Talk me into keeping the mpc...

Well you can do things like

-Turn the sample down low, blast it through a mic pre that's cranked all the way up, resample. that definitely changes the sound.

-Run sample through a speaker, mic it...

Though what you're saying I think, is if you start with doo doo you'll end up with doo doo. I agree with that. When I'm saying I'm getting bigger sounding drums, it's because of the way I'm capturing the sound. I got my table running through a tube preamp, then when I sample that at 24 bits into the computer, I just get more of the sound then I get with the mpc. Now I know about the 12 and 16 bit stuff and all that...but right now the sound coming off the turntables is so good that I'm trying to really capture that. Actually my tube phono preamp is my new weapon...I spent a long time trying to figure out how to get my records to sound as good as possible through the computer, figuring that if the records sounded good, the samples would sound good. Started out with a 1985 technics stereo preamp - sounded like crap. Got my tube preamp, replaced the tubes...I'm telling you it is a million times better. Definitely one of the best investments I've made.

only thing your doing different is recording it at 24 bit which is just going to give it a bit more clarity, the rest can be done the same on your mpc

I used a 4k so i can do 24bit, but if it really is giving you something Im missing out on all the better to you

cyrus wrote:sometimes you dont know what you have until its gone.

Try sellin it......save your money, and in a few weeks, or months if you feel like you need or needed it, repurchase a new one. IN the mean time try out your new setup/style..

Research other gear/plugins, computer programs-etc. See if you like what your doing.

HOWEVER

Just dont blow your money. I always keep in mind that if my $$$ was invested in equipment, that same money should stay invested or saved for future investments.....its easy to blow cash on stuff you dont even need.

My current mpc is actually my second one, because my skill needs didnt match what the mpc offered, after selling it, i purchased a triton-then my skill and style developed and i realized what type of setup would work for me, and it happened to include the mpc. So i bought a new one and have been happy ever since. I would have never have known if i didnt sell my original one.

peace

good advice... if you dont need the money now, just set your mpc aside and see if you miss it.
I would never think of selling mine, except maybe to buy a 60, but I hate making music with computers, so thats me.

but whatever, you made up your mind before the post started, and if logic works for you then you are actually in the majority of people out there. So why should we try and convince you? It seems strange.

Do what you want, get the right setup for you, the one you use and forget what anyone says...

I don't mean "talk me into it" so literally, just wanted to hear people's thoughts. Thanks though, good comments all around.

If you gonna look at a software sampler try lookin at the MACHFIVE from MOTU.

I don't really use the mpc no more.

I run this baby through a MOTU HD192 and the sound is sick!!!!!!!!

With the motu it gives you 8 Filter types per sample/4 insert FX from delays/reverbs/bit crushers/vocoders/comressors/rev gates/4 Program FX/4 AUX FX/4 MASTER FX.

How sick is that!!!!!!

But this is the one that will kill you!!!!!

IT IMPORTS ALL SAMPLES/PROGRAMS

MPC2000/3000/S5000S6000/EXS/ASR/EMU/ THIS LIST GOES ON.

I most definately feel you. The other day I got ahold of a copy of Adobe audition and was like wow. I can do just about as much as I can with my MPC with software and more if I really get into it. I'm seriously considering selling all my equipment and just recording with the computer.

Now before anyone gets any ideas, I aint even thinking about selling MPC2000(with custom blue paint and my name on it.). I have way too much invested in it and got it a great price. I got HD/CD rom and Zip all for free so I'm not trying to get rid of this babby.

I think the problem alot of people have with the MPC is the manual is so technical, to me it would be much easier if they just included a VCD or DVD with someone doing all the basic stuff on it and then a shorter manual with the machine.

hoodlord wrote:I most definately feel you. The other day I got ahold of a copy of Adobe audition and was like wow. I can do just about as much as I can with my MPC with software and more if I really get into it. I'm seriously considering selling all my equipment and just recording with the computer.

Now before anyone gets any ideas, I aint even thinking about selling MPC2000(with custom blue paint and my name on it.). I have way too much invested in it and got it a great price. I got HD/CD rom and Zip all for free so I'm not trying to get rid of this babby.

I think the problem alot of people have with the MPC is the manual is so technical, to me it would be much easier if they just included a VCD or DVD with someone doing all the basic stuff on it and then a shorter manual with the machine.

After some time, you wont even care about the manual man. I agree, some catz get frustrated real quick, and disregard a piece of equipment just because they dont understand it. TO ALL be patient and really try to understand what you have-thats why i said above "you dont know what you have until its gone" seriously....if you sell your mpc, you might make a good choice, but you wont know until it happens, and im sure later down the road you will be like "ohhhh, i couldve dont this with the mpc" (not that thats bad) you have to look at your choice like you want to get something out of it and learn from it, if you find that logic was a good choice, at least youll realize what was up with the mpc. That way you can hold your own-to the cats who bang with hardware, they cant say shiat because you know how to use the mpc, and you can rock software.

