MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

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MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By jpavel Fri Sep 16, 2011 10:52 pm
Hello,

Apologies if this has been asked before - I couldn't find it in my searches.

Does anyone know if the MPC's (the 1000 & 2500 in particular) play back tracks and sequences at a consistent, reproduceable tempo across runs? What I mean is this:

I want to multitrack the output of the MPC into a little digital 8-track that allows me to time-shift each track around, so it's quite easy to ensure that my tracks will start at the same instant. But I'm wondering if the tempo at which the MPC plays back will drift as the track is being recorded, so that by the end of, say, 5 minutes my tracks will be out of sync.

So I'm not trying to synchronize the MPC to any other device, but just lay its own tracks down over each other.

Thanks for any reports of your experiences.

Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By Clint Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:11 am
The thread right below yours has the answers.

How did you not see it before posting?

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=147680

Tracking from an MPC - The consensus?

1. DAW or MTR = sync master device/ transport control
2. MPC = slave device
3. Sync type = Midi Timecode

Read every post in that thread, get schooled.

Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By jpavel Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:32 am
Thanks for the link -- what I meant, though, is not MTC or Clock sync (I have experience syncing an MPC to a DAW using MTC without any problems), but using it without a DAW, and just a cheap digital multitrack, no external sync. The multitrack's only real editing capability is to shift the contents of a track backward or forward by frames. So I plan to align tracks by ear using sharp attack percussive sounds at the beginning of each one.

The question boils down to, for instance, if I play a sequence one time, and it takes exactly 5m45s28f to finish the first time, will it take the exact same 5m45s28f to finish the next time I hit play, or does the MPC have some internal timing irregularities?

Thanks,
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Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By Ocular Sat Sep 17, 2011 5:28 am
Using a "Clapperboard" technique should be fine. The inconsistencies between multi-track passes are minuscule at best.

Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By MCL Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:12 am
clint246clint wrote:The thread right below yours has the answers.

How did you not see it before posting?

http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=147680

Tracking from an MPC - The consensus?

1. DAW or MTR = sync master device/ transport control
2. MPC = slave device
3. Sync type = Midi Timecode

Read every post in that thread, get schooled.


Not really what the OP was asking:

"So I'm not trying to synchronize the MPC to any other device, but just lay its own tracks down over each other."

To the OP, the MPC has one of the most solid internal clocks of any hardware I have used, so you should be pretty sure of it working well. As Ocular says, and drift will be minuscule.

Bottom line is to give it a go and see how it works out

Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By MCL Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:13 am
MCL wrote:
clint246clint wrote:The thread right below yours has the answers.

How did you not see it before posting?

http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=147680

Tracking from an MPC - The consensus?

1. DAW or MTR = sync master device/ transport control
2. MPC = slave device
3. Sync type = Midi Timecode

Read every post in that thread, get schooled.


Not really what the OP was asking:

"So I'm not trying to synchronize the MPC to any other device, but just lay its own tracks down over each other."

To the OP, the MPC has one of the most solid internal clocks of any hardware I have used, so you should be pretty sure of it working well. As Ocular says, any drift will be minuscule.

Bottom line is to give it a go and see how it works out

Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By Clint Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:39 pm
MCL wrote:Not really what the OP was asking:



I know what the OP was asking, and the answers are in that thread.

That is if his digital eight track has sync capabilities.
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Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By mr_debauch Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:52 pm
man, doing multi tracks with a cassette porta studio had no issues with timing on any mpc I've owned... sometimes I wonder once we're talking about newer more precise gear like digital recorders how now all a sudden there is more potential for problems.

Dont worry, the mpc wont drift.. and if it does, it will be the same track after track so dont worry about multiple passes.
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Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By tapedeck Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:13 pm
yes like the others have said the tempo in the mpc is generally one of the most reliable. i have even gone so far as recording into a daw, track by track, then simply adjusting the daw tempo to the same as the mpc, and it all lined up perfectly.

Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By jpavel Sat Sep 17, 2011 6:16 pm
Thanks everybody for your information!
It sounds like there won't be any problems at all getting stable timing out of the MPC.

Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By MCL Sat Sep 17, 2011 6:18 pm
clint246clint wrote:
MCL wrote:Not really what the OP was asking:



I know what the OP was asking, and the answers are in that thread.


Ah, that thread was talking about mtc, and midi beat clock with regards sync with a DAW and the MPC..

The op in this thread was asking how consistent the MPC was internally when tracking to a digital multitrack he has stated has no syncing abilities, therefore the need for any knowledge in the thread you linked completely irrelevant.

I see the OP has his answer anyway
User avatar

Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By bliprock Tue Oct 11, 2011 4:15 am
Well from my Experience with MPC1000 is that the tempo is rock solid...... until it goes above round bout 190BPM. I been doing breaks at round 220-230BPM but real tempo is half that. just the way i wrote these breaks, and have noticed some shift in timing and it being a bit unstable...Answer? just rewrite at half tempo where tempo is more solid. Though was surprised and its subjective as i am not multitrack recording but after djing for years you can hear this real quick, specially if i have been playing at same tempo for ages.
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Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By bliprock Mon Oct 24, 2011 2:02 am
clint246clint wrote:Food for thought...

http://www.innerclocksystems.com/New%20 ... itmus.html

thanks thats a mental read. he has too much time on his hands, but i like how he worked it out. very neat

Re: MPC Consistent Playback Tempo?

By Clint Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:58 pm
bliprock wrote:
clint246clint wrote:Food for thought...

http://www.innerclocksystems.com/New%20 ... itmus.html

thanks thats a mental read. he has too much time on his hands, but i like how he worked it out. very neat


His business is based on timekeeping, so he needs to show he has knowledge in this area.
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