workflow: how do you find matching samples while playing you

so, i've been at it a few months and have the basics down on my XL. however, i am wondering, how do you guys sort through vinyl and find new samples for your beat? this may be an equipment related question...

for example, i usually start off with a sample and chop it up, make some sequences then add the beats. but here is where i get stuck, i got a some sequences i like, but it needs variety and I would like to add more samples.

what I tend to do is sample everything i like and load it up on the MPC, but i don't know what sounds good with my sequence until I load the samples up and play them together. this task is too tedious.

what I would like to do is create my sequence play it, and monitor the line in and search for complementary samples. does that sound about right? how can do this on the XL? my assumption is that i will need a mixer, which I don't have (just have the XL and a sound source).

am i approaching this the right way? any tips or advice would be great. i'm on the hunt for the smallest mixer available (space is a issue), recommendations would be great. thanks!

Lets see If I understand your question correctly:



I believe you want to do both listen to your records and play your beat at the same time right?

The MPC has no feature that let's you listen to your sequence AND listen to vinyl/record samples at the same time.

You might be able to listen to it through a mixer if the Record Player is connected to the mixer and not directly into the MPC. (Of course you have to have monitors connected aswell)
I've never try'd it before, and I don't really know if it could be done.
BUT if it could, I wouldn't recommend it. Our Brains would interpret everything as a bunch of noise and it won't really let you concentrate on finding a good sound for the reason that too much is going on. Its like trying to make a beat on a construction sight. Theirs too much going on and your Brain doesn't know what to focus on.
If anything it will slow down your work flow.

The best tip I can give you, is keep digging and keep the beat in mind. That's the only way you can actually do it.
Listen to A LOT of Records, and have the beat on your computer and give it a interesting name that you will remember that way when you come across something you can be like "Yo! This sample will go good with that beat that I made called 'Pancakes'." Play back the beat and their you go.
You know, you can't rush it! It takes a LONG LONG time to make a beat thats GREAT & complete, so patience is key my friend. Plus the more and longer you work on your beats the better.

I don't agree with what Tha_Skywalker said.

I used to do this on my MPC500 all the time... play my recorded sequences while in record mode. It's the easiest way to find samples that'll fit nicely on top of your already recorded sequence. Usually you have to adjust volumes a little, but it's not too much going on... if you find a sample that fits nicely, you'll be able to hear it.

I was disappointed when i found out this wasn't possible on the 2000XL. And the answer is, yes, you need a mixer (MPC connected to one input, turntable to the other, monitors/headphones connected to the output).

My advice is simple.

Don't become dependent on samples and breaks to create a track.

Learn how to program synths/ drum patterns and record original material.

I'll just let the mpc play and work the turntable.
First I only take records that fits the mood and the texture of the beat. Sometimes I also look for a specific instrument. So that already narrows down the selection of records I maybe want to work with.
Then I just go through those records I pick by playing them along with the beat in the mpc, and trying to match them by using the pitch control.

Listening to samples to fit while listening to your beat seems quite strange to me
First, the tempos need to be the same. And the samples also have to be in the same key. Which seems to be almost impossible.

First, the tempos need to be the same.

Not really.

And the samples also have to be in the same key. Which seems to be almost impossible.

That's what the pitch control on the turntable is for!

if the sample is open enough (not too many drums or notes or chords) u can USUALLy just pitch it to tune,.. especially if the beats already riding. i swear sometimes people overthink this.. or like clint said add your own touch without using breaks/samples.. or take "one shot" samples.. you should ALWAYS be able to include those intro a beat.. being that its just one note (doesn't always work with chords)

The tempo doesn't have to be EXACT the same as long as it isn't something like a 2 bars. It also depends on the sample itself (just one instrument or with a complete band in the background)
Depending on the overall sound of the beat its also possible to be a little bit offkey without sounding terrible.

As a DJ you do this allday. Matching tempo and/or key. IMO thats why most of the 80s/90s beatmakers knew which tracks fit together. They were often DJs first.

I recommend to listen to the MPC and try to tempo match any song on the turntable. Just coarse. While you do this try to listen if it also will fit in key. If its complete off take another song. But if it seem it could fit listen to the whole song listening for parts you like.

Sure you won't be able to learn this in a day but it will get easier and easier. You also get trained in tempo and key generally so you get really quick knowing which song definalty won't fit.

peace

peterpiper wrote:
Sure you won't be able to learn this in a day but it will get easier and easier. You also get trained in tempo and key generally so you get really quick knowing which song definalty won't fit.

practice practice!! gotta work for it lol

first yes you need a mixer to hear the turntable + mpc at the same time. the way you set this up is not exactly the same as setting it up to sample into the mpc...unless you really know your mixer routings and have a mixer capable enough.

finally, i'd say that tempo has nothing to do with it, because if you chop and/or scratch the record right you can make any record fit any tempo. you might want to be up on yer scratch game though and have good comfort with the cross fader.

Borat wrote:Listening to samples to fit while listening to your beat seems quite strange to me

I agree with that, everyone has their own type of work flow but it is kinda strange.

Tha_Skywalker wrote:

Borat wrote:Listening to samples to fit while listening to your beat seems quite strange to me

I agree with that, everyone has their own type of work flow but it is kinda strange.

I do not do it like that literally.
I just keep the beat stand-by while listening to some tracks and grooves, do some needle drops etc. Once I find a phrase or part that I like, I press the play button on the mp and start syncing the record with the beat by pushing and pulling the record, pitch control etc.

Tempo is not that important. Or there must be a difference of 20bpm between the record and the beat. Most of the time I try to match the pitch. If I can match it on the turntable, I know I can also match them inside the mp.
So then I record the sample, chop it up and by different ways of programming, looping and some timestretching I make it a match tempo wise.

yea i'll have the beat or some part of it loopin when i'm goin through records to try stuff out, just be in record mode and press play

I just listen for instruments that i think would fit the track thats already made.

This is easier w single note samples, but can easily be dont w chords if you can tell the diff between maj and minor chords.

Then I find the key of the beat that is made already by playing along to the beat and finding the root note of the track. Then do the same thing w the new sample im trying to add. Find the difference in steps and tune the new sample to the beat.

This is easiest with one shot notes or chords but can also be done of whole bands playing. I do the same thing, but chop the sample (usually in 8th notes if its badly off timing) and play it back into the beat. you dont really notice that its choppy inless u solo it out.

Also for some reason whenever Im doin this for some reason the samples I pick just work well on some luck shit like they were meant to be picked (of course this doesnt happen everytime but it does much more often then not)