Sampling / Resampling - Volumes and other stuff

Ok i'm new to the MPC world so bare with me .


I'm assuming resampling would be to record your performance (or anything already in the MPC) back into itself, using the MPC main out as the "input" source in the REC SAMPLE menu.


However, I read (can't find it) somewhere that you can change the sample rate (i.e, lower it)...is this true?




Also, two things.


1:

Just to test things out, i created a little 2 bar drum loop, and resampled it. I assigned that sample loop back to a pad. However, that sample is significantly lower than my loop. Is there a way to alter how loud your sample recording will be when you're resampling? I tried messing with the volume while i was at the input monitoring screen but nothing seemed to move...only the threshold marker...and i didn't really get how that would affect anything.




2:

also, when i move samples into the MPC from other sources (in this particular case, a file from my PC), they also tend to be far lower. I've chopped up samples in FL Studio and Recycle (relax, i did this ONLY as a test) and wavs reading pretty close to 0db still are significantly lower in volume once i load them on the MPC.

any ideas, fellas?

Go to MODE + OTHER and check the Master Level. I think the default is -12 db.

Askia Shaheed wrote:Go to MODE + OTHER and check the Master Level. I think the default is -12 db.

thanks,

but all that does is change the overall volume of the MPC, the problem still exists.

BxJaze wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:Go to MODE + OTHER and check the Master Level. I think the default is -12 db.

thanks,

but all that does is change the overall volume of the MPC, the problem still exists.

Changing the Master Level will help with re-sampling. Importing/loading wav files is a different story. You will have to use the sample editing function to normalize your samples.

Yeah, the master level, even at 0, is still wayyyyy too low

Askia Shaheed wrote:

Changing the Master Level will help with re-sampling. Importing/loading wav files is a different story. You will have to use the sample editing function to normalize your samples.

It doesn't help with resampling, I'm telling you. If the sample ends up coming out 40% lower than it originally was.....and i use your solution,

it STILL comes out 40% lower than before, only everything sounds louder cause all that has done is changed how much louder the MPC is using an internal volume control as opposed to the MAIN VOLUME knob. I may be new to the MPC, but I've got about 9 years in with sampling....i know what i'm talking about (though i might not be explaining it right).



Sure, normalizing helps but, if I have--say--a kick drum i recorded in a studio, and i have it treated just the way i like, and it's at -2 db,

it's kind of strange that i'd have to go and normalize that same hit, just because i copied and pasted into the MPC....especially when the other 50,000 sounds i have in there sound just as loud as they did before i put them in there.


Something is wrong, or something can be done.

BxJaze wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:

Changing the Master Level will help with re-sampling. Importing/loading wav files is a different story. You will have to use the sample editing function to normalize your samples.

It doesn't help with resampling, I'm telling you. If the sample ends up coming out 40% lower than it originally was.....and i use your solution,

it STILL comes out 40% lower than before, only everything sounds louder cause all that has done is changed how much louder the MPC is using an internal volume control as opposed to the MAIN VOLUME knob. I may be new to the MPC, but I've got about 9 years in with sampling....i know what i'm talking about (though i might not be explaining it right).



Sure, normalizing helps but, if I have--say--a kick drum i recorded in a studio, and i have it treated just the way i like, and it's at -2 db,

it's kind of strange that i'd have to go and normalize that same hit, just because i copied and pasted into the MPC....especially when the other 50,000 sounds i have in there sound just as loud as they did before i put them in there.


Something is wrong, or something can be done.

I hope I am not sounding like I am questioning your experience. I want to take a closer look at what you are doing to duplicate your issues. That way we can simply add it to the bug thread..which you can actually do now...

Askia Shaheed wrote:

BxJaze wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:

Changing the Master Level will help with re-sampling. Importing/loading wav files is a different story. You will have to use the sample editing function to normalize your samples.

It doesn't help with resampling, I'm telling you. If the sample ends up coming out 40% lower than it originally was.....and i use your solution,

it STILL comes out 40% lower than before, only everything sounds louder cause all that has done is changed how much louder the MPC is using an internal volume control as opposed to the MAIN VOLUME knob. I may be new to the MPC, but I've got about 9 years in with sampling....i know what i'm talking about (though i might not be explaining it right).



Sure, normalizing helps but, if I have--say--a kick drum i recorded in a studio, and i have it treated just the way i like, and it's at -2 db,

it's kind of strange that i'd have to go and normalize that same hit, just because i copied and pasted into the MPC....especially when the other 50,000 sounds i have in there sound just as loud as they did before i put them in there.


