Technical questions for the MPC2000xl and the MPC2000
By Knobs Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:20 pm
Hi,

I'm working with the mpc 2000. I know nothing about non-linear editing programs but am curious.

Am I able to transfer a sequence (including it's tracks) to a non-linear editing program and have the tracks split up automatically? Or do I have to record each track individually to the editing software?

Thanks in advance.
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By mr_debauch Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:41 pm
well maybe you are thinking about something like the 8 outs expansion? this will allow you to record 8 additional mono tracks at once.. you assign different pads to different individual outputs... if the sample(s) are stereo then it takes up two outs (a L and an R)

is that what you are maybe aiming to do?
By Knobs Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:58 pm
^^^^ I don't think so but really appreciate your effort in trouble shooting. I'm really novice with the mpc 2000. I'll try to explain further.

I have a sequence (let's call it #1). #1 is a 4 bar loop with 8 separate tracks in it. When I play #1 all tracks are played (no tracks are muted, turned off or solo'd).

Now, I can play #1 while I'm hooked into garageband and record the whole sequence. Or, I have also recorded each track in #1 solo'd to garageband so that I can manipulate each track.

All I'm looking to do is save time by not having to record each track separately. I was hoping (maybe wishful thinking) that some non-linear editing software are set up so that you can play the whole sequence into the software and have the software split the tracks automatically.

Am I in fantasy land? Thanks.
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By Harmoncj Mon Aug 13, 2012 12:08 am
Knobs wrote:^^^^ I don't think so but really appreciate your effort in trouble shooting. I'm really novice with the mpc 2000. I'll try to explain further.

I have a sequence (let's call it #1). #1 is a 4 bar loop with 8 separate tracks in it. When I play #1 all tracks are played (no tracks are muted, turned off or solo'd).

Now, I can play #1 while I'm hooked into garageband and record the whole sequence. Or, I have also recorded each track in #1 solo'd to garageband so that I can manipulate each track.

All I'm looking to do is save time by not having to record each track separately. I was hoping (maybe wishful thinking) that some non-linear editing software are set up so that you can play the whole sequence into the software and have the software split the tracks automatically.

Am I in fantasy land? Thanks.

Have you tried using different midi channels? I don't know if this solves your problem but you can send I think up to 16 different MIDI channels at once, and I'm pretty sure they can have their own individual tracks on the MPCs sequencer. I've never had to use this but youll need to change from OMNI mode to POLY mode, or something like that. That should be enough clues to figure it out in the manual if this is what you need
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By mr_debauch Mon Aug 13, 2012 12:16 am
Knobs wrote:^^^^ I don't think so but really appreciate your effort in trouble shooting. I'm really novice with the mpc 2000. I'll try to explain further.

I have a sequence (let's call it #1). #1 is a 4 bar loop with 8 separate tracks in it. When I play #1 all tracks are played (no tracks are muted, turned off or solo'd).

Now, I can play #1 while I'm hooked into garageband and record the whole sequence. Or, I have also recorded each track in #1 solo'd to garageband so that I can manipulate each track.

All I'm looking to do is save time by not having to record each track separately. I was hoping (maybe wishful thinking) that some non-linear editing software are set up so that you can play the whole sequence into the software and have the software split the tracks automatically.

Am I in fantasy land? Thanks.



no you are not... here is the thing.. tracks in the mpc are not tied to sounds or pads...

yes you could run your main outs... solo track one with the kick .. record the sequence.. then solo track 2 with the high hat and record the sequence... solo track 3 with the snare and record the sequence... like you probably figured out or gathered by now.. right?

the 8 outs expansion adds additional outputs, but they are not tied to tracks... they are assignable ... you assign them to specific pads. Then you master outputs act just the same as they usually do... but you can have pads output to any of the 8 outs.

essentially, lets say you had a soundcard with multiple inputs.. and lets say all your loaded sounds are mono... you can have the kick go to output 1, high hats to output 2, snare to output 3, bass sample to output 4, main sample to output 5, rides and crash cymbals to output 6, random sound effect to output 7...
(or in other words... you can do pad one to output 1, pad 2 to output 4, pad 3 to output 2, pad 4 to output 7... etc..)

then when you play your sequence... with each of the outputs from the expansion going into each input of your multi-input audio interface... you can record 8 tracks at once when you push play with no muting or soloing ... unless you feel like doing it on the fly while recording to add style.

last but not least... you can create a pile of sequences (try copy/pasting in the edit screen...) and when you are done.. in song mode you arrange those sequences into a beat with variations (the sequences play in the order you choose) ... you push play and record the whole thing one shot.
By Knobs Mon Aug 13, 2012 2:13 am
^^^^ ok, this helps a lot.

