2000xl : sound not so good when imported to pc

Hi guys.
I use an mpc2000xl and a macbook pro. When I import audio from the mpc to the computer the sound quality is not so great (muddy, compressed, especially highs like orchestrals, and most of all female vocals).

What I do: I run a 2x 1/4'' - 3,5mm cable from the L/R out to the computer.
This model of macbook only has one in/out 3.5mm socket, meaning everytime you have to change it from the settings menu (to use it as an input or output). I can't tell if it is mic or line.
I then record the audio fed with audacity.

I've heard a lot of beats made by friends with mpcs and minimal settings like mine but theirs sound way better, speaking of overall sound quality (not sample choice, nor mixing, as we all sample from records and mix in the box without outboard mixers or any other gear), and obviously they are unmastered (we're a bunch of fakin amateurs LOL). They do use soundcards though, I don't for the moment.

What should I do? Is there any fiddling w/ audacity and/or computer settings to make thing better or do I just need a nice external sound card?
If that's the case please suggest one (max budget ≈250 $ ) (keep in mind my mac does have firewire).
Thank you all !!

you need an m-box or firebox or something like that that uses firewire or usb. some kind of external sound card

If you have a mac, look for a used Apogee Duet. You will not get better converters for the money. Trust me, nothing in that price range will compare.

Thanks guys, I read only beatiful things about Apogee Duet so I'm already halfway convinced, but should it be the 1 or 2? I can fin Duet for ok prices (≈ 200 € ), while the Duet 2 starts at 400 / 450 (no-no prices)

I've read the duet 2 has some issues (coloring, EQ boost, not sure anymore what it was)... but i don't even know if that's true. I think you'll find some answers on gearslutz if you google a little.

Had my duet since 2009 aproximately, can't complain, never failed me.

PS: Break-out cable is rubbish... it just feels so cheap with the very thin cables (connectors / plugs are rock solid, don't worry)... still, it never failed, just feels a bit cheap in that regard when handling the break-out cables.

i think i'll go with the duet 1, i need something basic, and it really costs less than half..
just one thing: if i recall you have a 2kxl, so since i'd be using 2kxl + duet 1 do you have any beats or something you produced and recorded with that combo? to have an idea on how it would sound:)

I sold the 2000XL about a year ago. I do however have two examples for you, beats i made with it and recorded the mix with the duet straight out of 2000XL stereo out.
They are not the best beats tho, especially my drums weren't a strong point back when i made those... so take it for what it is.

The duet usually sounds very transparent, boosts the highs a tiny bit IMO. More or less what you put in is what you get out.

I've uploaded the two beats to my soundcloud, check the newest two beats...



Funny coincidence... both beats are sampled from the same artist.

thanks a lot my man, I dig the tunes, chilly! the sound is very nice, crispy and detailed.
I've uploaded a small jam on soundcloud:



so you can hear what I'm talking about. It sounds pretty 'compressed' (is it the right term?), with not much ambience and range.. and the chain is simple, tt->pre->mpc->mac, I think the last step is the weakest. I don't have the nicest preamp either but I don't think a preamp can mess things up this bad, I think the weak link is the act of importing in the macbook, hence the need of something like this sweet Duet

You are not going to get good result with on-board audio interface on laptop.
Although Apogee's audio-interface is great, you don't have to go that far. Well this is depends on how you are going to use audio interface.
If you are just recording MOC-2000XL, then you don't need preamp, Apogee One might be overkill.
Even a cheap USB audio interface would greatly improve sound quality, both recording and playing.

I found more than one apogee duet 1 close to me selling for averagely 200 € ( 250 $ ), you think I could find something even cheaper? It looked like a really good price, I was expecting the worse.. I looked at soundcards in the past and were way more expensive

If looking at older interfaces, make sure you can still get drivers for whatever OS your computer is running.

I think it's hard to beat the quality of the duet converters for that money (250$).

By the way, the sound in those beats i posted is really just the converter sound, not the pre-amp of the apogee. I found that when giving out a good signal from an mpc or mixer, you don't even have to open up the gain on the apogee (just a few clicks, which doesn't activate the pre-amp).

I was talkin about my phono pre of course I would avoid gaining on the sound module, the mpc out is fine, hell, if you crank it all up and set the internal mixer to +12db it gets really loud, without distortion in itself (cause it sounds nice on speakers). Of course, when importing that loud, it clips like sh*t. I usually import to macbook with internal a +0db and the volume knob turned 1/3 up..