Something is wrong, or something can be done.

I hope I am not sounding like I am questioning your experience. I want to take a closer look at what you are doing to duplicate your issues. That way we can simply add it to the bug thread..which you can actually do now...

Seriously... i said something and someone else mentioned this in a thread before... this is an issue... my mpc 2000xl smacks and hits harder and louder then this mpc 5000, at 0 db... Even spoke to Akai about it... you just gotta turn ya pre-amp up

I loaded up the MPC 5000 Demo Stone Enigma and resampled it several times with the Master Level at -18, -12, -6, and 0. Checking the waveforms, you can see that the settings of the Master Level impacts the volume of audio being resampled. When I attempted to normalize the -6 dB and 0 dB files, there were no changes to the waveforms.

When I re-sampled Stone Enigma with the Master Level at 0 dBs and replayed the sample....I checked my external mixer's meter bridge. It was nearly identical to he original as far as I can tell.


Additionally, I have my 5K connected to an digital mixer using both analog and digital ADAT cables. Using ADAT, if the 5Ks Master Level is set to - 6 dBs, it will reach 0 dBs on my mixer using the sequence above. Also, using the 5Ks stereo analog outputs (volume knob set to center position), if I set the Master Level to 0, it will cause my mixers clip meter to flicker which indicates that the incoming signal is at or above 0 dBs.

BxJaze wrote:Ok i'm new to the MPC world so bare with me .


I'm assuming resampling would be to record your performance (or anything already in the MPC) back into itself, using the MPC main out as the "input" source in the REC SAMPLE menu.


However, I read (can't find it) somewhere that you can change the sample rate (i.e, lower it)...is this true?




Also, two things.

Check it my man.

Resample is an effects , so bring up your effects, select a bus and then find the resample. Also you can check out the decimator, which is the same process but more destructive without distorting the sound. If you've got your manual handy, read up on the effects.

BxJaze wrote:
2:

also, when i move samples into the MPC from other sources (in this particular case, a file from my PC), they also tend to be far lower. I've chopped up samples in FL Studio and Recycle (relax, i did this ONLY as a test) and wavs reading pretty close to 0db still are significantly lower in volume once i load them on the MPC.

any ideas, fellas?

I have a Ultimate Sound Banks Sound Scan Vol 46 70's BreakBeats CD Rom with a bunch of samples. I loaded a drum kit. All the samples sound great. Typically, commercial sample CDs are all normalized. To confirm this, I entered the 5Ks TRIM MENU and attempted to normalize a few samples. Doing this, none of the samples were altered.

Next, I created a 2 bar loop with these same samples. I resampled these loop with the Master Level set at - 12 dBs and 0 dBs. When the Master Level set at 0 dBs, the resampled file sounds exactly like the original. Obviously, the resampled file that was created with the Master Level set at - 12dBs was much lower. After I normalized the file, it sounds like the original.

to askia and beg.steal


i'll check those theories out between tonight and tomorrow, thanks a million fellas.

No problem. We'll find the solution.

Also...I would double check the mixer settings (both program and track) as well as the program menu. They have have parameters that will effect the volume of files being played.

BxJaze wrote:I've chopped up samples in FL Studio and Recycle (relax, i did this ONLY as a test) and wavs reading pretty close to 0db still are significantly lower in volume once i load them on the MPC.

any ideas, fellas?

I normalized a sample and chopped it in Recycle. I exported it as an Akai Program to load into the MPC 5000. When I played them on the MPC 5000, it didn't sound exactly the way they played in Recycle. The problem was that the Akai Program had a filter turned on. When I turned the filters off, the samples sound like the original. Next, I went into Sample Trim Menu. I selected Normalize which did alter the sample. So, at first, I was thinking that the MPC 5K did alter the sample a little bit. However, I took the original sliced sample (exported from Recycle) and reloaded it back into Recycle. The file appeared to be alter a little. I was able to normalize the sample in Recycle again.

So far..my conclusion is that Recycle alters chopped samples when they are exported.


Further testing....I normalized a file on the MPC 5000 and used sample edit pitch shifting on the sample. I saved the file and loaded it into Recycle. The file was no longer pitched shift when played in Recycle. However, when I tried normalizing the file within Recycle...a message popped up indicating the sample was already normalized.

I don't know if any of his info helps.......

Ok i tested it once, it seems like you're right, it works properly when the output is set to 0db. Is there a downside to keeping the master level 0 ? Would it just better overall to do my resampling then put the level back down to -6 or -12?