Tracking out instruments - the broke way...

Here's a trick so you can sync without using timecode or midi beat clock:

On your MPC, load a clave sound or a rim click sound.....something with a sharp attack.

Then make a one bar pattern that will be the first pattern in your "song" sequence (before the first real bar of your actual beat.)

Program this pattern with just your rim click sound hitting on beat "1".....but put this on every track on the MPC (or as many tracks as you used for your beat.)

Then record your beat, track by track, into the computer (the "hard way" by soloing each track and recording it in separately.)

Then when all the tracks are in the computer......just take your mouse and line up the rim click sounds (since there is one on every track) and your beat will be perfectly synced back up.

This is kind of the same idea as the "clapper board" they use when they're shooting movies.

I hope my explanation was easy enough to understand.

I actually had to use itchy's Ghetto sync technique on one occasion

that is no fun........

well the ghetto sync might be my only way for now until i get that interface...

thanks itchy good idea. ill try that and the hihats one and see what i come out with...

thanks peeps

jaem wrote:I actually had to use itchy's Ghetto sync technique on one occasion

that is no fun........

Co-Sign that. Except change 'one' to "the first 8"

...

M.ic P.ro C.rusher wrote:

jaem wrote:I actually had to use itchy's Ghetto sync technique on one occasion

that is no fun........

Co-Sign that. Except change 'one' to "the first 8"

ha.......I did it due to lack of a better solution + no time + didnt really give two $hits about the project

oh and i got paid for it

blkhersheybar wrote:

Smoove03 wrote:what do you use to sync the computer to the mpc? do you need some type of interface? what kind of cables do you use? does that have something to do with smpte? im new to this kind of stuff...

I use Nuendo, Cakewalk and Ableton. Basically, I just run the midi out from the MPC to the midi in of my soundcard. The MPC is the master and I kick off the computer via midi timecode. It's very simple. Lines up all the tracks automatically. I usually have two bars of silence before the track begins, which allows the timing to settle in before the track starts.

hershey...quick question..

im not at home so I cant see the back of my mpc, but which midi out do you use? is there two midi outs? i cant remember....i know there's midi in a/b...thanks...

it has 2 and you can use which ever one is free

Smoove03 wrote:hershey...quick question..im not at home so I cant see the back of my mpc, but which midi out do you use? is there two midi outs? i cant remember....i know there's midi in a/b...thanks...

If I'm not mistaken (I'm not at home, either), there are two midi outs. You can use A or B. Just make sure you go to the MIDI/SYNC screen and assign the one you choose.

yea im home now and I see that both of my midi outs are taken...now either i got something hooked up wrong or I just have nowhere to plug the interface into...

is there another way? i do have a midi in available...maybe i should look at my wiring and make sure i dont have something plugged into that other midi out for no reason....

Smoove03 wrote:yea im home now and I see that both of my midi outs are taken...now either i got something hooked up wrong or I just have nowhere to plug the interface into...

is there another way? i do have a midi in available...maybe i should look at my wiring and make sure i dont have something plugged into that other midi out for no reason....

If any of the keyboards or modules you have MIDIed up to the MPC have a "MIDI THRU" jack......just connect from that to your computer....the MIDI signal should run from your MPC right on 'thru' your module, and into the computer.

true dat. thanks itchy sounds right

ill check through my manual about the sync screen but if I have the midi cable coming from my computer into the 'thru' of my module, which "Out:" should I use on the sync screen? My choices are A, B, AB. thanks for the help too.. aint tryna be a pain

Smoove03 wrote: which "Out:" should I use on the sync screen? My choices are A, B, AB. thanks for the help too.. aint tryna be a pain

On the MPC? Either one........just make sure it's the one that has the MIDI cables eventually leading to your computer (whether it's routing through a module first or not.)

coo thanks itchy for the help

question...is a USB MIDI interface as efficient as the normal MIDI interfaces??

If I went that route, would my signal be weaker by converting to USB? or will it work just as good as say a soundcard with a midi input?

and can midi time code and stuff like that get transfered through USB? i didnt know that was possible....so if the interface is connected to the computer via USB (instead of a midi cable) and I press play on the mpc, it will trigger my cool edit to record at the same time??

im ordering today...