I definately think that in your computer setup you should still keep some form of hardware going, if not at least to get a differant sound....ya know? Like hardware module, or sampler, or processor, something than just pure software (everything is good in moderation)

BTW.

Some dudes think its easy (not any of you in this post) but its not.

You have to learn it to love it.

peace

BTW.

Some dudes think its easy (not any of you in this post) but its not.

You have to learn it to love it.

peace

[/quote]

Exactly, believe me when I first got my MPC I couldn't make heads or tales of it. I was lucky that I had people like Dj.Urban, Merc and MPC3000 that helped me and guided me through parts of the manual that I didn't understand.

You just gotta ask question and when you don't understand ask more questions, look for tutorials ect.

Those guys at samplekings drop some pretty ill tapes, i copped the 2 on the 4k, they were good

This is my opinion but the other day i did a straight a/b comparison between the sound and feel of logic 6 and my mpc 3k. the 3k sounded fatter and tighter next to the same beat in logic which sounded thinner and not as locked. its the groove between kick/snr and hats that i have to spend so much time getting right in logic whereas this aint even an issue with the mpc, it really lets creativity flow. computers and software aren't great interfaces for getting creative in fact i would say that they get in the way. I know so many fellow programmers,musos and players that all rushed to get software and are all now back on mpc's or asr 10's for their beats. i think u'll regret selling your mpc2000, but like i say its a matter of opinion.[/list]

it sounds to me that you have out grown your mpc. i have had minds (mpc2000) for about 10 years and i have lost interest making music with it. software is the next step in the music making busness. if you are a long time mpc user it is understandable that is has worn out its welcome. it is like going from cassette to cd. some people still loves there cassettes but cds are a newer. now we at the point where music will come on dvds instead of cds and some people will not let the cds go because they prefer cds over dvds. it is really up to you. me personally i love technology. i would rather go to space in the space shuttle rather than an apollo space ship. some people would rather use the apollo space ship. it is an individual choice. the mpc is a great machine. even akai has realize that pcs/macs are the way of the future, that is why they have the usb port. just follow your heart you may have out grown the mpc like i have and need a new way of creativity. peace.

what you are saying, mwalker, is true, but I think we can agree that cats who use the mpc will use new "computer" technology for mastering, so its not like we are stuck in the past or technophobes or anything...

second, its how you work... for example, i have a number of external sound processors that I use in conjunction witht he mpc and I consider these part of my "sound."

Thats one difference: if you have a pro or semi-pro studio, you cant afford not to have a computer running pro tools or logic, but if you have a home set-up, well then, you can use what ever works best for you...

As for the computer, well two drawbacks (for me that is): 1. too many options (sometimes lack of options makes you more creative) and 2. there is a huge temptation not to listen to your music but to "look" at it. For example, an out of time drumloop maybe just what the song needs to sound good but it doesnt "look" right on the screen so you fix it without thinking.

Third, is the learning curve: right now I can knock out ish with my mpc based set-up in no time (because I know it like the back of my hand). If I, for example, were to switch to pro tools or cubase or whatever I would have to allow for about 3-6 months down time on making beats while I was learning the new program.

Finally, I think the idea of out-growing the MPC is strange. Its like saying "I outgrew the guitar." If you dont want to play the guitar no more (maybe cause you write better songs on a piano) then cool. But the mpc is an open ended instrument... for a person to outgrow something, it usually means either that they have mastered it and are now bored with it or they cant get the sound they want out of it...

however the reason cats are talking about droping the mpc is cause they can make the same thing in a computer quicker and easier. But that aint "out-growing," its part of deciding what set up is right for you.

If I spent two years using logic and then decideded it wasnt right for me it would mean that I had mastered it or conversely, that I had out-grown it. It just mean that it wasnt right for me that is for giving me the sound I wanted.

However, this all just my opinion and I think we agree on the main point so lets not argue or anything. Peace.

descartes, i agree with you too, i learning curve is the major draw back. it will take time. i have hardware also and four years ago i could knock things out in no time with the hardware setup. with the computer there are driver problems, software compatiablity problems, crashes (hardware rarely crashes by the way) and so on but once you get the workflow and your system humming you can work faster. there is also another problem with software is that you become a software junkie. you must have all the lastest software which is more stuff to learn but if you avoid the pitfall of software it could be very productive. the learning curve is not over night, that is a major draw back. i use cubase sl 2.0 and tried the fruityloops demo for a few hours and delete from my system because i did not want to learn the sh!t. so, i do agree with you in that respect. the comment about the guitar, i have a mexican fender stat but i would rather have a american stat. a guitar is an instrument but mpc is a tool (you could use as a instrument but it is a tool). i am talking about out growing mpc as a tool. like shoveling snow, would you rather use a shovel or snow blower. peace. if do not have a driveway only steps a shovel is a better tool but if you have a driveway the snow blower will get the job done faster. time is money.

