Describe your MPC60/3000 or ASQ-10 based setup

I was going through this thread viewtopic.php?f=11&t=129627 and it got me thinking about one of my book ideas. So I'd appreciate if any of you would care to share how the MPC60/3000 or ASQ-10 sequencer fits into your studio setup. I guess most set-up could conveniently be categorised into the following groups; I'm looking for some good examples of each which highlight the flexible connectivity options.

Simple/basic hook-ups
Intermediate hook-ups
Advanced hook-ups

Just want to get a good idea of the range of ways these machines are actually being used, with particular regard to the midi, audio and sync signal flows. Words, diagrams and Photoshop images all welcome. Are you using turntables/CD decks, midi/audio patchbays, analogue/digital mixers, DI's/Pre's/EQ's, hardware FX/filters, DAWs/plug-ins, rack samplers, synths, drum-machines, HD recorders, monitors/headphones, bass guitars etc...If you could also briefly describe how the set-up works for you that would help too.

I have a dj mixer with a few inputs so I have a cd player, record player, or anything else going into that.. my mixer has two master outputs.. so I route one set (just the left side) just for the mpc... it goes into an ART 172 (3rd octave EQ) which outputs into the rec in of the 60.

I have the echo send/return going to a korg KP2 (or sometimes other stuff).

Usually I just have the master outputs going to the sound card.. I dont often bother with 8 outputs. Sometimes I have midi going in and out from the 60 to a synth like the korg EA-1..


when I do use the 8 outs, I tend to run those and a synth mono mix output to a fostex cassette multitrack machine... once in a blue moon.


Nothing too complex..

bookmarked, I'll get back with details and possibly diagrams for you.

Great idea!

Here goes my set up:

The Mpc 3000 is the center of operations acting as sequencer and sampler for drums and percusion. I use all midi out ports to control external gear: Sci Pro one thru midi/cv converter / Roland JV1080 /sometimes soft synths etc. all outputs transmitting midi clock.
All gear including guitar and a stereo out from the computer is connected to Soundcraft M12 mixer using mono and stereo inputs and the mixer's preamps. The MPC main output goes also to a stereo channel thru the Akai Mfc42 filter. I use a few of the Mpc individual outs (maybe one stereo for a melodic sample) and a mono out for Bass sample if I need it, also connected to the M12.
I use 2 Aux channels in the mixer for 2 independent fx thru a Digitech Quad 4 to add reverb or other fx to the mix.
The main stereo out from the mixer is connected to computer via a Hamerfall multiface soundcard. When I'm ready to track out the whole mix, I use Nuendo as master synced thru midi time code and machine controlled from the Mpc 3000. This way I can track out the whole mix, parts, or independent tracks.
I'm always experimenting with new ways of connecting gear limited by what I have.
I'll try to share a diagram for better understanding of the set up, and pictures, but right now my whole studio is in storage due to moving to a new city.

Cheers

This is a somewhat crude, but simple, signal flow diagram involving an MPC and a Korg Triton found here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=71613. I will need to find a program to do this a whole lot better using images or drawings of the gear involved. You get the idea.

asillasitgets wrote:
All the audio will be running through your Triton. I would recommend that you purchase a mixer or a multiple audio input interface ( if you will be recording on to your computer)... Once you have got everything hooked up, to record midi data from your triton to your MPC you need to change on the main screen the type of track from DRUM to MIDI. Then also on the main screen you need to change the MIDI channel to 1A-16A or 1B-16B Depending on which MIDI Out port is connected to your triton.


Now on your triton you need to switch the audio input switch on the back to "Line". Then you need to enable the audio input (I have never used a Triton Le but i used to own a Triton classic, so consult your Triton LE owners manual). Then go to sequencer mode and select a channel and assign a sound to a Track. ( It is important to note that whatever sound is track 1 on you triton will be the MIDI data will be recorded to MPC). With your MPC you will be able to sequence MIDI data from 16 Tracks, so you can use up to 16 different sounds. Just make sure that The MIDI channel on your MPC is the same as the Track/Sound on your Triton sequencer before you start to record.

After this you are ready to record. Press Play Start and Record, then play some keys on your triton. Then hit stop on your MPC. If you press play again You will notice that your MPC is now triggering the sounds from your triton for you, and the notes that you played.

Had a lot of down time at work today so I made my own studio environment map based around the MPC 60 as the main console/sequencer. This is just a rough sketch I did on Illustrator using the example asillasitgets did but with pictures. (I was that bored at work)



The 60 is used to trigger the rack samplers. I use the ALT OUT 1-2 on my mixer to record the sample into the machines. I also use this to record into my laptop via Duet channel 1-2 input.

I also have an MPC 1000 that is not pictured in there. I use that as a standalone. A few rack effects outboard gear is left out too until I have grasp on how to incorporate it.

I'm gonna invest in a bigger mixer in the future too so I can utilize the 8 outs on the 60, S-950, and S3000XL. Also looking into an audio interface with more I/O too but this works for now. A patchbay would be useful too.

If anyone have suggestions on how to improve my studio environment feel free to chime in. I know there's a better or more efficient way.

Thats the kind of thing I was after, thanks for posting. during some hours of boredom I even started to do one myself using yEd Graph Editor. It is a work in progress. Incorporating all the connections is harder than it looks, I started with some audio outputs. Too many samplers.

Click the image to enlarge.


What I used to do the mock up above.

