Tracking out instruments - the broke way...

is there anyone out there that tracks their beats out without the 8 outs or the proper interface to do this?

im curious to how some might do it without having those tools to make it easy. when people purchase tracks from me, they sometimes ask if I can track it out or if I have already...i hate to tell them no, but i dont track out yet. i'd have to do it manually meaning record each track seperately and then line everything up so its all on time. that can take forever if I have over 10 tracks in the beat...

question is is there an easier way to do this? how do yall do it without havin the 8 outs? or am i stuck doing it the hard way

I've always recorded each track individually. Lining them up is easy because I sync the MPC to my computer using midi timecode, so I don't have to adjust anything.

what do you use to sync the computer to the mpc? do you need some type of interface? what kind of cables do you use? does that have something to do with smpte? im new to this kind of stuff...

Definantly use some kinda sync...if you are not digital yet, stripe a track of analog tape with SMPTE to keep you in line. Once it's all on tape you can scrub the SMPTE track and lay vocals or something on that track.

still using CEP?

you'd need a midi interface and software that supports mtc, midi beat clock or smpte.

you can also add a bar to the beginning of the sequence and record 1/4 note hats, then track out everything seperately(making sure the 1 bar hats in the beginning aren't muted) and then line up the "intro" hats on all the tracks so everything plays in sync

Smoove03 wrote:what do you use to sync the computer to the mpc? do you need some type of interface? what kind of cables do you use? does that have something to do with smpte? im new to this kind of stuff...

I use Nuendo, Cakewalk and Ableton. Basically, I just run the midi out from the MPC to the midi in of my soundcard. The MPC is the master and I kick off the computer via midi timecode. It's very simple. Lines up all the tracks automatically. I usually have two bars of silence before the track begins, which allows the timing to settle in before the track starts.

fader-pro wrote:Definantly use some kinda sync...if you are not digital yet, stripe a track of analog tape with SMPTE to keep you in line. Once it's all on tape you can scrub the SMPTE track and lay vocals or something on that track.

fader sounds like good info, but im not sure what you mean by stripe a track of analog tape...im not in front of my equip. so i can look on the back of anything and check out some of the terms used...but im working with a computer that has the stock sound card. no special sound card there...sorry about the newbie stuff. thanks for the help

cooocooo yea im usin adobe audition (cep basically). yea i figured i'd need some kind of interface. i was trying to escape having to spend big dollars on this, but its something i gotta start doing. ohh i see what your saying about the hats....i'd have to try that...thanks

thanks hershey...how much did you pay for your interface? any special one you recommend or will any cheap midi interface work? thanks family

No sweat, sounds like you are not using a tape deck then...You will need to find out if your sound card has a midi interface. If it does, MTC (Midi Time Code) is your best bet for sync. Esentially, the MTC will tell your computer or MPC when to start so all your tracks line up together with no hassle. If you do not have midi on your recording device (computer / hard disk / tape recorder etc) you will need to get it at some point. SMPTE is another form of sync people use to keep thier gear tracking in sync. Do a search of these forums and you will find more on this subject.
You will need to read up on midi and midi sync though if you want your music to progress...

fader-pro wrote:No sweat, sounds like you are not using a tape deck then...You will need to find out if your sound card has a midi interface. If it does, MTC (Midi Time Code) is your best bet for sync. Esentially, the MTC will tell your computer or MPC when to start so all your tracks line up together with no hassle. If you do not have midi on your recording device (computer / hard disk / tape recorder etc) you will need to get it at some point. SMPTE is another form of sync people use to keep thier gear tracking in sync. Do a search of these forums and you will find more on this subject.
You will need to read up on midi and midi sync though if you want your music to progress...

thanks fader good info. so it all boils down to me having an midi interface so I can sync my gear. thats what I figured, but i was hoping I could avoid having to buy an interface right now lol. taking the cheap way out i guess...thanks

Smoove03 wrote:thanks hershey...how much did you pay for your interface? any special one you recommend or will any cheap midi interface work? thanks family

If you're using a stock soundcard, chances are you'll have to buy an interface. Many of the mid-range cards come with a midi interface built in. I use an Audiophile 2496 from M Audio, which is a rather decent soundcard at about $125.

check this out yall...

is this straight up not going to work? im just asking, not planning on jumping out there and buying any old thing.....but would something like this suffice?

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOUNO

http://www.zzounds.com/item--EDIUM1X

http://www.zzounds.com/item--EDIUM2C

just wondering if i could get by with something like that. i only need it to sync (for right now)

I just record each track into Acid. Acid is mad fast to track stuff out in, and then I render out my loops or one shots in there. Oh yea my sound card is a mbox.

Smoove03 wrote:check this out yall...

is this straight up not going to work? im just asking, not planning on jumping out there and buying any old thing.....but would something like this suffice?

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOUNO

http://www.zzounds.com/item--EDIUM1X

http://www.zzounds.com/item--EDIUM2C

just wondering if i could get by with something like that. i only need it to sync (for right now)

any one of those will work but if you dont have a decent soundcard you might wanna spend a lil more and get somethin that has both analog i/o as well as midi connects like the audiophile that hershey mentioned, you can also use this card with M Powered Pro Tools if you wanted to go that route one day

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOAP2496

thanks cooo. yea i see what your saying. aight cool i read up about that card. now ill still be able to plug my multitrack in via 1/8" plug right? because on my soundcard i have now i have my multi track plugged into the 1/8" jack on the card...

just makin sure. i see this card has the rca jacks then the midi and s/pdif

thanks for that. next week ill have to pick something up so i can get movin