Making E-mu SP-1200 samples for MPC

I'm really anxious to see if I get some decent replies on this one!

Before you forum-sharks rip me up for asking a dumb question please know that I spent quite some time rummaging through old threads and rewording Google searches before I finally decided to swallow my pride and ask you dudes for help. I couldn't believe it when I didn't find more threads pertaining to this specific topic. With everybody trying to emulate the sound of legends like DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Jel, Madlib, etc.. I expected to see a lot more questions about this process.

This is hypothetical - and I'm just asking to expand my own knowledge on the subject.
(I also understand that my explanation of this process may seem crude and ill-informed. Please just correct me. )

LET'S SAYYY:
I have an E-mu SP-1200.
I listen to ALBUM-X on my turntable until I find a sweet kick drum hit that I would like to sample.
I set my turntable to 45rpm+8% and sample the short kick hit with the SP-1200.
I pitch the sample back down to the original (approximately).
I press the pad/button on the SP-1200 (triggering the kick sample) and record it with Pro Tools.
I fine-trim the sample in Pro Tools and export the finished copy as a WAV file.
I move the WAV file from my computer to my MPC.
I load-up the sample in my MPC and have captured (even if it's not exactly like the SP-1200) an SP-1200 kick.
I can now trigger this kick that was originally sampled with an SP-1200 - on my MPC.

Is this process possible? Is there a reason why this general process would not be ideal?

I've read that the real punch of the original SP sample would be lost somewhere during a transfer of this kind. I'm curious more to know if the sample would retain the SP-1200's signature "color" and "texture."

During my internet search I did manage to find this:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/rap-hip-hop-engineering-production/623227-real-sp-1200-sound-mpc-2500-a.html

This guy drollz basically has the same question as me. As usual, out of his 70 replies - maybe two people really tried to answer his question.

It seems the problem with posting topics having to do with the classic E-mu SP-1200 is that folks inevitably just start talking about all kinds of stuff that has nothing to do with the question. Before you reply:

1. I understand that using an SP-1200 does not necessarily mean I will produce great music.
2. I am not trying to emulate Primo or Madlib.
3. I understand that "the sound" is an objective thing.
4. I'm not interested in ways to recreate "the sound" with other methods or gear.
5. I understand that this process would be expensive. I'm not interested in SP prices. Again, this is all hypothetical.
6. I'm not interested in ANY kind of sample packs or pre-recorded samples.

I'm mostly just curious about the specifics regarding this particular transfer. Do any of you guys do this - or know of people who do?

If you're not really confident in your knowledge regarding this subject, please refrain from replying.

If this topic HAS been covered a million times already (like I suspect that it has) please just point me in the right direction.

Thanks guys!

I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work, unless part of the sound of the SP is in having multiple layers of sound playing in the machine.

Either way the MP should cleanly record the gritty sound and give you more flexibility.

of course you can do that.
it will give you a kick that has been speed up, sampled into an sp, sampled into pro tools, pitched down and played on an mpc.
it's ideal if that is what you want.

but is not ideal if what you want is not -- speed up, sampled into an sp, sampled into pro tools, pitched down and played on an mpc.

another of putting this is -- nothing is the same as something else.

whether this method sounds better or worse than another, you'll have to decide with your own ears. it's about what sounds good to you. like you said, you're not trying to copy someone else's sound, right? so what you are after must be what sounds good to you.

that being said, nothing wrong with imitating others methods and styles. it's part of experimenting and learning to use your gear and ears. and anyway, if you're not premier, you won't sound like premier. so no need to sweet on that problem.

wow thanks.

i should point out that i can talk the talk, but not walk the walk - my beats are crap. so take any advice with that in mind.

yeah, i was assuming that. can anybody else help me out?

There's no reason this wouldn't be possible...That said, I don't know if I'd jump through all those hoops if I had a 1200 in front of me though.

MAD-tentacles wrote:can anybody else help me out?

What else do you want to know?

The only thing I would remove from the process is recording into Pro Tools first, because you're just creating an unnecessary extra step. You can trim your samples perfectly in the MPC.

Coz wrote:What else do you want to know?

I would really like to hear from someone who has actually used this particular method for their (drum) samples. I want to know about the "color" and "texture" of the end result. Though I understand it's not entirely comparable - would a transfer like this be worth the effort or would the end product be a complete disaster.

Coz wrote:The only thing I would remove from the process is recording into Pro Tools first, because you're just creating an unnecessary extra step. You can trim your samples perfectly in the MPC.

That's awesome. I'm unfamiliar with the output(s) on an SP-12 - but I'm assuming that I would simply run the out(s) of the SP to the in(s) of my MPC and sample/trim from there (maybe EQ somewhere in between)? I find myself thinking that there has to be something wrong with this line-of-thinking - the process can't be that simple. It seems like a method that would be very popular if utilized correctly - so I'm still surprised that I haven't found/read more information on this.

Basically I would like some more specifics and I would like confirmation from a source that sounds at least half-way reputable that sampling my drums in this way would not be a complete waste of time.

Thanks again.

beach_break wrote:i should point out that i can talk the talk, but not walk the walk - my beats are crap. so take any advice with that in mind.

no more replies like this please. lol

Nowhere did you specify that those that take the time to reply to your thread make good music.

What I gathered from his post was that he knew what he was talking about technical wise, but that he does not make good music.

You think everyone that knows about gear makes good tracks?

beach_break wrote:another of putting this is -- nothing is the same as something else.

whether this method sounds better or worse than another, you'll have to decide with your own ears. it's about what sounds good to you. like you said, you're not trying to copy someone else's sound, right? so what you are after must be what sounds good to you.

that being said, nothing wrong with imitating others methods and styles. it's part of experimenting and learning to use your gear and ears. and anyway, if you're not premier, you won't sound like premier. so no need to sweet on that problem.

This sounds technically well-versed to you?

Whatever, big guy. You win.

Aw that's nice of you to say...

What's wrong with his post? Your question had already been answered...the answer is yes. Now you want samples from people? Why didn't you just ask for that in your initial post?

b.read wrote:Now you want samples from people? Why didn't you just ask for that in your initial post?

Now you've just gone too far. I sample everything from vinyl by hand. I would never dream of asking anyone for samples or anything like that. I'm actually offended.

You tell me where I said I wanted samples from people. I never even asked for an example.

MAD-tentacles wrote:I'm not interested in ANY kind of sample packs or pre-recorded samples.

b.read wrote:What's wrong with his post? Your question had already been answered...the answer is yes.

All that anybody has said is, "YES."
Nobody has talked about actually using this method or (once again) described the end result.