lo-fi sound

hi

i'm gonna be getting into beatmaking soon and i'm pretty sure i'll be getting an mpc in the next couple months.

i'm into lo-fi gritty hip-hop like primo, pete rock, large pro etc. that's the kind of sound i'm going for.

i'm not the type that'd go out and buy a machine just cuz my favourite producer uses it but i've been reading all kinds of stuff about people trading in their newer machines for 60's and sp's.

my plan is to get an mpc2kxl and an s900/950. i would first sample into the s900 because that allows variable sample rates and has the 12-bit sound, then when i finished tweaking the sample, resample it into the mpc. am i right in thinking that when i play the sample in the mpc it will keep the dirty sound of the s900?

i don't wanna just trigger the s900 sounds from the mpc beacuse i want full control of the samples from the mpc and i like the idea of storing them in folders on a zip or hd. i want the xl for it's features like being able to loop bass tones etc.

i need your opnions on this because when i get my gear i wanna be able to focus on beatmaking rather than wondering about what gear i should've bought.

is anyone else using methods similar to this? does it work?

discuss

..you should focus on buying one solid piece first. Master that sh** then expand as necessary. Why not cut the 2000XL cop a 3000 classic instead, then get the 950 or a 60/60II later? I mean there is some functionality on the 2000XL the old classics ain't got but they do sound better. Sh**, why not just cop a 60 and learn that first, then map out a plan from there. I don't think buyin two samplers off top is going to benefit you any more than just buying one. Plus you could spend that dough on some other fly sh** instead...yeah man 60/60II or 3000 first and learn that sh**, you'll be making bangers not worrying about what you shoulda bought, I guarantee it!!!!.....My 2 cents......

If you want that lo-fi sound just resample it at a lower bit rate.

The Beat Conductor wrote:If you want that lo-fi sound just resample it at a lower bit rate.

does that work well on the mpc2kxl? i've read on other forums about people doing that on pc's and apparantly it doesn't compare to a 12-bit sampler.

L. Tombstone wrote:..you should focus on buying one solid piece first. Master that sh** then expand as necessary. Why not cut the 2000XL cop a 3000 classic instead, then get the 950 or a 60/60II later? I mean there is some functionality on the 2000XL the old classics ain't got but they do sound better. Sh**, why not just cop a 60 and learn that first, then map out a plan from there. I don't think buyin two samplers off top is going to benefit you any more than just buying one. Plus you could spend that dough on some other fly sh** instead...yeah man 60/60II or 3000 first and learn that sh**, you'll be making bangers not worrying about what you shoulda bought, I guarantee it!!!!.....My 2 cents......

yeh i know what you're saying, why don't i just buy a 60 if i want the 12-bit sound? but i just think the 60 is very limited for what i want to do. and as for buying 2 samplers to start with, i think it is necessary because even if i did get the 60, i would need another sampler with filters that could loop samples and stuff. the 60 (upgraded) is also very expensive, and old. so finding a mint cond one at a good price would be hard.

so no-one has tried resampling a 12-bit machine into a 16-bit one? isn't the 16-bit sampler creating an exact cd quality copy of the 12-bit one? if that is correct then isn't it just like when you record a song using 12-bit drums and master to cd (16-bit)? you can still hear the 12-bit in the drums then, so why not when resampling a s900 into an mpc2kxl?

you can get a lo-fi sound with any mpc, each machine has it's own tricks. for what you were describing i think the xl would suit you perfectly, you can get another sampler later if you feel like you need another. it is best to learn one machine at a time.

The SP 1200 has that LO-FI sound.

If the 60 would be limited for him then the sp would be limited also.

"my plan is to get an mpc2kxl and an s900/950."

You'll be fine with this, no worries..

The Beat Conductor wrote:The SP 1200 has that LO-FI sound.

one day i WILL have an sp


thanks for your opinions, i think i will get the xl soon and an s950 a bit later

I was thinking of getting this same setup, 2xl & s950, but only way to use together is through midi, cannot sample in s950 and save to disk and pop it in 2kl, which makes it difficult to keep track of beats, got to write down each song and where the samples are located, s950 or 2xl. Instead I have decided to get 2xl & MSC42. 2xl you can sample at low bit rate like s950 and I'm hoping with MSC42 filters it will be comparable to s950 sound but we will see. I'll probably pick up s950 someday anyways. If you get this setup please post on how you like...........

mad_philosopher wrote:I was thinking of getting this same setup, 2xl & s950, but only way to use together is through midi, cannot sample in s950 and save to disk and pop it in 2kl, which makes it difficult to keep track of beats, got to write down each song and where the samples are located, s950 or 2xl.

i got a great deal on an s950, but i'm still waiting for my xl so i can't really tell you how i like them together. I wasn't planning to midi them up like you decribed, but instead to sample first into the s950 and then resample thru one of the s950 individual outputs into the xl input. My theory was that whatever you put into the xl you get exactly that out of it. So when you resample from the s950 into the xl, you retain that 12-bit crunchy sound, and the way the s950's convertors colour the sound also.

mad_philosopher wrote:Instead I have decided to get 2xl & MSC42. 2xl you can sample at low bit rate like s950 and I'm hoping with MSC42 filters it will be comparable to s950 sound but we will see.

be aware that the xl cannot sample at lower bit or sample rates, but it can can resample but i've read that it takes a long time and some people like the results but some people don't think it can compare with the sound of a 12-bit machine.

Resampling does not sound the same as using one of the old samplers (ensoniq Mirage, s900, s950, emax sp). This is because part of the sound everybody likes has to do with the INPUT FILTERING used on these older machines to accomodate the low sample rates. Much of that "input filtering technology" was based on the "Nyquist Theory."
Those input filters are analog and have a sound all their own.
Not to mention the sound of the convertors from those early days of sampling.

I think making samples with a older piece to get a sound, and resampling into a contemporary (16bit) piece for sequencing is a fine idea and I have done it often with good results.

T

can anybody answer this guy's main question though?


can you take vinyl (or whatever), sample it into the s950, get the "crunch", the take the s950 sample and send it to another mpc or computer?

I have a s950, still in box, sitting in my bedroom. I'm waiting to finish my current album project before I even try to sit and use it.

But, I would be interested to know the answer to this because I want to do essentially the same thing.

surely someone has done this or at least tried it.