Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
Bymo Tue May 06, 2003 4:08 pm
I am proud to say that I've just join the ranks of the highly prestigeous league of extrodinary gentlemen (women,) that rock beats on the world renouned MPC!

Okay, enough with the salutations; I just got the MPC 2000xl with the internal zip drive :D and I'm wondering what's the best set up for it. I'm just using the Trinity rack module for basslines and chords, and the MPC for beatz and the "bells & whistles." I got a PC with Wavelab 4, Cubase 5, Soundforge 6 and Cool Edit Pro (version something point something.)

I used to sequence the sounds from the Trinity to Cubase (midi,) then record all my vocals on the audio tracks. But now that I have the MPC, should I:

1) Use the PC as the master sequencer, and run the MPC as well as the Trinity through Cubase (kinda like what I've been doing before the MPC.)

or

2) Seguence the Trinity thru the MPC and only us the PC to record the instrumentation. Then dubbing the vocals using Cool Edit.

See, I want to be able to take the MPC and the Trinity into a "professional studio" to record vocals if I just have to. I don't like the way vocals sound digitally recorded (If there is a tight plugin out there to warm up and thicken vox, please let me know.) I don't see myself going to a "professional studio" any time soon, I like my home studio just fine, but just in case I get an offer I can't refuse--I need to be ready, right?

Please lend me your insights to this question. I would greatly appreciate any and all comments on the subject.

Keep Bangin'
User avatar

By Dr.Foo Tue May 06, 2003 4:18 pm
#2

once you start doing compex sequences on the mPC you will see its true strength. MIDI TIMING. I record from MPC/all my other external synth or sampler gear right into Cool Edit Pro and then mix it down from there. CEP is a real nice program if all you wanna use it for is as a multitracker and mixin'.
USe the MPC as master, sequence it all on that, then run it to the mixer then the PC, where you can record, do efx etc.

this is how I do it and most of the people I come across do it this way. the xception is that if you wanna use alot of PC stuff, VST, cubase stuff, its prolly better to have the PC sewuence it since it is kinda time consuming to use the MPC to control all that crap.

Ive done it both ways and I like the way I have it now better. BUT try it out don't just take mine or someone elese word for it. find what you like and use it. Horses for courses./....

By KoolSha178 Wed May 07, 2003 3:11 am
Id say foo is right, I was doing sequencing on my mpc and then resequencing on my mac, i was losing the groove. Now i just record the finished sequence from mpc song mode into the comp and add a little compression, eqing, delay where its needed...works pretty good form me.
User avatar

By jorge guzman Thu May 08, 2003 5:20 pm
same here, i complete the beat on the mpc and then bring it into my pc using audio.
User avatar

By Boogie Man Thu May 08, 2003 6:01 pm
KoolSha178 wrote:Id say foo is right, I was doing sequencing on my mpc and then resequencing on my mac, i was losing the groove. Now i just record the finished sequence from mpc song mode into the comp and add a little compression, eqing, delay where its needed...works pretty good form me.


what was the point in sequencing on the MPC and then again on the mac. I see many folks who state this and I just wonder why.

By elmacaco Fri May 09, 2003 12:21 am
sequence your samples on the MPC, sync it to cubase, sequence your trinity from Cubase just like you've been doing, and record your vocals in cubse as well. when you are done with the track, record the mpc sequences as audio into the same sequence. THen repeat the process ;)

Basically what everybody else said.

sequencing an mpc from another sequencer is the biggest waste, if you're gonna do that just get a rack sampler.