Using MP3 files to output sound effects

Hi

Hope someone can answer my (what is probably a simple) question.

I organise a rugby club pantomime each year and we tend to spend a portion of the proceeds on some new kit each year (radio mics, etc). This year we want to add a sampler that will allow us to run instant sound effects through our PA at the touch of a button. We are considering the MPC500.
So, if we have a sound effect on MP3, can we upload it to the MPC500, sample it, then plug the MPC500 into an input on our PA (A Yamaha EMX 88s Powered Mixer), and have the sound effect relayed through the speakers when the relevant pad is tapped?? And if so, will this work with multiple effects? For example, as this years panto is a cowboy spoof we would like a few different gunshot sounds and ricochets to be tapped randomly during a shootout scene.

Thanks in advance,

Mark

Hello Mark,

You would need to convert the mp3 files to .WAV format first - using Wavosaur or something similar.

I think the MPC would then be a good way to provide Sound Effects for your Panto.

Paul

Thanks, Paul. I have a few sound file conversion programs so that's easy enough to do. Besides, many sound effect files are available in WAV format on the net anyway.

Great, it looks like the MPC is what I'm after.

Technically you could hook up an MP3 player and just sample into the MPC whatever sounds you want. In this way you could skip (with somewhat reduced sound quality if you find it acceptable) having to zing formats around.

Personally I'd probably convert the files ahead of time for other reasons, but you could just sample... it is a sampler after all