Question: Recording Each sound on separate tracks for mixing

Okay so I want to make sure I understand this correctly.
I read that for mixing, it is made much easier when each individual drum sound is recorded on a separate track.
Is it necessary for me to record just the snare on a 5 minute song on my MPC, and rinse and repeat with every other type of sound, just to throw it into a DAW to pan and mix? Is there a shortcut I am missing. Should I just export Loops and loop those in a DAW?
What I'm doing seems to take a ridiculously long time?

Is it just the tedious necessity?

Thanks

Yes you understand correctly.

On the MPC it is normal to sequence the individual elements (drum sounds or whatever) on seperate tracks.

On an MPC without 8 assignable outs you would have to 'track out' each element to your DAW thru the main stereo outputs.

ONE STEREO TRACK AT A TIME or TWO MONO TRACKS AT A TIME WITH ONE PANNED HARD LEFT AND THE OTHER PANNED HARD RIGHT.

Obviously, this means that a 16 track sequence on the MPC may take anything between 8 and 16 passes to track out into the DAW, which is why an MPC with the 8 assignable outputs is more desirable in a recording environment.

Tracking out through the main outputs can take a very long time, but as an MPC500 owner you have clearly sacrificed features which are now essential for a lower purchase price.

The seperation of elements onto individual tracks has many benefits throughout the production process. It allows the producer to use EQ, FX, Automation, Panning, Filters, Compression etc on specific sounds and facilitates the editing and arrangement process to a significant degree.

All the best MPC models have the extra outputs available as standard or as an option, for good reason as do all great drum machines/ samplers.

briskisgoodforu wrote:Okay so I want to make sure I understand this correctly.
I read that for mixing, it is made much easier when each individual drum sound is recorded on a separate track.
Is it necessary for me to record just the snare on a 5 minute song on my MPC, and rinse and repeat with every other type of sound, just to throw it into a DAW to pan and mix? Is there a shortcut I am missing. Should I just export Loops and loop those in a DAW?
What I'm doing seems to take a ridiculously long time?

Is it just the tedious necessity?

Thanks

personally i record drums from my verses, choruses, bridge/hook, etc. i record them only once. then repeat for snares, hats, and whatever else i may have.

THEN, inside cubase, i just copy and paste and then do my editing like that.

this way, i can edit the sounds of each track of the song, (bass, drums, snares, etc.) individually.

I just record a few bars into the DAW and then mix it, then i sequence it within the DAW
A lot quicker than sequencing on the MP and tgen tracking out each channel and taking forever in each pass

clint246clint wrote:Yes you understand correctly.

On the MPC it is normal to sequence the individual elements (drum sounds or whatever) on seperate tracks.

On an MPC without 8 assignable outs you would have to 'track out' each element to your DAW thru the main stereo outputs.

ONE STEREO TRACK AT A TIME or TWO MONO TRACKS AT A TIME WITH ONE PANNED HARD LEFT AND THE OTHER PANNED HARD RIGHT.

Obviously, this means that a 16 track sequence on the MPC may take anything between 8 and 16 passes to track out into the DAW, which is why an MPC with the 8 assignable outputs is more desirable in a recording environment.

Tracking out through the main outputs can take a very long time, but as an MPC500 owner you have clearly sacrificed features which are now essential for a lower purchase price.

The seperation of elements onto individual tracks has many benefits throughout the production process. It allows the producer to use EQ, FX, Automation, Panning, Filters, Compression etc on specific sounds and facilitates the editing and arrangement process to a significant degree.

All the best MPC models have the extra outputs available as standard or as an option, for good reason as do all great drum machines/ samplers.

So when you say you track out, is that the same as recording wav files in song mode to then transfer to a computer, or directly transferring the data into the DAW, through a method I am apparently unaware of...

What I did so far is just record 4 bar loops as it makes it easier when the drums are repetitive. I can just copy and paste them.

By 'track out' what I mean is this.

Tracking or Tracking out is the process of recording the audio output of one machine (MPC in this case) directly into the audio inputs of a recording machine (DAW in this case). Some producers prefer to track out to a hard disc recorder or directly to tape, but such tracks may still eventually be transferred into a DAW for arranging and mixing purposes.

In MPC terms, you can track out sequences individually or string them together in song mode and track the whole beat at once. Tracking sequences individually does take longer, but gives you more flexibility later on which is always a good thing.

Of course you also have the option of mixing and resampling a complete beat within the MPC and tracking it out as a stereo file in a single pass, or sending the resulting .wav file to a computer via USB if your MPC has this ability.

I don't know what MPC your on, but you can also take advantage of your S/PDIF output, resulting in one stereo or two mono tracks.

Thanks guys. I think I might try recording out to tape, that sounds interesting. Otherwise im stuck exporting wavs until I get an interface.

Ruslanio wrote:I don't know what MPC your on, but you can also take advantage of your S/PDIF output, resulting in one stereo or two mono tracks.

That's not tracking. Why not use ADAT? 8 digital outs. perfect!