5K + mixer combo?

I hooked up the 5K to this Mackie I was planning on selling (1604-vlz3) just to test it out with a standalone and I must say I like the EQ (that's really all i can do since I have no hardware effects processors) on it. However, I feel like it's kind of adding to the workflow to run the 5k through this mixer, then into the audio interface into Pro Tools...for MORE mixing. Does anyone else have a similar MPC ~~~> mixer ~~~> computer interface setup? How's it working for you?

I ask because no matter how hard I try, I just CANNOT get with the EQ and compressor in the 5K, or basic effects like reverb. It just sounds so cheap to me. However I still feel like adding the mixer wasn't actually a step forward either....perhaps because aside from EQ it has no on-board effects. How do you guys feel? Think it's possible to run the MP' through a mixer and get a real good basic mix of its outputs, then run that into ur pc/mac and mix in your other sounds/vst's/etc, or would just sticking with your DAW's mixer and effects and save oneself the hassle? I like the feeling of having your faders and knobs right there for on-the-fly changes, but at the same time you cant save your mix for later tweaking like in hardware....you'd have to save to your DAW, blahblahblah.


Thoughts, fellas?

EQ and FX of a machine of this price should be good enough to mix inside the box...
Unfortunately the FX are not really that good (and not a lot of different ones) so yes, one possibility is to hook up al the Out's to a mixer (or DAW)

If you want to stay on the hardware side, buy a Digital Mixer with Total save/recall for example Yamaha 01V).
Then send one sysex command from your MPC to the mixer and you're set, it will recall all the settings as you saved them.

Actually, I just started messing with the Master Compressor... And I got that Mug Smackin my Outputs right now... I tweaked it way differently then I normally Tweak a compressor, but hey, its doin ok to me now... Dont get me wrong, I didnt think the MPC 5K hit as good as my 2000XL, but I havent played with my 2000XL in a few months now(she probably mad at me)

Quite happy with the effects actually, except the reverbs. All the clocked FXs are awsome. EQ is bread and butter but usefull to me. Compressor is not bad either to my opinion.

The program FXs are *very* good to do all kind of weird things with your sound and they sound pretty good to. And there is much diversity as well.

I have my 5k hooked on a Mackie 24-8-2 table and that goes into the Mac. Works like a charm. But I mix and master audio outside the MPC mostly.

scd wrote:But I mix and master audio outside the MPC mostly.

Yeah, I do too as well

If you have the money I would try out a presonus studio live. It has "fat channel" for every channel. It includes eq, compression, limiting, reverbs.


It sounds great and is also a fire wire interface, so you can stream directly to your computer, and firewire returns , so you can route your outputs thru software plug-ins then route them back into the mixer, although it doesn't work as a control surface.


Also it has aux buses for easy routing of your outboard effects processors. And it looks damn sexy. If you have 2k Id go for it.

That joint^^^ is kinda hot




I wish this was compatible with Pro Tools... Dang it!!!

That joint is nice... I would get that.. but I have very bad luck with firewire...

Hmm, that Studiolive seems like it would be a good buy, yes. I'm just trying to envision myself banging out on the mpc, mixing through that......and STILL using the DAW mixer to mix my VST's.....essentially i'd be using two 'mixers.' That'd feel kind of weird........what say you fellas? Is that normal pratice, or should I stop being a cheap bastard and get a real keyboard and do away with my Keystation and vst plugins?



No compatibility w/ Pro Tools? I imagine you mean "unable to use as a control surface for" ? Because I was thinking of investing in PT 8 LE

BxJaze wrote:No compatibility w/ Pro Tools? I imagine you mean "unable to use as a control surface for" ? Because I was thinking of investing in PT 8 LE

Nah, i dont think you can... i would have to futher investigate

You wouldn't really need to use the daw mixer as you can route those vst channels to to unused channels on the studio live.

It's a firewire interface so it shows up as 24 in 18 out (you can get creative with the aux busses). So you can just route the output of those vsts to the studio live.

(disregard that ......not quite sure if you can route vsts back post fader , post effects)



But since it doesn't act as a control surface having a control surface right next to your mixer isn't much of a hassle. Though an extra cost.

Dollar for dollar though this is the best board I have seen. The converters are comparable to an lynx aurora, although it's only 44.1 or 48k, but for hip hop or most production thats not a problem. Also the effects on this is very good, having compression, gate, limiting, eq, effects on every channel. It has 118db of headroom! And it serves as a firewire interface.

I ran into this after looking into getting a mixer and a fire wire audio interface and found this to more than meet my needs. I was a little worried because this was geared more toward being a live mixer, but this was the best purchase I have made in the last 2 years. No regrets at all.

Gotta warn you though right now they are only shipping a few units a day and it's in high demand so at the moment this is one hard to get ****.

And if you shop around you can probably get one as low as 1600. I ended up getting mine for 1550 , but only because I had a coupon , so for me it was a steal but even at 2 k its worth it .

That is if it fits your needs

I'm also using a 5k ->Mixer -> Pro Tools combination but a Korg Zero8.
The Zero8 is an incredible machine and acts much more as a performance instrument than a normal mixer. It is somehow a combination of a studio mixer, DJ mixer and MIDI controller.
There is a complete Kaoss Pad insider, lots of different filters and EQs.
I use the digital out to go into Pro Tools and even route some Pto Tools Tracks back to the mixer.

Mixing with the Zero8 is much more intuitive than mixing in Pro Tools so it makes perffect sense to use it in parallel to the Pro Tools mixer.

I would take a look at the NRV10 fro M-Audio. The M will allow you to use VSTs in realtime and it works with PT. If you've got high-end plugs on your computer this might be the thing.

I agree with outgo in that the Zero 8 is a freak of nature. Nice vid of it being used with live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVWp9tO0me8