For discussion about setting up your studio and advice on the gear and equipment within it.
By phil1201 Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:21 am
I am new to midi.
What i want to do is use a bunch of vsti from my computer.
I am not a fan of DAWs ( but a i have cubase).
I want to keep my mpc as my sequencer and be able to trigger the vsti sound from my mpc or my midi keyboard(connect to my mpc)
I want to record everything in the mpc and dont care if it gets or not recorded in the daw.
Is that possible? can i use the vsti without a DAW in this case?
if yes, should i record the vsti sounds as midi or can i convert it as audio ?

PS: I used the search function, but didnt find an anwser
By dtaa pla muk Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:11 am
tobybear minihost

use VSTs + mpc without a daw

or just use reaper but don't use it as a DAW. reaper and minihost are damn near equally as lightweight, and reaper might just cure your dawphobia
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By quietizkept Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:57 pm
Reaper has cured my DAWphobia. I find Reaper much more stable than minihost, and it's easier to set up different instruments on seperate midi channels. Just right click in the empty space to the left, and hit "add virtual instrument on new track". Pick its midi source from the track's drop-down menu, and dial in the same number on the bottom right of your MPC screen. Repeat for each track. Couldn't be easier! I knew Reaper was the move cuz Nym said so but I was afraid it would be as complicated as his technique (search youtube for nymantics), but I was pleasantly surprised. Wit Reaper you can just plug in and go, or get as deep as a river with its configurability. And if you should decide, Phil, to record, all you got to do is hit "record". All your note info is recorded as midi and you can zoom in and touch-up if you want(badass). Plus you can use your vst effects on those same tracks super-simple. I wanted to record everything in my 1000 too, but using Reaper alongside my MPC was actually much, much simpler, and powerful as HELL. This is the best workflow situation I've EVER had.

My first beat on my new best friend used minihost, and minihost has cool arpeggio and chord functions, but I just sampled myself playing keys like that into the "audio" tracks. Trust me, arranging loops sucks, especially when you have to wait for the 1 beat for a part to come back in. My old dr. sample had a "syncronized loop" function, where loops came in wherever, on beat(like the audio tracks), and now I can do this with the track mute screen and vstis in Reaper, and the notes have a much more natural decay, as opposed to just muting instantly.
By phil1201 Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:37 pm
thanks!
i am going to test these possibilities and get back to you soon
Thanks again
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By faze1 Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:47 pm
Nym wrote:tobybear minihost

use VSTs + mpc without a daw

or just use reaper but don't use it as a DAW. reaper and minihost are damn near equally as lightweight, and reaper might just cure your dawphobia


Amen to Reaper! Cured my dawphobia. (thanks Nym!! :lol: )

To answer your question what you want to do is possible. Just set up your midi channels in the mpc and your vsts and setup the computer to send audio to the mpc. You can record your live playing or you can record the midi info first and then sample the midi instrument while its playing back when the sequencer is going. I myself use the digital input to record stuff from the computer when i feel the need to.
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By quietizkept Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:21 am
Yeah....just like I explained......rofl

Digital is the deal though, I tried analog and it's a big difference. Just remember to buy 75 ohm cables unlike captain dunce quiet over here. A whole mess of issues went away after I ditched my stupid '96 Radio Shack rca cables.
By phil1201 Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:02 am
faze1 wrote:
Nym wrote:t
You can record your live playing or you can record the midi info first and then sample the midi instrument while its playing back when the sequencer is going.
.


I understand all the Midi setup.
But what I dindt get is how to record(sample) the midi instrument in the mpc while playing.( to be able to play back the track without the computer vsti on).
I have got a Presonus Audiobox sound card, is that ok?
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By quietizkept Thu Mar 12, 2009 1:12 pm
Does your audio interface have spdif in/outs?
By phil1201 Thu Mar 12, 2009 1:26 pm
I think so
http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail ... oductId=53

I just bought it, if it s not a good choice I still can return it...

quietizkept, your setup is what i need for sure.

I tried Reaper, and yes, it s a great!

Thanks again for your precious help
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By quietizkept Thu Mar 12, 2009 1:49 pm
I've had good results with my Presonus mic pre, but I don't see any digital in/outs on your box. Most of those presonus deals I've seen are about $100 at guitar center, the same price as my e-mu 0404. To some, my card is entry level. To me, It's more than what I need, and er, um, I ain't got no other job......

Here go the link:http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=505&subcategory=491&product=10447

It does have the drawback of not having a mic pre, tho.

You CAN sample yourself with your box, though, with analog, but that would take some creative wiring, you'd have to either split your main outs 'tween your mpc and your monitors, or run your monitors from the mpc main outs, but you'd have to turn input thru on to ever hear your pc.

Do you need to record vocals before next payday? if not, trade up for the 404, would be my humble suggestion. You WILL need 2 of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEBDIX:IT&item=300293077363
cuz let me tell you it don't matter how nice your rcas are if they aren't 75ohm the 0404 hates them.

Sorry if unclear I'm still shakin' off a late night in the studio.