Boosting rec gain vs. other means of amplifying a sample

I've got my mixer's rec out levels at exactly 0db when I sample off vinyl and if it's a relatively loud song I get a clean, hot signal around noon on the mpc's rec gain knob. If it's a quieter sample it might peak at -10dB with those settings. Now my question is: should I sample with the rec gain at noon, get very little noise and be satisfied with a quiet sample and use software or whatever to make it louder-- or crank the gain up to say 3'o'clock, get noise and a loud sample and use software to get rid of that noise.

Is there even a difference?

Depending on your mixer and/or turntable, if you can increase the volume at THAT stage instead of "making it up" at a later stage, you'll be better off. If this ISN'T an option, I personally would recommend cranking the gain on the MPC as opposed to doing it in software so it doesn't have to go through an analog to digital conversion and then again through some sort of normalization or limiting/compression, as these are going to emphasize noise in more extreme ways. If you can't boost the OUTPUT of your deck, then it probably REALLY doesn't matter, but save yourself the extra step and just record it "right" on the MPC to begin with, and IMHO you'll come out with a better sample.

Just my 2.

MANiK

Thanks, Manik. Good answer.

recording 101...

High source, low destination

This means you should amplify the sound closest to the source and not amplify at a later gain stage.

The reason for this is that if you turn up the volume at gain stage #2 or #3 you are also turning up the noise prior to those gain stages.

So when sampling set the mixer channel gains and master out gains(on the mixer your source is connected to) as hot as possible before clipping, and keep that red knob as low as possible on the MPC. Same goes for gain on a mixing board...

You can also do a test to check where in your signal chain noise is present and optimize your settings....more on this if anyone is interested

yeah keep spillin in jaem before your greencard expires.

Greencard????

I don't need no stinkin greencard!!!

Manik and Jaem are right on point.

I just felt it was neccesary to add this: always remember to check to make sure you are recording hot as possible as sometimes its easy to forget, or be lazy about it.

Even if the signal sounds loud, check the LEDs because your speakers could be lying. This is better not just because of the above reasons mentioned by Jaim, but when you are chopping, the hotter the signal, the more peaks and mountains youll have, making chopping easier and separating instruments.....visually the waveform will be easier to see in the trim window.

Although you should still use your ears, as to what sounds good. I have made beats and got caught up in the moment, ive relistened to them and realized that i **** up on the initial sampling....i should have recorded hotter, or there was some interferance noise that could have been avoided. Sometimes you ignore certain sounds or drown out problematic frequence without even knowing it. So remember what you sample too! just in case you need to redo something.

Ive finished beats, then actually re-sampled so that i could get a cleaner sound depending on how the mixing was going. SOmetimes its impossible to rework the sample the same way though. But If you get it right the first time, even if you have to be tedious, its worth it.

peace

I also wanted to say. Ive really been finding that when im sampling, that even if i want a "bassier" sound or "thinner" sound, its still almost better to sample it straight with no eq boost (flat) and to boost or cut any freq after its been sampled. As oppossed to boosting the eq before i sample it.

It all depends on the sample and what you need, but if you cut a freq, then later realize you should not have, its alot harder to fix it. Most of the time ts easier if you just sample flat then edited it during mixing.

For me, sampling "as hot as possible" also means sampling the most accurate repentization of the sound to begin with, then flipping it later.

I have some beats that just need some more mid range, or even cleaner highs, and because i cut the low end (to get rid of drums) it sound like shitt; If i would have cut the lows after the fact, i think could be more accurate then just a crappy low shelve mixer eq is........Sample it flat, then take it into sound forge and use a parametric eq (something more accurate) to filter out the low end-instead of using a dj mixer.......dont get me wrong, it all depends on the sample, but unless you have a very accurate monitoring system, you might be **** yourself.......you speakers might not be representing the bass very well, so you cut it, and you loose half the sample, or vice versa with the highs.

Remember, most shit you are sampling is already mastered, or eq'd to sound good.....if it doesnt, chances are its something you are doing......obviously if you are flipping the sample you will change the sound, but you still got to think of the overal picture and how it will fit in the mix

Greencard?eh

I don't need no stinkin greencard!!!
>>>>>>>>>>

not what your avi says

greg

first you should turn the mixer volume all the way up second that should allow you to turn down the rec gain knob on the mpc

if you have already sampled if you have effects add distortion.

i use the mfc42 filter my rec gain on my mpc is always all the way down and i use the rec level meter and knob on the filter to make it loudest without peaking