Technical questions for the MPC2000xl and the MPC2000
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By M.ic P.ro C.rusher Fri Apr 11, 2003 2:13 pm
Aight, I got a loop that I want to fade in, so I use the attack and set it to 100, for a gradual fade. But what if I got a loop that goes into another loop that I want faded as a whole? Go to trim, insert the first sound b4 the second, and then use the attack on the new sound.

But here's my prob; The 2 loops I use are the same sample, just tuned and timestretched to sound diff't, but the original sample from both is the same so when I put them together, it sounds like the same loop twice in a row.

So, is there anyway to change the OG sample so the tuning on each is set to zero, but they keep the sound of the altered tuning, or (and I'd rather do it like this for future use) is there anyway to gradually fade in the entire track so that the notes don't jump up velocity but I get a nice smooth fade in across the whole track? Any help here would be MUCH appreciated.

Peace.
By Mddl Fngr Fri Apr 11, 2003 3:03 pm
You could use the MPC volume to gradually raise the levels as you record into whatever type of recorder you have. Then just sample the fade back to the MP (if memory permits).

I'm sure there's other ways of doing it, but this is prolly the simplest by far.
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By M.ic P.ro C.rusher Fri Apr 11, 2003 3:09 pm
Scratch what I just typed here.....

Lemme try again...

That's a good idea, I'ma hafta try that out. But couldn't I lose a sh!tload of sound quality with that, though? Nevermind trying to get th sample on beat properly. Well, I'll try it anyway. Thanks.

But I don't wanna hafta do that every time I want to fade a loop. Someone has got to have a way to do this within the MPC.....

c'mon people.....

By brainwashcloth Fri Apr 11, 2003 4:00 pm
for hefty stuff like that you need a computer. that would take all of 2 seconds in a decent wave editor like soundforge or wavelab.

also keep in mind you can record mixer changes (volume, pan) made on the mixer screen (shift+7) not sure if that would help you accomplish what you want to do, but its worth looking at.
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By M.ic P.ro C.rusher Fri Apr 11, 2003 4:16 pm
really? PC, eh? That's weird. I mean, I figured you can't just fade a whole track, cuz the MPC doesn't recognize sound, but I was hoping I could take my two loops (both of which are the same loop, just tuned at -10 and -30, then timestretched to be the same BPM) and make them 2 different base sounds. Is there anyway I could keep the same tuning sound but get the value to 0 (i.e. some sort of "set value to zero" while keeping it sounding like -10 and -30)


Oh, yeah, also, in TRIM mode, I can silence certain parts of samples, but I can't fade them in or out? Am I missing something or can I not do that?
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By M.ic P.ro C.rusher Fri Apr 11, 2003 11:08 pm
No one else has any input on this? Someone must know....
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By -{n8}- Sat Apr 12, 2003 1:49 am
Cat, let me get this straight you just want a loop to fade in inside a sequence.. or you have sequenced a loop that you want to fade in?

I'm going to assume your asking how to put a fade in on a loop in your sequence otherwise, I would just be explaining what everyone else has already told you.

There are a few ways you can accomplish this. One is to add some decay to your sample in the program window (shift 6 + drum1-4). If your using this same loop for another sequence you might want to assign the same loop again to another pad minus the decay change.

Another option you have is to automate the fade but that's a bit trickier. While in overdub or record mode go to the mixer screen (shift 7) and adjust the velocity/volume of the pad with the loop on it as your recording. You'll need to enable record mix changes/automation in the settings window of the mixer before you can get this to work properly.

There might be something in step edit but I've never had to use it in this manner so I wouldn't know for sure. The methods I mentioned earlier should be good enough to get the desired effect in the minimal amount of time.

Hope that was helpful to you,


1-0ne

By Mddl Fngr Sat Apr 12, 2003 2:18 pm
Decay won't fade anything in, attack does that. He tried attack and didn't get the results he was lookin for.

If he automates the fade, the volume change will only occur when the sample is retriggered. BTW, you can change the volume of the sample in the mixer screen, but not pad velocity.


couldn't I lose a sh!tload of sound quality with that, though? Nevermind trying to get th sample on beat properly..


It depends on what you record it into and how well your levels are set. When I do it I don't notice any significant loss in quality.

Where's the problem gettin' it on beat? It would be the same tempo/pitch as your original sample, and can be altered just the same.
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By -{n8}- Sat Apr 12, 2003 10:51 pm
lol I must have been out of it when I wrote decay as fade in. Sorry for the mix-up.. your right Mddl Fngr I did mean attack. Thank you for the correction.. I'll refrain from replying to forum posts while in that frame of mind.

