MPC X, MPC Live, MPC One & MPC Key 61 Forum: Support and discussion for the MPC X, MPC Live, MPC Live II, MPC One & MPC Key 61; Akai's current generation of standalone MPCs.
User avatar
By Neurone Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:38 pm
I was thinking of recording some vocals so I've plugged a Rode M3 into the left input.
Apart from the level of the M3 being VERY low, even full gain on the MPC is pretty poor.
It records only on the left channel of a stereo wav.
Is there a way to set the recording to mono ?
Or, is there a way to convert the stereo wav to a mono wav internally ?

Cheers,
N
By HouseWithoutMouse Wed Aug 04, 2021 7:06 pm
In your audio track or sampler or whatever INPUT, set Input 1 as the input. Not "Input 1,2", that's stereo and if you've only connected something to input 1 and input 2 is unplugged, then you'll get stuff on the left side only. The input selection means:

- Input 1,2 : record in stereo from inputs 1-2
- Input 3,4 : record in stereo from inputs 3-4
- Input 1 : record in mono from input 1
- Input 2 : record in mono from input 2
- Input 3 : record in mono from input 3
- Input 4 : record in mono from input 4

About the levels being low. If you're using an MPC One, it doesn't have mic preamps, so the levels will be very low. You'll need to have an external mic preamp, which amplifies the mic's signal to line level, or an external (class compliant) USB audio interface with mic preamps.
User avatar
By MPC-Tutor Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:47 pm
I think only the X has mic preamps (and phantom power), plus it has instrument level inputs as well. For all other MPCs, plug the mic into an audio interface and if the interface isn't not supported by USB just connect the line out of the interface into your MPC.

BTW in the SAMPLER screen you can select a mono input and also choose mono or stereo for the resulting file.

And if you did end up with an unwanted stereo file at any point you can open it up in SAMPLE EDIT > PROCESS > 'Stereo to Mono'
User avatar
By Neurone Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:35 am
Thanks for the help, pretty much sorted now.
Actually used the Rode Videomic NTG’s analogue output, it’s a bit on the sensitive side but it sounds really nice,

Cheers,
N
User avatar
By 83dude Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:58 pm
Mics usually output 0.05mA approx AT MOST. Line levels expect 1.23V (+4dBu) or 1V (-10dBv), while line gain usually supports values between -10 and +10 amplification, while mics need 0 - +60 dB to work properly. Use a mic preamp and use it‘s (line) output to get proper levels.