Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By claytonbigsby Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:41 pm
I'm obviously very new to the mpc (had an mpk for a while though) and I need help on recording audio from my laptop on my mpc. Everything I try seems to only lead me to recording the audio in MONO and it's always the left side audio (never the right side audio). I tried multiple different things....

1) connecting the headphone output jack of my laptop to the mpc input L using a basic 3.5 audio cable with adapters.

2) same as 1) but plugged it into the mpc input R

3) I even tried using various different rca audio cables in variation to try and connect the two.

I was wondering if it's even possible to be able to record the other audio portion (the right side) with the laptop audio output jack or if I have to get a sound card or something to be able to do that. And I was also wondering how to be able to record in stereo. Is it even possible to record both audio sides from a headphone jack? Does it have to be an rca output to record both audio sides?
Thanks if you spent the time to read all this...
By bennisixx Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:13 pm
hey tell you how to do it- if you come out mono off your laptop then go to
mode>record>input-mono
it will be real mono
what you were doing is recording stereo but only recording 1 side

download the manual good-- stuff
what interface do you use
if you want to record stereo (larger file sizes) sounds like your using a consumer sound card
run 1/8" to dual 1/4" ts plug the dual end into the mpc l and r get it and set input on mpc to stereo
By claytonbigsby Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:59 pm
Thanks for such a quick reply!

So your saying all I need is a 1/8" to dual 1/4" ts plug to be able to record in stereo? Great! One thing though, does it have to be a 1/8" STEREO plug to dual 1/4" MONO plugs?

I still need help trying to figure out how to record the right side audio.
Under MODE there is two options I can choose from, Mono L and Stereo. Is it possible to record Mono R or am I forced to record under stereo in order to record the right side audio. I'm sorry if my vocabulary is hard to understand. I'm trying to type this as best I can.

What I eventually want to end up with is the ability to record either audio side (either L or R) in order to get the best quality sample, e.g. if I want to record the horns from a certain song and the horns play clearer from the right speaker than the left speaker, I want to be able to record in MONO but only the audio from the right speaker, not the left. Right now I am forced to only record the audio from the left speaker when using Mono L.
By bennisixx Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:40 pm
ok just record left (seriously left is for stereo only in mono look at it as a line in)
go from your sound card right out to mono on mpc..... you can pan the sample if you want it on the right or ---- export sample from your daw and inport it at 16 bit on your mpc
Id do the 1st though

tip----get a cheap audio interface with two 1/4" trs outs if you plan on doing this alot

oh im new to the mpc world too, software only for years, just be creative and make sure you f@#$ up
failure is the best teacher


B
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By BLiTzZD Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:56 pm
bennisixx wrote:hey tell you how to do it- if you come out mono off your laptop then go to
mode>record>input-mono
it will be real mono
what you were doing is recording stereo but only recording 1 side

download the manual good-- stuff
what interface do you use
if you want to record stereo (larger file sizes) sounds like your using a consumer sound card
run 1/8" to dual 1/4" ts plug the dual end into the mpc l and r get it and set input on mpc to stereo


You CAN NOT record Stereo sound unless you have the 128mb upgrade RAM.
User avatar
By BLiTzZD Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:00 pm
claytonbigsby wrote:I'm obviously very new to the mpc (had an mpk for a while though) and I need help on recording audio from my laptop on my mpc. Everything I try seems to only lead me to recording the audio in MONO and it's always the left side audio (never the right side audio). I tried multiple different things....

1) connecting the headphone output jack of my laptop to the mpc input L using a basic 3.5 audio cable with adapters.

2) same as 1) but plugged it into the mpc input R

3) I even tried using various different rca audio cables in variation to try and connect the two.

I was wondering if it's even possible to be able to record the other audio portion (the right side) with the laptop audio output jack or if I have to get a sound card or something to be able to do that. And I was also wondering how to be able to record in stereo. Is it even possible to record both audio sides from a headphone jack? Does it have to be an rca output to record both audio sides?
Thanks if you spent the time to read all this...


You CAN NOT record Stereo sound unless you have the upgrade RAM card for the MPC. You CAN use the laptop audio jack to send Stereo sound to your MPC, but you will require the upgrade RAM on the MPC to recognize the right side of the audio.

For now your only option is to run a cable from your laptop to the LEFT IN on your MPC. When you press MODE>RECORD, it automatically goes to STEREO. Use the data wheel to scroll to MONO. Pow, good to go.
By brazeca Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:52 am
BLiTzZD wrote:You CAN NOT record Stereo sound unless you have the upgrade RAM card for the MPC. You CAN use the laptop audio jack to send Stereo sound to your MPC, but you will require the upgrade RAM on the MPC to recognize the right side of the audio.


I am sorry but it's not true. With basic RAM it is still possible to sample the whole minute of audio in stereo (44.1 khz/16 bit) into MPC.

To sample in stereo one has to buy the right cable first, according to what outputs their sampling-source gear has. For instance, if it is 1/8 inch headphones jack output, it is necessary to buy or order/DYI a cable which would have 1/8 inch stereo jack on one side and two 1/4 mono jacks on another. Any good audio store which sells professional cables should be able to put together the customized cable. And it won't cost a lot of money. Besides, it is possible to order a cable of a non-standard length.

Here's a great starting point on cables: http://tweakheadz.com/all_about_cables.htm
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By Lampdog Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:01 am
BLiTzZD wrote:You CAN NOT record Stereo sound unless you have the 128mb upgrade RAM.

Not true.

brazeca is on point.
User avatar
By BLiTzZD Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:19 pm
Lampdog wrote:
BLiTzZD wrote:You CAN NOT record Stereo sound unless you have the 128mb upgrade RAM.

Not true.

brazeca is on point.


I stand corrected. Twice. Thanks.

My MPC is busted up then. It will only record mono sound no matter what cable combo/recording settings I have. Balls. I have a 1/4 stereo to dual mono 1/4's. No dice.
User avatar
By Galik-C Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:29 pm
claytonbigsby wrote:I'm obviously very new to the mpc (had an mpk for a while though) and I need help on recording audio from my laptop on my mpc...... ...



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