Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
By DJAwethentic Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:55 pm
:?

I have had my MPC1000 for about a month now, and have been reading lots of posts about other MPC's and keyboards, etc. and it just puts me in a crappy mood. Right now, all I have is my two Technic 1210's, DJM500, a CDJ800, and my MPC1000. It seems like all I can really do is make some decent drum tracks with the drum samples I have, and from sampling and stuff, but can't really add any nice pads, synths, or good non-drum sounds onto my tracks. If I try to sample some of those sounds and try changing the tune on my MPC, the timing of them is all screwed up, and nothing really sounds that good...Any suggestions? Programs to help me overlay some good sounds, or a keyboard recomendation?

It also seems like the MPC1000 is missing some cool features, like delay effects, time stretching for sample editing - What else versus some other models is it missing? AND NO - IM NOT ASKING FOR A COMPARISON, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY EXIST...I just can't find those comparison posts...

:P

Thanks peeps.
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By Penfold Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:11 pm
ever thought of..........layering.......???? :?
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By trendsetter Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:03 pm
[quote="DJAwethentic"]:?

Right now, all I have is my two Technic 1210's, DJM500, a CDJ800, and my MPC1000.

What else do you need> I've heard hot beats made with less and wack beats mad in a million dollar spot. 9th wonder uses fl Studio that is it.
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By metafor Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:13 pm
Alchemist uses the ASR 10, and Ocasionally the moog. It seems to me you have plenty. i keyboard will provide lots of extra sounds. It all depends what kinfd of style your lookin to compose. You know are you mainly sample based (vinyl). Go to your local music store, and test some sound modules out, or go buy some new vinyl. Just some suggestions
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By punkdISCO Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:23 pm
Man, you probably have 100 fold more power available to you compared to what I had when I started making electronic music back in about 1986. I think these days we are spoilt - pretty much anyone can now afford a awesome studio these days, usually taking a few months to acquire what previous would have taken 10 years (literally). With instant hardware and instant studios, people then expect instant results but unfortunately this is one thing that has not changed - we still need to work for many many years before we get good at our shyte..

I do think you are on the right lines considering getting a keyboard. I can never understand the average Hip Hop'r getting a sampler before anything else, after all, what you going to sample?! Okay, I know you guys are crazy about sampling records and stuff but being able to make your own sounds is where the real power lies (and I DONT mean Tritons and other romplers!)

I have never used one but many people love the Alesis Ion, even people on this list. Very analogue sounding for a DSP synth and very inexpensive..

http://www.alesis.com/products/Ion/

Good luck dude and keep with it,,

Paul

By DJAwethentic Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:26 pm
I produce and listen to a lot of Trance and Techno beats, which you can see influences all of my productions. I like making hip-hop beats too which is the main reason why I got the Akai MPC1000, to make better hip-hop beats. But I still like to have some dance/trance vibes with a hip-hop style beat. I have FL Studio as well, but am trying to move away from it, it just got old after a while. And I am running out of sounds to use, which is why I am interested in a keyboard. I know what you all are saying, and I appreciate all your feedback. It's cool to hear from other people, and get some opinions and input. Maybe I'll post links to some of my older beats, and some of my new stuff I've been making with the MPC and people can give me feedback, what I'm lacking, or stuff to improve on??? That would be dope. Thanks everyone.

Peace
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By Antonym Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:55 pm
hook up the mpc to reason for interpolation

layer like mad, can't tell you how important that is.

you've got plenty...and i assume you have a computer, too...that's more than enough. especially for trance and stuff
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By beyondhope1 Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:32 pm
Bro, All I have Is A Turnatable, mixer MPC and A midi Key for the Computer thats all you need.
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By djobserv Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:25 am
you dj right. you should be able to fit samples to the drums. just think of how you mix two songs together. you have to match the pitch up just right. even if your off just a little it'll sound off. so just take your time fitting loops with the drums. if you talking about doing oneshot just do what you think sounds right. just mess with the pitch to fit. i always refer back to mixing two beats together on the turntables and think of the pitching situatiion.

By Moody Wed Sep 14, 2005 3:37 pm
put more energy in to what you have.. work hard on hit and really spend time learning your machine. I dont know how easy the 1000 is to learn but i wouldnt expect to make a nice-sounding track after one month.
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By d_loc Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:14 pm
blah shut up

sorry but if you have records you should be str8

learn how to sample no offense

actually I was feeling down about my equipments capabilities recently too...then I built myself a new desk and now my beats are much hotter.

this is not a joke. maybe you need a more effecient way of setting up what you have? clean your room or something

By DJAwethentic Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:41 pm
Haha...word. I'm actually trying to come up with a new design for my room layout right now, a new desk and setup to store all my stuff better, and easier to access...who knows, maybe you're right. :)
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By Antonym Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:50 pm
it's funny, man - i went through a phase where i was a little weirded out and disappointed with having bought an mpc. i went from all acid 4.0 production to all reason production and then i picked up an mpc 1000 last december. it's made my life, man - at first, like a month into it, i was thinkign oh god what have i done this is the exact same thing....

then i started actually listening to old sampler-produced songs and i learned what doors having a sampler opens up for you...you can get the most beauitufl drums using a sampler, better than any other production technique.....at least for me...

keep bashing your head against it.you'll come to love it.

By sleepersriddle Wed Sep 14, 2005 6:44 pm
How bout::

1. use those softsynths in FLStudio to make single-note that sound good, then use bluebox to make a chromatic program, play that on yer mpc.
(and theres thousands of free vst synths that work in FLS also)

2. find single notes from your vinyl that sound good, and make new melodies outa those.

3. if you are frustrated with trying to fit sampled melodies and chords over beats and make it all stay in key... maybe practise chopping more. some people would say TIMESTRETCH, but they didnt even have timestretch back in the day and they still figured it out.