Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
By dustymaestro Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:57 pm
I am going directly into my soundcard. I find the 4ooo operates best below -12 db in the global menu. Which makes me need some sort of preamp to get the gain back up. How are you recording and monitoring your 4ooo?
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By Mike Boogie Mon Mar 17, 2014 4:10 pm
-12db Master Level!?!

May I ask why you are tracking out so low?
By dustymaestro Mon Mar 17, 2014 4:40 pm
Im thinking the mod matrix works better, something about the gain overrides the mod matrix. :?: You wont get full dynamic velocity either, you have to lower the overall db.


I want to get another preamp. This 512c does wonders for this super jupiter. I just started on a lunchbox so it has some blank spaces left.

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I need to fill them up so I dont have to use this for cover. lol

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Last edited by dustymaestro on Wed Mar 26, 2014 5:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
By 313 studio tricks Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:10 pm
interesting. what do you think they add?

im looking for an adat card for my mpc. i have some rme adat inputs that im itchin to use but id like to hear what youre doing. got any a/b comparisons we can hear?
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By sirparksalot Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:44 pm
Nice! The 512c's are sweet dude!

I'm just running my 8 outs into my UA apollo. It has 4 built in pre-amps and up to 8 inputs so it's fine for what I'm doing. I'm using a UA 610 for vocals though....only have one, but I like it (even with the stock tubes).
By dustymaestro Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:24 am
313 studio tricks wrote:interesting. what do you think they add?

im looking for an adat card for my mpc. i have some rme adat inputs that im itchin to use but id like to hear what youre doing. got any a/b comparisons we can hear?


The preamp is going to add gain. It also has an opamp called a 2520 and a cinemag transformer in it. It sounds great. You can drive your signal so the sounds come alive, gain staging.

The sound of preamp is hard to tell. Game of inches really, you want to look at features it has. This 512c has a very high gain, good for a low gain super jupiter.

I initially wanted to hook up the 4ooo with the adat, but I cant get that damn cable to stay there! Ive been getting some outboard lately, so im just going to use the analog outs most of the time. If you find a good adat cable that works, let us know.

sirparksalot wrote:Nice! The 512c's are sweet dude!

I'm just running my 8 outs into my UA apollo. It has 4 built in pre-amps and up to 8 inputs so it's fine for what I'm doing. I'm using a UA 610 for vocals though....only have one, but I like it (even with the stock tubes).


Yeah, they do sound sweet! :smoker: I have 4 preamps also on my sound card. Im using those for some other low gain synthesizers. Ive looked into that 610, :nod: it would be nice to have another one, you can run stereo.
By 313 studio tricks Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:23 am
youre saying the adat cable falls out? this is a common problem? im sure theres something that would help. maybe a longer cable with plenty of slack?
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By SimonInAustralia Tue Mar 18, 2014 5:26 pm
ADAT cables should stay in without any problem, unless there is something weird about the specific ADAT port used on the MPC4000 ADAT card.

Are you pushing it in until it 'clicks'?
By dustymaestro Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:56 am
jimfowler wrote:master level -6dB, directly into (non-preamp) interface.


SimonInAustralia wrote:ADAT cables should stay in without any problem, unless there is something weird about the specific ADAT port used on the MPC4000 ADAT card.

Are you pushing it in until it 'clicks'?


No, It seemed like it would break. Got a pic? That would be helpful!


jimfowler wrote:master level -6dB, directly into (non-preamp) interface.


Mr Fowler, whats the reason? Why -6?
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By SimonInAustralia Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:44 am
dustymaestro wrote:No, It seemed like it would break. Got a pic? That would be helpful!

If you are plugging it in correctly, not sure why it is falling out.

You can see the cable being plugged in at about 0:45...

By dustymaestro Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:31 am
Thanks, I wouldnt think there would be a video with that. I just tried to plug it again into the 4ooo, no dice. That might be the most scariest cable I have ever tried to plug in. lol . I noticed on these toslink cables the ends arent exaclty the same. Regardless I tried both sides. It felt like I would break something.

Great shot though at 45 sec. It shows it being flush.