The "Tips and Tricks" thread

Hey! Just thought I'd add this link of a looping method can really help me out at times. It plays upon the 96 ppq but with a little twist...

http://www.mpc2000xl.com/looping_tip.htm

It's a old page that's close to home, but i did'nt find it mentioned on this thread or a few other tips and tricks posts.

Anyways .... this thread is swell !!

Teletran1 wrote:This is probably the thread that has deserved most to become a sticky, and yet?

Come one, mods. Get on that ****.

mods prolly think they're too cool to read it

haha

Here's an other loose bit of semi-useful info:

Want to get rid of these embarrasing short silences when you chop a drumloop and slow it down?

Just loop the little bit of 'silence' at the end of each sample, or the last portion of the sound if there is no silence, then fade it with a short release.

Of course, you could copy and paste some silence from elsewhere too, but most of the time I find this does not work if there is no silence. Looping has that instant gratification side to it as well, as the loop points don't need to be deadly accurate.

I was forced to use this technique once when I realised that a drum loop I had was cut slightly too early at the end point. It didn't loop properly and resulted in the dreaded silence at the end of every sequence loop. And at the end of the track it also did the job of a short delay that faded out quickly.

Also, on a whole unchopped loop, you can make some nice breaks/variations by setting the loop start point to somewhere in the middle and let it roll through one or two cycles. It is fun to play with settings that syncopate the beats. Layer it under the original beat for more mayhem.

Hope this inspires.

this doesn't work all the time, but it's fun experimenting if you're into snares that "crack":

MPC1000--take any snare you like and go to the effects (Mode+pad12)

from effects mode press F1 (select) and send effect 1 to effect 2 by switching to YES

put both on bit grunger effect--I like putting both on 8 or near the max

Press F5 (go2mix) and then press F3 for FXSEND

turn OF above the pad# to 1 and take it from there

now if you really want to play around, you might do that and layer it with a snare that has no effects and turn the level down on the one with effects. I know i sampled a snare off a friend's motif6 and did that, and he went crazy looking for it on his keyboard

"man, you lyin' you got that snare from a triton or somethin'"

Ok here is a basic one that might help goin on aftere having layed down the idea:

Basic principle is contrast of the elements of the beat.

This goes for every parameter imaginable, like:

U got a deep instrument - add a high one
clean sounding elements - dirty one
melodie playing all over the bar - make another instrument play only a few notes
fast elements - slow elements
stuff with short attack - long attack sounds
loud - quiet
...

If you dont know what to add, look at what u already got in there and add sth. that will balance.

^^^ thats a very very simple, but wayyyyy overlooked topic right there.

it makes a lot of sense to pay attention to that kind of stuff. balance is key. in the mix, the arrangment, and the composition.

Here's a weird little thing I do none stop now. And its thanks to my cable company.

Just Picked up a hdtv, and so I had to get a hd cable box from the cable company. Thing is a cable box, as well as a DVR. At anytime while watching, if I hear something that catches my ear, I can record the program (it will record the whole program, from when I started watching). I can rewind live tv, pause it (to write down Sample info, so on and so forth), set it up to record wierd westerns or kung fu flicks at 5am.

Sometimes I just record 2 hour blocks of the Jazz radio station or Classic R&B station, and check them whenever its convient.

To be honest, I know its not vinyl, however the ease of use with this thing, basically has opened my sampling up (including not only TV shows and movies, but Cable Radio (has all the artist info posted, tons of rare tracks).

Best part is I can actually claim that while I'm watching Tv, I'm technically working (and its kind of true). In the past, when I recorded off of movies and cable radio, I would have to wait for the flick, or run over and hit record on my Computer (possibly missing the a few bars of a song, or score), now its just a simple hit record on the tv remote.

So if your cable provider has um, look into it. It records around 80 hours of SDTV (less if its hd programs). You don't technically need an HDTV to get the DVR box, but honestly its well worth the small (if any) added cost per month. I go through Cox communications. Also the box has Digital out, so sounds are pristine (as well as rca if thats your thing).

Its just something that has improved my workflow, a ton. And with the lack of space I have to build up my vinyl collection, this has fixed my urge to run out to sals, and saves some space on my comp and cf cards.

