(IM NEW) trying to figure out the timing and quantizing

ok so i just got my first mpc the other day its a mpc 2000xl and when i go to record ill bang out a beat but when i play it back it sounds WAY different than what i put in. I know it the timing or quantizing thats doing this but i just cant seem to get anything that sounds good with timing turned on. another question is. is timing the same as quantizing. just called a different name or is there a quantize section that im not seeing.

Yes timing correction/quantization are the same thing in terms of making beats. I could seriously write about timing correction and it's effect on your tracks for pages and pages. To sum it up quickly 1/16th is one end of the spectrum, it's extremely sterile and rigid when used with no swing. While turning TC off, you basically get 1/96 quantization which will allow for a lot more human imperfections and style to be interjected into your beats.

Which one you like to use, will have to be discovered through your own experimentation. I think most people making beats use a mix of the two settings, so you have some beat structure and predictability along with their own personal style thrown in. You can apply timing correction to specific notes by highlighting the timing correction parameter and pressing "open window".

I would just refer to it as timing correction. quantization can refer to a lot more than the alignment of notes in terms of digital music, while timing correction only refers to note positioning.

what he said
or just practice

if its your first mpc, you are probably not a virtuoso yet, so stick with it and practice. turn the metronome on during record and really try to play to it. set your timing to 1/16 for most things and you'll probably be ok.

ive said it before, but imagine if someone came to a forum and said 'i just got my first guitar and it doesn't sound like what i want it to'...that sounds ridiculous right? you dont just buy a guitar come home plug it in and yer jimi...you gotta practice.

anyway hang in there, stick with 1/16 for a while get used to that.

Ya thanks for all the advice. It's nice to know I got a great place i can turn to with this stuff. I and trust me im sure this won't be the last question I have for you guys. I

One thing that is bugging me is if I set the record input to digital the sound meter pegs and everything starts to bug out. It makes me wonder if there is a ground issue o with the digital Inpuy

webbb82 wrote:One thing that is bugging me is if I set the record input to digital the sound meter pegs and everything starts to bug out. It makes me wonder if there is a ground issue o with the digital Inpuy

do you have a spdif output connected to the digital input? and what do you mean by "pegs" ...

mr_debauch wrote:

webbb82 wrote:One thing that is bugging me is if I set the record input to digital the sound meter pegs and everything starts to bug out. It makes me wonder if there is a ground issue o with the digital Inpuy

do you have a spdif output connected to the digital input? and what do you mean by "pegs" ...

No I don't have that connected to the digital input... Should I? And by pegs I mean the bar at the bottom of the record window that shows the volume of the sound coming into the mp.c will go from zero to all the way full the second I switch it to digital input rather then analog If that makes sense

webbb82 wrote:

mr_debauch wrote:

webbb82 wrote:One thing that is bugging me is if I set the record input to digital the sound meter pegs and everything starts to bug out. It makes me wonder if there is a ground issue o with the digital Inpuy

do you have a spdif output connected to the digital input? and what do you mean by "pegs" ...

No I don't have that connected to the digital input... Should I? And by pegs I mean the bar at the bottom of the record window that shows the volume of the sound coming into the mp.c will go from zero to all the way full the second I switch it to digital input rather then analog If that makes sense

Yeah you should. You need a SPDIF cable, not a RCA just incase your using an RCA (they look identical). And your source needs to be a digital output.

m56p87 wrote:Yeah you should. You need a SPDIF cable, not a RCA just incase your using an RCA (they look identical). And your source needs to be a digital output.

an rca will work in a pinch - if the distance is short.
but better to use a real spdif, yes.

I wasn't talking about the cable... I was talking about... does he have a normal output connected to the digital in or is it a SPDIF output going to the digital in?

You can't use a headphone out, or a line out to connect to that input... you need to use the regular record inputs. Only spdif digital outputs can connect to the digital spdif input of the mpc.


As for cables, short regular rca cables will work... the cables that come with newer PVR recorders or DVD players are often thick and shielded so they will work fine. The ratings are the same pretty much... the resistance is the same. Good luck!

ya ill just stick with analog for now. but getting back to the whole quantizing topic i have tested out each option 1/8 1/8(3) sll the way to 1/32(3) and each time i play a pretty basic pattern with a kick and snare when i play back the beat it sounds horrible. it doesnt even sound in time with anything. I really dont understand how people can use quantizing and make a beat that sounds good. i must have some setting like swing or something thats doing this but its pretty annoying. any ideas on this ? or do you guys even use quantizing and if you do what setting do you use?

hit open window on the timing field and see what is set there.
make sure no swing is applied and make sure no late or early setting is on (set it to 0).

and like i said before just stick with 1/16 for now.

this is what it says
NOte Value: 1/16 Swing %50
Shift timing: later amount: 0
Time: 001.01.00-005.01.00
Notes: all

I looked in the manual and i couldnt find much info on all this a few things i get a others i have no clue on. such as amount and time. the time one kinda confuses me and notes

webbb82 wrote:ya ill just stick with analog for now. but getting back to the whole quantizing topic i have tested out each option 1/8 1/8(3) sll the way to 1/32(3) and each time i play a pretty basic pattern with a kick and snare when i play back the beat it sounds horrible. it doesnt even sound in time with anything. I really dont understand how people can use quantizing and make a beat that sounds good. i must have some setting like swing or something thats doing this but its pretty annoying. any ideas on this ? or do you guys even use quantizing and if you do what setting do you use?

IMHO 1/16th is the only global timing correction setting that can sound good especially if you record with it off then apply it which will allow you to apply swing. But like I said before - i think a lot people use some sounds with 1/16th TC then some with no TC at all, but even if everyone listed what they use it really comes down to your preference as an artist. There is no formula for everyone. As a reference though If your making hip hop beats with loops/chops, I would start by time correcting the chops to 1/8th or 1/16th then record your drums with no timing correction to match the swing of the live playing your loops, just to start off and go from there. You'll get more comfortable and better at playing with no timing correction with practice, after a while it's pretty easy to play every hit on beat or dial in your own swing.

I personally like to make the swing sound pretty transparent and that varies per track, in other words I don't want it sound like those old "shuffle" knobs on older drums machines that allow you to dial in very sloppy and machine sounding swing. I probably play pretty close 1/16th TC when drumming with TC off, but the few ticks here and there from actually playing it out can really add something to your tracks IMHO.

Keep in mind This is all reference and starting point mind you, I wouldnt suggest purposefully looking for settings your gonna use over and over, unless eventually that's what works. Different samples call for different techniques, escpially when it comes to how many elements are in your track/sample.

Kind of all over the place I know, but I just have had a lot thoughts buzzing in terms of timing correction as well.

webbb82 wrote:this is what it says
NOte Value: 1/16 Swing %50
Shift timing: later amount: 0
Time: 001.01.00-005.01.00
Notes: all

I looked in the manual and i couldnt find much info on all this a few things i get a others i have no clue on. such as amount and time. the time one kinda confuses me and notes

Amount is how much you want to align the notes to the grid that timing correction setting will create. Time means what bars your applying TC too.

Honestly I agree with tapedeck, with where your at you should stick with 1/16th. Or it's just gonna be a big mess for you for a while.