1. Download yEd Graph Editor, other graphics apps may well do. http://www.yworks.com/en/products_yed_download.html
2. Download images of your gear, with a white background, to use as icons. Top or front view works best.
3. Drag/Drop gear images from your computer onto the software window, and resize/ arrange.
4. Drag mouse from icon to icon to create connections. Where you start is the 'from', where you end is the 'to' destination.
5. Click lines to format them (colour, thickness, bends, arrows etc).
6. Export signal flow diagram as .jpeg.

The black rack unit is a Roland A880 midi patchbay (8in/8out) which I havent used yet, but should make routing easier and more flexible. Mixer, monitors and audio patchbays are likely purchases which I dont have yet. But you get the idea.

Edit: picked up the Mackie Onyx 1640 with FireWire (1st gen), I like it.

Cool Idea! I had mad fun drawing my setup. Its hardware only. Center piece is a Soundcraft Delta with 14 Mono, 2 Stereo Channels and 4 Subgroups. Normally the groups are routed to Master (1/2 -> Master, 3/4 -> Master) but I modified the routing so that groups 1/2 are routed to group 3/4 which is routed to the master. This allows me to:
- assign channels to the drumbus (1/2) which is compressed by the Overstayer FET comp and then goes into group 3/4 and its VCA comp
- assign channels just to the VCA comp.
- assign channels to no group and use no compression

The comps support parallel compression. Between the VCA comp and return 3/4 sits the Overstayer ID4, a preamp that provides make up gain and nice saturation for the whole mix. I really like how flexible the mixer is. Its fully modular so you can quickly take out channels etc. It has nice british EQs and sounds nice. I just record the stereo mix with the babyface but the mixer also has direct outs on every mono channel. For monitoring while sampling and chopping the s950 mix out and the MPC60 left out is connected to returns on top of the groups. Aux 1 & 2 are used to feed the sampler's inputs an aux 3 feeds the tape echo.

The FilterFactory acts as a phono preamp with a smooth filter as an extra. The Technics uses a Shure m97xe.

The S950 is controlled via midi by the MPC60 and both samplers are equipped with HXC floppy emulators.

Hope you like the setup!

Clint you have samplers for days! One for everyday of the week at least. Lol That's an impressive collection.

Very interesting to see how the 60/3000/ASQ10 is incorporated into the environment. Let's keep this thread active and I'm curious to see how others have it set up.

Any more?

Graphics are not essential, but if you have the time...

I use my 60II/3000 to sequence my synths: Moog Voyager, Juno 1, JX3P & Nord Rack 2X. I usually have the Voyager set as keyboard master on the 3K & Juno 1 on the 60II. Then i have a bunch of drum machines I usually sync through a splitter but I'm hoping to get Valixi on the 3K in order to have midi sync on the 4 outs. I also sometimes sequence a midified TR808 as the sync is a little loose. I also use the MPC FSK24 tape out to sync a SP-1200/TR-909 & I also use the 1/4 note click mode to trigger the arp of my SH-101 & JX3P step sequencer. I sometimes use a Sync Shift device in between the MPC & Tempest/TB303. Finally I just recently purchased an old Tascam portastudio so i'll probably be using the tape sync for it's intended original purpose soon.. oh my mixer is a Mackie 1604 & I track on PT10..

Daftmunk, are you using audio patchbays? Submixer? Main outs only? Sounds like you got a lot of outputs to manage. Or do you just patch in what you need as you go?

Yes i got a audio patchbay (and a midi one coming in soon) i do use the tascam as a submixer going into the 1604. fwiw i do plan on getting a new 32 input summing mixer soon.. i rarely use the MPC separate outs though, i use the internal MPC mixer a lot and also use the FX loop on the 60 for reveb/delay. haven't managed to figure out the 3000 internal delay though

I used my MPC60 to trigger my S950 through MIDI.
6 out of 8 channels in my 8 ch mixer are from the S950, 1 from the MPC60, 1 from the turntable.

Drums, bass and main samples come from my s950 and adds/hooks etc etc from the mpc60.

I sample everything from my DJ mixer which has turntables, CD player and casette player hooked up to it.
I used a microkorg earlier, but always sampled everything into my S950/MPC60 and used 16 levels/Keygroups to arrange it. Get some 12-bit grit in it.

After im done with a beat i solo each track (tr 1 = hh, tr 2 = snare etc etc) into my DAW (cubase) for mixing and final arranging.

So my MPC60 (Which i just sold) was mainly a sequencer and backup sampler.
I liked it a lot tho, very straight forward and the size + armrest made it comfortable to use.

I'll explain my setup and maybe you guys could advise on a more advanced set-up to create a better work flow and make tracking a lot easier!

1) MPC 3000 triggering S950 via MIDI
2) 8 Indiv. Outs of S950 ---> 8 Ins of 16-ch 'Mackie Onyx 1640i'
3) Technic Turntable connected to S950
4) Synths (SH-101/DX7/M1) connected via MIDI to 'Motu Midi Express XT'
5) Synths (SH-101/DX7/M1) connected via AUDIO to 'Motu Midi Express XT'
6) Effect units connected via AUDIO to 'Mackie Onyx 1640i'
7) MPC 3000 connected as slave to Logic 9 using MTC

to me this seems a very crude way of connecting everything, and what i usually do is track out all 8 indiv. outs from the S950 but then i have to cut them up because i have latency issues and i can't seem to get the MPC 3000 and S950 acting as slave to Logics master clock??

What i would ultimately love to do is sequence everything inside the 3000 and run it straight from the mixer to a reel-to-reel, but my knowledge or technical knowhow is a bit far off achieving this.

So if anyones got any pointers, to improve my setup or workflow then that be great!!!!

Cheers Nic