Tip - Squeeze more sample time out of your mpc60

I would have posted this in the production techniques forum, but new school samplers have ridiculous amounts of sample time, so this really applies to the 60. It could also be used for sp1200, sp12, s950, or any other sampler lacking in the sample time department.

Hope this hasn't been posted already.

This is a turntable trick that applies only to sampling from a Technics 1200. Those of you with the Vestax/Stanton/Numark turntables that already play at 78 don't need this, and I frankly cant speak on what any turntable other than a 1200 looks like on the inside.

Everyone by now probably knows the trick about playing a 33 rpm record at 45 rpm, and pitching it up to +8. This makes your sample shorter, allows you to pitch it back up to regular speed inside the sampler, and gives it the cool detuning effect (which is coolest in the sp1200, in my opinion). This squeezes a few extra seconds out of sample time.

To pitch it up even further, do this:

-Unplug the turntable
-Remove the platter (for the squeamish, it's easy. Just place your fingers in the finger holes of the platter and pull straight up. The magnet will give some resistance, but dont be afraid. As long as you are careful, and pull straight up, you won't do any damage)
-remove the 5 screws that hold the guard down (dont know what this thing is called but its the round thing you will see under the platter)
-There should be a HUGE blue pot/switch that says PITCH. There are two (the other one is for the brake) but for now, focus only on the one that says PITCH.

this pot controls the pitch sensitivity. It rotates clockwise and counter-clockwise, and should be somewhere near the center of rotation when you first see it.

If you rotate it counter-clockwise, you are loosening the pitch adjustment. This means that you are lowering the range of pitches from the stock +8---->-8 to something more along the lines of +4%--->-4%
If you rotate it clockwise, you are tightening the pitch range. This changes the stock pitch range and moves it up to roughly +14%---->-14%

-Rotate it COMPLETELY CLOCKWISE as far as it will go. Don't put too much pressure or you will damage it, but you will know when it can't go any further clockwise.

-Put the 5 screws back on the cover, and put the platter back on.

Now the pitch has been tweaked as tight as it possibly can go. When you play a record, play it at 45 and pitched all the way up. The pitch dial on the turntable face will say +8%, but it is actually more in the +12-14% realm.

NOW....sample at 45, pitched at full maximum, and pitch down in the sampler, as you normally would.

This will give you a few extra seconds of sample time.

ENJOY!

Cool! I'll try it. Even though the sample time on the 60 is more than enough for me. Did you figure this on your own? Or did you read it somewhere?

I already knew about it as a trick to speed your records way up. I have friends who play drum n bass, and they use this trick to get the record speeds past what a stock 1200 will do.

I just applied it to the "pitch up, tune down" trick.

bump.

you 60 users are missing out on a good tip.

i was always frustrated that the controls for pitch fader adjust and stop start speed were 'under the hood'

I could use these while mixing but......

underneath there somewhere (on 1200s/1210s) there is also a 'brake control' which you can adjust so that when you hit stop on the turntable it will spinback. i forget exactly where this is, cos it was about 10 years back when i messed with this. if i remember correctly its just a lil screw you can adjust.

both the brake and pitch screws look the same from memory...

Numark TTX's bring this to the top. probably the best TT on the market now.