Recording MPC Performance to Separate Tracks in Logic 8

Hi All,

Good Karma your way if you can solve this for me

Okay here is what I'm trying to do. I grew up 15 or so years ago using Cubase (on the Atari). I'm also a Video Editor (as a profession). So I am used to creating music and editing video with the bars that go across the screen. Exactly what Logic and Cubase do right?

So in November I decide I want to tackle the MPC 1000. I like it for making beats but the whole sequencing thing is annoying, and I'm so used to making music with the bars across the screen, ie: Cubase and Logic.

So I figure, if I can record the MPC 1000 performance instrument by instrument. track by track in Logic, than I can edit the performance like I used to do before I bought the MPC 1000. Here is what I would like it to look like in Logic.

Track 1 - MPC KICK
Track 2 - MPC Snare
Track 3 - MPC Hi Hat
Track 4 - MPC Sample
Track 5 - Logic Synth Sound
Track 6 - Logic (some other sound)
Track 7 - Vocals
Track 8 - Background vocals.

So there it is. I want to make sure Tracks 1,2,3,4 are recorded as MIDI events that I can edit in the Piano Roll etc, not as an Audio file. The other Tracks would be generated by Logic.

Does that make sense? I know there are people out there doing this, and I'm hoping they will check out this post and help.

OQ

Hey Lampdog,

So you are saying that I can only do 6 tracks with this setup? I'm not sure what you mean, I'm kind of new to the MPC.

I'll give this a go, but if you can clarify a bit that would be aces.

OQ

Orions Quest wrote: I want to make sure Tracks 1,2,3,4 are recorded as MIDI events that I can edit in the Piano Roll etc, not as an Audio file.

you know MIDI does not transfer audio right? sorry if that's patronising, just
lots of cats seems to think they can transfer their beat to their PC using
only MIDI cables.

if you want to record the MIDI data you'll need to have a MIDI out running
from your computer to your MPC on playback, otherwise the only sounds
you'll hear will be the ones generated by Logic.


other than that it seems right --- but you'll probably have to record things
in a few passes, unless you have a decent interface with 6 in-puts.

hope that helps -- not sure if answered your question though!

T_Bias,

Thanks man. I hear what you are saying, and I have done that putting the out of my interface to the in of my MPC.

I have the Presonus Firebox. I actually was able to achieve what I wanted yesterday by fluke, and can't seem to replicate what I did.

Another thing if anyone knows. I have recorded my MPC sounds into logic, but it sounds like the sounds are doubling up. Not sure why that's happening. Like I'll record t eh kick in track 1 than the snare on track 2. But If I were to listen to just track 1, I would also hear the snare from 2 even though its muted. Weird.

Orions Quest wrote:T_Bias,

Thanks man. I hear what you are saying, and I have done that putting the out of my interface to the in of my MPC.

I have the Presonus Firebox. I actually was able to achieve what I wanted yesterday by fluke, and can't seem to replicate what I did.

Another thing if anyone knows. I have recorded my MPC sounds into logic, but it sounds like the sounds are doubling up. Not sure why that's happening. Like I'll record t eh kick in track 1 than the snare on track 2. But If I were to listen to just track 1, I would also hear the snare from 2 even though its muted. Weird.

here's another patronizing question, when you press play and mute one of the tracks, is your mpc still playing? if so, then when pressing play in logic, press stop on the mpc. it sounds like logic is still controlling the mpc at the point when you don't want it to.

Sparq,

Yeah man that's the funny thing. My MPC is not playing when this happens. I heard someone mention "midi looping", but not sure if that applies to me.

I'm actually going to try and setup an environment tonight on logic for my mpc and see if that makes a difference. If not I'll try sequencing through ultrabeat with the MPC as the controller, or even the the Logic sampler.

So many different ways to work, I guess finding the one that's right for me can be a b****

Lots of love yall, thanks a bunch.

OQ

sparq wrote:

Orions Quest wrote:T_Bias,

Thanks man. I hear what you are saying, and I have done that putting the out of my interface to the in of my MPC.

I have the Presonus Firebox. I actually was able to achieve what I wanted yesterday by fluke, and can't seem to replicate what I did.

Another thing if anyone knows. I have recorded my MPC sounds into logic, but it sounds like the sounds are doubling up. Not sure why that's happening. Like I'll record t eh kick in track 1 than the snare on track 2. But If I were to listen to just track 1, I would also hear the snare from 2 even though its muted. Weird.

here's another patronizing question, when you press play and mute one of the tracks, is your mpc still playing? if so, then when pressing play in logic, press stop on the mpc. it sounds like logic is still controlling the mpc at the point when you don't want it to.

