Tutorial: Using Logic Pro 8 With Your MPC4000

Great post. It worked like a charm. I'm new to the 3000, so I have a question. Let's say I wanted to have the sounds come out of the 3000 into Logic 8. With this method, am I able to do it? If so how? If not, how would I able to achieve this? I want to try both options before I decide which way to go.

Welcome to the forum CMoney. As you probably now know this is THE BEST MPC related site on the Internet, bar none.

Good to hear that my post worked out for you, after all its virtually foolproof! (well theres always some).

If you wanted to have the sounds going from your MPC straight into Logic then you would simply have to 'track your beats out' in the conventional way using audio cables. The 3000 has eight outputs so you may find that you need an audio interface or a mixer to facilitate the tracking process.

Of course, it is possible to use both methods (the one I described up top and regular audio tracking) individually or together, but there really is no need to do them both at the same time. Whats the rush?

There is no need to decide 'which way to go'. Tracking audio from the MPC to a DAW is the conventional (normal) way to do things and you NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO THIS WELL. The method I describe, is used by a growing number of informed Logic users and simply provides a simpler, faster and less confusing way to construct beats without the need to track audio out or use synchronisation; two areas that present problems for many a producer.

I must think of a name for the method promoted in this thread............

clint246clint wrote:If you wanted to have the sounds going from your MPC straight into Logic then you would simply have to 'track your beats out' in the conventional way using audio cables. The 3000 has eight outputs so you may find that you need an audio interface or a mixer to facilitate the tracking process.

1/4 balanced or unbalanced? These are cables I have & I haven't gotten audio out of MPC to my M-Audio Fast Track Ultra. I'm not 100% sure if this is the reason why I haven't heard any audio from the MPC, as I have them connected to the stereo output into input 1 & 2.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Live-Wire-1-4--1-4--Dual-Patch-Cable-100223989-i1166747.gc

I currently have the 3000 as master, Logic as slave. I'm able to get MIDI data with the help of this thread: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=101516. So I think I'm heading in the right direction (I hope). I know I'm missing a few steps, but what are they. Now all I need to do is to hear the audio as it's sending the MIDI into Logic & I'm on my way.

Thanks in adavnce to your help & yes I know it's the best MPC forum. The guy who I bought the 3000 from recommended this place.

CMoney wrote:I currently have the 3000 as master, Logic as slave. I'm able to get MIDI data with the help of this thread: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=101516. So I think I'm heading in the right direction (I hope). I know I'm missing a few steps, but what are they. Now all I need to do is to hear the audio as it's sending the MIDI into Logic & I'm on my way.

May suggest you head for the 'Getting Started' or 'MPC3000' forums for this type of info and advice on basic operations. The members there will be glad to help. I can only offer advice concerning my thread here.

Good luck.

I have an mpc2000xl and i CANNOT make this work.. I'm **** pissed, i read everything i could find about this and still no sound when i press the pads on the mpc. What the **** is up? I think i **** up when syncing logic and the mpc because i know virtually nothing about that. Please help me

It works if you follow the tutorial. You must be doing something wrong. You must know how to use your equipment BEFORE you try this.

If the MPC works, and Logic works, human error is responsible...

Good luck!

clint246clint wrote:It works if you follow the tutorial. You must be doing something wrong. You must know how to use your equipment BEFORE you try this.

If the MPC works, and Logic works, human error is responsible...

Good luck!

Clint is right on this you know heed the words of the experienced. Go back over every step and break out the manual if necessary on the sync section.

Yes i understand that it is me who is doing something wrong and not the equipment. I think it might be this step where it goes wrong:
7. In the midi output section of the MPC screen assign OUT1 to the midi port to be used with Logic (Out A,B,C or D). Also select channel 1. I suggest also naming this port by going to the DEVICE field and pressing WINDOW.
This was written for the mpc4000 i have the 2000xl and i can't seem to figure out how to do this?

The tutorial was written with all MPC's in mind although I do use the 4000 and used to have a 2000XL a few years back when i first started hittin the pads.

You must learn/ know how to assign the midi outputs of your MPC if you're gonna get any use out of them. It's probably the easiest thing to do on any MPC so I will not describe the process here.

Remember, the tutorial was based upon certain prerequisites.

Assumptions:

1. You are able to input midi to your MPC using a keyboard and/ or the pads.
2. You are able to monitor the output of the MPC and Logic together.
3. You know the basics of navigating both the MPC and Logic.
4. The midi out of the MPC is routed into and being received by Logic.

If you cannot meet the 4 basic assumptions, the 'Getting Started' forum or that thing known as the manual will be of more help to you than me or anyone else.

Thank u clint!
What midi interface r u using going to the comp?
Also, i have a 3000......is there any benefit, in this case, using a 4000?
Thank u!
Jerry Barnes

I forgot also Clint
Do u now us the sampler in Logic for your sounds or did u keep them in the 4000?
Thanx, Jerry

The midi interface that I use is the Midiman/ Midisport 4x4 which is quite a common model, but any decent midi interface will get the job done. It is connected to the Mac via USB and gives me 4 midi in/ outs to work with in Logic. One midi connection (16 channels) between the MPC and Logic is usually enough for most purposes, it makes sense to have this assigned full-time.

As far as I know all MPC's have at least a couple of midi outputs so there is no reason why it shouldn't be transferable to the whole range. To my knowledge it has worked ok for most people, regardless of MPC model.

For the tutorial I did not use any samples in the MPC, I used a set of default instruments found in a Logic template. I actually made a nice beat with that template and some of the others! Of course, you can always combine sample sources quickly with this method if you have for example, drums on the MPC and virtual instruments/ EXS24 patches ready to go in Logic. Obviously, you would need to have an adequate monitoring set-up to hear the MPC outputs and Logic outputs together. I have all my outputs routed to a Mackie desk.

I must be getting lazy in my old age.....If I want to knock up a beat QUICKLY I'd just use samples already in Logic simply because of the speed if gives to the workflow and the variety of sounds instantly available. If however, I had all the time in the world to make the beat and sculpt it to 'perfection', I'd rather press the buttons and shut the door.

Tip: Have all your MPC drum samples available to load into the EXS24 so you can always mix'n'match or transfer kits with ease. Once you have done this, you may wonder what took you so long to do it?

Clint, I realy need help, because I have read everything that I could to find out how to record 6-8 tracks at a time from my MPC 2500 into Pro Tools or either Logic 8. Would I be able to set the settings the same in both? I have the MPC 2500, a Mackie Mixer DFX 12, and the Mbox 2 Pro. I just need to know what I have to do in order to get those outs connected just right, so I can quit losing my hair, trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. I am using the site as a last resource and hopefully it can resolve my issue. Please help...thanks.

Actually, scratch the logic bit, thanks for the tip. I just need to know how to sync to pro tools in order to record out 1 track at a time. thanks

okay...I did everything and it works fine through Logic, now my problem is this....everything plays just fine, but my MPC will not play through my headphones from my Mbox, but it plays through my monitors. And yes, the phone knobs are turned up, and everything else seems to be playing through them just fine except for the MPC.