next equipment advice: 8 output expansion for mpc 2000xl?

So here is my question to you;
Do i need an audio interface with 8 outputs or more to record 8 audio tracks at one time or can I use a Mackie 1202VLZ Mixer - 12 Channel Mixer which will be much cheaper option for me to purchase. How do you track out with your 8 output with a mixer at one time? Is that even possible?
The way I track out currently is by muting tracks and recording individual tracks to my daw (garageband Logic Pro x next week.) track 1 usually being the kicks, track 2 snares etc... This takes a very long time and becomes frustrating to try and match it on to my daw. Is this how 8 output works? Thanks again for all of your help.

with a mixer... you run each of the 8 outputs into an input on the mixer.. then the main left and right output go into the computer so it records a stereo recording.. that is the way you do it if you want to mix everything on the mixerand record the result.

the other way which might be better for you in the long run.. is to get a soundcard with 8 inputs.. not 8 outputs (though it doesn't hurt if it has that) check out presonus, motu, or something like that. Basically each output from the 8 output expansion would go into it's own input on the presonus or motu.. and in your daw you record each of the 8 outputs onto it's own channel so you can mix in the computer and add fx and all that in the DAW.

mr_debauch wrote:record each of the 8 outputs onto it's own channel so you can mix in the computer and add fx and all that in the DAW.

this is exactly what I want to do but all done with one take? Is there not a way to record all 8 tracks at one time in separate tracks? With a mixer it is all recored into my daw as one track, correct? I want separate tracks to mix and add fx. is this what you are talking about? http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/272211850115?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

yes, something like that... that one works but make sure you get one that works with your computer (IE: do you have firewire?)

each of the 8 outputs can go into each input and then you arm all 8 tracks in the daw so it records each one separate.

I have a macbook pro and do not have a firewire. Dumb question here; why do I need a firewire? I have usb, these sound cards are not usb powered? I can always get a a thunderbolt adapter but do I really need one? Man, this hobby is about to get more expensive!! hahahah

here is the thing to know:

there are many kinds of ports designed to transfer data over the years... 10 years ago we didn't have thunderbolt... that is a new port, a new connection type.. we did have USB, and firewire... now when usb came out there was USB 1, then eventually USB 2.0.. now we have USB 3 and 3.1.. before there was firewire, firewire 800.. and so on.

they are different types of wires, they work differently, but achieve the same thing.


if you have thunderbolt, you can get a thunderbolt interface.. but those are going to be expensive. If you have usb 3.0, then a USB 3 interface will be cheaper than thunderbolt... some companies still make USB 2.0 ones as well.. they are all good, but you can't run 32 channels on USB 1, newer faster connections allow for more to be done at once.

You have to decide how much you can spend.. but I will say one thing. Save yourself some money and get a good card right away so you won't be having to rebuy gear later because you bought a piece of shit or something that was less than what you needed.

I suggest a USB 2, USB 3, or if you can afford it... a thunderbolt interface.. they are all pretty much the same sounding but the connection works on your computer... which doesn't have a firewire port.

Well theres also the option of having the 8-outs and a mixer and then record the tracks solo so that you get stems that you can edit in your DAW, thats how I do it and it works fine. I midi-sync my MPC with cubase and solo/mute to desired tracks and hit record, piece of cake.

marrelarre wrote:Well theres also the option of having the 8-outs and a mixer and then record the tracks solo so that you get stems that you can edit in your DAW, thats how I do it and it works fine. I midi-sync my MPC with cubase and solo/mute to desired tracks and hit record, piece of cake.

this is what I currently do except that i don't have the 8 output yet. I mute the tracks and record each track but it takes me a long time to match them and sometimes they are just off by a slight millisecond. I have to edit the empty space and edit them to fit. I am new to beat making and have only been working with garageband but will get logic pro x next week.

do not get the 8-output and just a mixer if you are trying to save time. you will end up doing the process you are already doing, but having a mixer inbetween. that's it.

if you want to record all 8-channels at once, get a soundcard with 8 inputs, route the sounds to various outs, plug into that soundcard, arm 8-channels of audio in yer daw, hit record in the daw and hit play on the mpc.