OHH SNAP, SPARQ IN THE HOUSE! Sparq is like my tutorial video idol.


BTW this might help.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx5w0BKhphc

Lampdog wrote:Sparq in the hizzouse... been a minute..

fo shizzle....... haha, nah i'm back every now and then. what's good lamp?

Lithion wrote:OHH SNAP, SPARQ IN THE HOUSE! Sparq is like my tutorial video idol.

good lookin Lith

more vids are coming to a youtube near you very soon.

I'd be interested as to know you got on as Ive been wondering the exact same thing and I have the Firebox too...

For those interested, here is what I did.

I have spent many a long night trying to figure this out and I finally have, I think, found the best solution.

There are two ways to do this.

1) Use EXS24 (Logics Sampler)

-Setup your studio so your MPC is acting as the controller only. No need to slave or master. IOW, setup so you've got your MPC triggering logic sounds.
-Create New Instrument in EXS24
-Drag MPC samples/Folder to empty slot on left hand side (after you've created instrument). So, IOW. lets say you created a song on the MPC, and you used lets say 16 sounds all together. Take those 16 sound files and add those as an exs instrument.
-it will ask you how to add your samples. Pick the starting note, and choose continuously.
-now pads 1-16 in Bank A on your MPC should trigger the sounds you just loaded into logic, if you've set your program note trigger on your MPC to start at pad 1 (top left) at B0 (note #), it should play all your 16 sounds chromatically. Voila, your using the sounds in your song now programmed in Logic, and you can bang them away on your MPC and make adjustments in logic. You can then create 16 different EXS instruments in your Arrange Window and have each one be a different sound (ie: kick, snare etc) and do even finer editing. Its a dream....

2) Use EXS24

_ Create a beat on your Mpc using 1 program only. So load up all the sounds you want to use in your song, but make sure it is under only 1 program.
-After your done with your beat, save the new program with samples on your MPC hard drive/memory card.
-Transfer the program folder with sounds you just created to your MAC HD that you use Logic on.
-Now, open up an EXS24 track in your arrange window and arm it to record.
-Press Play Start on your MPC and Record in Logic. You'll notice Midi notes being recorded. Record until your song is done.
-Now open up the EXS24 Instrument, and again Create a new instrument.
-Import the Program Folder from the MPC with all the sounds for that particular song.
-Again, choose starting note, choose continuously and boom bap, your samples are loaded. When you press play in logic it will play back your song with the samples you've imported. Edit until your hearts content.

Dude I've been on a S**tl**d of forums and came up up with these two methods. Trust me, once you set it up, it feels as though you are actually programming in the MPC..It's awesome...

Some things to remember. Make Sure you setup a blank program in your MPC that has the notes starting on PAD1 on top left going chromatically to PAD16. This is important as you want to make sure its mapped correctly once you are in EXS 24. You can do that by hitting Mode/Program/Note, and making your adjustments.

It feels nice to give advice for a change. ALl the best man and let me know how it works out for you!

OQ

Orions Quest wrote:1) Use EXS24 (Logics Sampler)

-Setup your studio so your MPC is acting as the controller only. No need to slave or master. IOW, setup so you've got your MPC triggering logic sounds.
-Create New Instrument in EXS24
-Drag MPC samples/Folder to empty slot on left hand side (after you've created instrument). So, IOW. lets say you created a song on the MPC, and you used lets say 16 sounds all together. Take those 16 sound files and add those as an exs instrument.
-it will ask you how to add your samples. Pick the starting note, and choose continuously.
-now pads 1-16 in Bank A on your MPC should trigger the sounds you just loaded into logic, if you've set your program note trigger on your MPC to start at pad 1 (top left) at B0 (note #), it should play all your 16 sounds chromatically. Voila, your using the sounds in your song now programmed in Logic, and you can bang them away on your MPC and make adjustments in logic. You can then create 16 different EXS instruments in your Arrange Window and have each one be a different sound (ie: kick, snare etc) and do even finer editing. Its a dream....

I am new to mpc's aswell, just about to buy a 1000. but i heard you can't use the mpc as a controller for logic? but i am hoping you are right because that'd be amazing for me. they were talking about the 500, maybe the 1000 is different?

Wow, thats some pretty extensive info! I got slightly confused but Im sure it will work out, so when I get the chance, I'll give it a go.

Thanks.