HELP w/mpc 3000 w/sound modules...saving/playback/recording

sup fellas,

mpc and recording rookie here.

I have the very basics down on the 3000 and I am looking for guidance and suggestions.

Right now I am just sampling records with the 3000 (running v3.10) and making drum tracks. I have 2 sound modules, roland JV 2080 and a ATC-1. My keyboard is a motif es. All which I intend to sequence into the mpc via midi, I want the 3000 to sequencing everything.

1.How do I save a complete song I.E. ... drums (sampled) and the bass, piano, synth, horns, etc from the other sound modules... and then load it up, and play it with all the instruments/patches tweaked the same and sounding exactly how I recorded them. I do understand the 3000 does midi prod. not audio. my limited understanding is that it IS difficult and time consuming.

2. How would I go about monitoring all this sequencing I am doing, i.e. hearing my basses, synth, strings etc, before sequencing them into the 3000.

3. I want to record my beats and dont really kmow the most effecient route to go, with what I have.

4. Is pro tools a viable solution for my setup?

Also, this is all the equipment I have (along with monitors), and I dont know what else I need to be capable of doing music this way. Do I need a mixer? Interface? computer? DAW? what are some good options for my equipment (which I like). I am open minded to anything.

Once again I wanna sequence everything with the 3000, save it, recall it, edit it, and record it. I know I am making it sound simple haha, but I just dont know which direction to go.

FYI I dont really understand the recording process and i YES, I dont know exactly how all my equipment works, let alone flows effeciently with each other ( i know i gotta study the manuals ). i just recently came up on the the 2 sound modules too.

Not sure If the 3000/60 forum is the correct place, but alot of my issues I feel might be my choice of using the 3000 as the main piece. Let me know if I should move it or post it somewhere else as well, but I did not want to double post.

THANKS in advance! PM if its easier.

B.

Anybody?

Well I will TRY to give a tad bit of insight regrading question 1. Keep in mind that I DON'T have a 3000...

It sounds like you have no problem with getting the MPC to trigger the sounds you need. Great! Now every single one of those sounds in each module and keyboard have what is called a BANK number, usually in the format of MSB and LSB. Got it? Good. You have to tell the MPC to call up those sound by their respective BANK numbers. This is called a PROGRAM change. I don't even remember if that MPC has a WINDOW button, but in the PRG field that is where you would make those changes...

I hope this leads you in the right direction... Just look at EVERYTHING that's in CAPS here and use GOOGLE my friend.

Hope this helps...

west714 wrote:
1.How do I save a complete song I.E. ... drums (sampled) and the bass, piano, synth, horns, etc from the other sound modules... and then load it up, and play it with all the instruments/patches tweaked the same and sounding exactly how I recorded them. I do understand the 3000 does midi prod. not audio. my limited understanding is that it IS difficult and time consuming.
.

I save the sounds in my synths memory , patterns/samples on the MPC and as I mix and record in Samplitude I save mixer settings and audio recordings on the computer.

When I want to recall a track I then reload samples/patterns in the MPC, change patchs on my synths untill I get the correct ones and reload my DAW project with the mixer settings.

I'm not a fan of using bank/program messages for recall.
I tend to use pencil and paper or a notepad on my computer to keep track of what sounds are being used in my tracks.
When a track is finished I dump the sounds via SYSEX to my computer and save them in a folder with all the other files related to the track.
Some of my synths dont have patch memory, so I either mark all the knob/switch settings on a chart or sometimes I dont need the charts and can reprogram the sound from scratch pretty quickly.

It's certainly not difficult . It can be time comsuming if you have lots of gear but you dont have that much.

One of the reasons people prefer to work in their DAW with no hardware is because you just click save and all settings are stored and recalled instantly for you.

west714 wrote:2. How would I go about monitoring all this sequencing I am doing, i.e. hearing my basses, synth, strings etc, before sequencing them into the 3000.
.

Connect all your audio to a mixer or multi channel soundcard and trigger the sounds with what ever controller you are using.

west714 wrote:
3. I want to record my beats and dont really kmow the most effecient route to go, with what I have. .

