Does external synch mess with MPC4000 's "groove" ?

New to MPC4000 ....giving it the primary sequencing duties. Logic wasn't cutting in it in that department. Groove to difficult to get just right.

Anyway...

Assuming that I wanted to run both side by side, so that I could use all of my softsynths and plugs in Logic....does external synching the MCP4K damage the groove/swing of the sequence? I have to use both sequencers because if not, Logic will only sound the selected instrument track as the MPC plays...ie tracks won't behave as individual instruments (with the exception of the few multi-channel instruments like EXS24).

I understand that some would say that the timing on the MPC is tighter...but Logic's AMT is supposedly the tightest timing available. Either way, my issue with Logic's sequencer is not the timing itself, but how hard you must work to get it to swing appropriately for hip hop/r&b. It can be done...but man...it just takes too long. I've been able to get the right feel within one or two passes of the sequence on the MPC.

I hope I was clear enough...

Thoughts?


Quaz

just slave the mpc 2 to logic and use both sequencers, and program any sounds where you need the mp in the mp, and let logic control the transport

Iceberg-Slim wrote:just slave the mpc 2 to logic and use both sequencers, and program any sounds where you need the mp in the mp, and let logic control the transport

How do you suggest setting up Logic and the MPC to sync? I mean in detail!
I've heard smpte is the tightest sync and way better than midi
time code.

Share the knowledge

As I heard from a friend that works as an engineer for some big time producers the mpc is set as master and you slave whatever you want synced. Also using MIDI CLOCK instead of MTC or SMPTE etc will keep the machines "groove" because it only sends out a sync signal on each 1 or whatever it is. This is how I got it explained to me but I cant guarantuee it works 100% as I havent had the oppurtunity to try it out myself yet.

Kalei

Kalei wrote:As I heard from a friend that works as an engineer for some big time producers the mpc is set as master and you slave whatever you want synced. Also using MIDI CLOCK instead of MTC or SMPTE etc will keep the machines "groove" because it only sends out a sync signal on each 1 or whatever it is. This is how I got it explained to me but I cant guarantuee it works 100% as I havent had the oppurtunity to try it out myself yet.

Kalei

The only problem with doing that is if you want to use Logic to TRACK AND RECORD...you'll have a big problem. Digital audio doesn't want to synch to midi. In fact, in the recording scenario, Logic would need to be the master for synch.

To the previous poster, you can set Logic to transmit MMC and Midi clock. Since I have a Unitor, I can synch using SMPTE as well.

I will give it a try using the MPC4k as the midi clock master. I should be able to record sequences into Logic this way and everything will be all good until it comes time to record vocals / track instruments.

I will also try it the other way around and see if I can determine whether or not the groove is impacted. If the answer is no, it would seem to be logical to use Logic as the master so that I won't have any issues recording audio.

I have a unitor too so I'll have a go at making logic the master Never thought of that....

Let me know your findings anyway!!

ps: I like that nodding bit you got there