Technical questions for the MPC2000xl and the MPC2000
By Indelible Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:19 pm
This mite be a newbie kinda question, but is there a serious difference between MPC file instr. samples(like the 1s sold at this site) compared to the sounds u get from a midi synth module?
I don't have a synth module yet but have purchased a few MPC sound file samples at this site & used some of them through my controller or on my pads.
I'm starting to become very interested in synth racks now, but i need to know the importants & differences they have from the mpc file samples sold out here.
Thanks
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By McSmooth Wed Dec 27, 2006 4:18 pm
This depends on if you want to shape and create your own sounds or not. People that just use presets on their sound modules/synths will probably not see much of a difference between the two.

On a virtual analog modeling synth you will have much more control over the sound and can do a lot of things you will never be able to do with just a sample. In fact, you can create your own sounds from scratch (which you can never do with a sampler and no sound source). This is the way to go if you want to learn and use analog style synthesis.

Sound modules that are ROM based (these usually have real instrument sounds) are in reality just like samplers with built in sound, but typically have the ability to do some shaping over the sound. These are usually a pain in the ass to do much editing on though. These are good for a quick and easy library of bread and butter sounds without having to load samples into RAM.

Also keep in mind that a more in depth sampler will be able to do more than the MPC's limited sampling engine (unless you have the 4000) if you want to work with samples.
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By sinister_keys Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:47 am
^^ good post ^^^

to add to the knowledge>> sampled sounds are good for only a few octaves after that they start to sound pitched out a bit to much...
i have a few synth modules and a few keyboards all controlled by the MPC
IMHO the modules and boards are the right hand of the MPC .. THE MPC
is a very powerfull sequencer / sampler, but once you add so much as 1
sound module / synth into your setup your music will change / grow

of course this is just my opinion i have heard superb production with just the MPC and a turntable and basic drums .. ya always gotta remeber ..
its not the equipment .. its the man/woman behind the equipment :idea:
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By McSmooth Thu Dec 28, 2006 3:26 pm
That is true about pitching samples down. To get the best quality, you need the instrument samples to cover multiple notes (top quality will have a sample for each note). Read up on multisampling ot learn more.

Yes, you can do a ton with the MPC alone, but I will always perfer to use a synth itself over sampling it into the MPC. MPC makes a great sequencer to control that outboard gear and make it go nuts.
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By chop14u Sat Dec 30, 2006 12:23 am
Another note, if I might add it in...some of the older E-MU Mods allow for you to do some on the fly shaping of sounds. Like the Proteus 2000, and the Mo Phatt. I am not sure about the P 1000 I can not remember. It is not that hard to do, but you have to save everything for ever song. THat can sometimes be a pain.

By Indelible Sun Dec 31, 2006 2:12 pm
NO DOUBT my dudes...really appreciate the responses!!!
I'll definitely do the knowledge & delve into this more.

Success
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By cyrus Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:25 am
yeah, just to add........

I find that bass sounds are good either way. But I like to keep them in the mpc. Most of my bass samples and multi instruments are 1 note samples spread accross the keys........the bass doesnt span too many octaves and sounds good from the mpc

on the other hand

Something like a rhodes sound, or a piano sound, is better off in a rompler or synth, because it takes more samples to get the multi instrument to sound good and really is just easier in a synth. I dont like them in the mpc because youd have to eat up memory, and its easier to just dial up a sound on the synth

some sounds work fine in the mpc, others dont.

you can also do both. I find sometimes I sample my synth because I want the sounds in the mpc, sounds like bass sounds, hits, chords, and stabs.......these sounds work better in the mpc for me.


Id say use whatever works for you. For some producers, all they need is a bass multisample, drums, and vinyl records for thier beats, so its easier to just keep all your sounds in the mpc. Others like to compose from scratch and it would be a pain to have to load up all your sounds in the mpc.