Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By serge_a_storms Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:19 pm
Evening All.

I'm Three days into my first MPC. I've never even so much as seen the screen of an mpc before this. I'm used to DAWs so I have knowledge of recording, but I just have a couple of questions.

I'm trying to get my head around the concepts of mpcs. I have 48 tracks right? Do you guys/gals record all your drum parts on one track and then other sounds on separate tracks? OR Do you record the drum parts on separate tracks? ie Kixk on one track, snare on the next, high hat on the next and so on. Does it matter either way? Does it work like this?

Hope this isn't a really stupid question, been a long time since being a newbie!

Serge.
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By mnh2410 Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:32 pm

Its all preference but at the end of the day whatever suits you then do it. I put everything on ONE Track(e.g. track1-bass, track 2-synth,ect...). That works out great for me. Once I do all my sequences I arrange them in Song Mode.

Nicole

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By SimonInAustralia Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:30 am
Though, if planning to link together sequences in song mode, you should probably keep individual instruments on the same numbered tracks, so that when you join the sequences together into a song, the instruments are on the same tracks.

For example, if using Track1-Drums and Track2-Bass, keep this the same for all sequences that you want to join together in song mode, so that once converted back into a long sequence, the drums are all on the same track, the bass is all on the same track, etc.

Splitting up instruments onto their own tracks might be useful if using track mute to bring different instruments in and out of the mix. For example, if you had your hihat on it's own track, you can use track mute to bring the hats in and out while the sequence is playing.

As mentioned, it is purely personal preference, based on what you are doing.
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By Lithion Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:02 am
Keeping sounds on separate tracks makes mixing easier if you are going to export it to a track recorder later. It gives you greater control of the levels that way.