Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
By Jonny21 Thu Dec 30, 2004 12:39 pm
Dear Forum

I have myself an MPC 1000 and I am looking to create some fat beats using mostly sample cds and record samples. Im a Dj and I am looking to try and use these beats as loops live as well as one day writing a hit record???? Is the MPC good for editing kicks and other drum sounds without the need of an external compressor or effects unit. Also whenever I put a sequence together it sounds really hollow and empty, what do people generally do to avoid this? Any hints and tips on beat production would be very much appreciated.

Cheers

Jon

By hfinal Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:27 pm
The thing about emptiness just comes with practice. It has much to do with the samples you use, the way you EQ it, the way you program and reverb it.. Just keep on making those beats, and it will eventually come naturally.
By Jonny21 Fri Dec 31, 2004 2:55 am
Thanks for getting back to me Ill keep creating and see what happens, I just needed the confidence to know that good beats can be produced on the AKai.

Happy New Year

Jonny
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By dubnov Fri Dec 31, 2004 11:54 am
Jonny21 wrote:Is the MPC good for editing kicks and other drum sounds without the need of an external compressor or effects unit.


The mpc1000's compressor is useless for drumsounds because of the very short attack time. I do all the editing on the computer.
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By ieism Fri Dec 31, 2004 12:23 pm
That said, there's not much need for compressing kicks if you're sampling from records. A lot of stuff on vinyl is already compressed pretty hard, and if you layer a few kicks together you can come up with some good sounding kickdrums without external gear.

You can produce very good stuff with just an mpc, it just takes some practice and time.
If you already own a computer, you can make things sound even better without spending any money at all. Download an audio editor and some vst plug-ins and you can process any drumsound you like and transfer it back to your mpc.

Try this:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about.php?lang=en

And this too:
http://www.camelaudio.com/camelphatfree.php
http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.p ... &subItem=5

By hfinal Fri Dec 31, 2004 1:27 pm
But by using a computer and plugins you lose sound quality.. Dont you?
By Jonny21 Fri Dec 31, 2004 2:34 pm
This is all good advice, and thanks for the links Ill check those out!! Although a bit concerned that some of you think the mpc1000 is no good for producing decent beats.......the more I read the more stick the Mpc 1000 gets!!! What are its main strengths?

Thanks again

Jon
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By ieism Fri Dec 31, 2004 3:39 pm
hfinal wrote:But by using a computer and plugins you lose sound quality.. Dont you?


:roll: Not really. Just load it in your pc and edit it, don't record it with your coputer if your soundcard is not that great. That way you're keeping it in the digital domain so the sounquality will be the same.
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By binger0 Fri Dec 31, 2004 6:37 pm
yea. if its the same sample rate its the same on pc or mpc.