Getting back into the flow of things

What's going on everyone?

I've been out of the loop with making music for about 4yrs and just fell in love again.

Just curious to know what is some good outboard gear to use for making beats (no vocals)?.

get an mpc and some rekkids. thats all you really need.

i would reccomend a 1k with jjos2xl. go look into it and watch some youtube videos.

Turbophatt.

Basic things like a MPC, mixer and monitors.

Tell us more about how you would like to work (post production inside computer or not), what kind of style of music you want to make (do you need a turntable or a synth or multiple samplers) and what your budget is so we can give you more specific tips.

double post!

Menco wrote:Basic things like a MPC, mixer and monitors.

Tell us more about how you would like to work (post production inside computer or not), what kind of style of music you want to make (do you need a turntable or a synth or multiple samplers) and what your budget is so we can give you more specific tips.

hello

hiphop, r&b and experimental in a computer.

i would like to lay down a beat then be able to tweak each sound with effects.

budget of $10k

i was looking at either a mpc 4k, 5k or ren and utilizing each midi out port. add a computer and load it up with vst's

Why are you thinking about the 5000?

The Ren integrates more smoothly into a software/VST based setup, but it still has it flaws. I have the 2500 and the Studio, love working with both. But I hate tracking out from my 2500 into daw and only being able to add fx after I've recorded my beats into daw. With my Studio I still miss some features, but nothing that holds me back of doing the things that I want to do. So those are things to consider when you make you're decision.

Then it's very important to get a decent interface. I hear Apogee Duets are great. I'm very satisfied with my Motu interface. But if you want more hands on controls or want to put multiple pieces of hardware in the mix check out the Mackie Onyx series. The traditional Mackie mixingboards which also can be used as your firewire interface for multitrack recording.

Just as important are studio monitors. I'm not into monitors right now because I'm still cool with the ones I have. But I see most hiphop guys rocking those KRK's.

I don't know if that's your thing, but if I had 10k to spend I would throw in a Moog Little Phatty as well.

if i were you i woud get a mac for sure. i would get macbook pro cause i like portability, but get a desktop if that doenst matter to you. also get logic its like 199, and comes with so many software instruments and plugins you'll be set for a long time.

then, either a maschine studio or a mpc studio or rennisance, and track it all into logic.

i would also get a nice interface, i would be looking at rme or apogee if i had that kind of money to spend.

I'd get an MPC2500, no doubts. I came to the MPC after years of working with software sequencing, but the MPC approach to recording and writing is just so much more intuitive.

I'm using my MPC as the main sequencer for my nine synths, two drum machines and two samplers, and I've never had any latency/timing issues.

You should also get a decent outboard multieffects, such as one of the budget models from TC Electronics or Lexicon, just to beef things up.

srasmus wrote:I'd get an MPC2500, no doubts. I came to the MPC after years of working with software sequencing, but the MPC approach to recording and writing is just so much more intuitive.

I'm using my MPC as the main sequencer for my nine synths, two drum machines and two samplers, and I've never had any latency/timing issues.

You should also get a decent outboard multieffects, such as one of the budget models from TC Electronics or Lexicon, just to beef things up.

i agree about intuitiveness. also- why use 2 sequencers?

The one thing about the Onyx boards is that they send your signal to the DAW PRE-FADER. That means that your fader movements are not tracked to the DAW.
The EQ can be recorded or not, user-selected at the flip of a switch.

This was a huge deal-breaker for me... though there is a few people/stores out there that WILL do the post-fader mod. The most reliable of the few places I looked is a webstore (Front End Audio) that will do it for $250. If you get the bigger Onyx unit, the $250 is definitely worth it. Anything smaller though, then you should probably reconsider.

The ability to record my fader movements is HUGE to me. It would allow you to do some muting/unmuting/fades in a nice way, all live while you're recording.

Just throwing that out there for ye.


Peace!

medearis wrote:This was a huge deal-breaker for me... though there is a few people/stores out there that WILL do the post-fader mod. The most reliable of the few places I looked is a webstore (Front End Audio) that will do it for $250. If you get the bigger Onyx unit, the $250 is definitely worth it. Anything smaller though, then you should probably reconsider.

If you have some soldering/tech skills, you can DIY it, there are no special parts involved, detailed instructions on 2 ways to do it (permanent and switchable) are here...

https://sites.google.com/site/graymatte ... t-outs-mod

So in summary, there are four types of mod that you can choose between:

Switchable In/Out

These methods allow the 1620 to operate in factory mode when the Eq switch is out and modified mode when the switch is in. The downside to this, if you see it that way, is that the Eq circuitry is in circuit even if you only need to use the HPF or Insert or both.

1. Post HPF/Insert/Eq/Fader/Mute, switchable via Eq switch. (Cutting of PCB tracks required)
2. Post HPF/Insert/Eq, Pre Fader/Mute, switchable via Eq switch. (Cutting of PCB tracks required)

Permanent

These methods allow the use of the HPF and inserts without necessarily having to place the Eq in circuit. The down side, if you see it that way, is that you can’t revert to the factory mode.

3. Post HPF/Insert/Eq/Fader/Mute, non switchable, as outlined in detail above. (No cutting of PCB tracks required)
4. Post HPF/Insert/Eq, Pre Fader/Mute, non switchable. (No cutting of PCB tracks required)

Mod 4 can be achieved by taking the feed from the middle left pin of the Eq switch (Pole A) directly to the appropriate channel’s wire of the 15 pin multi-connector going to the DB25 board, instead of from the mute switch.

If you're considering a Ren, I think you should throw the Maschine Studio in to the mix. With a budget of 10k, the lack of a sound card will not be a problem.

http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=168732

Get an MPC, Monotribe, preamp/eq and some records and CDs and especially monitors.