MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with proof)

Technical questions for the MPC2000xl and the MPC2000
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MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with proof)

By Synesthezia Sun Mar 02, 2014 5:37 am
Okay, so for a while now, I've heard this debate being tossed back and forth... but I've never seen any proof... so I decided to put my new 2000XL to the test... and guess what? The MPC can do something!

Edit: disregard this post, updated test is at the bottom of this page.

So here's what I did...

I set my levels and sampled a Zeppelin break into the XL. Then I plugged my XL directly into my PC with a 1/4 in to 3.5mm adapter and recorded the raw output. Compared to the original...there
wasn't really a difference.

Or at least, at first there wasn't. But then I got an idea. I turned the main volume knob a notch or two, expecting to get some heavy distortion since I had already set the level just under clipping. I recorded the raw output again, and BAM! There it was. It was louder and beefier... without distortion! I repeated this a few times, turning the volume up as I went.

Turns, out, the MPC doesn't "color" sounds right away. But... once you start turning those knobs past the "clipping" point, it actually compresses the sound with some analog saturation!
Last edited by Synesthezia on Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with pro

By hok-2 Sun Mar 02, 2014 2:34 pm
Yeah I agree, the mpc definitely does something.
I recently switch from a daw to the mpc2000 ,I'm still at the beginning stages but it just gives beats more clout.
And not having to fiddle about with a mouse all the time is a relief.

I play my guitar & run the mic through it as a sort of pre amp to record into the the computer and that sounds pretty cool too, especially bass guitar.

I was using reason before getting the mpc
And sure you can do a lot of stuff with those programs but for me it always just sounded fin and too mid-rangey.
I'm sure some one with better production skills can make phat beats on daws, but for me whatever it is the mpc does, it is CORRECT.
Know what I'm saying :lol:

I seen the pictures of the one you just got, looks like a beauty
I Gf**kin love mine :-D
Big ups.
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Re: MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with pro

By jibber Mon Mar 03, 2014 9:28 am
To my ears it sounds pretty much the same, just louder.
Try it yourself... with the drumbreak... listen to the first example, then listen to the second one and adjust your speaker volume to match the volume of the first example... sounds pretty much the same.

I can understand there will be a big difference when you record things into mpc's / samplers with different record gain settings... obviously. However, just turning up the volume on your mpc, i don't believe it will change your sound, it will just make things louder... :roll:

If you raise the volume on the mpc this means you will get a louder signal into your pc / interface / whatever you are using to record the mpc. This will of course act the same as turning up the record gain on the pc / interface... which can also produce a different recording result / sound.

I don't believe there is a magic "compressor" thing in the analog output of the 2000XL. I've owned and used one for two years.

PS: Depending on the gear used, output volume of the recorded source can make a difference. If the source machine is on volume setting 4 (from 1 - 100), it might sound weak compared to volume setting 83 (from 1 - 100)... but that's not because there's some magical compressor in the machine... it's simply because the output level at volume setting 4 is shit and weak... :popcorn: :smoker:

In short: No magic here (in my opinion).

EDIT: And basically, what Simon posted.
Last edited by jibber on Mon Mar 03, 2014 9:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with pro

By SimonInAustralia Mon Mar 03, 2014 9:42 am
Synesthezia wrote:Turns, out, the MPC doesn't "color" sounds right away. But... once you start turning those knobs past the "clipping" point, it actually compresses the sound with some analog saturation!

If you are nearly clipping on your computer input, and then turn up the MPC output volume, any colour or distortion will be coming from the overdriving/distorting computer input, not the increases in the MPC output volume causing any sort of colour or distortion in the MPC output.

The well known color and distortion in the MPC workflow generally comes from overdriving the MPC input, when sampling into the MPC, not from overdriving the computer input, when recording the MPC into the computer.
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Re: MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with pro

By Wal Martian Mon Mar 03, 2014 3:51 pm
SimonInAustralia wrote:
Synesthezia wrote:Turns, out, the MPC doesn't "color" sounds right away. But... once you start turning those knobs past the "clipping" point, it actually compresses the sound with some analog saturation!

...The well known color and distortion in the MPC workflow generally comes from overdriving the MPC input...

That's what he said :roll:
Synesthezia wrote:...I turned the main volume knob...
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Re: MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with pro

By SimonInAustralia Mon Mar 03, 2014 4:21 pm
Wal Martian wrote:
SimonInAustralia wrote:
Synesthezia wrote:Turns, out, the MPC doesn't "color" sounds right away. But... once you start turning those knobs past the "clipping" point, it actually compresses the sound with some analog saturation!