I have yet to purchase a non-linear editing program with a soundcard but your explanation of the 8 outputs makes a lot of sense to me.

What makes more sense is copying the sequences, getting each the way I want, then laying them out in song mode. I would prefer to program the whole thing on the mpc and this sounds like the way i'll do it.

I'll upload what I've done when I'm finished. Thanks very much fellas!

-Scott
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By mr_debauch Mon Aug 13, 2012 4:57 am
Knobs wrote:^^^^ ok, this helps a lot.

I have yet to purchase a non-linear editing program with a soundcard but your explanation of the 8 outputs makes a lot of sense to me.

What makes more sense is copying the sequences, getting each the way I want, then laying them out in song mode. I would prefer to program the whole thing on the mpc and this sounds like the way i'll do it.

I'll upload what I've done when I'm finished. Thanks very much fellas!

-Scott


honestly, I have the 8 outs and the eb16 fx option... and any 2000 or 2000xl I use to make music... I always find myself making the entire thing in the box... mixing it using the internal mixer etc... and recording only the stereo main outs. On a very rare occasion I add a few things in the daw afterwards on a beat like additional crash sounds for transitions in songs... etc.. actually, I only remember doing that once because the song required 3 floppy disks to save all the data I had in there and I didn't want to make it require 4 floppies just for one set of crashes layered together. Most of my mpc beats only use 1 floppy disk..
By Knobs Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:18 am
You can check out a very basic idea of what I was trying to do Here:

http://soundcloud.com/you/tracks


"Amateur Hour" is the beat. Every sound is sampled from original vinyl. Levels are off but what the hell. Recorded straight out the mpc into garage band via the mini-jack so it sounds like sheit.

"Preview Mix" is a mixtape I plan on expanding in the future so it's just a taste. Bit of Psych, Jazz, Soul and Samples. It's quite embarassing to post this beat but I feel like I owe it to those who responded.


Thanks for everyone's help. This is at least a step in the right direction.
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By mr_debauch Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:30 am
Knobs wrote:You can check out a very basic idea of what I was trying to do Here:

http://soundcloud.com/you/tracks


"Amateur Hour" is the beat. Every sound is sampled from original vinyl. Levels are off but what the hell. Recorded straight out the mpc into garage band via the mini-jack so it sounds like sheit.

"Preview Mix" is a mixtape I plan on expanding in the future so it's just a taste. Bit of Psych, Jazz, Soul and Samples. It's quite embarassing to post this beat but I feel like I owe it to those who responded.


Thanks for everyone's help. This is at least a step in the right direction.


don't be embarrassed.. you haven't been running an mpc for that long... and anyways, it's more about the technicals and not so much about what samples were chosen..

but actually.. post your actual soundcloud url.. you posted the link that brings you to your tracks.. not the link of your page.
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By mr_debauch Tue Aug 14, 2012 3:31 am
well I think your adapter wasn't sending a stereo signal to the computer...

well so far you seem to have figured out how to set up a sequence... as you explore the machine a bit further you will figure out the process of making variations etc.. and during that process you will get a taste for what things to sample for the style of music you are aiming to make.
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By Lampdog Tue Aug 14, 2012 3:31 am
mr_debauch wrote:Most of my mpc beats only use 1 floppy disk..

Network down is nice, I would have thought way more than 1.
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By mr_debauch Tue Aug 14, 2012 3:40 am
Lampdog wrote:
mr_debauch wrote:Most of my mpc beats only use 1 floppy disk..

Network down is nice, I would have thought way more than 1.


there aint a beat on there that used more than one floppy... all the sequencing for every song on there was either on the 2000 classic or the 60. The thing is, I used some external synth type stuff too that doesn't have disks.. it's sequenced and only that got saved... however I had to record it there and then to the 4 track.

the housebridge has a track that needed 2 floppies on the 2000... the sequel album to the housebridge that I am currently working on will include a song made on the 2000 that actually required 3 floppies... keep in mind... all sounds are in mono. I had a plan to have that project finished by now... but some real life things have happened that are now taking up quite a bit of my time.
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By Lampdog Tue Aug 14, 2012 4:14 am
mr_debauch wrote:real life things have happened that are now taking up quite a bit of my time.

Yeah that happens.