Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
ByTr1pl36ix Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:39 pm
So I've had the MPC a little less than a month I believe and I'm still working on my first instrumental. Taking my time with it, trying out different things. One thing I haven't really incorporated much into it is long samples. I guess since I don't have a turntable that might be the main reason. I could always get the same music online, I suppose.

But what I'm really lookin to talk about is how any 1 individual here gets a sample to fit there piece they are working on. What I mean is tempo wise and content wise. I've taken things like chopping up loops and using the instrumental stabs within it to assign to different pads, and get rid of whatever I didn't want. That's easy as it's usually just a one shot instrument sound or maybe very few seconds worth.

How do you guys deal with, say a whole portion's worth of a sample? Is it all about changing the tempo and pitch to match YOUR beat. I'm sure some might do it the other way around sometimes, making the drums of the beat to match the sample instead.

Anyways just lookin to soak up some techniques and ideas.

P.S. In your opinion, is it necessary to own a turntable when making instrumentals with an MPC? Or do you feel it only helps but sampling can be down successfully through other means? I'm pressed for cash right now and I don't think I'll be able to get a turntable anytime soon. :(
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By Ill-Green Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:53 pm
What I do is, sample a 7 sec melody which will be my main piece. I take it and play with it using pitch and eq to find that sweet spot it may contain. After getting the right pitch and equilization, I toss it in the sequencer and build a drumline behind it. When things fall in the right place and the BPM is perfect, I discard whatever excess from the main sample and observe the End digits (the Start digits should read zero). With that number, any material I sample in should be trimmed equally or multiplied or divided by 2, 4, 8, or 16 with that number. Now your chops will fall in time and the number of the beast will be reveiled to you.
ByTr1pl36ix Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:02 am
Hmmm... am I postin topics the wrong way or somethin... all the veiws and no replies :(

Ay, I just wanted to post this site for anyone who might not have heard of it. OnlineBeatTutor.com

It's a pretty useful place. Has a bunch of videos, a lot from the producer Digga, breakin stuff down. Ideas, techniques, and stuff. Even has some videos (in the 'Top Rated' section) of ppl like Kayne, Timbaland, 9th wonder, in the studio. Has 1 of Just Blaze on the MPC 4000.
ByTr1pl36ix Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:10 am
I must've posted while you were writting as well. I appreciate that input though. I never thought of it like that... numerically I mean. I've only chopped up a few things so far (mainly those instrument loops and stuff) and I've only used Pro Tools and not the actual MPC500 to do it. So I don't see it in numbers I suppose. That seems effective tho, especially when I'm still tryna develop an ear for it. :D