Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
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By the cosmic pimp Sat Aug 13, 2011 12:15 pm
Coz wrote:
dmarz45 wrote:Once I sell my 4000 Im going to buy the MPD32 and use Reaper for now on.



If you need some kind of pad controller and can stretch to a bit more cash you should check out Maschine. It's a versatile little controller and the pad sensitivity kicks MPCs to the curb IMO.

People love to hate it round here, but if you're working within a DAW it takes a lot of beating. Drag and drop of midi/audio directly into an active track is a real time saver. 8)


Haha :wink:

Wheres the **** tunes then canedrive lol
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By the cosmic pimp Sat Aug 13, 2011 12:18 pm
Ibunshi wrote:lol no not at all.. its like saying that the less limitated you are, the less limitated you will feel with the tools you use.


Very true .

But say the MPC is a pencil how will the artist sharpen it when the lead snaps................
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By Coz Sat Aug 13, 2011 12:39 pm
the cosmic pimp wrote:Wheres the **** tunes then canedrive lol




Rome wasn't built in a day Perving. :wink: 8)
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By Ill-Green Sat Aug 13, 2011 1:52 pm
temetrepo wrote:
Ill-Green wrote:As long you feel comfortable thats what counts. Be happy.

I like to work in the dark with just the lights of my machines on. I like to think I'm dreaming instead of working and the sounds come to life so I could never get down with a screen, if I did, I'll have to turn on the lights LOL!



I thought i was crazy for doing this. I see im not alone. Lol

Thats because we're two sides of a coin. Like North Star and South Star, one explodes the minds of their opponent while the other chop and slice the opponents soul :wink:
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By ArKyve-31 Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:19 pm
the cosmic pimp wrote:

pressing buttons or clicking buttons ,tough call

but man staring at that little green screen all day is sado machism and does not compare to a colour 32" screen no way.

i dont understand you type out a beat on the mpc then transfer it to a computer(If u have one) and record it....................errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr hello



Well I learn my gear very quickly and thus rarely need to look at the screen unless i'm chopping a sample, everything else is physically a button on the MPC. I'm not hating on you Software cats, I have reason, keep it updated and its a resourceful tool, but with a 4k and a motif, there isn't much you can do on your pc that i can't do faster with my eyes closed from memorizing the button sequences. I really have not limitations with this setup.


And yeah I make my beats in the dark too, creates a vibe like i'm on a spaceship, and I hate bright lights anyways
By dmarz45 Sat Aug 13, 2011 7:50 pm
Hey Clint I have actually been on these forums since 2006 and I've owned every MPC besides the 2000xl. I know how to work them all just fine. I just bought this 4000 a week ago so I just had a couple questions about it, thats what these forums are for so shut your mouth. Sorry if I cant figure everything out as soon as I turn it on buddy. Im just saying the computer works for me. I do all of my drum layering and eq'ing in the computer anyway. Dont get all bent out of shape about what kind of equipment Im using... I guess somebody is a little insecure..

And yeah I was thinking about maybe getting a Maschine but I really like the Reaper interface.
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By Metatron72 Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:07 pm
clint246clint wrote:This is the classic tale of someone who rushed out there, bought an MPC4000 and couldn't make it work.

Im sure everyone in the 4000 forum will be glad you fell off so quickly...with all those **** threads you posted. Lol

Sun Aug 07 2011, 5:43 pm

dmarz45 wrote:Hey so im debating on getting a mpc 2000xl and some more gear like a synth or an mpc 4000.


Mon Aug 08 2011, 4:18 am

dmarz45 wrote:Hey so I just got this 4000 and it has alot of really dope keygroups saved on the hard drive of like moog synths and stuff like that.


Thu Aug 11 2011, 7:50 pm

dmarz45 wrote:Got the 4000.. and I'm very happy with the purchase. I just hate making all these damn programs tho.. lol


Fri Aug 12 2011, 9:06 pm

dmarz45 wrote:So its official I switched to Reaper...Once I sell my 4000 Im going to buy the MPD32 and use Reaper


Fri Aug 12 2011, 1:30 am

dmarz45 wrote:Akai MPC 4000 drum machine for sale


The more I think about it the funnier it gets...enjoy your MPD if you can work out how to use it... :lol: :lol: :lol:


I thought you were hyped on the 4000 dmarz 45, you changed your mind quick. (A week..whoa)

Why don't you just keep the 4000, use it as a MIDI controller for your DAW, and wait to see if you have no use for a (fantastic model) MPC.

