Chopping Drums/Samples with MPC or Computer?

i'm somewhat new to using an MPC, i've had one for a while but i started out with software and after using an MPC i didn't really give it a chance and went back to using Reason. i'm not new to making beats with software. i prefer using software for chopping samples but i've been curious about how much different the MPC affects the samples, and i'm trying to get back into learning the MPC more. i can do the basics and understand the basics of making the beat, i can make beats if i chop the sample on the computer, load it, then load drums that i already had on my computer, etc.

the main question is if it's better to be chopping with the MPC to preserve a certain sound. the main reason i'd like to get back to learning the MPC is because i'm trying to get that mid-90s sound, and just a punchier sound with my drums in general. not really trying to copy anyone exactly but it just seems like when i use reason for drums, they don't sound as full as stuff i hear from an MPC, but maybe it's just placebo.

by the way, i should mention that i'd be sampling from vinyl obviously, so i'd either be sampling from the turntable to the phono pre and finally to the profire i have on my computer, or if i ended up trying it with the MPC, i would be sampling from turntable, phono pre, to MPC obviously.

lastly, here's my setup:
MPC1000 - blue shitty one
Technics SL-1200MK
Bellari VP130 Rolls Tube Phono Preamp

macbook pro 17''
m-audio profire 610

i appreciate any help, thanks in advance

edit: just wanted to mention that i'm using the free version of JJOS

whether you chop on the computer or the mpc won't change the sound. just go with whatever you prefer.
just make sure you sample into the mpc, not the computer. then either chop on the mpc or use the usb cable and transfer the samples over to the puter for chopping.

gotcha, makes sense now. i appreciate the help so far

if i'm using the MPC, the phono pre will help with boosting quality right? i'm hoping i didn't buy it for no reason, don't some of the MPC's have it built in?

also, while we're on the subject, what software do you guys use? i've been using audacity for a long time but if there's something better i'm open to suggestions, just curious

thanks again

JesseHolmz wrote:if i'm using the MPC, the phono pre will help with boosting quality right? i'm hoping i didn't buy it for no reason, don't some of the MPC's have it built in?

Yeah you'll need the phono pre-amp unless your TT has line level outputs. The only mpc that has built in phono that I know of is the 5000.

JesseHolmz wrote:also, while we're on the subject, what software do you guys use? i've been using audacity for a long time but if there's something better i'm open to suggestions, just curious

As far as pc apps go, I swear by soundforge

I recently switched from chopping on Ableton to chopping on the MPC, because I prefer the hands on approach. I'm on JJos2.

However I'm having a few problems in finding the right loop point for instrument samples on the MPC, so for that I still use Ableton.

If you want to make your beats sound more "analog" even if made on reason, why don't you resample them through the MPC audio in?

This way you can have the best of both, the flexibility of Reason and the MPC sound.

Automageddon wrote:I recently switched from chopping on Ableton to chopping on the MPC, because I prefer the hands on approach. I'm on JJos2.

However I'm having a few problems in finding the right loop point for instrument samples on the MPC, so for that I still use Ableton.

If you want to make your beats sound more "analog" even if made on reason, why don't you resample them through the MPC audio in?

This way you can have the best of both, the flexibility of Reason and the MPC sound.

are you saying to make the whole beat in reason and then transfer it to the MPC? i was under the impression that the drums should be done wtih the MPC to retain that sound

I'm not 100% sure about it, but as it was mentioned above in the thread, the "MPC sound" comes from sampling from the MPC input, so if you make your beat on reason, then resampling through the MPC might do the trick.
Or maybe make a normal beat on Reason, then resample/chop and re sequence it on the MPC.

Automageddon wrote:the "MPC sound" comes from sampling from the MPC input, so if you make your beat on reason, then resampling through the MPC might do the trick.
Or maybe make a normal beat on Reason, then resample/chop and re sequence it on the MPC.

Well it doesn't quite work like that..
When you sample directly to your MPC the sound warms up a bit, this is noticeable especially on drums, whatever you use to sample will change your sample a little bit so if you sample something using your audio interface it will affect the sound characteristics furthermore if you then use it inside (lets say for example) Reason that will also change the sound another bit BUT this is all very subtle, so subtle that most people don't realize until they compare.
The MPC has very good converters better then most cheap Audio Interfaces so that's why its usually better to sample on the machine.
In theory making a hole beat in reason and then resampling it on the MPC should warm up the sound a bit but i dont see the point of making a beat twice, and if you have a crappy audio interface the sound will go to the machine already "damaged"

But beware ! there is alot o myths regarding the "MPC sound" ...

D-One wrote:But beware ! there is alot o myths regarding the "MPC sound" ...

Since they started using 16 bit / 44.1 kHz converters my guess is that there is not much of a specific sound to speak of other than that possibly resulting from a specific workflow or attitude adopted by a larger group of MPC-users.

I also firmly believe that the (modern) MPC´s "unique groove" and "tight timing" in these days is nothing else than myth and wishful thinking.

The (modern) MPC is a user friendly, quick to handle, rather stable and intuitive instrument. It will not create something unique in sound and groove that can´t be obtained by other contemporary hard- or software. It´s a matter of preference more than anything else.

ryssen wrote:

D-One wrote:But beware ! there is alot o myths regarding the "MPC sound" ...

Since they started using 16 bit / 44.1 kHz converters my guess is that there is not much of a specific sound to speak of other than that possibly resulting from a specific workflow or attitude adopted by a larger group of MPC-users.

I also firmly believe that the (modern) MPC´s "unique groove" and "tight timing" in these days is nothing else than myth and wishful thinking.

