mixing & mastering with the NEW MPCs [standalone mode] mix /

mixing & mastering with the NEW MPCs [standalone mode] mix / master

a lot of feedback I get is that I need to better mix/master my trax.



I was just wondering does anybody mix inside the MPC standalone or just export to ableton, protools, etc.


ideally, I know we should be using a full DAW but I was wondering how powerful the MPC is?
I keep it simple with just 4-8 tracks for a song
1] MPC loops/chops
2] drums LO [kick/toms]
3] drums HI [snare/hh]
4-5] BASS or synth stabs [this could be a sample or synth bass]
6-8] ad libs, vocals, live guitar, etc.

DokBrown wrote:mixing & mastering with the NEW MPCs [standalone mode]

a lot of feedback I get is that I need to better mix/master my trax.



I was just wondering does anybody mix inside the MPC standalone or just export to ableton, protools, etc.


ideally, I know we should be using a full DAW but I was wondering how powerful the MPC is?
I keep it simple with just 4-8 tracks for a song
1] MPC loops/chops
2] drums LO [kick/toms]
3] drums HI [snare/hh]
4] BASS [this could be a sample or synth bass]
5] SYNTH stabs/melody
6-8] ad libs, vocals, live guitar, etc.

1000% do able for mixing. I say when composing using a MPC, get the mix as close possible to final. As for mastering, if that is your only tool, it can be done. However, if you have a Software DAW with better tools, use that. If you have access to Good Mastering Engineer, use them.

DokBrown wrote:mixing & mastering with the NEW MPCs [standalone mode] mix / master

a lot of feedback I get is that I need to better mix/master my trax.



I was just wondering does anybody mix inside the MPC standalone or just export to ableton, protools, etc.


ideally, I know we should be using a full DAW but I was wondering how powerful the MPC is?
I keep it simple with just 4-8 tracks for a song
1] MPC loops/chops
2] drums LO [kick/toms]
3] drums HI [snare/hh]
4-5] BASS or synth stabs [this could be a sample or synth bass]
6-8] ad libs, vocals, live guitar, etc.

I can't speak on mastering, because I would never attempt doing it in an MPC for certain reasons, but as someone who've mixed records on Neve, SSL, and Harrison consoles, you can certainly mix in the box with the MPC Live/One/X series, but like Charles said if you have access to a DAW with more sophisticated tools you'd be better off. Limitations don't make you more creative, it just limits your creativity...

Get a mixer, use the out puts. A lot quicker workflow at some point you need a computer to share your music. Use the free ozone isotope software or something like the new tc finalizer they just ported over to software. Understand the gain staging from mix to master you should be fine.

I’ve realized even the one is a quicker work flow for a setup like that. You can get by with two channels for drums with the options in mpc.

No need to track out to the mpc if you have song mode set up right. Just a mixer with enough inputs for the mpc and synths.

Fre$hBreath wrote:I can't speak on mastering, because I would never attempt doing it in an MPC for certain reasons, but as someone who've mixed records on Neve, SSL, and Harrison consoles, you can certainly mix in the box with the MPC Live/One/X series, but like Charles said if you have access to a DAW with more sophisticated tools you'd be better off. Limitations don't make you more creative, it just limits your creativity...

The mastering is going to rudimentary, due to the lack of modern mastering tools. The best machine of the three would be the MPC X, because of the amount of q-links. Now if he had something like the Tascam 2400. He could map each fader, mute, solo, pan to a program and have better control. The only issues with these MPC's is the mixer resolutions.

They're not high enough, makes it difficult to zero in on the levels. Too bad these machines don't have MACKIE CONTROL, then an external control surface could really be incorporated. I have a FW 1884 sitting on shelf, that could work. The MPC does not recognizes fader banks. So that leaves, only 8 faders, mute, solo, and pans.

No way to MIDI learn the MPC's transports.

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Fre$hBreath wrote:I can't speak on mastering, because I would never attempt doing it in an MPC for certain reasons, but as someone who've mixed records on Neve, SSL, and Harrison consoles, you can certainly mix in the box with the MPC Live/One/X series, but like Charles said if you have access to a DAW with more sophisticated tools you'd be better off. Limitations don't make you more creative, it just limits your creativity...

The mastering is going to rudimentary, due to the lack of modern mastering tools. The best machine of the three would be the MPC X, because of the amount of q-links. Now if he had something like the Tascam 2400. He could map each fader, mute, solo, pan to a program and have better control. The only issues with these MPC's is the mixer resolutions.