And Crap I bet there's a crafty accountant out there, that could technically write this off as a business expense, thus Free cable for the studio.

phanatik wrote:
theres a little secret weapon hardly any1 uses. if u use a software program...Pro Tools or whtever(thats what I use). Theres a sound generator tht produces sine and other wave tones. Slide some 50-60hz sine underneath ur kicks and use a lo-fi or a tape saturation plug.

works wonder. Very phat. U have 2 mess with the sine envelope with a gate to get it 2 sound right depending on the source(kick drum). I also use Waves SSL 4000 and UAD plugs which have some compressors 2 choose from...eg. LA-2A, 1176, Fairchild... experiment as well. But thisis what I do and use.

I just saw that post by phanatik. Had to dig this baby up.

cluster wrote:Here's a weird little thing I do none stop now. And its thanks to my cable company.

Just Picked up a hdtv, and so I had to get a hd cable box from the cable company. Thing is a cable box, as well as a DVR. At anytime while watching, if I hear something that catches my ear, I can record the program (it will record the whole program, from when I started watching). I can rewind live tv, pause it (to write down Sample info, so on and so forth), set it up to record wierd westerns or kung fu flicks at 5am.

Sometimes I just record 2 hour blocks of the Jazz radio station or Classic R&B station, and check them whenever its convient.

To be honest, I know its not vinyl, however the ease of use with this thing, basically has opened my sampling up (including not only TV shows and movies, but Cable Radio (has all the artist info posted, tons of rare tracks).

Best part is I can actually claim that while I'm watching Tv, I'm technically working (and its kind of true). In the past, when I recorded off of movies and cable radio, I would have to wait for the flick, or run over and hit record on my Computer (possibly missing the a few bars of a song, or score), now its just a simple hit record on the tv remote.

So if your cable provider has um, look into it. It records around 80 hours of SDTV (less if its hd programs). You don't technically need an HDTV to get the DVR box, but honestly its well worth the small (if any) added cost per month. I go through Cox communications. Also the box has Digital out, so sounds are pristine (as well as rca if thats your thing).

Its just something that has improved my workflow, a ton. And with the lack of space I have to build up my vinyl collection, this has fixed my urge to run out to sals, and saves some space on my comp and cf cards.

And **** I bet there's a crafty accountant out there, that could technically write this off as a business expense, thus Free cable for the studio.

I've had a dvr for a minute now but never knew you could record off the digital music channels. I have Comcast and they use Music Choice as the provider, last I checked it wasn't able. Was wondering what music provider Cox Cable uses? and are the DVR's made by Motorola? I got a USB on the box as well.

Cox Communications uses "Music Choice" as well. The Dvr/Cable Box I have is a motorola, and the DVR software is Echo Passport. Haven't messed with the USB (Updates are through the Cable wire)..

Not sure how Comcast works, but I'm able to record the Radio Stations like they were normal shows.. hit record gives the option to record the 2 hour block, or when I started watching to the end of the 2 hour block.

Strange if you can't, might be a Comcast thing (ie. if they use different software for the DVR service, etc). OR maybe you need to update your DVR box, not sure really..

Upright wrote:

J.Daniels wrote:Try recording a song without the sequencer. Play an MPC like a live instrument. Even use guitar pedals to tweak em live.

Although i recommend using a metronome.

This is really good idea, one that I have personally used.

Then you can go back a listen to what you made, and use the techniques later, with practice the things you do by mistake can become a part of your regular style.

Pretty neat.

What I do is get my basic stuff goin, and turn on audacity and record sample hits that I play live.

THen I might turn the track off and play it back, doing drum fills in a seperate track.

Or vice versa.

whoa. i cant believe most of this thread is from about a year ago

Probably already said but if not...

Easy way to make a bass program:

find one good bass sound youl ike, clear, warm, distroted, whoever you liek it...

copy it onto 16 tracks, and then go to programs and set each one to a different Tune...

you'll have the exact same note, in 16 different keys, so it ends up being 16 notes...get it?

I'm glad someone brought this one back. Nice thread!

nice one grime, i'm giving that a shot fo sure