The (modern) MPC is a user friendly, quick to handle, rather stable and intuitive instrument. It will not create something unique in sound and groove that can´t be obtained by other contemporary hard- or software. It´s a matter of preference more than anything else.

like i said, it could be placebo but i really don't think beats you make with Reason sound the same as an MPC, but again, it could be in my head. i used to be a firm believer that was no difference if you had a MIDI controller with reason, which is still true minus the fact that the overall sound is different, it just comes down to what type of sound you are trying to achieve.

JesseHolmz wrote:like i said, it could be placebo but i really don't think beats you make with Reason sound the same as an MPC, but again, it could be in my head.

This is probably true, working in a different enviroments will probably alter the way you approach things, which parts of the process you concentrate on, the attention you pay to details within those areas, the amount of time you spend on sound shaping or note nudging and so forth.

Though I believe that the difference could be as great if one started to alter ones way of working with the MPC, setting up a new enviroment within it:
If I personally would make such "small" adjustments as to stop going unquantized and switched on TC, do my editing in the grid instead of step edit and arrange through track mutes, my music would probably sound a lot different from how it sound now. However I would probably not consider it more or less "MPC sounding" than before.

The sound and groove of the MPC might have been a valid question back when the AD/DA-conversion actually introduced some clearly (to other than audiophiles) distinguishable artefacts and before "MPC quantization templates" were present in common DAW´s and software.

Edit: typo

ryssen wrote:

JesseHolmz wrote:like i said, it could be placebo but i really don't think beats you make with Reason sound the same as an MPC, but again, it could be in my head.

This is probably true, working in a different enviroments will probably alter the way you approach things, which parts of the process you concentrate on, the attention you pay to details within those areas, the amount of time you spend on sound shaping or note nudging and so forth.

Though I believe that the difference could be as great if one started to alter ones way of working with the MPC, setting up a new enviroment within it:
If I personally would make such "small" adjustments as to stop going unquantized and switched on TC, do my editing in the grid instead of step edit and arrange through track mutes, my music would probably sound a lot different from how it sound now. However I would probably not consider it more or less "MPC sounding" than before.

The sound and groove of the MPC might have been a valid question back when the AD/DA-conversion actually introduced some clearly (to other than audiophiles) distinguishable artefacts and before "MPC quantization templates" were present in common DAW´s and software.

Edit: typo

just to be clear on what i mean by sound, i'm talking about the actual sound quality, i can achieve the same patterns with both the MPC and Reason for the most part, obviously the MPC takes a bit more practice since i can't just draw the notes, but regardless, i'm talking about the final product of the way the overall sound is. with my MPC, the drums especially are way more punchier and just sound different. i used to be one of the people that was preaching that Reason with a MIDI pad controller would be the same thing, and technically i guess it is, minus the fact that the quality doesn't sound the same (to me at least).

JesseHolmz wrote: i'm talking about the final product of the way the overall sound is. with my MPC, the drums especially are way more punchier and just sound different.

Interesting, my advice if you want to find out is to try various combinations of playback. This could help determine whether it is the inputs, the outputs or internal signal handling (for example speed of envelopes, charachter of filters) that could be causing a possible difference.

Sample a break in the MPC, sample the same in your computer. Play back from both units and compare.

Sample a break in the MPC, import the sample via USB to the computer. Play back from both units and compare.

Sample a break in the computer, dump the sample via USB to the MPC. Play back from both units and compare.

Make a beat in the MPC, resample, import beat to the computer. Play back the beat from both units and compare.

Make a beat in the MPC, record it in the computer, dump the beat from computer to the MPC. Play back the beat from both units and compare.

Sample some drums in the MPC, make a basic beat with the drums, all one shots, sample level set to 100, full velocity on all notes, no value in any field whatsover when it comes to envelope or filter settings. Import the samples to the computer, make a corresponding "transparent" program in Reason and recreate the rhythm. No effects is to be used in any machine. Play back from both units and compare.

Be very, very, very exact in matching the listening levels in all comparative playback as very minute differencies could greatly favor the louder one as "fuller", "warmer", "better" or whatever.

ryssen wrote:

JesseHolmz wrote: i'm talking about the final product of the way the overall sound is. with my MPC, the drums especially are way more punchier and just sound different.

Interesting, my advice if you want to find out is to try various combinations of playback. This could help determine whether it is the inputs, the outputs or internal signal handling (for example speed of envelopes, charachter of filters) that could be causing a possible difference.

Sample a break in the MPC, sample the same in your computer. Play back from both units and compare.

Sample a break in the MPC, import the sample via USB to the computer. Play back from both units and compare.

Sample a break in the computer, dump the sample via USB to the MPC. Play back from both units and compare.

Make a beat in the MPC, resample, import beat to the computer. Play back the beat from both units and compare.

Make a beat in the MPC, record it in the computer, dump the beat from computer to the MPC. Play back the beat from both units and compare.

Sample some drums in the MPC, make a basic beat with the drums, all one shots, sample level set to 100, full velocity on all notes, no value in any field whatsover when it comes to envelope or filter settings. Import the samples to the computer, make a corresponding "transparent" program in Reason and recreate the rhythm. No effects is to be used in any machine. Play back from both units and compare.

Be very, very, very exact in matching the listening levels in all comparative playback as very minute differencies could greatly favor the louder one as "fuller", "warmer", "better" or whatever.

but when is the way the sample sounds affected? let's say i sample something with my MPC, then i transfer that sample and chop it up, maybe open it in Reason and add a bassline, and then export it back to the MPC. is it going to sound drastically different now?