recording main out problem

I know that there are 2 ways of converting your work into .WAV,
one way its recording the main out of your mpc and save it as a sample.
The other way is getting the right cables and connect them into the soundcard of your pc, and use some software to record the work of the mpc

The way that im doin' it its recording the main out of the mpc but here is my problem:
When i record the main out and convert my work into a .wav sound, the quality of that sample is not the same, it looses volume (even if i put the rec gain knob at its higher level), and the sound it's poor, it don't sound like my actual project, quality decreases.

How can i fix this problem? O that's just the way it is?

What can i do to get the good quality?
Should quality maintain if i use the second method, getting the right cables and connect them into my pc's soundcard?


thanks!

Cause the sound gets compressed going from analog to digital. So going into the computer is decreasin sound quality. It's like trying to fit a orange through a straw.

so what do yo reccomend me to do?
what do you do to get that good sound quality?

Make sure master level is set to 0 dB (mode other)

when you record the main out, normalize your sample after it is done recording (TRIM). that might work. Normally the sound will get softer. If you get the cables and have a decent daw, you could normalize within the daw and then master/maximize/eq your song. See if that helps.

Hi there,

I have the exact same problem: when I record my beat via main out, the sound is REALLY weak. Even if I normalize the final beat (the re-sampled beat), it doesn't change anything.

What would be another way to record my beats? I've heard things about DAT, mixer, etc.

I'm a beginner at this, so I don't know what to do and what DAW, M-Box, etc. are.

I have a MAC and a MPC 1000. No mixer.

Thanks!

Chris.

A DAW is a Digital Audio Workstation, for example Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, Ableton Live, etc. If you have a mac, Garageband is a DAW and is preinstalled. A daw allows you to create, edit, and mix audio on your computer. The mbox is a piece of hardware that is required to run Pro tools. Pro tools will not open unless you have digidesign (manufacturer) hardware for the LE version, or M-Audio hardware for the M-Powered version connected to your computer. When recording from main out you still must make sure that your record volume is at a suitable level. Another way to do that is to buy two 1/4 inch cables. plug both into the stereo outs and the record in on the left and right sides. play your music and that should make it reasonably louder. I do recommend using a daw. if you are more into hardware, you don't need to buy any software programs considering you have garageband on your mac. all you need is an audio interface, which will let you record the audio into your computer. if you buy the mbox as your audio interface, this will be bundled with protools LE. Although this is rather expensive. they do make basic cost efficient models that will do exactly what your looking for. hook that up and record into garageband, edit a lil, then export back into the mpc. hope this helps. Please let Me know. Good Luck.

Man...

Thank you so much for taking your time to explain everything in details like that to me. It is much appreciated.

I'm sure the volume on my speakers and my MPC are ok. Example: I'm playing my beat from my MPC through my speakers (my speakers are M-Audio BX5 and pluged with 1/4 cables) and the sound is great. After, I record the beat via main out. I replay the re-sampled beat from my MPC through my speakers and it sounds really weak. Even if I normalize it afterwards, it still sounds weak.

In the manual, it says this:

"When the MAIN OUT is selected, you cannot adjust the
recording level When the MAIN OUT is selected, the recording
level is decided by the setting of Master level in the GLOBAL
page of the OTHER mode. The initial setting of the Master level
is –12dB as the output sound will not distort when many samples
are played back simultaneously. If you record one sample through
MAIN OUT with this setting, the recorded sample level is lower
than the original sample level. In this case, if you set the Master
level to 0dB, the recorded sample level is same as the original
sample level."

Somebody once told me to put the db to "0", but of course, the sound distorts. Another one told me to try to put it at -6db. I'll try that.

You said "another way to do that is to buy two 1/4 inch cables. plug both into the stereo outs and the record in on the left and right sides. play your music and that should make it reasonably louder."

- - I'll try that. Thanks.

About DAW: I have GarageBand, Audacity and Digital Performer. (The only program I know how to operate right now is Audacity, though.)

So if I understand correctly, I plug my MPC into my computer (to do that, I'll need some kind of adapter to go from two 1/4 to one 1/8) and record in GarageBand (or Audacity).

But it seems weird to me to record form a digital machine (my MPC) into another digital machine (my computer) via analog cables! I'm sure GarageBand (or Audacity) has some kind of record gain knob, but isn't weird that there's no easier way to hook the MPC into the computer, have an application that reads MPC sequences and songs and export simply into .wavs?

I'm thinking: I'm loosing quality already when I sample records into MPC via analog cables + record gain, and then I'll loose quality again when I'll put the beat on a the computer because I'm redoing the same thing again (record gain, sound card, 1/8 cables, etc.)...

Thanks again! Sorry for the long message!

No problem. That's what the forum is for.
"In the manual, it says this:

"When the MAIN OUT is selected, you cannot adjust the
recording level When the MAIN OUT is selected, the recording
level is decided by the setting of Master level in the GLOBAL
page of the OTHER mode. The initial setting of the Master level
is –12dB as the output sound will not distort when many samples
are played back simultaneously. If you record one sample through
MAIN OUT with this setting, the recorded sample level is lower
than the original sample level. In this case, if you set the Master
level to 0dB, the recorded sample level is same as the original
sample level." "

Sorry for the mishap. I don't use main out often. You could try putting the level at -6, but it prob still won't be as loud as you want it. Also you dont have to buy more cables considering you could use the ones from your speakers and plug in headphones to monitor the resample. Although I always buy more cables. Audacity is a really cool free program. I use that as well. Don't kno much about digital performer. I wouldn't recommend using a 2 quarter in. - 1 eighth in. cable to your computer. It won't do you harm but to get the best quality, you should get an audio interface.

