Help me love the MPC effects

Any tips/suggestion to how to use the MPC effects, mostly the compressors and reverbs?

I really struggle finding any sweet spot (the ugly as **** interface doesn't help) and I end up relying more and more on my Ipad as effects processor rather than using the internal effects.

Be sure you won't clip the main outs and everything will sound better..

The effects really alter the sound for me. I've managed to turn an electric guitar into a soothing harpichord, if thats worth throwing out there. Also, combine them with the filter, you get further results.

The distortions, I don't like though, its either too loud or too farty static. The lofi stuff is dope too.

Ill-Green wrote:The effects really alter the sound for me. I've managed to turn an electric guitar into a soothing harpichord, if thats worth throwing out there. Also, combine them with the filter, you get further results.

The distortions, I don't like though, its either too loud or too farty static. The lofi stuff is dope too.

I use the distortions all the time lol. The grimey and fuzz are my go to. Also ping pong delay all day, probably use it too much

I never use the compressors though but I never use any compressors so not saying they suck or anything. I also like to throw the mpc 60 on kicks and mpc 3000 on master from time to time

J.O.BEATS wrote:

I use the distortions all the time lol. The grimey and fuzz are my go to. Also ping pong delay all day, probably use it too much

I never use the compressors though but I never use any compressors so not saying they suck or anything. I also like to throw the mpc 60 on kicks and mpc 3000 on master from time to time

Yes, you right, the grimey and fuzz are cool, I've used them a couple times. After using a Pignose distortion amp, I'm spoiled by its dirt goodness, combined with the Overlord and its a freakout of unshaved pussies rubbing all over your face.

Compared to the 4000 the effects are dope. I use the compressor and transient shaper a lot for tracking stuff in and cleanin up samples. They ain't no eventide effects but they are more than workable. They seem to help with more subtle stuff than changing the crazyness of a kaoss pad.

Yes sir!!!!!

Cockdiesel wrote:Compared to the 4000 the effects are dope. I use the compressor and transient shaper a lot for tracking stuff in and cleanin up samples. They ain't no eventide effects but they are more than workable. They seem to help with more subtle stuff than changing the crazyness of a kaoss pad.

Be sure you won't clip the main outs and everything will sound better.How do i do this or how do i turn my main out volume down?

You can either turn down your tracks at -12db in track mixer or my way to stick a SP1200 preset on your main outs that acts like a limiter

pablow6554 wrote:Be sure you won't clip the main outs and everything will sound better.How do i do this or how do i turn my main out volume down?

Thanks!
Any fun combination of effects worth trying?

Also, I'm not at the Live at the moment, are the effect in series or parallel?

Depends what ur going for.... try the analog delay with sync then a reverb on synths. Or pitch shifter into verb or delay. The 1200 ring is dope for drums and samples. Just need to experiment.

Ill's got a point. everyone one uses effects in their own way, or some even no effects at all. Effects are entirely subjective. Me personally, I go ham with effects, and to be honest I like some of the effects on the live more than some of the effects units I bought. The delays on th live are on par with most digital effects boxs.

I have a Roland demora that sounds exactly like the analog delay on the live. Just no cv control or other euro options the demora offers. But almost dead on the same exact effect, and even that is really similar to the plain delay effect on my sp505, just cleaner and more refined. the user interface seemed straight forward to me and light years beyond the 4K more in line with Roland sp404/505 interface than anything. A couple parameters with knobs to turn, or touch the screen and scroll.

Not sure what you are comparing it to or what you're using, but I believe for its intended purpose they are solid. Even effects boxes that cost as much as a live only polish your hard work not turn nothing into an instant banger.

Cockdiesel wrote:Ill's got a point. everyone one uses effects in their own way, or some even no effects at all. Effects are entirely subjective.

I don't have a particular goal in mind, but as the effects are the thing I like the least on the Live, I was looking for tips/hints on how to get the most out of them...

Stack your FX. Go with a delay 1st then put a phaser on top of it. Get a nice spread like that.

I don't mind the distortions. I just have them about 5-10% wet. After that, it gets ugly.

The reverb is clearly the bastard afterthought compared to my Strymon Blue Sky or even the Digitakt's verb. I stay away from the Akai verb.

I'm still bummed about not being able to automate FXs on the send. But I don't think about that anymore...