Personally, if the sample was just being faded in the one time than automation would my choice but if it was a sample that needed to be faded continuously than recording that sample fade on in a separate wav file (using a software editor such as sound forge) would be a more viable option than re-cording the loop (unless of course the loop is your sequence and not a separate loop you put into your sequence). Than again, if you did the automation once in a sequence than it's just a matter of copying and pasting that same sequence into another sequence.

By brainwashcloth Sun Apr 13, 2003 1:50 am
M.ic P.ro C.rusher,
dont hold you breath for good fast way to do this on the mpc. this is a job for a wave editor. it would take two seconds.
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By M.ic P.ro C.rusher Sun Apr 13, 2003 3:33 pm
I appreciate all the input, fellas. Maybe I didn't explain myself fully.

I have asample that I looped.

Then I made this sample into 2 difft sounds by lowering the tuning of one and timestretching it to be the same length/tempo.

To fade it in I can only attack the first sound, so the 2-sounds-loop has to fade in across only the first half of it, because the second sound is seperate from the first. If I merge to 2 together(insert sound before sound, in the TRIM mode), then I could attack across the whole loop.

My problem is that the 2 sounds are the same, so when I merge them the tuning is ignored and it sounds like the same sounds twice.

Is there anyway I can take a sound that is at TUNING -30 stay at the same tuning rate (or at least sound like it), but set that new rate to zero?

Then I could could merge the two sounds but they wouldn't sound the same, THEN I could attack the whole new sound and get the result I'm looking for.

Holla back

Peace

By elmacaco Sun Apr 13, 2003 8:03 pm
maybe try resampling the sound at the new tuning, then merging the samples.

By trkkazulu Fri Apr 18, 2003 8:44 pm
Wow, i can't believe how long you guys went on about this without figuring it out. And the guy with the wave editor...give me a break. The whole point of the MPC is to liberate us from the shortcomings of general purpose computers running bloated interactive cartoons.

The solution to your problem...

The MPC is a brillant production tool rife with everything a serious producer could possibly need to cut a track. To fade in (or out) a loop do the following:

Lets say you're working with a one bar loop. Take yourself to "Zone Edit". Cut the loop into into four zones. Assign each slice to a pad. Redo the sequence using the sliced loop instead of the original loop. Once you've the loop recorded, go back and overdub the fade on the track from the mixer screen. If you need a finer resolution fade, cut the loop into more slices.

Hope this helps.
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By M.ic P.ro C.rusher Sat Apr 19, 2003 1:19 am
this is a decent idea, but the most I can cut a sample into is 16 zones, and that would give me a definite step effect. I want a smooth fade in, like an exaggerated attack. I got it to fade in over the course of 3 secs. but I want it more like 5 or 6. I just wish there was a way to do the normalize volume/set to 0 proccess on the MPC.

By trkkazulu Sat Apr 19, 2003 2:24 am
Have you tried my suggestion using 16 zones? If you have and are unsatisfied with the results there are other ways to achieve what you're after. This first suggestion is the simplest and should work well for most applications. Have you tried it together with filtering? I'm sure you didn't forget the spectral aspects of fading... What about quantise and tempo? Sample length? Are you really striving to solve this challenge creatively or are you looking for a "preset"? Remember, the MPC has always been the tool of choice for the cutting edge. It was there at the beginning and it will be here for a long time to come. Why? Because it is a blank canvas. The imagination of the user is the MPC's only limitation. The MPC and Hip Hop go hand in hand because both are about individuality and personal style and method.

I've given you two key aspects to the solution to your problem (two more than anyone gave me when i was at your stage with the MPC). Man up now and get with your gear! Use your talent, intuition and skill to overcome this obstacle. Remember: you can do anything with the MPC you want. It's up to you to find the path.

Also your comment "...I just wish there was a way to do the normalize volume/set to 0 proccess...". Neat words. Do you know what "normalise" means? If you really understand normalisation you know that you can do that with an MPC with effects board. Plus, why normalise? What's the difference between normalisation, compression and limiting? What about "gain adjustment"? Which do you need? Do you need any of these processes or do you just think you do?

One final point. Your question about retuning a sample: isn't there a sample tuning function on the "PARMS" page in the sample "EDIT" menu?

When i was coming up, cats only had a turntable. Some guys even had tape machines. Hip Hop was born out of some very creative individuals pushing those humble tools to their limits. There were no alternatives, you either found a way to make your statement with that turntable or you remained unheard. Same thing with the Blues. Six strings and a lot of soul.

Stop harping on what you can't do and start using your MPC.