Best workflow to incorporate external hardware FXs

Hey guys,
I'm new here but producing for like 14 years, waiting for my first MPC, an X which should arrive beginning next month; can't wait!

So, I own some outboards Hardware Fx and would like to know what is the best way to integrate them with the X?

Thank you for your help.

Depends on what your workflow will be.. are you using it standalone ? Controller mode?

Do your EFX modules have MIDI? Are you going to use MIDI?

I'm all hardware and dont use a computer for music production.

I have all external gear and EFX. I use the outputs off the X into my analog desk. From there i use sends/returns fir EFX.

I track out to a 56 track SSD recorder . Mix down to DAT. Send out demos on cassette tape if requested (TDK MAR-C for those playing along at home)

So for me its easy to use the gear through returns and sends on the desk.

If you want to totally track everything in the x, perhaps you could design a patch bay that plugs into the EFX, then output the EFX direct into the Xs inputs.

But again, with not knowing your full setup , its speculation what kid of workflow will work in your world.

I use patchbays so i can route anything into the X.

Yes you're right, I've to tell a bit more about my setup; nice rig BTW, I understand your workflow, must be rock solid and efficient.

So I'm going to mostly use it in contoller mode inside protools 12, splitting things out from the MPC 2.0 plugin into the 32 buss available, and then running the various stems thru my Dangerous Convert-8 into my Dangerous 2Bus+ summing unit, which then goes into my analog mastering chain and back as a 2 track print into PT via a Prism Lyra converter, +final plugin polishing if needed later.

In parallel to that, and where I need your help, I have a Lynx Aurora 8 which is used to record external signals (synth/vocal/modular synth/etc) thru some Chandler and Slate preamps, plus a loop with a chain of effects I use for sound design/treatement which is made of Elektron Analog Heat ->OTO Biscuit->OTO BAM reverb.
It's this loop of FX that I want to be able to use on some sounds inside the MPC software, and basically as you can see I would use my Aurora converter+preamps in place of the MPC I/O.


So to sum up, I understand your workflow, and for me it could be similar but in an hybrid way:
MPC plugin outs -> Protools as a Desk -> FXs loop as an Insert in protools->outputs of Protools in Summing mixer-> record into protools thru mastering chain.

Now that would work very well, but the FXs loop would be outside of the MPC software and while it's cool to have this option, I'm looking to integrate the external FX loop into the MPC software.

For example how would you do to just treat sound thru the loop and resample it while staying in the MPC software? Is there an "insert external chain" like there's a plugin insert on a track?

Thank you very much for your help and sorry for the long post.

marctronixx wrote:Depends on what your workflow will be.. are you using it standalone ? Controller mode?

Do your EFX modules have MIDI? Are you going to use MIDI?

I'm all hardware and dont use a computer for music production.

I have all external gear and EFX. I use the outputs off the X into my analog desk. From there i use sends/returns fir EFX.



I track out to a 56 track SSD recorder . Mix down to DAT. Send out demos on cassette tape if requested (TDK MAR-C for those playing along at home)

So for me its easy to use the gear through returns and sends on the desk.

If you want to totally track everything in the x, perhaps you could design a patch bay that plugs into the EFX, then output the EFX direct into the Xs inputs.

But again, with not knowing your full setup , its speculation what kid of workflow will work in your world.

I use patchbays so i can route anything into the X.

Hi ,marctronixx

This is pretty much how I would see using the MPCX myself. I've got a 24 channel analog board and use mostly outboard effects. What's your opinion of the MPC's preamps and converters? Are you getting the results and workflow you expected with the X and is it worth the money in your opinion? I'm using acoustic instruments and synths, and also do a fair amount of linear recording as well. How do you think the MPCX deals with audio and standard linear style approach to recording?
Thanks, I'm curious to hear your opinion thus far with the X, I'm thinking it could be my last stop for a looping, songwriting approach to music without a computer. (been on Cubase for 15 years)

I'm planning to take all the MPC Live's outputs into my digital desk and insert/send effects from there.

...or, in the studio, possible direct the outputs into my DAW and again, insert/send effects from there.

I'm mostly planning to do live work with the MPC though.

I have the Live and l did vocals through it with a cheap Samson mic, l was shocked how clean it was still shocked. The converters are top notch especially on the X. You can't go wrong plus yiu get 48+phatom power on the X.

Gnome Tone wrote:

marctronixx wrote:Depends on what your workflow will be.. are you using it standalone ? Controller mode?

Do your EFX modules have MIDI? Are you going to use MIDI?

I'm all hardware and dont use a computer for music production.

I have all external gear and EFX. I use the outputs off the X into my analog desk. From there i use sends/returns fir EFX.



I track out to a 56 track SSD recorder . Mix down to DAT. Send out demos on cassette tape if requested (TDK MAR-C for those playing along at home)

So for me its easy to use the gear through returns and sends on the desk.

If you want to totally track everything in the x, perhaps you could design a patch bay that plugs into the EFX, then output the EFX direct into the Xs inputs.

But again, with not knowing your full setup , its speculation what kid of workflow will work in your world.

I use patchbays so i can route anything into the X.