I'd get a DAW (computer based or stand alone)

west714 wrote:4. Is pro tools a viable solution for my setup?
.

Yes,

west714 wrote:Not sure If the 3000/60 forum is the correct place,
.

Probably not. Your asking a bunch of general questions about recording and MIDI ,etc that apply no matter what gear you are using. Your questions are not spesific to the MPC3000.
You'll probably get more responses posting in the "production techniques" sub forum or somewhere like the Electronic music sub forum at Gearslutz.

thanks to all !

clint246clint wrote:

Hi,

I've not been around for a bit, but I see some people have given you answers on the forum. But for the record, here's my take on your questions.

1. Whats the best way to sequence those modules into the MPC?

Try to do all your sequencing in the MPC's sequencer, the 3000 is one of the best hardware sequencer of all time hence it's legendary status among producers.

2. Once a track is done on the MPC, saved, and then turned off, How do I recall all the instruments from the other modules. I know the MPC only records midi.

Easiest way is to save your instruments/ patches within the module they come from as user presets. Program changes can also be used to recall patches, but can be a pain to use successfully and time consuming.

3. How do I get all this to a DAW?

Record the audio from your MPC's individual or main outputs into your DAW via an audio interface. Cop an audio interface or a firewire/usb mixer with at least 8 analog inputs and you're good to go.

4. I believe I need an audio interface, which one would be right for my described setup.

Any firewire or USB interface with at least 8 analog inputs. some now come in the form of a mixer which simplifies things significantly.

5. Do I need a mixer?

See my previous answer above.

6. Is pro tools the best option?

If you have a mac Logic is the best option hands down and comes with loads of great instruments and FX out the box, but pro tools, cubase, reaper and ableton are all capable DAW's. Your choice really, but pro tools isnt best for midi work or included instruments.

7. Are outboard efx easier or are in the box efx easier?

After tracking your beats to a DAW, add FX using your software plug-ins. Some people prefer to use built-in FX and 'mix as they go' prior to recording, they then can record the dry signal (without FX) to their DAW and recreate those same FX in software for increased flexibility and control. Best to always record dry signals.

8. What is the best work flow for my equipment?

The magic question...

Setup

Your 3000 has 4 midi outputs, so connect one to your 2080, one to your ATC, one to your Motif and one to you audio interface to send midi to your computer.

Your 3000 has 2 midi inputs. Connect the midi output from your Motif to one of these, the other can be left spare until you need it. So you use the Motif for all note entry or use the MPC pads.

The audio outputs from the MPC (2-10), 2080 (2 stereo), ATC (1), and motif (2) all connect to the inputs of your audio interface/ mixer. As you can probably see, you could get by with an 8 input interface/mixer but some repatching of cables may be involved. An interface/ mixer with 16 analog inputs is the PERFECT SOLUTION for using all your MPC's individual outputs.

Your monitors are connected to your audio interface/ mixer directly if they are active or via an amplifier if they are the passive type. Active is the way to go if you can afford it, besides you wont need to buy an amplifier as they are built in. If on a budget you can hook up any regular hi-fi/stereo for monitoring duties or use headphones.

Workflow

Sequence in MPC while monitoring all connected modules and virtual instruments.
Edit and save (sequences, sounds, settings) within each device as you go.
Record all audio output from MPC, modules, virtual instruments to your DAW.
Tweak, add additional instruments/ vocals, mix and add FX within your DAW.
Bounce your finished mix down to a 2 track stereo master within your DAW.
Master the stereo tracks (EQ, Compress etc) within your DAW.

This is a basic workflow, you will need to adapt it to suit your own method of working. There is no right or wrong way to approach the task, just different ways.

Quote this on the forum, it might help out someone else in your situation.

Good luck.

Clint

So with this workflow you can basically have modules,vsts,mpc all synced together and just track out a beat after you have recorded it anf no really need to save in the other modules unless if its a prefference? I also am looking into a 3000 for 580 bucks but have never been a deep mpc user but a maschine user but recently sold it for personal reasons. is the mpc 3000 still very good for sampling and creating complex sampled beats? with maschine I was able to sample entire songs and take bits and pieces from the whole song, I read the 3000 only has 21 sec of sampling time in mono.