ASR - 10

Ajax wrote:Just wondering if anyone here uses an ASR - 10 in conjunction with their MPC (especially the newer MPCs that supposedly have a thinner sound than the OG MPCs).

If so, do you see any benefit of sampling (or do you currently sample) through the ASR into the MPC to take advantage of what would presumably be the warmer sound of the ASR? And then do your actual sequencing in the MPC?

Ajax wrote:Yeah, I don’t disagree. I don’t think my X sounds any worse than my old 2000XL... but, I just wonder if people would think there’s a benefit to sampling through the ASR. I don’t intend to use the ASR for sequencing at all, because I’ve got the X workflow down pretty well. But, I would prefer to not have it gather dust either. Just trying to get a sense of what I could use it for in my set-up... this seemed like a natural way.

Cockdiesel wrote:Just sent my asr to get worked on. Tried to fix it myself and screwed something up, well not quite sure about that seems like there was some gerry rigging going on my unit. The combo is killer, it's been almost a year with mine out of commission. Really can't wait to have it back.

If it's something you're interested in make sure it has scsi, or go the asr-x route. Im actually kind of interested in a ASR-X pro myself, but they seem overpriced if you can find them. If you want deeper synthesis, then the asr-10 would be what you want. I plan on feeding mine cheap analog synths, and patches I can make on my iPhone with some apps. I think using it in tandem with Tal sampler would be dope. Now if you want to just resample stuff and use the dope effects, then I would prolly go for an ASR-x. The asr-x pro can read .wav files and also has some chopping features. also consider the asr is a big heavy synth and the asr-x seems pretty bulky itself. The asr-10 rack is also a great option as it has scsi and won't take up as much real estate.

Ajax wrote:Thanks. I actually bought an ASR-10 on eBay last year because an insane deal came up and I’m a bit of a gear collector. It’s such a legendary machine, I couldn’t pass up the chance at that price. But, it’s been collecting dust in my closet because my GF and I renovated our apartment and there was no room for it. Now, the renovation is over and I finally have room to have all of the equipment I have together in a single work chain. So, I’m trying to figure out how best to possibly incorporate it.

For what it’s worth, I have an MPC X, the ASR-10, an SP-303, a Micro Korg XL, and my old MPC 2500. I don’t plan on using the 2500 other than to update old track ideas in the X.

What I’m contemplating is sampling into the ASR-10 (and applying FX if I feel like it), then sending that audio directly through to the MPC X and hoping the ASR-10 “warmth” passes through, then finishing the track in full in the X, then bouncing stems out. Just wasn’t sure if that would actually work, or if it was a waste of time.

Lampdog wrote:I had a red pro when they first came out. I LOVED IT! Except for the hard plastic pads and 2 etch a sketch knobs. Other than that it's a powerhouse!

I have an ASR-10 kybd also. The warm sound is not a myth. You can get the X to sound damn near the same if you put in the work. I don’t necessarily buy into “old gear sound” because new mpc’s have features to emulate that very closely.

Old gear had “that” sound immediately without processing. New gear has it also, you gotta put in work to get it and some peeps don’t care too. “Give me the cleanest possible and I can make it as dirty as I want” type shit?


or something something like that.

NearTao wrote:........It's why so many people who've used the older gear don't necessary lust for it... but have a better appreciation for what it means to work with. You can always apply similar process and get reasonable facsimile results, but that requires understanding where and why things were done the way they used to be.

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Ajax wrote:Thanks. I actually bought an ASR-10 on eBay last year because an insane deal came up and I’m a bit of a gear collector. It’s such a legendary machine, I couldn’t pass up the chance at that price. But, it’s been collecting dust in my closet because my GF and I renovated our apartment and there was no room for it. Now, the renovation is over and I finally have room to have all of the equipment I have together in a single work chain. So, I’m trying to figure out how best to possibly incorporate it.

For what it’s worth, I have an MPC X, the ASR-10, an SP-303, a Micro Korg XL, and my old MPC 2500. I don’t plan on using the 2500 other than to update old track ideas in the X.

What I’m contemplating is sampling into the ASR-10 (and applying FX if I feel like it), then sending that audio directly through to the MPC X and hoping the ASR-10 “warmth” passes through, then finishing the track in full in the X, then bouncing stems out. Just wasn’t sure if that would actually work, or if it was a waste of time.

For warmth try slightly boosting the low end and roll off some of the highs. I've seen lot of people do the whole, make it in here, pass it through this, and that, and this, and that, and that, and this, and that, and this kind of chain. When all they had to do was EQ and compress.

That's why they end up with a room full of gear, that they like but honestly never use. Then years later they end up selling it because all that gear did was get in the way of the music. Keep your chain simple and add the little pinches of flavor to create your sound.