Help needed recording from MPC 2000 XL into Logic Pro X

Hello, I'm having trouble recording with my MPC 2000 XL - Logic Pro X setup. It's driving me nutty since I'd just got it working beautifully recently. Anyway here's a rundown of where I am and what I need help with... [Edit: to be clear I'm attempting to record the audio output of the MPC into Logic and onto a Logic audio track]

-I have synchronized my MPC with Logic (via MIDI Clock using the settings shown here), and can press play in Logic to make the sequence start playing in the MPC.
-Via Audio MIDI Setup I have added my MPC 2000XL as an external device connected to my Fast Track Pro, so that Logic can recognize the MPC by name (in theory).
-In Logic's MIDI Synch Project Settings window I have checked the box to select Transmit MIDI Clock: Destination 1 and selected my MPC from the drop down. I've also checked the box for Transmit MTC under the MIDI Time Code section, selected my MPC, and checked the boxes for Transmit MMC and Listen to MMC input below that (as shown here). . Note that in the drop down menus for Destination 1 and Transmit MTC, I'm able to select my "MPC 2000XL" by name, so the AMS (Audio MIDI Setup) setup I mentioned in the last bullet point seems to have worked at least part of the way...
-On the bottom-left of my MPC's main screen, where it usually says "S:DRUM1:OFF" I have changed it to "S:DRUM1: 1A-Device01" ... I have also selected "1A," hit Open Window, and changed "Soft thru" to OFF.
-I have created a new audio track in Logic, set the input to Input 1, set the input device to Fast Track Pro, and clicked the "I" so I can monitor input from the MPC.
-And I have created a new external MIDI track... this is where I start to see problems....

When I create the new external MIDI track, I don't see "MPC 2000XL" listed in the library as an external device. It should show up there since I set up my MPC/Fast Track Pro connection in AMS (Audio MIDI Setup)... And when I load a sound & press a pad on my MPC, I see no MIDI data coming through and hear no sound through Logic. When I got everything working a few weeks back, I could just select "MPC 2000XL" from my library when I created a new external MIDI Track, select Channel 1, and then once I had created a new audio track & clicked "I" to monitor input everything was good... I could hit record in Logic, do my thing on the MPC, and record the MIDI data & hear the sounds I was playing into Logic.....

When setting up the MIDI Synch Project Settings, Logic recognizes "MPC 2000XL" by name in the Destination 1 and MTC drop down boxes, so it seems the AMS setup step worked at least partway... but I don't understand why "MPC 2000XL" doesn't show up in my library when creating an external MIDI track?

Thank you in advance for your help!

-dude

Do you want to record the MIDI output of the MPC into Logic and onto a Logic MIDI track?

Or, use the MIDI output of the MPC to control/trigger a Logic software instrument?

Or, record the audio output of the MPC into Logic and onto a Logic audio track?

The 3rd one is what I was attempting to do here, and what I was doing a few weeks ago when I got things working - recording the MPC's audio output into a Logic audio track...

OK.

Forget these steps all together, these are for recording MIDI from the MPC into Logic, which you do not want...

-On the bottom-left of my MPC's main screen, where it usually says "S:DRUM1:OFF" I have changed it to "S:DRUM1: 1A-Device01" ... I have also selected "1A," hit Open Window, and changed "Soft thru" to OFF.

-And I have created a new external MIDI track... this is where I start to see problems....

You need to concentrate on this step...

-I have created a new audio track in Logic, set the input to Input 1, set the input device to Fast Track Pro, and clicked the "I" so I can monitor input from the MPC.

...are you getting any audio signal level on that track, from the incoming audio signal that is coming from the MPC audio outputs into your FastTrack audio inputs?

Do you want to record a stereo audio signal, or a mono audio signal, as you seem to be only using Input 1 above, which might mean it is a mono audio track?

SimonInAustralia wrote:OK.

Forget these steps all together, these are for recording MIDI from the MPC into Logic, which you do not want...

-On the bottom-left of my MPC's main screen, where it usually says "S:DRUM1:OFF" I have changed it to "S:DRUM1: 1A-Device01" ... I have also selected "1A," hit Open Window, and changed "Soft thru" to OFF.

-And I have created a new external MIDI track... this is where I start to see problems....

You need to concentrate on this step...

-I have created a new audio track in Logic, set the input to Input 1, set the input device to Fast Track Pro, and clicked the "I" so I can monitor input from the MPC.

...are you getting any audio signal level on that track, from the incoming audio signal that is coming from the MPC audio outputs into your FastTrack audio inputs?

Do you want to record a stereo audio signal, or a mono audio signal, as you seem to be only using Input 1 above, which might mean it is a mono audio track?

OK. I'm not getting any audio signal, no. I want to record a stereo signal though. I just tried again using "Input 1 + 2" for Input and Fast Track Pro as input device, but got the same result... still not seeing any audio signal level...

Wondering if this has something to do with "MPC 2000XL" not showing up in the library when I make a new MIDI track? I remember it being there when I got this all working a few weeks back... [Edit: These are the general steps I took the last time I got things working, if it might help to take a quick look...]

Appreciate the help!

No, nothing to do with it showing up as a MIDI device in an external MIDI track, since you want to record the Fast Track audio inputs, so nothing to do with MIDI, you are only using MIDI for sync.

Are you sure you have the MPC main stereo outputs connected to the Fast Track Mic/Line 1/2 audio inputs on the front panel, not into the inserts on the rear panel?

Have you tried turning up the gain knobs on the front panel?

Are you seeing the signal lights on the front panel indicating that it is receiving an input signal when you hit the MPC pads or press play on the MPC?

