Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
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By Cicatrix Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:02 pm
I just want to know if anyone has chosen to do their entire mixes inside of the MPC, instead of the typical tracking each instrument out to an individual track into a DAW method. If so, have you been able to come up with satisfactory results? I tried mixing down my entire beats in the MPC before, and then tracking out the whole beat onto a stereo track but I could never get as good of results as I do when I track out each instrument individually, for obvious reasons such as the precision you have over each instrument inside your DAW. I think I tried it once and was like oh, this isn't nearly as good. What I'm wondering is if anybody in here has become an expert at mixing entire beats inside the MPC, and then tracking out one time, done. I think I am going to try it again and see how close I can get to the sound quality of tracking out individually.
Or maybe this is a dead end, :? .
By dryad-66 Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:43 pm
Its never a dead end if it sounds good.....Sometimes recording everything through the stereo outs in one pass gels the audio together.Obviously a few overdubs and editing is gonna add some flavour.I try to get it right first time and keep a live vibe.Im also quite lazy.It has its benefits and creates some kind of energy i feel lacks from over produced stuff......Soundforge(pc) is your friend.Enjoi
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By Upright Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:56 pm
I have a friend who isn't comfortable using a DAW and in a case like his of course you want to do all you can to get the best mix within the Mpc. If you're comfortable tracking out to a DAW I would say mix in the DAW because of the tools at your disposal. At the same time there's nothing wrong with doing a few mixes in the MPC and comparing them to your DAW mixes,..you might actually learn something that you can carry over and start doing in your DAW. That's my 2 cents. :D
Last edited by Upright on Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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By ArKyve-31 Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:57 pm
I intentionally mix everything in the mpc, which is a pain in the ass when I gotta send to other ppl and they want the tracked out version. I can and do track sometimes, for better mixing, but I prefer the sound I get mixing in the box, and hate looking at computer screens when I'm making music
By Hannibal Lecter Sat Jul 02, 2011 10:33 pm
I used to do all the mix in my mpc4000, for many years before i bought my 8outs and step up the game with vst plugins and all that good stuff. But i could get descent sound results, have tracks placed in major releases, video games etc and noone noticed a difference, im tellin you. Of course, i'll stick with the 8 outs now, got more options and can get more sonically correct. peace
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By Coz Sat Jul 02, 2011 11:30 pm
There's not enough 'real' tools in any MPC to convincingly 'mix in the box'... depending on your style of course. If you've got a raw edge to what you do then **** it, mix in the MP, but I track out at the first available opportunity.

The benefits and flexibility of tracking out are obvious... pro dynamics processing on every track if required - compressors, quality EQ and filters, gates, bass extenders, enhancers, stereo wideners, transient modelling, saturators... pro effects - convolution reverbs, distortion/tube modelling, modulation... not to mention shit like automation and mastering inside a daw.

Unless you've got a very expensive hardware setup, I don't see any shortcuts to getting a pro sound. We're all doing the job of about 5 different people in old-world music production now, so I think we need to step up and master the tools that are available to us.
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By Upright Sat Jul 02, 2011 11:34 pm
Coz wrote: We're all doing the job of about 5 different people in old-world music production now...



No doubt...making music is a whole new ballgame now. :D
By dryad-66 Sun Jul 03, 2011 12:47 am
Coz wrote:There's not enough 'real' tools in any MPC to convincingly 'mix in the box'... depending on your style of course. If you've got a raw edge to what you do then **** it, mix in the MP, but I track out at the first available opportunity.

The benefits and flexibility of tracking out are obvious... pro dynamics processing on every track if required - compressors, quality EQ and filters, gates, bass extenders, enhancers, stereo wideners, transient modelling, saturators... pro effects - convolution reverbs, distortion/tube modelling, modulation... not to mention **** like automation and mastering inside a daw.

Unless you've got a very expensive hardware setup, I don't see any shortcuts to getting a pro sound. We're all doing the job of about 5 different people in old-world music production now, so I think we need to step up and master the tools that are available to us.

Well,,,,,I think there might be some fx in my mpc4 that will do the trick.But seriously,Those fx in the akai s for instance,they been used all over old tunes that everybody love.Simple and lowfi they seem in the light of day,,,,,at night there working little feats of strangeness.h/w fx,lfo s,panning,flange,phasing,delays,eq s and sometimes a modulating combination-All you need is a good sample or two,pads.A sequencer and some dsp and your done.For a while at least :( (just gotta forget about plugins and eventide ect.Wel maybe not eventide.Or plugins....)
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By Coz Sun Jul 03, 2011 1:14 am
dryad-66 wrote:Those fx in the akai s for instance,they been used all over old tunes that everybody love.



20 years ago maybe, but they don't cut it now. The era of the classic Akai timestretch or S950 filter has long since gone, and unfortunately Akai have never been known for the quality of their effects.
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By Upright Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:06 am
dryad-66 wrote:
Upright wrote:
Coz wrote: We're all doing the job of about 5 different people in old-world music production now...



No doubt...making music is a whole new ballgame now. :D

Nice track youve got there.MPC?



Thanks. I made this in Reason/Record. :D
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By Coz Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:08 am
es-k wrote:beat treats was all mixed in the 1k with jjos



The pre-mastered sound would probably provide the better example for this thread, seeing as mastering gels everything together and fattens up the overall sound etc.

When pure talent enters the equation you might as well tare up the rulebook though, but I personally just vibe off having a lot of processing options. Each to their own. 8)