i would avoid anything firewire - it is a dying standard and you'll have to have a converter to use it, and a lot of them aren't even supported on mac anymore anyway (m-audio has manufactured a lot of paperweights).

audacity doesn't actually work the best in this case because they don't let you choose which inputs to use. you can sometimes get lucky if the 8-inputs correspond to the first 8 software channel, but keep that in mind that this is is one place where audacity shows its limitations.
also, you don't route tracks to outputs in the mpc, you route pads to outputs - keep that in mind. most people's first experience with the 8-outs involves 'how do i route my hihat track to....', and the answer is you dont. you route the high-sounds and the track is irrelevant.

having said all that - just the 8-outs and a mackie 1202 is pretty badass anyway. do you NEED to track your beats a track at a time into your daw, or is that just what you've read on the internet is 'the way' to do it? there are lots of very amazing artists who just record 2-tracks into their daw and just tweak the master mix from there (jeff mills, aphex twin). so you don't NEED all the channels in your daw - some people just like it. but the 8-outs is badass cause you can then sculpt your tracks with a mixer. and i love those mackie 1202s.

tapedeck wrote: there are lots of very amazing artists who just record 2-tracks into their daw and just tweak the master mix from there (jeff mills, aphex twin)..

that is what i do I never use the 8 outs on any of the damn mpcs around here hahahaha


oh, and +1 on everything he said... i built a PC with an X99 6 core i7 and 16 gb of ddr4 ram last year... when i was buying the parts the guy laughed when i told him i needed a firewire card because both of my interfaces would become paper weights without it.

mr_debauch wrote:

tapedeck wrote: there are lots of very amazing artists who just record 2-tracks into their daw and just tweak the master mix from there (jeff mills, aphex twin)..

that is what i do I never use the 8 outs on any of the damn mpcs around here hahahaha

well i still think the 8-outs into a mixer is incredibly nice to use, especially if yer just two-tracking after that. it's nice having the flexibility of pads, mpc tracks, and mixer channels all being independent. you can really freak it live that way.

mr_debauch wrote:oh, and +1 on everything he said... i built a PC with an X99 6 core i7 and 16 gb of ddr4 ram last year... when i was buying the parts the guy laughed when i told him i needed a firewire card because both of my interfaces would become paper weights without it.

it goes deeper than that though...on osx, some of these firewire devices have just COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING...and m-audio is not going to update their drivers. in my town we have a pretty nice 10-in 10-out interface that keeps getting passed down to different folks as the previous owner accidentally updates his os.

yeah a friend of mine is a fan of Mr. G who does house music with a 2000xl and a mixer.. he does all his gradual fades with the mixer and mutes/unmutes stuff on the fly. it totally works.

yeah i still run a project mix, somehow i'm still able to make due with it and firewire.. It's a shame it can't run standalone though like many other brands of control surfaces of that style.

tapedeck wrote:do not get the 8-output and just a mixer if you are trying to save time. you will end up doing the process you are already doing, but having a mixer inbetween. that's it.

if you want to record all 8-channels at once, get a soundcard with 8 inputs, route the sounds to various outs, plug into that soundcard, arm 8-channels of audio in yer daw, hit record in the daw and hit play on the mpc.

Pardon my ignorance but I am just a little more confused now. ?? So don't get the 8 output because I will end up doing the same process as I do now? But I should get a soundcard with 8 inputs? How am I going to send out the signal from my MPC to the soundcard? Maybe I am reading it wrong but just can't picture how I would achieve recording on to separate tracks.



well, my plan is to tweek and add fx on certain drums or snares etc.. should I approach it differently? Am I doing all wrong? Thanks again for all of your time Tapedeck!

no no... he is saying that about the mixer, not the 8 outputs.

if you run the mpc from the main outs into the computer.. you have 2 tracks (one stereo track) .. the 8 outputs can send 8 mono tracks or 4 stereo tracks allowing you to mix stuff separately in the DAW. A mixer would take those 8 outputs and send out again 2 tracks into a DAW because mixers have a main left and right output too.