Loss Of Quality When Tracking

Whenever I track into my PC using my Delta 44 sound card, my beats loose a lot of its bang. Is this analog digital conversion? I have pretty cheap TRS cables so could those effect the quality in any way? If I were to track into a multi-track recorder instead of a computer, would this reduce the amount of quality that is lost due to it not being digital? Or is mixing the only way to get your beats to sound like they did in the MPC?

Yes, it could be from the converters of your sound interface AND cheap TRS cables. Also, when you track beats (especially from the 8-outs), it turns the stereo tracks mono. That could be it as well.

I have the same problem, it basically sounds lke i recorded my beats on a karioki machine (i know i spelt that wrong )

the problem can also be on the playback side of your tracked beats, your daw and your speakers are probably not on even level with the mpc...
to test this playback a sequence from your mpc and listen, then resample the whole sequence to one track on the mpc, listen again and then export the wave file from your mpc into your daw using the usb function or the cardreader - now listen to the imported wave and listen to a tracked wave and compare... if the tracked one sounds not as good as the imported one the problem is in the tracking (level, cables, ad conversion) if both sound alike the problem is on the playback side of the chain...

peace jo

what about something almost working like a dj mixer with a turntable to boost the signal? you know how a dj mixer is used to boost the sound coming from the turntable? could you use some kind of amp to boost the signal coming from the MPC?

Cables are a big culprit som a y'all miss. I bought two Monster cables to go out of my individual outs 1 & 2, just for kicks and snares. They still pop when tracked to DAW. Use cheap ass cables and you definitely lose it. No shit Chet. Get good cables. As mentioned before converters will kill you too. I got a M-Audio 1814 which is a mid to higher level M-Audio interface and the converters are only so-so. My cat in Florida got a Presonus and the converters are pretty nice. You could buy a preamp and add to the front end of your Delta. That might help too. But electronics and set up are key. One.

episode wrote:
Yes, it could be from the converters of your sound interface AND cheap TRS cables. Also, when you track beats (especially from the 8-outs), it turns the stereo tracks mono. That could be it as well.

Episode, that is not completey accurate. The MPC doesn't change your stereo samples to MONO when tracking...that is the user. When you have a stereo sample loaded, the MPCs mixer gives you the option to route the stereo audio to paired individual outputs (1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8 ) or the main stereo output/digital stereo output.

Siver, you can use a mixer to boost the audio of the MPC but it shouldn't be necessary. The MPC 2500 has an internal master level. You can set it for -42dB to 0 dB. Connecting my MPC 2500 to my mixer, I have to either turn the MPCs master level down or use the -20dB pad on my mixer. The analog outs of the MPC produces a great signal.

The Delta 44 is the weak link in your chain. You get what you pay for and using a $150 soundcard to track your mpc is going to give you inferior sound quality.


D

boomspot wrote:The Delta 44 is the weak link in your chain. You get what you pay for and using a $150 soundcard to track your mpc is going to give you inferior sound quality.


D

$50 off of ebay...lol

Siver wrote:what about something almost working like a dj mixer with a turntable to boost the signal? you know how a dj mixer is used to boost the sound coming from the turntable? could you use some kind of amp to boost the signal coming from the MPC?

do you have comp on the MPC?

dablunt wrote:

Siver wrote:what about something almost working like a dj mixer with a turntable to boost the signal? you know how a dj mixer is used to boost the sound coming from the turntable? could you use some kind of amp to boost the signal coming from the MPC?

do you have comp on the MPC?

wut do u mean?

I guess u wanna get a preamp for ur MPC, with a walve to drive the level and and some beef to the signal.

got the same...maybe ill buy the monster cables.

i use an mpc to 8 channel mogami snake into rme multiface... i track 4 mono and one stereo out... shit sounds loud, snappy and tight... don't be fooled - your cables NEED to be the best they can or you are just shorting yourself... i know it sucks to spend LOTS of cash on cables but i promise that if you buy the best cables you WILL hear the difference, especially in the low end...

Your delta is kinda blown out as well, the ad/da there is probably not helping you so much... i would first upgrade your delta to a lynx or rme then get killer cables...

and if you don't know where to get some good cables as great prices... these people service many industry folks and it's all custom mogami... that's right... choose your color, ends, lengths, etc... and they are damn cool too...

Hot Wired Cables
http://stores.ebay.com/HOTWIRED-CABLES_ ... eZl2QQtZkm

hope this helps

heh... couldn't resist... i have all mogami cabling... then bought a rack piece and never got the mogami's... was using some crappy hosa cable for temp... then i realized it's been in there for like 3 weeks... just ordered some trs and spdif cables mogami rocks it!