Mono or Stereo Connections to Mixer

Hello Guys,

i decide to buy an Alesis Multimix 12 Firewire,
I also want to buy the connection cables for the MPC-outs to the mixer!
I use a MPC 2500.

I know that I need 6,3mm Klinke to 6,3mm Klinke?
But should I use Mono or Stereo?

Please help me

Each output on the MPC is MONO.

To track out a stereo sample you will normally use TWO of your outputs, one for the left channel and one for the right channel.

Each MPC output will be connected to a MONO input on your mixer. Some mixers including yours have stereo channels, in which case you feed these with two mono sources.

On the Alesis Multimix 12 Firewire channels 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12 are allocated as stereo channels for hooking up stereo sources.

Use Mono cables for mono signals.

thanks for your answer!

is it normal to connect the MAIN OUT to the a mixer channel?
or should i only go through the 8 OUTs in the mixer?

peace

The MPC uses the TS (tip/sleeve) connector, so the output isn't grounded. This can lead to some increase to your noise floor through radio/electrical interference. Usually not a problem, but sometimes if you roll up cables, put them near magnets etc you'll get interesting and undesirable behavior. This especially a problem when you've got cabling that is far to long as there aren't a whole lot of options to 'shorten' it up.

However, there is no harm in using TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) connectors, they will work just fine, unfortunately you won't see any benefits for doing this with the MPC. Unless you have a specific reason to do this, save the money and buy yourself a beer with your savings.

So coming off of the MPC, you'll either need to use the L/R (and maybe 1/2/3/4...) outputs and have a single cable from each to a single input on your mixer. Then you'd pan the mixer channel hard left/right for whichever output you have on your mixer, set mixer levels to 0db (or whatever makes you happy).

Now keep in mind what I've just described is a typical setup, your mixer *may* have some different options. Some have phono inputs that are linked to a single channel on the mixer, while unlikely, you may have a TRS input on the mixer that could handle both L/R MPC output channels etc... this would be like a Y cable, L/R would be TS connectors to the MPC, and you'd have a single TRS connector that could plug into the mixer. Again this is unusual though.

The other option you may have is the phono style digital output on the MPC to a digital input on your mixer/interface which would handle both L/R at the same time.

Good luck!

dr_disser wrote:thanks for your answer!

is it normal to connect the MAIN OUT to the a mixer channel?
or should i only go through the 8 OUTs in the mixer?

peace

Normally you'd hook up the MAIN OUTs first to your mixer for your stereo field. Then you'd hook up the other outputs for things you may want to track out in mono such as a bass line or vocals that would be center channel. This way you can mix things in your DAW or on a mixer seperately. Of course you can always mix entirely in your MPC, but doing it this way allows you to add extra FX to a specific channel, for instance you might want to use an external delay effect on the vocals but not have it used on everything. If all outputs go out to your MAIN OUTs then you can only use your external FX on what is mixed from those outputs.

Hopefully that makes sense.

ok that make sens, thanks!

But another question:
I can change the Volume of the MAIN OUT on the Volume Controller (the right controler beside the Input Controler),
and the Volume of the Outputs 1-8 in the MPC-Software.

But I want to manage all Velocitys on the Mixer.
Is it possible to shut down the Volume Controller...cause I want to use the MPC live in combination with a mixer... so its not good when I can change the velocity of the main outs at the mpc...

peace

ive been crazily busy for school, and havent got the time to recheck this, but:

arent the L and R outs of the mpc 2kxl mono and TRS, each? two balanced mono outputs.. and the eight others are TS and mono, so unbalanced?

the main and single outs on the mpc 2500 are balanced outs so they could be used with trs cables.
the manual of the alesis mixer recommends using trs cables on every mono input.

if you are on a budget you could use ts cables but there maybe more noise in your signals especially if all our cables are cramped together with the power cables or if you use very long cables.

the use of trs cables in studio connections are mostly mono connections and the technology is used to keep the noise down.
there are some special pieces of equipment that really use stereo trs connections but this is rare.
sometimes like in the microphone fx channel of my dj-mixer the trs stereo connection is used with a y-cable with trs on one end and TWO ts on the other end to provide connection for an external effect loop by using just one connector on the mixer.

this may take you a little more into it: http://www.tweakheadz.com/all_about_cables.htm

peace, jo

^^^ What he said.

Or another example would be using a Y cable on a hardware compressor/limiter, and connecting the single balanced end of the Y cable into the "insert" input on a channel of some mixers.

The two mono ends of the Y cable act as send and recieve for the I/O connections on the compressor.

i just got the soundcraft epm6 its my first desktop mixer other than djmixers.. i dont get the part in the manual were it says this must be grounded/earthed it didnt come with any wires except the power mains and unless i have to unbolt chassis bolts then i wouldnt know what the deal is.. i know how to ground/earth a TT to a mixer and car stereos. i write/rap and just setting up gear to produce now so im still learning and its best i ask before blowing it up.. this site is the only thing in new zealand that i will get an answer from.
sorry for asking in this topic..
my gear so far is:

Mpc
soundcraft mixer
technics TT
Djmixer
monitors
midikeyboard

cheers yo

sarga: no idea man

but im wondering: can i really put a TS cable (unbalanced) in a TRS (balanced) in/output? if i understand correctly the ring signal and ground will be going through the ground cable (due to it having contact with the sleeve part of the in/output) that way.. (bookmarked that page :p )

(btw i just now remember that in a dream last night there was something about scsi cables hehehe)

AntonPD wrote:but im wondering: can i really put a TS cable (unbalanced) in a TRS (balanced) in/output? if i understand correctly the ring signal and ground will be going through the ground cable (due to it having contact with the sleeve part of the in/output) that way..

this is no problem, because since the signal on the ring has "no" connection there is no electric circuit that allows the current to flow.
but it is at all times better not to plug or unplug cables while the equipment is turned on - so to avoid any unwanted damage switch off all equipment when pluging cables and switch it on after you made all connections.
one special problem is the use of phantom power, because in this case there is a current on the cable which can destroy your equipment if you plug or unplug the cable.
for example if you connect an unbalanced source to mic inputs on your mixer you should not turn on phantom power on this channels. if your mixer only has a global phantom power switch for all mic inputs at once then absolutely avoid to unplug these cables while the units are switched on.

peace, jo

cool, thanks

I may be even more puzzled than the original poster of the thread. Im using Mpc 2kxl w/8 outs- What would the ideal connection be to this mixer http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UB1002FX.aspx

Im puzzled trying to figure the best connection with this