Rec Gain for samples

I know how hard you hit the MPC preamp when sampling varies with how you want something to sound. Like I will hit the pre hard for a snare on the 3K to make it crunchy and what not. But can anyone give any tips on how hard to come it for sample loops off records?

I have tried different levels and they all sound alot different. Its getting frustrating trying to make it sound optimal. I have heard some say to come in low and normalize to get , "that MPC sound". But my 3K doesnt have normalize. I just got a 2K rack but I havent messed with it yet,but I assuming it has normalize.

But how low is too low. Should I ever be near peaking or do yall push into clipping for samples?

I dont use the rec gain on the MPC to gain/overdrive the input but the output of my my mixer. I once adjusted the rec gain on the MPC to barely hit the end of the scale (I used a testtone that came out of the mixer with -3dB). So now I know any signal that come out of my mixer with -3db or less is still clean. Anything above -3dB will give more and more distortion. It always depend on the signal too cause in some cases the Peakmeter of my mixer issnt fast enough to display the fast and high peaks of a snare, for example. This will result in a clean loop with a slightly crunchy snare.
There is no vaalue you can set and every sampel will sound great. You'll have to use the ear and maybe sampe it more than one time. You always can control the sample right after sampling and if its not like you want it, just hit Retry and sample again with other gain setting.

peace

peterpiper wrote:I dont use the rec gain on the MPC to gain/overdrive the input but the output of my my mixer. I once adjusted the rec gain on the MPC to barely hit the end of the scale (I used a testtone that came out of the mixer with -3dB). So now I know any signal that come out of my mixer with -3db or less is still clean. Anything above -3dB will give more and more distortion. It always depend on the signal too cause in some cases the Peakmeter of my mixer issnt fast enough to display the fast and high peaks of a snare, for example. This will result in a clean loop with a slightly crunchy snare.
There is no vaalue you can set and every sampel will sound great. You'll have to use the ear and maybe sampe it more than one time. You always can control the sample right after sampling and if its not like you want it, just hit Retry and sample again with other gain setting.

peace

Thats whats up. So you are saying though that you, for the most part want to sample loops(lets say without drums), so that you are not peaking the MPC. You adjust your mixer hotter or colder depending on how hard you want to hit the MPC.

BUT you never clip or peak the MPC with a sample,right?I know peaking for drums are okay Im talking samples. Seems like if I get anywhere near the end of the scale I getting some crackling shit going on in my samples.

AND just curiosity, where did you end up on you gain with it set for the -3db test tone? 11 or 12 O' clock?

And what test tone you use sweep or specific tone, I wanna try that?

So what tone do you use to do this?

Personally, i prefer to use the sound of a gorilla wearing a Top-Hat.