...The well known color and distortion in the MPC workflow generally comes from overdriving the MPC input...

That's what he said :roll:
Synesthezia wrote:...I turned the main volume knob...

Is that what he said? :hmmm: :roll:
Synesthezia wrote:...I turned the main volume knob...

Image
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Re: MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with pro

By SimonInAustralia Mon Mar 03, 2014 5:04 pm
Overdriving the MPC input is what he 'should' be doing for the MPC overdriven sound.

That is what I initially thought he was doing.

But, from his description, it really isn't clear that he is overdriving the MPC input, from what he wrote (maybe not necessarily what he meant), it sounds like he is trying to overdrive his computer input.

Synesthezia wrote:So here's what I did...

I set my levels and sampled a Zeppelin break into the XL. Then I plugged my XL directly into my PC with a 1/4 in to 3.5mm adapter and recorded the raw output. Compared to the original...there
wasn't really a difference.

Or at least, at first there wasn't. But then I got an idea. I turned the main volume knob a notch or two, expecting to get some heavy distortion since I had already set the level just under clipping. I recorded the raw output again, and BAM! There it was. It was louder and beefier... without distortion! I repeated this a few times, turning the volume up as I went.

Turns, out, the MPC doesn't "color" sounds right away. But... once you start turning those knobs past the "clipping" point, it actually compresses the sound with some analog saturation!


He mentions turning up the main volume knob between each recording pass into the computer, which seems to mean the MPC output volume, as he does not mention the Rec In knob, and re-sampling into the MPC each time, which would be turning up the MPC input gain.

Re: MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with pro

By Synesthezia Tue Mar 04, 2014 12:10 am
Sorry about the confusion guys... I'll try this test again. I was overdriving both the Rec Gain and the Main Volume knobs on the MPC when I did this, because I wasn't sure which one it was that the myth talks about. So I just cranked both and got excited when I heard the saturation/compression/whatever because my mindset was that any effect I perceive MUST BE COMING FROM THE MPC RIGHT?? WHERE ELSE COULD IT POSSIBLY COME FROM?? .... yeah, silly me.. woops! :lol: :mrgreen:

Although there's a reason why I was so sure of myself when I did this... The way I did it made it seem like no matter what I did, I could not get the signal going into Audacity to clip. There's a setting where you can make Audacity show where a signal is clipping in the waveform, and I couldn't get the MPC to do it. That's why I thought there was some sort of compression going on... the level meters were going all the way up but they acted like I had a limiter set at 0dB :shock: and they wouldn't go past it ... when I record my Yamaha keyboard through it's headphone out, that thing will start to clip horribly (it will go past 0dB) and if pushed all the way, will actually get so loud that the signal will just cut to silence. Anyway...

What I'm getting from the responses is that I'm only supposed to overdrive the Rec Gain knob, making sure the computer and Main Volume levels aren't hot/loud?
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Re: MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with pro

By SimonInAustralia Tue Mar 04, 2014 12:23 am
Yes, the idea is to overdrive the analogue circuitry (opamps), before the AD convertors, on the input to the MPC.

You would set the MPC Rec In knob just before full level on the MPC meters, then step up the Rec In knob from there to see what the sound going into the MPC does as it is overdriven.

Generally, when recording an electronic instrument, you would set the Main Volume knob on the instrument to full, and then set the gain on your computer audio interface to get close to full level without clipping in your DAW.

Re: MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with pro

By Synesthezia Tue Mar 04, 2014 2:37 am
SimonInAustralia wrote:Yes, the idea is to overdrive the analogue circuitry (opamps), before the AD convertors, on the input to the MPC.

You would set the MPC Rec In knob just before full level on the MPC meters, then step up the Rec In knob from there to see what the sound going into the MPC does as it is overdriven.

Generally, when recording an electronic instrument, you would set the Main Volume knob on the instrument to full, and then set the gain on your computer audio interface to get close to full level without clipping in your DAW.


Okay, awesome. Gonna try it now.

Re: MPC "Colorization" Test... pretty cool results (with pro

By Synesthezia Tue Mar 04, 2014 5:27 am
Alright guys, here it is... the right way this time.

I must say... I personally like it, especially since you can control the sound very easily. I've been able to do similar things in Guitar Rig, but not quite like this. The kicks are crunchy with some distortion but everything else is just right :nod:

This is only one sample, however, so before you make up your mind on whether you like it or not-- try some different samples of your own :wink:

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