They're not high enough, makes it difficult to zero in on the levels. Too bad these machines don't have MACKIE CONTROL, then an external control surface could really be incorporated. I have a FW 1884 sitting on shelf, that could work. The MPC does not recognizes fader banks. So that leaves, only 8 faders, mute, solo, and pans.

No way to MIDI learn the MPC's transports.

I'm thinking from the perspective of yeah it's possible, but I personally wouldn't do it, but I don't know the OP's budget. There's a good amount of free DAWs and affordable portable digital recording systems like what you suggested.

Fre$hBreath wrote:I'm thinking from the perspective of yeah it's possible, but I personally wouldn't do it, but I don't know the OP's budget. There's a good amount of free DAWs and affordable portable digital recording systems like what you suggested.

For mastering, I wouldn't do. As far as the mixing side, there's lots of nice work around and add on that I could think of. But in the end all I would use, are the faders and pans for the dry mix.

Cockdiesel wrote:Get a mixer, use the out puts. A lot quicker workflow at some point you need a computer to share your music. Use the free ozone isotope software or something like the new tc finalizer they just ported over to software. Understand the gain staging from mix to master you should be fine.

I’ve realized even the one is a quicker work flow for a setup like that. You can get by with two channels for drums with the options in mpc.

No need to track out to the mpc if you have song mode set up right. Just a mixer with enough inputs for the mpc and synths.

After using the MPC One for a couple of weeks. It's definitely a render stems work flow for me. Personally, the X, Live, One as a MIDI slave I'm not a fan of. Especially for multi passes. The Rendering, Auto Sampling, still my favorite features.

I make all the mix inside standalone Mpc, with Air effects you can make a pro mix without any problem.
For mastering no way, it's not designed for that.
I track out the outputs and make the mastering on computer with studio1.
I like it this way but you can also export stems if you prefer.

CharlesRandolph wrote:After using the MPC One for a couple of weeks. It's definitely a render stems work flow for me. Personally, the X, Live, One as a MIDI slave I'm not a fan of. Especially for multi passes. The Rendering, Auto Sampling, still my favorite features.

I was thinking more for a workflow with a synth or two. Why track into the Mpc when you can just mix and track out with a mixer.
If you’re just using the Mpc as a sequencer and for drums, no reason to have more outputs.

I don’t think I’d be down for slaving the Mpc either. If everything is saved right you can just make a new version on the song with the changes you want.

Anything is possible. The question will be are you OK with the quality of the MPC/AIR plugins.

And how you create may play a part in your opinion of the plugins.

Cockdiesel wrote:

CharlesRandolph wrote:After using the MPC One for a couple of weeks. It's definitely a render stems work flow for me. Personally, the X, Live, One as a MIDI slave I'm not a fan of. Especially for multi passes. The Rendering, Auto Sampling, still my favorite features.

I was thinking more for a workflow with a synth or two. Why track into the Mpc when you can just mix and track out with a mixer.
If you’re just using the Mpc as a sequencer and for drums, no reason to have more outputs.

I don’t think I’d be down for slaving the Mpc either. If everything is saved right you can just make a new version on the song with the changes you want.

Well, even if you use Mpc in the way you said, tracking out the returns on different outputs can be useful to make a good mastering. I think it's always better to have the effects on a separate output, even better on two separate outputs.

Keep it simple...

If I can get a Good Mix of tracks, to just upload to Social Media....I'll Feed the Stereo Outs into Wavelab, and Treat it wit a lil bit of Waves Multi-band Compression. Pull the Frequencies up nice n Bright. Then Run it thru the Waves L2 Maximizer, to Bring everything up With a Nice Ceiling.

Now If im trying Put somethin out Professionally, I would Export All The Stems, and let a Professional Do it lol

Cockdiesel wrote:
I was thinking more for a workflow with a synth or two. Why track into the Mpc when you can just mix and track out with a mixer. If you’re just using the Mpc as a sequencer and for drums, no reason to have more outputs.

I don’t think I’d be down for slaving the Mpc either. If everything is saved right you can just make a new version on the song with the changes you want.

I would render the drums stems and import them into my software DAW. Then, play the synth parts live into the DAW. That way it has that natural human push and pull.

Yes, you can absolutely get a quality mix in the mpc. Would a DAW be better easier, yes. But I’m assuming this isn’t your day job yet so the quality mix you can get out of the MPC is going to be more than adequate for you.

If people are telling you your mixes need work then study up on some basic mixing techniques. Just understanding the basics and how to apply them to your tracks will make a world of difference. Then you can start learning advanced stuff (most of which you can still do in the MPC)

Bottom line. Don’t overthink it. You have all you need now to make dope music.