping and it sounds less natural IMO.
By mosofficial19 Thu Jun 11, 2009 3:15 am
I personally would never use the EQ in the MPC for anything surgical or for sound shaping.

Pick the right samples from the gate and just make the beat. After that, track it out into your DAW where you can use better EQ's/filters.

For kicks, and every kick is different, the "THUMP" usually sits between 40 and 100Hz. The "body" can lay anywhere from 200 up to 800Hz. Boosting 500Hz usually results in a "boxy" sound... so 500 usually isn't a bad area to make a cut (works on vox also)... 800 - 2K is usually the beater or snap of the kick. Like mentioned earlier though, if you pick the right samples off the bat, your EQ'ing should be minimal... Unless you're working with.... BASS

Bass is normally compressed. Depending on whether your using a synth or live bass, bass usually has a LPF... try a 12db slope and twist that knob until it sounds right. I like to EQ the bass depending on its relationship with the kick. If the kick is sitting under the bass and I'm boosting 80 on the kick, I'll dip 80 out of the bass to make room for the kick and vice versa. Bass tends to live in the low mids... but be careful about getting it muddy!

Another way to EQ is to boost a small notch and sweep the frequencies... once you hear something offensive, bring it back and cut a bit... The better you get at EQ'ing, the more you find yourself cutting and the less your find yourself boosting.

Good luck.
User avatar
By Coz Thu Jun 11, 2009 3:28 am
^^^ Some good advice there.
By CrestBeats Sat Jun 20, 2009 1:30 am
Word to the whole cutting/boosting issue. First off Garbage in, garbage out. I also EQ on the way in. Invest in a good multiband rack unit, the more bands the more precise you can get. With practice you will most def find that cutting/rolling off is the way to go. Bass boosting is a rookie move. Pull down where need be then adjust the overall gain back up just under 0. I like the 2500's filters but they aren't anything special IMO.. Good luck

peace
By markmorgan10 Sat Jun 20, 2009 7:16 am
mosofficial19 wrote:I personally would never use the EQ in the MPC for anything surgical or for sound shaping.

Pick the right samples from the gate and just make the beat. After that, track it out into your DAW where you can use better EQ's/filters.

For kicks, and every kick is different, the "THUMP" usually sits between 40 and 100Hz. The "body" can lay anywhere from 200 up to 800Hz. Boosting 500Hz usually results in a "boxy" sound... so 500 usually isn't a bad area to make a cut (works on vox also)... 800 - 2K is usually the beater or snap of the kick. Like mentioned earlier though, if you pick the right samples off the bat, your EQ'ing should be minimal... Unless you're working with.... BASS

Bass is normally compressed. Depending on whether your using a synth or live bass, bass usually has a LPF... try a 12db slope and twist that knob until it sounds right. I like to EQ the bass depending on its relationship with the kick. If the kick is sitting under the bass and I'm boosting 80 on the kick, I'll dip 80 out of the bass to make room for the kick and vice versa. Bass tends to live in the low mids... but be careful about getting it muddy!

Another way to EQ is to boost a small notch and sweep the frequencies... once you hear something offensive, bring it back and cut a bit... The better you get at EQ'ing, the more you find yourself cutting and the less your find yourself boosting.

Good luck.



great post.