Hi ,marctronixx

This is pretty much how I would see using the MPCX myself. I've got a 24 channel analog board and use mostly outboard effects. What's your opinion of the MPC's preamps and converters? Are you getting the results and workflow you expected with the X and is it worth the money in your opinion? I'm using acoustic instruments and synths, and also do a fair amount of linear recording as well. How do you think the MPCX deals with audio and standard linear style approach to recording?
Thanks, I'm curious to hear your opinion thus far with the X, I'm thinking it could be my last stop for a looping, songwriting approach to music without a computer. (been on Cubase for 15 years)

You could resample or use one of the aux outputs to stream whatever sample/ audio out the effects. you could essentially use the outboard as part of the machine if you route the audio to the effects and back into the x and have the sampling monitor on as well. That's about all the advice I can give, you guys have a way more complex set up than me.

What I do is run my aux outs to my mixer and into the effects loops and back into the mpc. I do most of my work on there, works great.

How do you track out your music so you can put ot in your DAW?

marctronixx wrote:Depends on what your workflow will be.. are you using it standalone ? Controller mode?

Do your EFX modules have MIDI? Are you going to use MIDI?

I'm all hardware and dont use a computer for music production.

I have all external gear and EFX. I use the outputs off the X into my analog desk. From there i use sends/returns fir EFX.



I track out to a 56 track SSD recorder . Mix down to DAT. Send out demos on cassette tape if requested (TDK MAR-C for those playing along at home)

So for me its easy to use the gear through returns and sends on the desk.

If you want to totally track everything in the x, perhaps you could design a patch bay that plugs into the EFX, then output the EFX direct into the Xs inputs.

But again, with not knowing your full setup , its speculation what kid of workflow will work in your world.

I use patchbays so i can route anything into the X.

Hi ,marctronixx

This is pretty much how I would see using the MPCX myself. I've got a 24 channel analog board and use mostly outboard effects. What's your opinion of the MPC's preamps and converters? Are you getting the results and workflow you expected with the X and is it worth the money in your opinion? I'm using acoustic instruments and synths, and also do a fair amount of linear recording as well. How do you think the MPCX deals with audio and standard linear style approach to recording?
Thanks, I'm curious to hear your opinion thus far with the X, I'm thinking it could be my last stop for a looping, songwriting approach to music without a computer. (been on Cubase for 15 years)[/quote]

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Hi Danoc,
Thanks for the heads up. My next project is mostly acoustic guitar and synths and vocals. My interest in the MPC's is in creating my own loops and synth sounds, then processing these loops in real time through my mixer and capturing that as a resample. A clip launch type of approach. That would be my backing track, then I'd lay vocals over that and record audio in a linear fashion. Would you consider the X a good machine in standalone as a powerful finished production tool? There's a chance I wouldn't use the 2.0 software.

Cockdiesel wrote:You could resample or use one of the aux outputs to stream whatever sample/ audio out the effects. you could essentially use the outboard as part of the machine if you route the audio to the effects and back into the x and have the sampling monitor on as well. That's about all the advice I can give, you guys have a way more complex set up than me.

What I do is run my aux outs to my mixer and into the effects loops and back into the mpc. I do most of my work on there, works great.

Cool. So it's sounds like sending audio out of the MPC and processing through your mixer setup and capturing that re sample is working fine. That's a big part of my workflow. That's why the 8 outputs on the X are a big deal for me.

I love it, tbh. I use the other inputs on the mixer for all types of stuff and it all can go through my effects chain. I use my effects boxes, but in all honesty that's a luxury. The effects on the machine itself are more than workable and you can stack 4 per pad and 4 on the main outputs. I've been using them more lately on my synths and they really make a difference to me.

Yes sir! Remember you only get 8 audio tracks. But you can do a song from start to finish in that baby. That's what they made for. Its a beast!

Gnome Tone wrote:Would you consider the X a good machine in standalone as a powerful finished production tool? There's a chance I wouldn't use the 2.0 software.

I was telling people the effects on the X and Live this go around are very decent. If you know your ish you can do some serious damage with them. Akai stepped up with those and the converters. Dam good job.

Cockdiesel wrote:The effects on the machine itself are more than workable and you can stack 4 per pad and 4 on the main outputs. I've been using them more lately on my synths and they really make a difference to me.

As already been said, depends on how you wanna use the effect pedals. You can sample the effects in or you can wet the outputs. Either way you good because you getting the X so you can lace effects over one of the 6 outs for certain tracks.

Its wide open to whatever you want.

To op,
If in controller mode, you'd be using your external soundcard interfaces as your i/o
In software mode/ plugin mode in protools you would have all virtual outputs assigned in protools..(with 8 mono virtual busses assigned to 4 stereo effect returns from the mpc software plugin)
With in the plugin each track output can be assigned to the virtual output busses .(The sends in mpc software actually send to the return tracks which you then assign a virtual output buss inputs into protools)
So in theory if lets say you had a hardware reverb this would be assigned to protools mpc plugin virtual input 25+26 which would output to your physical outputs you desire
and return physically into protools track input at what you have patched.
within the mpc plugin , you would set the the return channel 1 output to 25 and 26 so when you use send 1 on any mpc pad or pgm it would send to your hardware verb...

make sense?