Direct Mic Recording.......

Has anybody tried sampling Vocal parts, or Mic'd up instruments straight into the mic inputs on the 4K?
Just wondering how it sounds, or would it even be worth it.

I haven't, but it should work fine if you are using a dynamic mic (like a Sure SM57 / SM58) However, if you intend to use a condensor mic (which, generally speaking, yield better results) you will need a microphone preamp such as a focusrite trackmaster, joe meek M3Q, etc, etc.

jues

Alright. I finally went and got my mic back from a friend of mine. Its probably not one of the best (my knowledge of mics anyway is very limited) Its a Shure PG58. It seems to sound ok so far.

What Im doing is recording it directly into the MPC, and then using Aksys to upload it into ACID (the only PC program I have right now, but it works ok so far). I do the same with the entire sequenced song in the mpc by converting it into a .wav, and loading it into Acid as well. It took me a while to figure out a way to keep the vocals synced, but Ive got that down too. Anybody see any problems with the way Im doing business right now? Or maybe theres an easier or better sounding way that Im not using?
Im open to any suggestions.....

And so now my only problem is compression. I dont really like the compression FX on the MPC4k. In fact, the first time I used it, I thought it was **** broken.
Ive looked, but cant get any info........does anybody know any software compressors that I can run the vocal .wav through after recording?

I would not advise trying to track voacals into an MPC4000.What I would suggest is getting a program like Protools or Cubase and record your vocals that way.If you get Protools, Cubase or any other program they make what are called "plugins" which take the place of hardware effects processors like pre-amps,compressors, vocoders etc.. and replaces them with software that works in conjunction with your recording program.You can get any type of effect you want with plugins and to be honest with you that's all I use.I have gotten rid of all my external effects hardware(preamp,and compressors) and replaced them with various plug-ins.The MPC 4000 like all of the previous model MPC's was not designed to be a recording device.They were designed to sample audio and to sequence audio and midi together in one all in one box.If you do try and continue your quest to record vocals into an MPC I wish you the best of luck.

I run my mic right to the computer and record vocals in ACID 4.0. It will let you record right over the music. If you are just wanting to record voice samples record into a wave editor such as Soundforge. That way you can cut it into a loop and add any effects like compression, reverb, chorus, ya dig. Save it as a .wav and load it into your MPC. Simple as that.

"plugins" which take the place of hardware effects processors like pre-amps

This I would love to see, now matter how fancy a plugin is, it physically can not take the place of a preamp as the sinal needs to be boosted in gain before it is usable in any digital (or analouge for that matter) system.

Jues.

My soundcard at the moment is not a very good one. I have tried recordign into the soundcard, and it cannot compare at all to the quality I get recording directly into the MPC, even though doing it this way is a little more tricky.

I am in the market though, for a better soundcard. Any suggestions?

DjNothing wrote:My soundcard at the moment is not a very good one. I have tried recordign into the soundcard, and it cannot compare at all to the quality I get recording directly into the MPC, even though doing it this way is a little more tricky.

I am in the market though, for a better soundcard. Any suggestions?

EMU 1212M
www.emu.com
check it out!

M-Audio's stuff

www.maudio.com

I am in the market though, for a better soundcard. Any suggestions?[/quote]

If you've got the cash go for somthing like a MOTU 828 its got 8 i/o great if you got the 8 out option on ur MPC, 2 great sounding mic pre's, 24/96 smpt ect, u can pick 1 up for under au $1000 second hand. Get a 16 track mixer and a patch bay and you'll have all your mixing control at ur fingertips.

E-MU 1820M + a mixer:
http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp ... oduct=2211

[quote="Earnest Magilakutti"]I would not advise trying to track voacals into an MPC400
The MPC 4000 like all of the previous model MPC's was not designed to be a recording device.

course ya can!!!! any machine that can hold 512 meg audio is cabable of trackin vx's
as i dont use a pc/mac ive never had any other option (maybe thats the point!!)
Weve just finished our 1st album usin nothin but a 4K, a yamaha 02R & a few bits of outboard kit. most of the tunes on it r not only vocal tunes but the majority have anythin up to 3 harmony backin vx lines. Vocalist sings into Rode ntk (+ dedicated pre-amp) which is fed into Focusrite voice master pro channel strip (for gentle compression) and then sampled directly into 4k from digi outs on 02R.
admittedly it would have been easier to track the vxs onto computer (for multiple takes, ease of synchin, plug ins etc etc.....) but i guess ya never miss wot u never had.
The problem with technology is that when u buy a new piece of kit that looks like it will solve all of your problems the first thing u generally notice is wot the kit CANT do.
9 times out of ten there will be a work around for problems. technology will always come second up against good artistic ideas.

jues wrote:M-Audio's stuff

www.maudio.com

stay away from the entry level plastic M-Audio equipment it sucks