It's a tough issue. I'm trying to strike a balance between doing what I need to create how I want to create, without getting too carried away with all the latest software and blah blah blah. You can spend too much time getting and noodling with new stuff and not enough just making stuff, that's a problem. But I don't necessarily agree with you about the technology stuff. I have no interest in technology for technology's sake - nor do I think that having more advanced stuff makes you a better producer or musician - nor do I think you are some hopeless luddite if you stick to hardware. Remember creativity is a very personal, individual thing...I've known mad geniuses who insisted on 4 track cassette, who's stuff was way more soulful than the music most "technically inclined" people make. To take this point further, some of my favorite personal recordings are from a band I was in in college - we had this blind keyboard player (we called him the Herbie Hancock of our generation)- the recordings are like one mic in a room to cassette. I mean, no was using computers with Marvin Gaye or Hendrix or the Beatles or Beethoven, right?

But I more or less agree when you are talking about MAKING MONEY doing commercially viable stuff - or being a guy who can mix other people's projects, etc, do stuff for tv, etc, a computer is probably the best way to get the job done. You know, if you are predicting the weather, you've got a better shot with Doppler radar than without. However my problem here is that being the guy who can get the projects done quick and who can bang out X,Y, and Z project for people is FREAKIN' BORING. That whole universe of having the tools to be flexible to get the money is so far removed from the magic and love of music, and the spine tingling sensation you get when you really have some creative stuff going. I know this because I've been in both situations - as a drummer in bands with mad genius artists who were such freaks that they could barely leave the house, and as a project studio owner/"gigging" drummer (yes weddings and even a corporate gig - gag me with a **** spoon, never again) making enough cash to survive.

And I've come to a few conclusions. Being the guy who can knock out the project quick, has all the right tools to make the cash, can be a hired gun type of guy - that's basically just a job. You can do this and call yourself an artist, but your claim to that title is tenous. That's fine. Someone may be real good with the computer and have some good music background etc - I'm not knocking any of that, cause it's necessary- and I'm not knocking someone who can REALLY mix and REALLY engineer because those people are artists as well - but as far the MAKING the shit, getting out what is in your bones how you want, for someone to tell you "the best" way for them to work is simply nonsense. I got a computer because it supports my vision, not because I need speed or convenience - jesus, this is art man, not a godammn fast food restaraunt. For someone else it might be any god damn thing. Now if someone asked what kind of programs you should learn to work at a major studio, well then that's a different story. And finally, when was the last time great creativity came from following what everyone else does? Gee, most major releases use protools, and guess what - most major releases suck big ass.

The answer for those with a true vision is not easy. The answer is, message boards like these can give you ideas but not real answers. You have to provide the answers. And it's a struggle. There's so much STUFF to choose from, and a lot of times you won't know if it is right until you really put in the time, and then if it's wrong, you already spent the money AND the time. And I know it's not always reasonable to have to spend time experimenting with all these tools before you buy them. It's a long, long road to Mt. Zion ya know?

I'll continue to ramble cause I'm **** bored at work and I don't want to pay attention to the godammn COMMERCIALS on the radio. Now don't get me wrong people. I ain't bitter about shit. I'm happy with what music has done for me and what I've done for it. What irks me is that anyone thinks THEY KNOW what's best for your shit. Suggestions, great, fine. I'll make a list and investigate. But telling people who are coming up that you NEED this and that and blah **** blah, it's an uneccessary distraction. Tell people to listen. Tell em to stick to their own path. Put em on to good music. But don't give this time is money crap you need this tool blah blah blah. The world needs some good goddamn art, people, not more people that can mix your commercial on deadline. I know this sounds bitter but it really isn't, cause I'm a pretty happy guy. Happy to struggle. I have to go, they are locking up the building.

Oh and- I'm not thinking about how I'm getting to the planet...I'm thinking about what planet I'm going to.

right on, jontakiff.

Just a little story: The past few weeks ive been messin with these cats that really liked my music, just as a producer letting them see what they like for purchasing, etc. I go to thier studio with them, and I mean theyve got tons of shit. (my setup is real bangin too) anyways, I get to the studio for a "production session" (making beats with the other producers) well,I definately consider myself a hardware guy....ends up they need me to run thier computer setup. I would say that I dont really consider my self a knowledgeable "computer guy" when it comes to music software.

ANyways, my point is this: No matter where technology goes, theres always gonna be the set of people who dont want to know how to run a computer, fix it, or really know about it(musically or whatever).....Just as long as who does, gets shit done.

Just as my mom only knows how to check her email, but has no clue on whats really goining on, or doesnt even know how to turn the computer on. And there is alot more poeple out there that are the same (not just old people)

As a producer whether you are all hardware or all software doesnt matter, but to stay on top of your game you need both! IF you truely know what you are doing, a learning curve will be short, and you will be able to transfer you skills to and from.

I did rock the computer with those guys, and now they come to me, for computer advice. (shit, more computer knowledge = more business)

Just be sure to realize what jontakiff and descartes said about the essence of music and creativity.....ya know?

BTW a producer should know how to mix, master, sound design, sequence, create, inspire etc-To be good and sucessful. Just like youneed to know how to work a computer, and hardware.