Recording to DAW - one track at a time?

Hi,

Just got a new mac and will be recording tracks to my DAW from the MPC. i will be using an external soundcard and will record one track at a time and will use the following method to line the tracks up:

OWEMONEY:
"If you continue to do it the way you currently are; one track of audio at a time I recomend adding a 1 bar sequence to the beginning of each track with just one sound in it like the same snare or high hat in the the same place on each track so after you have recorded them all into your DAW you can just match up that sound in each track to get them lined up back in the right place and timing. Then just cut off the sound from the beginning and everything should be lined up nicely."

I just wondered if there is a way to insert the 1 bar to the begging of a sequence -

or should i just, record a hh/snare at the start of the sequence and then 'solo' it for one repetition > then turn the track off and turn solo off before the actual track starts?

Any advice/thoughts on this method much appreciated..

Create a blank one or two bar sequence, record some 1/4 note high-hats if it'll help you.

Like this: 1,2,3,4,2,2,3,4.

When you get to song mode, insert this sequence at the beginning of the song.

After recording the individual tracks, use the 8 recorded notes as alignment tools.

There are many variations on this method.

I have never understood these "line up" methods...they have always seemed like un-necessary work to me. If you set up MTC (Midi Time Code) in your DAW and set your Mpc to receive MTC all you have to do is press record in your DAW and that will automatically start playback on your Mpc and everything lines up perfect every time and right on beat. This is the method I used....never had to line up anything....just unmute the tracks in my Mpc and record them one at a time. Simple. If you are using Pro Tools you may want to hit up the Pro Tools forums and get some info on setting up MTC from some of the veteran users over there.

^^^^^ yea upright is right, do that and you will need a usb to midi converter if you don't have one. I got one real cheap off ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-MIDI-Cable-Conv ... 3564wt_907

took a while to ship but it works great.

Miser wrote:

OWEMONEY:
"If you continue to do it the way you currently are; one track of audio at a time I recomend adding a 1 bar sequence to the beginning of each track with just one sound in it like the same snare or high hat in the the same place on each track so after you have recorded them all into your DAW you can just match up that sound in each track to get them lined up back in the right place and timing. Then just cut off the sound from the beginning and everything should be lined up nicely."

.

And this sounds like a waste of time, if your not gonna sync up your mpc, just turn on your metronome in your DAW and a 4 beat count in should be good enuff and bang out the play button on your mpc.

Upright wrote:I have never understood these "line up" methods...they have always seemed like un-necessary work to me. If you set up MTC (Midi Time Code) in your DAW and set your Mpc to receive MTC all you have to do is press record in your DAW and that will automatically start playback on your Mpc and everything lines up perfect every time and right on beat. This is the method I used....never had to line up anything....just unmute the tracks in my Mpc and record them one at a time. Simple. If you are using Pro Tools you may want to hit up the Pro Tools forums and get some info on setting up MTC from some of the veteran users over there.

+1

Upright wrote:I have never understood these "line up" methods...they have always seemed like un-necessary work to me. If you set up MTC (Midi Time Code) in your DAW and set your Mpc to receive MTC all you have to do is press record in your DAW and that will automatically start playback on your Mpc and everything lines up perfect every time and right on beat. This is the method I used....never had to line up anything....just unmute the tracks in my Mpc and record them one at a time. Simple. If you are using Pro Tools you may want to hit up the Pro Tools forums and get some info on setting up MTC from some of the veteran users over there.

Theres gonna be latency with drums especially if your usin swing! pro tools timing and mpc timing are not the same.This method only works with main samples but not drums.

optik415 wrote:

Upright wrote:I have never understood these "line up" methods...they have always seemed like un-necessary work to me. If you set up MTC (Midi Time Code) in your DAW and set your Mpc to receive MTC all you have to do is press record in your DAW and that will automatically start playback on your Mpc and everything lines up perfect every time and right on beat. This is the method I used....never had to line up anything....just unmute the tracks in my Mpc and record them one at a time. Simple. If you are using Pro Tools you may want to hit up the Pro Tools forums and get some info on setting up MTC from some of the veteran users over there.

Theres gonna be latency with drums especially if your usin swing! pro tools timing and mpc timing are not the same.This method only works with main samples but not drums.

It works with everything and why would swing make a difference? I find it hard to believe the timing in ProTools would be off but then again I use Sonar and it locks tempo very accurately. Must be a ProTools thing. Also,..what latency are you having?

optik415 wrote:Theres gonna be latency with drums especially if your usin swing! pro tools timing and mpc timing are not the same.This method only works with main samples but not drums.

If you don't understand that the right audio driver makes all the difference in the world, then you'll think otherwise. Selecting the right grid resolution is another thing that plays a part in this as well.

You can record anything damn near latency free provided that you have the appropriate gear & your system is tuned to do so.

dabmeister wrote:

optik415 wrote:Theres gonna be latency with drums especially if your usin swing! pro tools timing and mpc timing are not the same.This method only works with main samples but not drums.

If you don't understand that the right audio driver makes all the difference in the world, then you'll think otherwise.

You can record anything damn near latency free provided that you have the appropriate gear & your system is tuned to do so.

ive recorded my drums with this method and they did not fall into the right place.I sync my 1000 to my digi 003 console.I use swing sometime and mostly dont even quantize.Ill try it again but thats what i experienced.

optik415 wrote:

dabmeister wrote:

optik415 wrote:Theres gonna be latency with drums especially if your usin swing! pro tools timing and mpc timing are not the same.This method only works with main samples but not drums.

If you don't understand that the right audio driver makes all the difference in the world, then you'll think otherwise.

You can record anything damn near latency free provided that you have the appropriate gear & your system is tuned to do so.

ive recorded my drums with this method and they did not fall into the right place.I sync my 1000 to my digi 003 console.I use swing sometime and mostly dont even quantize.Ill try it again but thats what i experienced.

I know in my case that I can choose from an assortment of audio drivers for my Layla's. But only two or maybe three are worth using considering the o.s. & the chipset I'm working with.

if you set up mtc correctly there shouldent be a problem at all with where your dums line up. by nature that is not how a DAW works. it just receives what signal is coming into it and it records it where it hits at.

and also you dont need one of thsoe midi to usb converters if you have an audio interface with midi ins and outs.

hope this helps

Get a decent MIDI interface, sync up properly, done.

Thanks for input..

However a spanner got thrown in the works - i connected my mpc to soundcard and i have that high pitched whinning sound..

Basically i have a ground loop/60Hz issue somewhere in my set up..

Through elimination i worked out that the issue is with both my MPC2500 AND my Vestax PMC08 dj mixer..

When i connected a mp3 player via my mixing desk i could record from that with no interference atall (I also plugged the MP3 player into charge while doing this so im pretty sure its not a power supply/circuit problem)

Im still not sure why both the mpc and the pmc are having this problem - perhaps voltage/grounding problem.. i am looking into this...

anyone had similar problem? I may end up just having to get a 'ground loop eliminator' which seems to have solved this problem for most people.

So for now my method of tracking out is:

- Resampling individual tracks internally using the MPC > transfer via USB > then line up in my DAW

make sure that all your gear is plugged into the same plug board/s coming out the wall. check my posts for a description of tracking into protools. Good luck

damien907 wrote:if you set up mtc correctly there shouldent be a problem at all with where your dums line up. by nature that is not how a DAW works. it just receives what signal is coming into it and it records it where it hits at.

and also you dont need one of thsoe midi to usb converters if you have an audio interface with midi ins and outs.

hope this helps

This is the truth.Not the daw but the set up.I sync on play from cubase to my mpc 1000.No lead in needed.