Best workflow to incorporate external hardware FXs

dazastah wrote:To op,
If in controller mode, you'd be using your external soundcard interfaces as your i/o
In software mode/ plugin mode in protools you would have all virtual outputs assigned in protools..(with 8 mono virtual busses assigned to 4 stereo effect returns from the mpc software plugin)
With in the plugin each track output can be assigned to the virtual output busses .(The sends in mpc software actually send to the return tracks which you then assign a virtual output buss inputs into protools)
So in theory if lets say you had a hardware reverb this would be assigned to protools mpc plugin virtual input 25+26 which would output to your physical outputs you desire
and return physically into protools track input at what you have patched.
within the mpc plugin , you would set the the return channel 1 output to 25 and 26 so when you use send 1 on any mpc pad or pgm it would send to your hardware verb...

make sense?

Ok so, if I understand well, and in the case I want to record the treated sound back into the MPC for further tweaking:
1) In the MPC plugin, I send the sound from pads or program into a SEND which has its outputs connected into a protools buss
2) then this protools buss outputs physically into my reverb/fx
3) after this the signal come back into my interface and is recorded back in a new track directly in the MPC plugin; correct? (or I can also record the treated signal in a new protools track)

That brings a up another question:
Can I resample protools buss/track directly back into the MPC software in place ususal hardware inputs?

I mean, maybe I could get the signal out of the MPC plugin as you explained, then put my hardware FX as an Insert in this protools buss to finally record back this buss output into an MPC new track?

Anyway result would be the same for my hardware FX... BUT that could help to resolve PDC issue because that would use PDC from protools?
Or am i tripping
I mean I could use this protools buss to use 3rd party plugins with protools PDC and resample into MPC plugin easily if protools busses could be used as MPC Plugin's tracks inputs.


Anyway thank you very much for your help dazastah, really appreciate

Danoc wrote:Yes sir! Remember you only get 8 audio tracks. But you can do a song from start to finish in that baby. That's what they made for. Its a beast!

Gnome Tone wrote:Would you consider the X a good machine in standalone as a powerful finished production tool? There's a chance I wouldn't use the 2.0 software.

Right, well I'm thinking I would build a track up using the 8 audio tracks, get a good mix and balance there, then mix that down to a stereo track and start over. That would give me an additional 7 stereo tracks to work over that mixdown. I'm not concerned with conversions and additional A/D trips in and out, that's usually where the mojo and warmth comes from sound processing in my world. I'm not big on crystal clear/clean production! haha! But as long as the X preamps and converters are useable, I can feed it the dirt and grit I usually like just fine. (I hope)

Damn dude. Just bounce all that shit to Pro tools. Stop making music so hard. You have one hell of a setup .. the last thing you should be doing is using akai.

Yo Gnome, you don't have to use the audio tracks. You can rock the midi and then use over 8 tracks as you please. Then explode the tracks. Export them to a stereo track.

Gnome Tone wrote:Right, well I'm thinking I would build a track up using the 8 audio tracks, get a good mix and balance there, then mix that down to a stereo track and start over. That would give me an additional 7 stereo tracks to work over that mixdown. I'm not concerned with conversions and additional A/D trips in and out, that's usually where the mojo and warmth comes from sound processing in my world. I'm not big on crystal clear/clean production! haha! But as long as the X preamps and converters are useable, I can feed it the dirt and grit I usually like just fine. (I hope)

Ok so, if I understand well, and in the case I want to record the treated sound back into the MPC for further tweaking:
1) In the MPC plugin, I send the sound from pads or program into a SEND which has its outputs connected into a protools buss
2) then this protools buss outputs physically into my reverb/fx
3) after this the signal come back into my interface and is recorded back in a new track directly in the MPC plugin; correct? (or I can also record the treated signal in a new protools track)
You are just routing out of the mpc.. if it is a send it should'nt come back into the plugin.. IT should return into a protools track. The return track inside the mpc plugin is just the Send group channel.. IF you know what i mean.. It doens't mean you have to return the signal to it.