In the world of music and audio, there is so much to be learned. As I was reading your last post I remembered: EQ!!!
EQ is vital in mixing and getting the most out of your audio. The best way to do this is in your mpc go to the mixer and set all your channels down about halfway. when you resample you will have a lot more room to play with boosting your gain. this also helps the overall song from distorting. your tracks will shine. this is the reason you feel you keep losing quality by rerecording. the best way to record into a daw, you should record piece by piece. For example, record track 1 of your mpc to channel/track one in your daw. Rinse and repeat. this helps you further edit and polish your audio. after all the mixing is done, master the song as a whole and make it boom!!! There are plug-ins for this. They are called Maximizers. But remember, if you don't use compression and eq, no matter how much you maximize, your songs will sound terrible. Try the eq at halfway or a lil below in your mixer and tell me how it goes. 99.9% guarantee this will work. If it doesn't, your doing it wrong.
Peace

Thanks again!

"I wouldn't recommend using a 2 quarter in. - 1 eighth in. cable to your computer."

- - But right now, as my "set-up" is... Is it the only way to record my beats to my computer? Meaning: I connect my MPC to my computer using two 1/4 cables from "Stereo Out" of the MPC into the 1/8 "microphone in" of my computer, right? (Using some king of adapter so that those two 1/4 cables can connect to the 1/8 "microphone in" of the computer...)

But again: doesn't it seem weird to record form a digital machine (my MPC) into another digital machine (my computer) via analog cables? You would think that Akai would've developed a computer application that reads sequences, programs, song, etc. so that you can simply export into wav!

"To get the best quality, you should get an audio interface."

- - Some thing like that http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOFTRACKPRO ? If so, I guess I'll have to read about them and buy one! But it still seems analog to me...

"In the world of music and audio, there is so much to be learned."

- - Indeed! A lot of money being spent! Man... I just want to do music and record a decent demo, you know? I've already invested a lot of time and money to research and buy the MPC, etc. Now it seems I have to spend even MORE money to record my stuff! With a full time job, it doesn't leave a lot of time to actually MAKE music!

"Record track 1 of your mpc to channel/track one in your daw. Rinse and repeat. this helps you further edit and polish your audio. after all the mixing is done, master the song as a whole and make it boom!!!"

- - So I guess I have to record into my computer via analog cables, record gain, etc. even if it's from digital to digital... Man... This is so weird to me!

Of course, my soundcard is probably crap, so I'll have to buy another one of those too I guess?

You understand that when I talk about loosing quality, I'm referring to the fact that I sample my records into my MPC in an analog way (via "record in" on the MPC [so by using record gain, I automatically loose a bit of quality]) and after, to put the beat inside the computer, I have to do it the analog way again, using analog cables and record gain of the computer software, such as Audacity or GrageBand, wich seems really crazy thinking that two digital machines are hooked together...

You can use the 1/8 in cable to mic in. It's not a bad thing. you would get a tad bit better sound if you used an audio interface with 2 dedicated inputs. I know this will prob be more money, but from recording from your turntable, you should use a direct box.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Radial-J33- ... 1124781.gc

it is expensive, but it preserves you audio very well. It has top quality preamps. there are other DI boxes, just look at the others on GC's website. you can also use this from going into your computer.

"So I guess I have to record into my computer via analog cables, record gain, etc. even if it's from digital to digital... Man... This is so weird to me! "

I understand what you mean, but with a Interface or a DI box, it will sound a lot better. If you go to guitar center.com, they have basic audio interfaces for around 60-200 dollars. you don't need fancy stuff if you are just transferring your audio.

DON'T FORGET TO EQ!!!!

Alright!

So this is my last question I guess:

"You can use the 1/8 in cable to mic in. It's not a bad thing. you would get a tad bit better sound if you used an audio interface with 2 dedicated inputs. http://www.guitarcenter.com/Radial-J33- ... 1124781.gc it is expensive, but it preserves your audio very well. It has top quality preamps. there are other DI boxes, just look at the others on GC's website. you can also use this from going into your computer."

So if I understand correctly, I buy an audio interface as shown here: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Radial-J33- ... 1124781.gc

Then I plug my MPC into this audio interface. Then, I plug the audio interface into my computer.

Now: how would I do that (connect the audio interface to my computer) if it isn't with an 1/8 cable? My computer has Firewire, USB 2 and a 1/8 microphone in...

Thanks again, again and again!

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Radial-J33- ... 1124781.gc

This is NOT an audio interface. It is a Direct Box. An audio interface is powered usb or firewire. M-Audio makes some decent ones. The direct box helps your audio sound as best as it can. if you wanted to use that to go to your computer without an audio interface, you would use the mic in port on your computer. Remember, the DI box is not an interface. and an interface is not a di box.

Good Luck