Question about the volume again

Yo I copped the 500 and it is dope for sure. Now someone mentioned about it being too low in volume. I changed the master gain limit to 0db. Now does the mpc main volume knob gotta be cranked all the way up??, because that is the only way i get it to sound as loud as my computers soundcard when playing something off the pc./ I hope this all makes sense.
It just seems that I gotta set the input trim on my mixer channel very high to get the 500 to sound as loud as other things connected to my mixer, like for instance my pc soundcard. Thanks. I am 100% happy wit the purchase, just wanted to know if its normal to have to have the main volume knob all the way up to get a good signal to the mixer.

Go into program mode and make sure all your samples are at 100 velocity because at default they are at 70 and this will make a big difference in the output volume. let me know.

make sure to sample as loud as possible. that will raise the volume in the end as well!

thanks, but I am just talking about it straight out the mpc500 just the demo song playing./ Havent sampled yet. It seems as just playing back th stock sounds that the mpc500 has to have the volume knob cranked to the max.

Did you check your program sample velocities??The presets may be set to 70 also.I would start by checking there first.

thanks i will check that but i am sure it was on 100 for all samples
So you havent had to crank up the master knob or your mixer to get a good signal?

To be honest my master knob stays all the way up, I very rarely turn it down. Then again I use the 500 with headphones only......I have never hooked it up to my main setup. I use it as a portable on the go unit.

also make sure to use a proper cable, if it's malfunctioning it can affect the signal
change the audio cables and see if it works better

run another device like a cdplayer or ipod or whatever into your computer and see if it is as low as on your 500.

it just seems that using headphones the signal is nice and loud, but when using the main outs to my mixer it is not as loud. is this normal?

I would always use any electronic instrument at full voume on the instrument volume control, and then adjust the gain as necessary in the mixer.

Are you running it ito a mixer channel that has gain control, or into a stereo channel without any gain control?

If it is loud enough with the volume turned right up on the MPC, turn it up an be happy.

sampie wrote:it just seems that using headphones the signal is nice and loud, but when using the main outs to my mixer it is not as loud. is this normal?

the headphone output has a built in amplifier to power headphone's, where-as the main outs have no amplification.

when you are using the 500 with your system, use the main outs at full volume and control the output at your mixer.

The headphone amplifier is designed to drive headphones and can degrade the sound quality.

Contrary to popular belief, the volume knob provides no gain but only attenuation. The volume knob, as you turn it down, just controls how much of the signal to let through.

i notice a strange low volume as well. cranking the master volume to 0db will distort the sound easily. usually -6 is the max i can go without it distorting even a single sound. yes velocity is on 100. i guess the outputs are -10? the manual says +5 db which is sort of weird. i have a few -10 units in my studio and they just drive me crazy. even a louder input trim doesn't quite seem to fix the problem correctly. there definitely is something strange about the output of the machine. but i'm trying to make the best of it. anyone have one in a pro set up that can varify -10? the manual doesn't say.