quick question about sampling threshold......

in the sample screen, the threshold i assume is only for instances when you want the mpc to recognize the sample source and start recording/sampling on its own?

am i correct in my assumptions?

i always turn the threshold up to 20, and i remember at one point there was logic behind it, but now i dont remember what my logic was....

am i doing any disservice to the incoming signal?

yes the recording starts as soon as the signal cross the threshold. I tried to use this function but realized that it is inexact in its behaviour. The same sample at the same settings and gain caused different samplestarts. IDK why but I guess its buggy just like the peakmeter itself. You can play a looped signal to sample and watch the meter and realize that it doesn't react the same on each duration of the loop.
So IMO this function can be handy if you set it loose and your MPC is not in reach of the sample source. But useless if you want to use it as "find-samplestart" function. The s950 does this job much better.

And you doing nothing really disservice to the signal. The only thing that can happen i that the MPC accidently cut the attack of the sample. If that's the case you can increase the Pre-rec setting or lower the threshold.

peace

gracias mr. piper.

So in theory if the threshold is -20 or 20, the incoming signal should not be effected?

i found that if you leave the threshold at -20 it cuts off the first part of the sample, thats why i always turn it down so it starts recordin when you press record so no signal is lost.

Unfortunately different MPs react differently to the threshold setting.
I still believe Akai should have keep the old "Best Start" function, just seems to do something really nice to the samples.

after further investigation (turning the mpc on)...

lol.

if i raise the threshold to 0, it can be used as a meter, allowing me to adjust the gain on the mpc to the point of clipping, then lowering the gain slightly so i sample a quality signal.

this way, in theory the signal should never clip

....now i remember

1. If its set to 0 the signal you want to sample need to cross that 0dB threshold. That means you'll have to raise the gain till the beginning of the sample hit this point. Now what if there are peaks in the signal higher that the samplestart? Yes, it will get distorted and so it bahaves the exact opposite way you want it to

2. I dont understand how that rectangle help you to set the gain. the "grey" peakhold point that last for a few ms is still the same.

3. To avoid distortion (or contorl how much distortion is happen) I use the monitor function and listen to the signal. The point where it start to distort is relative easy to hear.

peace

Kinda useful if you want to sample from a live instrument, to keep it from turning into a juggling act. I find the 10ms per record even works ok to get it auto trimmed to start point. You might wanna change that per record if it's an instrument with slow attack

peterpiper wrote::?:
2. I dont understand how that rectangle help you to set the gain. the "grey" peakhold point that last for a few ms is still the same.


peace

i mis-spoke...

i manually strt the sampling and always have. i only use the 0 setting of the threshold to show me the peaks on the sampling screen, since i dont usually monitor the input via the speakers.

i appreciate everyones input