mpc2000xl + computer

how many of you use a computer in conjunction with your mpc2000xl to produce music? what software do you use? i'm a mac user and still don't know if the mpc2000xl is mac compatible or user friendly as a stand alone production kit. do I need a computer to make tracks or should the mpc by itself work? I'd like to buy one but I don't even know where to begin.

what do I need? PC? what kind of software (if I need software)? memory for the mpc? zip drive?

well you should be using the search engine because i'm sure this has been answered a million times. but anyway man, if you want to record from your mpc to computer. you need a pro soundcard and a multi-track recording software such as pro tools, cubase, etc. as far as sequencing is concerned, you can do sequences on your mpc and record straight into your computer. if you want to sequence on a software program, check out Classic's video on "MPC to Cubase", it might be helpful...

What’s up mech 1 I have a mac with an MPC 2000xl. What type of mac do you have? I use a G5 With the RME HAMMER FALL DSP MULTI FACE. As for the MPC, start off with the 1000, because its cheaper and is more practical to use with your computer. Software, I would start with Steinberg’s Cubase SL3. This is also cheaper than its bigger brothers and when you learn enough you have an option to upgrade when you are ready. The sound card can be what ever you can afford and I would not skimp on the sound card because this is the critical part of tracking and using midi but you can check out M-AUDIO DELTA 24/96 for a good decent start and then when you finally get the hang of things and learn more about what you have you will have saved enough money to buy what you need when you get more serious in the future.

Thats the best advice I can give at the moment based on your question because at this point you need to grow into your gear before you move on to bigger and better things. I mean you don’t even have to get the MPC. You can save that money to buy native instruments battery2 and get the akai MPD pads.and still have 400 dollars to buy sample CDs or what ever. But like I said, do your homework, demo some gear at your local sam ash or guitar center and ask questions till you turn blue because gear is expensive and life is good when you spend your money wisely.





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BB SOUND wrote:What’s up mech 1 I have a mac with an MPC 2000xl. What type of mac do you have? I use a G5 With the RME HAMMER FALL DSP MULTI FACE. As for the MPC, start off with the 1000, because its cheaper and is more practical to use with your computer. Software, I would start with Steinberg’s Cubase SL3. This is also cheaper than its bigger brothers and when you learn enough you have an option to upgrade when you are ready. The sound card can be what ever you can afford and I would not skimp on the sound card because this is the critical part of tracking and using midi but you can check out M-AUDIO DELTA 24/96 for a good decent start and then when you finally get the hang of things and learn more about what you have you will have saved enough money to buy what you need when you get more serious in the future.

thanks for the info. actually, i'm only on an eMac, seems to have held up for me pretty decently since I bought it. I'll look into the software goodies you mentioned.

hahaha!

bruv, have u ever used Hardware based sampler\sequencers before?
or just software based ones?

do u know how to make beats on either?

reason why i ask is cause, these are or there are so many different approaches to making music. you have to know what works best for you, one or the other or both, if u see what i mean.

the MPC 2000XL is neither MAC or PC compatible for a start.
so there will be no seemless connections between the two other than expsensive ectra gear to get them to work accordingly.

the way you have posted this thread make me think that u are looking for a thing that u can use interchangably, if this is so maybe u might wanna look the roland products, or yamaha stuff, they have made great steps with MAC & PC combinations.

When it comes to MPC and MAC the only things that can work for u are, MIDI and AUDIO.

MIDI= Syncing the MPC and SLAVE (If u know what this means) where by the MAC could control the MPC as a external synth. of the other way around. You could track all your AUDIO (with appropiate leads and gear) to the MAC using Cubase Logic or others like ProTools etc and mixing the beat in there as you would a normal digital or analogue mixing desk.

When it comes to messing with samples on the MAC you wil have to send them to the PC through sampling it back into the MPC.

The MPC1000 allows u to tranfers tru USB via Compact Flash Card etc.
but the MPC2000XL does not, though a CD upgrade on the XL could allow this.

The MPC was not made for PC complient prodcuers but for hardware based musicians, hence why the lack of combo desires.

hope this helps!

Penfold wrote:When it comes to messing with samples on the MAC you wil have to send them to the PC through sampling it back into the MPC.

Im sorry pen but you lost me here.

Penfold wrote:hahaha!

bruv, have u ever used Hardware based sampler\sequencers before?
or just software based ones?

do u know how to make beats on either?

reason why i ask is cause, these are or there are so many different approaches to making music. you have to know what works best for you, one or the other or both, if u see what i mean.

thanks for the clarification. actually, i'm pretty old school. for awhile I had been chopping up and editing my own beats in Sound Edit 16, but I gave that up because it was too much of a hassle and lacked certain features that the mpc has. I was thinking the MPC and computer combo were essential for track production and editing purposes, I guess I was way off. I'd actually like to just have an all-in-one unit that I can sample into, edit & construct full tracks with. I'm assuming this is the sole purpose of the mpc. what sorta recording devices to mpc users use after track completion btw?

Maybe go the Hardware Multi track route

Akai Dps Series
Roland VS Series
Korg 1600 and sum others

Theres a few options out there - All in one units jus the way u like. Good if you got that old skool hands on approach about you.

Bravo

Bravo is right.

I know how u feel about having a all in one unit you could just do and make your beat and add vocals in and done.

but nope companies would never money out of use this way if they did , how ever I have noticed a few products that do have Multi Track and Sequencer systems in one, I thnk the New Roland has this, but the look and feel dont seem right, but it is possible.

Anyway, The MPC will allow to make a Track, Edit, Construct etc, but not give u the option of a complete total musical piece.
For example I used to run a XL with a DPS16 snyced. The DPS16 would hold the Vocals and the MPC would hold the beat, then all the outs of both would go straight into a board from the board into a dat machine. DONE.

NO BLOODY PC getting involved!