Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By slickhare Sat Aug 16, 2008 2:56 pm
I'm trying to figure out how to get my work on my 500 into some sort of playable format on my computer. The best way I could gather so far is to play the mpc into itself and make a "sample" out of a sequence or song. Are there any programs that can work with sequence files that don't cost an arm and a leg? Or what should I be using to work with midi files? Please excuse my ignorance.
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By diggin24seven Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:10 pm
the ideal way to do this wuld be to hook the outs of your MPC into the ins of a MBOX2 and record each track sperately and mix inside of pro tools.

but if u on a budget u can jus get one of them dual chords to 1/8". the dual side plugs into your MPC's outs and the 1/8" side plugs into your computer's mic input/line in. ur gonna need a program like cool edit to record your beat into. and basically just export it out to mp3.

or u can just do what u been doing and just record the beat straight into your mpc as a sample and just transfer to computer via usb.

whichever way that works for u
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By ESCROOGE Sun Aug 17, 2008 1:03 pm
You want cheap, grab cool edit 2. Google it, should be some free versions around the net.
By brazeca Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:01 pm
Slickhare: The simplest way to transfer your sequences into PC or Mac is indeed mixing down them track by track to some sort of software multitracker (sequencer).

But if you wanna have more flexibility, like being able to easily rearrange certain parts, you'd better consider using a software sequencer with a virtual sampler, that would allow you to map multiple samples and create layers of samples. Using this virtual sampler you have to recreate your MPC programs by mapping samples exactly as you have them mapped in MPC (same note numbers and other parameters, if available) and saving these assignments as VST sampler patches (i.e. programs). After that you may export MPC sequence as a number of MIDI files (each for every MPC SEQ track). Then you have to load them into software sequencer, assign a VST sampler as a sound source for each MIDI track with respective patch loaded. That's just a general guidelines, because details will depend on what sequencer and virtual sampler you'd choose. I can further describe the process for at least two DAWs which have built-in samplers: Reason and Logic (Express) 8. But I am not sure whether you are the fan of these.
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By phono Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:18 am
brazeca wrote:Slickhare: The simplest way to transfer your sequences into PC or Mac is indeed mixing down them track by track to some sort of software multitracker (sequencer).

But if you wanna have more flexibility, like being able to easily rearrange certain parts, you'd better consider using a software sequencer with a virtual sampler, that would allow you to map multiple samples and create layers of samples. Using this virtual sampler you have to recreate your MPC programs by mapping samples exactly as you have them mapped in MPC (same note numbers and other parameters, if available) and saving these assignments as VST sampler patches (i.e. programs). After that you may export MPC sequence as a number of MIDI files (each for every MPC SEQ track). Then you have to load them into software sequencer, assign a VST sampler as a sound source for each MIDI track with respective patch loaded. That's just a general guidelines, because details will depend on what sequencer and virtual sampler you'd choose. I can further describe the process for at least two DAWs which have built-in samplers: Reason and Logic (Express) 8. But I am not sure whether you are the fan of these.


thats a terrible suggestion sorry, not only is it an amazing amount of work recreating it but software samplers also have terrible aliasing. Best way quality wise is to record track by track into a computer and mix that or resample each track in the 500 itself then dump them over via usb then mix those stems in your favorite daw.
By brazeca Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:42 pm
That's what I suggested first, didn't I? The "simplest way" (see above).

Now, I am in no position to comment on software samplers' "aliasing", whatever that means. But, I'd like to remind you, Phono, that in music there're no easy ways. It's either you spill some sweat in the process of doing something great, or just stay away from it, right?