Portable Equip. & Specs.

I have a few quick questions... I work 3rd. shift & have alot of time that I spend reading post or studying production. My problem is don't have alot of time to incorporate what I've learned once I leave work. So, I was wondering if their is a small portable piece of equip. that I can use to sequ, sample, or make drum patterns then take what I've done home and place it in my computer or mpc & begin working. I wish I could bring the mpc to work but it's too big. Also, I am new at this & am unfamiliar with the specs regarding compression, filter, timestretch, decay,ect. I've been makeing some bangers useing the mpc but I hear things in my tracks that I dislike (BD isn't deep or long enough ect). I don't understand when or why I should add compression, filter, ect. to make my tracks so they sound the way I would like them to. I really need some help.

Dude I use to take my mp to work when I was on the Graveyard shift.......it wasnt nothing else to do........If you dont then just continue to get your study on but one of these days you gonna have to take it on the chin and go home and fire that mp up and try some of this stuff out.........the smallest thing I can think of would be the 1k but you might as well take the mp with you to work now



Much Respect

I feel ya my man; but folks at the job like to talk & that can cause problems. I don't have the bread to buy a 1k, actually I am not buying anything else until my tracks pay for what I've already purchased. Is it possible for anyone to give me a general idea of the specs. used for filter, decay, ect. (I am working with 2000,Triton64,Soundforge,2496MAudio). I don't feel as if I am utilizeing my equipment to their full capabilities, since I don't understand compression, mixing/mastering & other such things that I stated earlier. If someone can help with this or point me in the direction where I can get some help it would be greatly appreciated. I've gone to the library, read books, searched but I am not feeling what I've read. I need answers that I can visualize... It's hard for me to learn things any other way.
(Phatz, I appreciate you earlier reply). Odd1

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 15-6295863
This is the best book on learning compression, mixing, mastering, multitracking,and more. It breaks it down in plain english and is not complex at all. Very helpful. Read your MPC manual when you are with it and away. That is the first thing I would do.

If you wanna do some reading at work, check out the following:

http://web.archive.org/web/200302161600 ... overs.com/

There's tons of really useful info there.

Copy and print and you have your own book.

Peace.

Thank You 4the info., I am going to check these books out and start bangen out tracks.