Share your knowledge on these two classic MPCs
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By THE ADVERSARY Tue Aug 12, 2014 4:38 pm
£lias wrote: I'm someone who tries to make things work... many of you may relate to that


Funny part will be that the 3k workflow may still have you trying to make things work.
It's gonna be a lot slower than anything you are currently accustom to and require certain types of workarounds to do things you are now doing in more simplistic ways.

So while you won't have to deal with crashing and such you will be dealing with a very nostalgic way of doing things.

As many have discovered it can really be uninspiring using something like a 60 or 3k when you have been working with more modern means.

Also your statement about not needing another MIDI controller is totally wrong about Maschine or the Ren, neither one is nor do they perform like a MIDI controller.
Don't confuse that perspective.

Nothing wrong with getting a 3k but understand that not only is it old in a physical sense but it's also older technology that affects many of the things it can and can not do.
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By SimonInAustralia Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:26 pm
£lias wrote:I've noticed that compatibility is something to look for.
Mpcstoragesolution.com seems to provide good products and ensure compatibility is taken care of.

I would go with the new Stratos Technology CF RaizinMonster SCSI-CF reader works with the MPC3000, along with his IDC26-IDC50 adapter PCB for a cleaner internal installation...

http://www.artmix.com/wordpress/?p=634

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By SimonInAustralia Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:30 pm
marrelarre wrote:The 3k sound is overrated tho, you wont notice any difference from how it sounded on vinyl. shit in > shit out, dope in > dope out basically. It has a quite punchy alive sound tho but its not different from what you sampled.

How about if you overdrive the inputs, as many do?
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By THE ADVERSARY Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:50 pm
SimonInAustralia wrote:
marrelarre wrote:The 3k sound is overrated tho, you wont notice any difference from how it sounded on vinyl. **** in > **** out, dope in > dope out basically. It has a quite punchy alive sound tho but its not different from what you sampled.

How about if you overdrive the inputs, as many do?


It's more the 60 than the 3k that people drive the inputs hard on or play with the gain switch.
Probably the sample rate making a difference.

The big thing about the 3k sound is learning how to use the filter on EVERYTHING you sample.
It's what makes the 3k knock.
By £lias Tue Aug 12, 2014 9:37 pm
:idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea:
Lots of great info here,
thanks to you now I'm able to envision the workflow a bit more clearly

Firstly, I've learned there's 2 different ways of working here...
it seems that some of you may transfer files into the MPC via software (MPC Editor) by loading sounds/samples onto the Compact Flash Card with the mouse. You'll convert sounds from wav to snd into the mpc, and vice-versa back into the computer.
And others will simply record your sounds/samples into the mpc using the digital input (clean, less affected sound) or the analogue input (adding mpc color, saturation)

lifesabatch wrote:If I want that MPC sound coloring my sample, I go analog. If I want the sample to sound exactly how I have it in pro tools, I go digital.

That's good enough for me. Very important info. And I will be utilizing both inputs depending on the sample and the particular needs of any given sound.

So are any of you using the MPC Editor software or are you just recording in and recording out?
Having glanced at it briefly, the mpc editor software looks good for people who are going to want to record lots of one-hit samples and edit/layer them in the mpc.
Maybe the software would remove the need to record in and out of the mpc at all. You assign sounds to a pad, sequence a beat, then convert and export back into computer.

THE ADVERSARY wrote: while you won't have to deal with crashing and such you will be dealing with a very nostalgic way of doing things.

As many have discovered it can really be uninspiring using something like a 60 or 3k when you have been working with more modern means.

Thank you for the words of caution. Having read through the manual a bit and watched a few video tutorials, I'm actually delighted with how intuitive it seems to program the mpc.
I like how you put it, a "very nostalgic" manner of working, I guess for me the very nostalgic part is the inspiring part. No shade toward NI and Battery 3, which many of us may have been using for at least 5 years now, but I'm more inspired by the mpc 3k and it's basic workflow than Battery 3. You've made me realize the nostalgic element is actually what I'm going for in upcoming projects, in sound and in "method". Like many of you, I'll still be working with my DAW and powerful modern plugins, but having an older piece of gear will be no issue at all. Would be honored to be working with it frankly.


I must admit to you, the internal card reader installation seems like a headache I'd rather forego. When it's time to buy, I hope to find something with all the card reader pieces and compatibility issues already handled.
Full capacity of the card recognized by computer, formatted for both the PC and the MPC. I have no idea whether I'll end up with an internal card reader or external. As long as it all works.
By £lias Wed Aug 13, 2014 1:03 am
On the real... :shock: I am SO excited
Can't hardly wait, but the first step is my crowdfunding campaign
Til my entire budget is together, I'll surely be daydreaming , nay salivating, about the effect the mpc will have in my work
I need to go demo one but I bet they're not at guitar center in 2014

Anyways, like many of you, I like to work to find out exactly what it is I'm going for before i buy.. so this info is great, thank you all
By £lias Wed Aug 13, 2014 10:50 am
Crowdfunding the purchase of a whole new setup basically.
Savvy people figure out how to get by!!
Gonna construct a complete home set up and be a creative home for everyday artists, traveling musicians, etc,
workhorse PC, quality conversion; lots of UAD plugs, cool mics, and *drumroll* the MPC 3K... I do it all for the people
Can't wait! Greatest challenge of my life thus far

If you smart folk have any advice on that, which I'm sure you're all capable of, you can feel free to chime in
By Clint Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:34 pm
£lias wrote:Crowdfunding the purchase of a whole new setup basically.
Savvy people figure out how to get by!!


What a great idea, why didn't we all think of that?

Now pay us for all the advice you've just received.