Newjack post (sorry pros)

What's good everyone?
I was recommended over here from Soulstrut (catch me at the-breaks too). I recently just purchased an MPC2000xl with the internal Zip. I know my questions are going to annoy many of you and I utilized the search feature a bit but I think I may be too broad when searching. Anyway, I am extremely greatful for this site as the manual might as well be in Greek.
I'm trying to compose beats in the vein of Portishead/old Wu Tang/something dark. However, I'm not trying to duplicate that sound. I am very eager to put my own spin on things with the massive collection of vinyl I have. I hope many of you on here will be able to help me out. I will have many questions and I can tell this place is the number one resource for all my inquiries.
Sorry to bore you, but I just want to let you know where I'm coming from.
Nonetheless here's my first 2 quick questions.
#1. Why is the sound extremely lower after I record a sample and play it back in the main screen?
#2. How long did it take many of you before you got real acquainted with your MPC?
Thanks for any help. I apologize if this was way too long (and retarded)

It sounds as if when you are sampling the gain is not set high enough or the sound source is not loud enough sometimes its very easy to turn your speakers up and not the actual source but that is wrong dont turn up your speakers turn up your sources........about 6-9 months to see what the machine could really do I have had mine since 01

Thanks for the reply Phatz. After I sample something and I preview it (at the point where I can assign it to a pad, give it a name, or retry) it sounds fine. Also when I do the TRIM function it sounds good. But when I go to the main screen it sounds really quiet. I'd be afraid to turn all my sources loud and then it's going to be too loud when I'm trimming it and so on. Perhaps theres another way around this? Thanks for your help on this. Much appreciated. Just still trying to crawl before I walk ya know.

YEAH WHAT phatz said....

Also make sure to turn up the gain of your mixer(tt with mixer) and turn up the record gain in mpc not the main volume.... you dont even have to turn on your speakers to sample

I know why......you have to press full level button.....its right next to the screen on the right on the top press it once and the button light should light up green and then you will have full sound......its on velocity right now.....meaning how you hit the pads is how loud your sound will be

Sorry if this seems basic but, have you got the Full Level button on?

Yeah that's probably it.....I'm very "fresh out of the water" with all this now. This forum is fantastic. Perhaps I should read that manual a little closer. I'm at work now so I'll double check when I get home but I would bet that's the answer. Good lookin on helpin a newbie. Very greatful.

You should get this work when it comes out in a few day it will make all of your troubles very easy.....its writen by my man Tutor and will take you through the process of mastering your new Mp


http://www.mpc-samples.com/section.php/8/0

click the link and check it out

Phatz

If you don't have the FULL LEVEL button on, you need to press down hard on the drum pads to trigger sounds loud, they are velocity sensitive.

Thanks everyone for your help. The answer was the Full Level button not being on(I'm such a rookie, I know).

Hey Phatz, is there anyway you could hit me up on email? I have a few basic questions to ask, and I don't want to clog up the forum wasting space. If you could that'd be great. My email is [email protected]

Thanks.

will do my man

you don't want ALL your sounds to be in Full you can adjust individual volume on your sounds in PARAMS under your Trim Window.

bboutit: are you on any other forums? Your signature looks extremely familiar.

I don't know really, maybe on StarTrak years ago. Don't know....

yeah, sounds in the trim window are automatically triggered at full level. usually I turn the main volume down a little bit to hear what I've sampled, then turn it back up in the main screen before I decide if it needs full level