I'll warn you now, MPD's are worthless unless you're willing to take it apart and install MPCStuff's Fat Pad/Corx. And even then it's not as sensitive or responsive as a Korg nano/padKONTROL, Maschine or the aforementioned using the MPC as a MIDI trigger. Out the box MPD's are god awful, I've had 3 of them, trust me.
By dmarz45 Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:12 pm
Oh really? I didnt know that. Thanks for the tip. Yeah I might hold onto the 4000 for a little while then. I will probably still use it sometimes. I will definitely check out that Korg controller too..
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By faze1 Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:17 pm
ArKyve-31 wrote:


And yeah I make my beats in the dark too, creates a vibe like i'm on a spaceship, and I hate bright lights anyways

I catch so much flack for having almost no light in the studio. I have one low wattage lamp on. It does give you that spaceship feel when ur MPC and boards are lit up. lol And to each his own if software is the way u want to go. I use reason and ableton also and its cool to do something different away from the mpc but id never sell it. I love my lil 1000. She does what she does well with no probs. Pc on the other hand......at times not as reliable :roll: but the main thing is output. What u use to get there doesnt matter. Like the producer Sheezy said,....it dont matter if its an MPC, Reason, FL, or rattling beans in a can....if its dope its dope
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By Ibunshi Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:20 pm
the cosmic pimp wrote:
Ibunshi wrote:lol no not at all.. its like saying that the less limitated you are, the less limitated you will feel with the tools you use.


Very true .

But say the MPC is a pencil how will the artist sharpen it when the lead snaps................


are you saying that your mpc broke so you wanted to try another pen? :D

.....

edit: bit of a long post coming now, but i didnt have anything to else to do atm lol


if you really want it, then you will find a way.. and if someone takes the pencil from the artist, then he can still find a way to express himself if that is what he actually burns for.. then not many things would be able to stop him.. if he is less limited that is

the more limited you are, the more you will look elsewhere to find solutions to your problems.. and many do this even though there is a solution right infront of them

but if you have very specific needs, then it is understandable of course.. like if you have an mpc like the 2k and want to play a virus synth, then its not much that you can do other than getting a virus synth

what i mean is, mpc's are very capable tools in the right hands.. and the skills comes from within when it comes to being good at using an instrument.. a guitar player would not abandon the guitar because he thinks getting a piano will make him a better guitar player... he will stay focuesd and keep using the guitar until it becomes an extension of himself.. the limitations in using tools are not so much in the tools themself but instead in the user

these days in the world of this extreme product hype nonsense, people give up too quickly because they feel limited and think getting this next new thing will help them become better, wanting instant gratification without putting in much work, patience being much lower when there are a million plugins that they can try that might help them... giving up before getting any deeper knowledge about the tools they already have and abandon them before they have spent enough time with them to unlock some of their own potential in using those tools..


not saying that you or anyone else here is doing it, but this kind of thing is plaguing every electronic music scene out there.. people that could have gotten great at using their tools and made some great music because of it, hinders themselves by focusing on the next tool and plugin instead of the ones he actually has at his hands..

and then what often happens is that the results that could have been unique because of the person behind the tools, ends up sounding generic because there is no real connection between the person and the tool.. just another quick fix and it will sound a lot like the next person that is doing the same thing... and you can not get that type of connection unless you spend a lot of time with the tool in question... its like random guitar player with some experience being compared to jimi hendrix that no doubt had found a way to really connect with his guitars...

so the results are ending up sounding generic because the results depend more on the tools than the user, and too many do just the same thing with the same tools.. playing around for a bit, making some music, maybe even release it and then move on to a new shallow run over with some other new tools.. only few tend to stick to their weapons and learn how to use them properly.. and usually it seems that it is those that sticks out the most in all of it, that really can make a lasting impression... newbies will not notice this right away though, as they are not used to listen and pay attentioon yet, they just hear some cool awesome sounds and dont notice subtleties... usually

and really its the worst for newbies as they might not realise that experince with a simple tool takes you much further than little to no experinece with something that is seemingly more advanced... instead of putting in time, they look for tutorials that tells them what to do.. instead of practice they wait for a plugin that might help them do something a little bit faster... believing that what they really need all those new things, when what they need already is there infront of them and in themselves

so many people already have way more than what they need or even can use, yet they feel limited.. but mostly they feel limited because of not having put in enough time to get enough experience.. experience to the point of that tool becoming a part of themselves, so that ideas can flow freely..



