Ren vs MPC 60 sound

So I realized the MPC software can load legacy projects – those done with an MPC 60, for example (I don't actually have the Renaissance anymore, but do still have the software on my laptop, and am thinking of getting the Touch).
Anyways, an interesting fact: even if you load with the software a project done with MPC 60 using sounds sampled directly into the MPC 60 and then play them back (with the software), it sounds way different. It's way brighter on the software and it's got slightly less thump. Keep in mind, I sampled those sounds first into the MPC 60 (i.e., did not transfer in today's digital fashion, i.e., it's gone thru the 60's 30-year-old converters), then saved the project + sounds on a USB stick (got the Gotek drive), then loaded it all with the software and played it back.
The 60 sounds less bright but definitely has more thump, and it's more ”organic”. I tried to reproduce the tone on the software using a UAD SSL strip emulation LP filters (and some other filters, too), but you can't get that. The tone coming out of the MPC software is more ”ringy” and harsh (even though it's playing back the sounds sampled into the 60). 60 = heavier/warmer.
What's to learn here? There's definitely some magic in the old devices; it's the lack of capabilities to reproduce sound in its highest quality – and that, my friends, is the soul of hip hop.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBe7by6C8lg ... annehatula

This is so true.

Soundcard/interface? my rme card sounds different to both a steinberg ur44 and the ren audio card when i playback the same wav file through different soundcards... i would say the killer mp60 combination is both conversions .. sampled in and playing back out .

dazastah wrote:Soundcard/interface? my rme card sounds different to both a steinberg ur44 and the ren audio card when i playback the same wav file through different soundcards... i would say the killer mp60 combination is both conversions .. sampled in and playing back out .

Probably not. I'm using an UAD Apollo Twin Duo, and I highly trust it. No plug-ins were used in the chain.

Heck, I should've made audio of that; will do that later so ppl can hear.

There is an ADC and a DAC stage in both the 60 and your interface. During playback, your DAC stage makes the samples sound a certain way as it translates the 1's and 0's into an analog electrical signal; not the software. The MPC60 output stage features a different DAC circuit than the Apollo. It should sound different.

Converters were relatively new to the audio world back when the 60 came out and maybe not ideally designed. Some of the poor/unrefined designs engineers were coming up with back then made unique or unexpected results that were pleasing to the user. Nowadays designers are looking at maximizing frequency response, increased dynamic range, minimal jitter, etc. The math says these will function better than previous designs, but maybe it doesn't sound as good.

IMHO, you are experiencing the "they don't make em like they used to" effect. Haha

It's not just the sound, it's the sequencer also.

The public don't give a ish...

im sure the ren sequencer is way better than the 60's

Done in the 60, recorded via UAD Apollo Twin: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nos9w2vx3c4m5 ... 0.wav?dl=0
Loaded and exported by Ren: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7dojls92k1o8x ... d.wav?dl=0

No plugins or effects used.

big difference in those examples, i was hoping the mpc software can be backward compatible so if you made changes to your 60s project you can resave in the format the 60 would recognize and carry on in the hardware.


for example i wanted to do some sample editing and shift a few notes in a 3k, i can open the project in the mpc softtware but cannot resave it in a format the 3k recognizes, shame really as it would be awesome if it had backward compatibility with older mpc's for those who still use the 3k,60,4k live or in the studio.

File save project & samples in mpc 3k/60 /4k/ format

the mean different on the punch of mpc 60 vs. ren. is the microtiming in a sequence in mpc 60.

updaters wrote:the mean different on the punch of mpc 60 vs. ren. is the microtiming in a sequence in mpc 60.

I don't get it – the timing of the has an effect on the transient?

@fanu, i noticed the same thing with my 3k,

the 60 sounds more rounded, more oumph, the ren has more high end and hiss,

@fanu did you record the rens outputs into the uad also? or simply exported the project via the mpc software, would be nice to hear 4 alt versions,

1)60 into uad
2) ren outputs into uad
3)out the uad then back into uad inputs
4) direct mpc software render out

Horseclick wrote:big difference in those examples, i was hoping the mpc software can be backward compatible so if you made changes to your 60s project you can resave in the format the 60 would recognize and carry on in the hardware.


for example i wanted to do some sample editing and shift a few notes in a 3k, i can open the project in the mpc softtware but cannot resave it in a format the 3k recognizes, shame really as it would be awesome if it had backward compatibility with older mpc's for those who still use the 3k,60,4k live or in the studio.

File save project & samples in mpc 3k/60 /4k/ format

If you want an easy way to transfer samples from computer to the 60, use Chicken Systems Translator to transfer samples onto a card that you can read with the 60. I've tested it, and it works.

Horseclick wrote:@fanu did you record the rens outputs into the uad also? or simply exported the project via the mpc software, would be nice to hear 4 alt versions,

No; as i said in the initial post, i dont have the Ren anymore, so it was an export. However, planning to buy the Touch soonish, so then I can record it into the UAD. However, I do not believe it changes the sound, honestly.

Fanu wrote:

updaters wrote:the mean different on the punch of mpc 60 vs. ren. is the microtiming in a sequence in mpc 60.

I don't get it – the timing of the has an effect on the transient?

I talked about micro timing and punch from the mpc 60
that is something different
more simultaneous sample-accurate transients are not be hear transparent separately.
peoples are listen in a seriel way
mpc 60 plays the notes in a seriel way -its midi
and of course: mpc 60 has 12 bit etc and an others sound as software .
Incidentally, each software sounds a bit different




of course -any shifted timing position of notes shifts the transients i a same way
compressors and amp envelopes shifts the position of transient and envelopes
better musicaly microtiming make the sounds in the beat more groovy, full in , compact and transparent .