That brings a up another question:
Can I resample protools buss/track directly back into the MPC software in place ususal hardware inputs?
Yeah i think so . I dont use pro tools but i think you can
I mean, maybe I could get the signal out of the MPC plugin as you explained, then put my hardware FX as an Insert in this protools buss to finally record back this buss output into an MPC new track?
Not sure why you want it back as a audio track inside the plugin but you can do it unless of course you want to rechop it mpc style.

Anyway result would be the same for my hardware FX... BUT that could help to resolve PDC issue because that would use PDC from protools?
Or am i tripping
I mean I could use this protools buss to use 3rd party plugins with protools PDC and resample into MPC plugin easily if protools busses could be used as MPC Plugin's tracks inputs. correct just becareful on how you monitor stuff and to not create digital feedback loops.. it can be nasty,even crash



It all gets pretty confusing using software mode .
Personally i'd use it standalone and use the physical outs of the mpc into you i/o . and return back into the mpc via the mpc inputs if you want to resample stuff with fx on.
If your resampling you could just change the pgm or pad output to go straight to the buss(instead of sending it to a return)
Patching everything physically is just a little easier...
When your done with the creative side of things and ready to mix, you can either stem out into pro tools, or load it up into pro tools as a mpc plugin to mix/engineer ...
I would do send fx stuff last when engineering .

Thanks you very much man, all is clear now; it was pretty advance shit to sort out ! Ok back to work now and waiting for my X!!! Thanks to all the other guys too for sharing their knowledge and point of view too too!

dazastah wrote:Ok so, if I understand well, and in the case I want to record the treated sound back into the MPC for further tweaking:
1) In the MPC plugin, I send the sound from pads or program into a SEND which has its outputs connected into a protools buss
2) then this protools buss outputs physically into my reverb/fx
3) after this the signal come back into my interface and is recorded back in a new track directly in the MPC plugin; correct? (or I can also record the treated signal in a new protools track)
You are just routing out of the mpc.. if it is a send it should'nt come back into the plugin.. IT should return into a protools track. The return track inside the mpc plugin is just the Send group channel.. IF you know what i mean.. It doens't mean you have to return the signal to it.

That brings a up another question:
Can I resample protools buss/track directly back into the MPC software in place ususal hardware inputs?
Yeah i think so . I dont use pro tools but i think you can
I mean, maybe I could get the signal out of the MPC plugin as you explained, then put my hardware FX as an Insert in this protools buss to finally record back this buss output into an MPC new track?
Not sure why you want it back as a audio track inside the plugin but you can do it unless of course you want to rechop it mpc style.

Anyway result would be the same for my hardware FX... BUT that could help to resolve PDC issue because that would use PDC from protools?
Or am i tripping
I mean I could use this protools buss to use 3rd party plugins with protools PDC and resample into MPC plugin easily if protools busses could be used as MPC Plugin's tracks inputs. correct just becareful on how you monitor stuff and to not create digital feedback loops.. it can be nasty,even crash



It all gets pretty confusing using software mode .
Personally i'd use it standalone and use the physical outs of the mpc into you i/o . and return back into the mpc via the mpc inputs if you want to resample stuff with fx on.
If your resampling you could just change the pgm or pad output to go straight to the buss(instead of sending it to a return)
Patching everything physically is just a little easier...
When your done with the creative side of things and ready to mix, you can either stem out into pro tools, or load it up into pro tools as a mpc plugin to mix/engineer ...
I would do send fx stuff last when engineering .

You guys are like gods to me. I hope I get to a point where all this makes sense. I just got a Live and a couple external gear pieces I like and having trouble figuring out if what I envision is even possible. It’ll sound like a child to you pros so I won’t waste your time with questions but you all in here inspire me to keep actively learn and get better.