it used to be very different though.. not everyone could have a go at making music and usually the only ones that were still doing it after some time were those that had passion and were willing to put in time to become good.. now anyone can have a go if they have a computer, and get access to very good tools, both free or pirated, its all out there.. difference now is that the people that would have given up years before, still go at it beacuse they think the solution is a new piece of software or plugin.. and there is now a constant stream of new tools that promise you better results and less limitations.. and too many fall into that trap i think

it has somehow transformed into making people think that is is easy to make good music.. people can get results much quicker and often nice results too.. nice sounds etc.. so then it also has to be easy to make good music, just need those extra tools

reminds me of a bass player that once had a go at playing my mpc, and he went "ohh this is too easy, anyone can do that" ..and yes, that is true.. anyone can press buttons.. but then anyone can also slap a string on a bass.. but to become good at it you'd still have to put in time... and what he did on the mpc sounded horrible, although he couldnt notice that himself due to lack of experience, he just heard quick results and because of that thought it was easy... and is probably also the reason why so many traditional musicians think it takes no skill to make electronic music, that the tools does all the work.. but thats a bit offtopic, lol


anyway, again.. i think people should spend more time with their tools before jumping on to the next thing, which was the only reason i said that the biggest limitations lies within yourself, as it would be nice if more people would break the trend of jumping from tool to tool and think it will help them... i'd say the only time you should do this is when you have more experince and know exactly what you are doing and know exactly what you need.. which is not the case with most newbies as they are just starting out

so i said that in the hope of adding some balance and food for thought for any possible newbies that might read it.. although if he is of the mentality of wanting quick fixes and instant gratification.. then he wont have the patience to read anyway lmao :mrgreen:

adding to that, we all have different ways of going about things and not everyone can connect the same way with their tools even if much time is being put in, and then it is better to keep searching until you find something that you click better with of course... but being aware of things can be priceless here, it can stop you from wasting loads of cash on something only to later find out and realise that its not for you.. doing that can even ruin your chances to find right
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By Metatron72 Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:22 pm
dmarz45 wrote:Oh really? I didnt know that. Thanks for the tip. Yeah I might hold onto the 4000 for a little while then. I will probably still use it sometimes. I will definitely check out that Korg controller too..


Used ones are about $100. And the new Korg nano has 16 pads instead of 12 like before, and is only $69.
The MPD's best aspect is the knobs and faders and the 20 preset slots.

I can't lie, the one suggestion of getting Maschine with money you potentially re-coup from the 4000 might be a good idea. Maschine and Reaper make a nice combo.
User avatar
By Metatron72 Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:25 pm
faze1 wrote:
ArKyve-31 wrote:


And yeah I make my beats in the dark too, creates a vibe like i'm on a spaceship, and I hate bright lights anyways

I catch so much flack for having almost no light in the studio. I have one low wattage lamp on. It does give you that spaceship feel when ur MPC and boards are lit up. lol And to each his own if software is the way u want to go. I use reason and ableton also and its cool to do something different away from the mpc but id never sell it. I love my lil 1000. She does what she does well with no probs. Pc on the other hand......at times not as reliable :roll: but the main thing is output. What u use to get there doesnt matter. Like the producer Sheezy said,....it dont matter if its an MPC, Reason, FL, or rattling beans in a can....if its dope its dope


Word, I do the ultra low light thing myself, enthralled by Maschine and Launchpad's lights like a retarded chimp. :D
User avatar
By the cosmic pimp Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:28 pm
Ibunshi wrote:
the cosmic pimp wrote:
Ibunshi wrote:lol no not at all.. its like saying that the less limitated you are, the less limitated you will feel with the tools you use.


Very true .

But say the MPC is a pencil how will the artist sharpen it when the lead snaps................


are you saying that your mpc broke so you wanted to try another pen? :D

.....

edit: bit of a long post coming now, but i didnt have anything to else to do atm lol


if you really want it, then you will find a way.. and if someone takes the pencil from the artist, then he can still find a way to express himself if that is what he actually burns for.. then not many things would be able to stop him.. if he is less limited that is

the more limited you are, the more you will look elsewhere to find solutions to your problems.. and many do this even though there is a solution right infront of them

but if you have very specific needs, then it is understandable of course.. like if you have an mpc like the 2k and want to play a virus synth, then its not much that you can do other than getting a virus synth

what i mean is, mpc's are very capable tools in the right hands.. and the skills comes from within when it comes to being good at using an instrument.. a guitar player would not abandon the guitar because he thinks getting a piano will make him a better guitar player... he will stay focuesd and keep using the guitar until it becomes an extension of himself.. the limitations in using tools are not so much in the tools themself but instead in the user

these days in the world of this extreme product hype nonsense, people give up too quickly because they feel limited and think getting this next new thing will help them become better, wanting instant gratification without putting in much work, patience being much lower when there are a million plugins that they can try that might help them... giving up before getting any deeper knowledge about the tools they already have and abandon them before they have spent enough time with them to unlock some of their own potential in using those tools..


