Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By burritoman Mon Jan 06, 2014 10:32 pm
ok so I have recently been attempting to record my samples in stereo, I have a y cord that is going into the left and right inputs, everything should be good but when I record it sounds the same as mono L. It comes in on both sides so I know the right input is working, but its like it decided to record the left side as well. GOD **** DAMN IT MPC YOU **** ****. the y cord and everything is stereo, I have even tested it by plugging the y cord into my headphones. it should work! idk what the hell is going on this is driving me crazy :fku: :hmmm: :WTF: Any insight would be greatly appreciated thank you.
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By SimonInAustralia Mon Jan 06, 2014 10:35 pm
What device and output are you plugging the stereo/TRS end of the cable into? Is it a stereo output?

How can you plug the cable into your headphones, do you mean into a headphone output of some sort of audio equipment?
By burritoman Mon Jan 06, 2014 10:53 pm
yeah its my computer its a stereo output. These headphones use an audio cable that you can unplug an plug back in. I am using gold adapters 1/4 inch to plug into the mpc, but I doubt that has anything to do with it, I have made sample balances change, an I could hear it through my headphones fine with the adapter. have you successfully recorded in stereo on the mpc 500?
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By SimonInAustralia Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:07 pm
Yes, stereo recording on the MPC500 does work.

What exactly is the cable, what sort of connectors on each end?

If you plug your headphone into the MPC500 Phones output as you are recording, you should here the stereo image as it is being monitored and/or recorded, and it should sound the same when assigned to, and played from, a pad.
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By Lampdog Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:28 pm
burritoman wrote:I have a y cord that is going into the left and right inputs

....the adapter


These are the problem.

burritoman wrote:GOD **** DAMN IT burritoman YOU **** ****

..is what the mpc is probably thinking.

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By burritoman Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:30 pm
the y cable has a 1/8 inch female input and two 1/8 inch male outputs. the males are plugged into 1/4 inch adapters which are plugged into the left and right inputs on the mpc. I have an audio cable running from the computer to the y cable input. and my headphones are plugged into the phones output :WTF:
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By SimonInAustralia Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:35 pm
burritoman wrote:the y cable has a 1/8 inch female input and two 1/8 inch male outputs. the males are plugged into 1/4 inch adapters which are plugged into the left and right inputs on the mpc. I have an audio cable running from the computer to the y cable input. and my headphones are plugged into the phones output :WTF:

Is the 1/8 inch female input to the y-cable definitely stereo/TRS?

Is the 1/8-1/8 audio cable from the computer to the y-cable a stereo/TRS cable/plugs?

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By SimonInAustralia Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:43 pm
OK, unplug both 1/4 ends from the MPC.

Go into stereo record mode.

Plug one end of the cable into the left MPC input, start recording, while still recording, unplug from the left MPC input and plug it into the right MPC input, stop recording.

You should have a stereo sample that starts with audio on the left only, then audio on the right only.

This should confirm that the MPC stereo inputs and recording is working correctly.


Maybe you have a 1/8 mono to 2x1/8 mono adapter, designed to split a mono input signal to two mono outputs, like the second adapter in this diagram, you need the first adapter...

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Do you have a multimeter to test the cable?

Are the two male 1/8 ends on the adapter cable TRS or TS?
By burritoman Tue Jan 07, 2014 2:16 am
everything is trs, stereo, legit, I don't have a multi meter, and I have come to the conclusion that something is wrong with the right input that makes it record the left side and just put it on the right. I don't think there is anything I can do. Have you personally recorded in stereo on an mpc 500? what was your setup?
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By SimonInAustralia Tue Jan 07, 2014 2:22 am
If the two 1/8 plugs on the y-adapter are both TRS, then it is most likely the wrong adapter.

Yes, I tested it, earlier today, from the stereo outs of a Mackie mixer, using 2 unbalanced TS leads from the L/R outs of the Mackie to the L/R ins of the MPC. Panning a sound in the Mackie from left to right and back results in the same panning being recorded into, and played back from, a stereo sample in the MPC.

Test your MPC inputs, as I said above, send a signal through the cable/adapter you have, and while recording a stereo sample, first plug one side of the adapter into the left MPC input, unplug it, and plug that same side of the adapter into the right MPC input. If the recorded sample plays back on the left side, then on the right side, the MPC is working correctly.

I believe you have an incorrect adapter.

The MPC is probably picking up the left channel from both sides of the y-adapter (or a stereo mix from both sides), because it is sending the same stereo/TRS signal to both sides of the adapter, not splitting the stereo TRS input to the adapter to a mono left and right output for the MPC.

Use the correct adapter, or a 1/8" TRS to 2x1/4" TS cable at the appropriate length, and I expect it will work correctly.