Are you sure that the MPC is outputting anything?

Do you have anything else that makes sounds, and that you can plug into the front panel inputs, to test if the inputs are working with something else?

Does it make any difference if you record enable the audio track in Logic?

Are you sure that the Fast Track is set as the audio interface within Logic?

SimonInAustralia wrote:No, nothing to do with it showing up as a MIDI device in an external MIDI track, since you want to record the Fast Track audio inputs, so nothing to do with MIDI, you are only using MIDI for sync.

Are you sure you have the MPC main stereo outputs connected to the Fast Track Mic/Line 1/2 audio inputs on the front panel, not into the inserts on the rear panel?

Have you tried turning up the gain knobs on the front panel?

Are you seeing the signal lights on the front panel indicating that it is receiving an input signal when you hit the MPC pads or press play on the MPC?

Are you sure that the MPC is outputting anything?

Do you have anything else that makes sounds, and that you can plug into the front panel inputs, to test if the inputs are working with something else?

Does it make any difference if you record enable the audio track in Logic?

Are you sure that the Fast Track is set as the audio interface within Logic?

OK, making some progress, I had the MPC output/FTP connection wrong, but I've got it right now. Rookie error. Now I can see the audio signal level coming through on that audio track - I just can't hear anything through Logic. Any ideas? So close...

How are you listening to the output of Logic?

Through headphones connected to the front panel headphone out of the Fast Track, or speakers connected to the rear panel TRS outputs of the Fast Track?

Is the Fast Track set to be the audio output device in Logic?

Have you turned on input monitoring again in Logic for that audio track?

SimonInAustralia wrote:How are you listening to the output of Logic?

Through headphones connected to the front panel headphone out of the Fast Track, or speakers connected to the rear panel TRS outputs of the Fast Track?

Is the Fast Track set to be the audio output device in Logic?

Have you turned on input monitoring again in Logic for that audio track?

I'm listening through headphones connected to my laptop.... I can actually hear sound if I plug my headphones into the FTP with output device=FTP, or if I set the output device to built-in output and plug my headphones into my laptop, but the sound is horribly distorted version of what's on the MPC pads.... a loud, high, pitched distorted version of my beautiful kick and clap... haven't run into this before... [edit: been playing around with gain levels and now my clap sounds OK but my kick drum sound is still terribly distorted... any ideas?]

Thanks again for your help, appreciate it

Leave it set to Fast Track for the Logic audio output, and listen through that.

Set the IN/PB mix knob on the front of the Fast Track all the way to PB (playback), to make sure you are listening to only the output of Logic, without any direct input sound mixed in.

Set the gain level so the loudest part of what you are recording does not make the clip lights on the Fast Track light up, and so the signal does not reach the top of the level meter in Logic.

SimonInAustralia wrote:Leave it set to Fast Track for the Logic audio output, and listen through that.

Set the IN/PB mix knob on the front of the Fast Track all the way to PB (playback), to make sure you are listening to only the output of Logic, without any direct input sound mixed in.

Set the gain level so the loudest part of what you are recording does not make the clip lights on the Fast Track light up, and so the signal does not reach the top of the level meter in Logic.

OK - I've done all of the above but my kick drum is still sounding crazy distorted. My clap sounds fine with the gain levels at medium levels. But even when I turn the gain levels down to their lowest levels (and lower the output level, and bump down the signal level in Logic), the kick still sounds messed up.... It's not making the clip lights on the FTP light up, nor is it clipping in Logic, but it still sounds very distorted....

If you plug the headphones into the MPC, it sounds as it should, not distorted?

Are you plugging your headphones into the front of the Fast Track, and using the headphone level control above the headphone output to control the volume the headphones are receiving?

SimonInAustralia wrote:If you plug the headphones into the MPC, it sounds as it should, not distorted?

Are you plugging your headphones into the front of the Fast Track, and using the headphone level control above the headphone output to control the volume the headphones are receiving?

Yeah everything sounds beautiful if I plug the phones straight into the MPC... and yes they're plugged into the front of the FTP and I'm using the headphone level control to control their volume... Still even when I turn the FTP gain levels down to their lowest levels, turn down the FTP monitor output level control, turn down the FTP headphone level control, and bump down the signal level in Logic, the kick still sounds messed up...

Try turning the Pad on for both inputs?

Are you setting the gain on both inputs the same?

Does it make any difference if you change Line/Inst buttons next to each input?

How about if you turn down the Main Volume on the MPC a little, does it improve it?

If you are not clipping on the Fast Track clip lights, and not hitting the top of the Logic meters, it shouldn't sound distorted.

Other than that, not really sure, maybe try increasing the audio buffer size in Logic?

SimonInAustralia wrote:Try turning the Pad on for both inputs?

Are you setting the gain on both inputs the same?

Does it make any difference if you change Line/Inst buttons next to each input?

How about if you turn down the Main Volume on the MPC a little, does it improve it?

If you are not clipping on the Fast Track clip lights, and not hitting the top of the Logic meters, it shouldn't sound distorted.

Other than that, not really sure, maybe try increasing the audio buffer size in Logic?

Nothing was really working so I just turned off my MPC, quit Logic, unplugged the FTP and started from scratch. Everything's sounding great now after hitting the proverbial reset button. Those are some good tips to keep in mind for gain adjustments and finagling in the future though. Thank you very much for taking the time to help me out here man, I really appreciate it.

This was a very complicated case, Simon. You know, a lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what-have-yous. And a lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Fortunately, I'm adhering to a pretty strict drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber....

Thanks again man, peace