not saying that you or anyone else here is doing it, but this kind of thing is plaguing every electronic music scene out there.. people that could have gotten great at using their tools and made some great music because of it, hinders themselves by focusing on the next tool and plugin instead of the ones he actually has at his hands..

and then what often happens is that the results that could have been unique because of the person behind the tools, ends up sounding generic because there is no real connection between the person and the tool.. just another quick fix and it will sound a lot like the next person that is doing the same thing... and you can not get that type of connection unless you spend a lot of time with the tool in question... its like random guitar player with some experience being compared to jimi hendrix that no doubt had found a way to really connect with his guitars...

so the results are ending up sounding generic because the results depend more on the tools than the user, and too many do just the same thing with the same tools.. playing around for a bit, making some music, maybe even release it and then move on to a new shallow run over with some other new tools.. only few tend to stick to their weapons and learn how to use them properly.. and usually it seems that it is those that sticks out the most in all of it, that really can make a lasting impression... newbies will not notice this right away though, as they are not used to listen and pay attentioon yet, they just hear some cool awesome sounds and dont notice subtleties... usually

and really its the worst for newbies as they might not realise that experince with a simple tool takes you much further than little to no experinece with something that is seemingly more advanced... instead of putting in time, they look for tutorials that tells them what to do.. instead of practice they wait for a plugin that might help them do something a little bit faster... believing that what they really need all those new things, when what they need already is there infront of them and in themselves

so many people already have way more than what they need or even can use, yet they feel limited.. but mostly they feel limited because of not having put in enough time to get enough experience.. experience to the point of that tool becoming a part of themselves, so that ideas can flow freely..



it used to be very different though.. not everyone could have a go at making music and usually the only ones that were still doing it after some time were those that had passion and were willing to put in time to become good.. now anyone can have a go if they have a computer, and get access to very good tools, both free or pirated, its all out there.. difference now is that the people that would have given up years before, still go at it beacuse they think the solution is a new piece of software or plugin.. and there is now a constant stream of new tools that promise you better results and less limitations.. and too many fall into that trap i think

it has somehow transformed into making people think that is is easy to make good music.. people can get results much quicker and often nice results too.. nice sounds etc.. so then it also has to be easy to make good music, just need those extra tools

reminds me of a bass player that once had a go at playing my mpc, and he went "ohh this is too easy, anyone can do that" ..and yes, that is true.. anyone can press buttons.. but then anyone can also slap a string on a bass.. but to become good at it you'd still have to put in time... and what he did on the mpc sounded horrible, although he couldnt notice that himself due to lack of experience, he just heard quick results and because of that thought it was easy... and is probably also the reason why so many traditional musicians think it takes no skill to make electronic music, that the tools does all the work.. but thats a bit offtopic, lol


anyway, again.. i think people should spend more time with their tools before jumping on to the next thing, which was the only reason i said that the biggest limitations lies within yourself, as it would be nice if more people would break the trend of jumping from tool to tool and think it will help them... i'd say the only time you should do this is when you have more experince and know exactly what you are doing and know exactly what you need.. which is not the case with most newbies as they are just starting out

so i said that in the hope of adding some balance and food for thought for any possible newbies that might read it.. although if he is of the mentality of wanting quick fixes and instant gratification.. then he wont have the patience to read anyway lmao :mrgreen:

adding to that, we all have different ways of going about things and not everyone can connect the same way with their tools even if much time is being put in, and then it is better to keep searching until you find something that you click better with of course... but being aware of things can be priceless here, it can stop you from wasting loads of cash on something only to later find out and realise that its not for you.. doing that can even ruin your chances to find right


Haha brill 8) :shock:
By dmarz45 Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:28 pm
I'm just not feeling the MPC anymore like I used to. I experimented with making a couple of tracks in Reaper and I was very pleased with the results. I feel like I can really express myself much better with Reaper. I just like having the visual midi notes on the screen that I can tweak at my disposal.