Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
By empesea Sun Feb 01, 2004 5:11 pm
Hi, I am trying to figure out if there is a problem with my 4k. I am trying to sample straight from a microphone into the 4k. When I do this I get no input on the sample screen? Do I need an amplifier, or is there some setting that isn't right? I sample off my record player all the time, I just cant get a signal from anything other than that. I flip the input select switch to line mic, so it isn't that. I just dont want to take it in to the dealer and have it be a stupid mistake. Thanks in advance for any responses.

By Altopiano Sun Feb 01, 2004 8:34 pm
hi empresea!
how are u samplin?
1. which mic (condenser or dynamik?)?
2. do you sample straight in your mpc or do you run it over a mixer first? 3. check the input source!
4. check the input source button at the back (this one is to choose between phone or line/mic)!
5. hope that helps!
don't think its a 4k issue! btw: if you use ondenser mic without phantom-thing the 4k (and anyone else, at least what i understood) won't be able to sample
cheers
alto

By empesea Sun Feb 01, 2004 11:45 pm
I'm sampling directly into the mpc, I'm not running it through a mixer first. The mic I'm using says unidirectional dynamic microphone on it (if that helps). I have the input source running to line/mic, not phono when i'm trying to sample the mic. How can you tell if your mic is a condensor or phantom? Thanks for the help!

By Altopiano Mon Feb 02, 2004 10:40 am
what i understood there are condenser and dynamic mic"s! condenser (are basically for recording and sampling) need a phantom thing (i don"t know the appropriate word in english and don"t wanna tell you bull****, maybe its phantom power, ... i think i"ve read that somewhere!!!), dynamik (these are basically more for live purposes) not! so i thought maybe your usin a condenser one ...!
you don"t , so no other idea here! i"m usually samplin stuff which is first runnin thru my mixer ... but that shouldn"t change a lot! .. dunno!
your sure you"ve checked the input source button (at the back side of the mpc) as well as the input source in record mode!
good luck again
alto
User avatar

By BeBop Mon Feb 02, 2004 3:26 pm
It sounds like you're inexperienced regarding signal flow...at the minimum. That's OK...this forum is a place to ask questions.

You have a Dynamic mic. that does NOT need phantom power. Mics are not condenser or phantom...condenser mic's NEED phantom power to work. Dynamic mics do not need phantom power...you just plug 'em in.

It sounds like you're using a cheap mic for starters...that's fine...but you have to trouble shoot in the order listed below-


1) Have a second mic to try in case your's is crap
2) Make sure your mic cable is not damaged. Get another mic cable to test to rule out a bad cable.

3)Make sure the switch on the back of the 4K is set to line/mic
4) Make sure the mic you own doesn't have an "on/off" switch ...check the bottom of the mic too!!!
5) Try the gain (high/low) switch on the top of the MPC


rinse and repeat -

Bop

By empesea Tue Feb 03, 2004 3:10 am
Alto thanks for the help! I'm wondering if maybe I need a pre amp for the mpc to pick up the signal? Bebop I've already done steps 1-5 on your checklist previous to posting on this forum (so as not to load it with any more crap). And yes, i'm definitely inexperienced with signal flow(and I don't care). I'm more interested in how the mpc works, thanks.

By Toecutter Tue Feb 03, 2004 8:17 am
If you're using a condenser mic you'll need a preamp, if you're using a dyamic mic, like the handheld one performers use on stage I guess it's not necesary. Make sure your gain is turned up on the front panel of your MPC... and maybe turning down your threshold in your sampling screen will work? Let me know how it turns out.

By empesea Sat Feb 07, 2004 1:22 am
Good News. I got the mic to work, I think I had the gain to low. Whew!! I already started saving money to get the thing fixed, now I got some extra cash. I got another question though, how do you make multiple songs with the same program? After I set up one song I can't get back up to the top and use the jog dial to start another? Whats the deal with that?

By Toecutter Sat Feb 07, 2004 7:30 am
Can't you just load the program but DON'T load the sequences and songs?

By empesea Sat Feb 07, 2004 4:02 pm
I can't do that because I need the sequences to lay sown the next song. If I loaded each sequence up that I wanted to use seperately, when I wanted to save the new song, would it save over the old one? I know I'm not the only one who's wanted to make multiple songs from one progam!

By empesea Sat Feb 07, 2004 4:36 pm
I figured out how to do it, I just reloaded the folder then when I went back to the song page I could select a new song. sweet. I have one more problem though, it may be in the manual but, how would I apply fx with the faders just to a track at a time rather than the whole program?