Share your knowledge on these two classic MPCs
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By Robbinson Tue May 13, 2008 5:02 pm
These are both classic units.
The differ is that the Sp 1200 samples in 8 bit.
While the MPC 60 mods sample in 12 bit.
The higher the bit - the cleaner the sound.
The lower the bit - the grittier the sound.

Etc.
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By 7 1 4 Beats Tue May 13, 2008 5:21 pm
Robbinson wrote:These are both classic units.
The differ is that the Sp 1200 samples in 8 bit.
While the MPC 60 mods sample in 12 bit.
The higher the bit - the cleaner the sound.
The lower the bit - the grittier the sound.

Etc.


You got the 8 Bit wrong! The sample rate was reduced from the SP-12 27,500 Hz to 26,040 Hz, to enable the 384 Kbytes of memory to take 10 seconds of samples. There can be up to 32 user sampled sounds spread over the 8 voices, but no single sample can be longer than one sample bank (2.5 seconds).
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By kneebone77 Wed May 14, 2008 4:25 am
`TK wrote:I heard that the emu rack was 8 bit.


If your talking about the emax, it samples and playsback in 12 bit but only uses 8 bits to store the sample data.
I've got the emax... I decided to go with it over the MPC 60, SP-1200 and S-950 for 12 bit samples because it has variable sampling rates and analog filters. I'm lovin the sound, some say it can sounds similar to the SP's. I don't really know if thats true or not but I think this thing kicks ass in it's own right.
By _Stilo_ Wed May 14, 2008 4:44 pm
kneebone77 wrote:If your talking about the emax, it samples and playsback in 12 bit but only uses 8 bits to store the sample data.

Are you sure? Because that sounds like a dumb thing to do.



Apart from that...everytime I see this thread's title, I see an album title in my mind :D
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By DJBlueDrink Wed May 14, 2008 6:13 pm
I own an emax and he is in fact right about the 12bit sampling and 8 bit storage. Also, the variable sample rate is the key to making that piece sound dirty. At 28khz its close to the sp but not really. The griminess really shines at a rate of 20khz with a sample thats at 45 and been pitched down. Another good thing about it is pretty much anything you sample in it hits like a sledgehammer and the filter is dope.
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By kneebone77 Wed May 14, 2008 6:29 pm
_Stilo_ wrote:Are you sure? Because that sounds like a dumb thing to do.


Hey, I didn't design the thing, I just use it!
But yep, stores sample data in 8-bit...
By _Stilo_ Wed May 14, 2008 7:57 pm
Wow...I mean, sampling in 16 Bit and storing in 12 like the 60 might be okay still...but storing in 8 Bit, I would imagine that loses a lot of sound quality. Ever tried converting a sample to 8 Bit? But I never heard an Emax before either to be honest.
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By kneebone77 Wed May 14, 2008 9:32 pm
^^^

It sounds really good and can sound surprisingly hi-fi when sampled at higher sampling rates.
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By kebzer Thu May 15, 2008 5:04 am
Best of both worlds is the 950. Sample at 16bit, playback at 12. That's why snares and hihats sound better on the AKAI's that the SP. But they're not as grimey for sure. However, that low end on both machines is something made in heaven, period.
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By DJ Supreme Thu May 15, 2008 8:38 pm
I agree with the s950 as best of both worlds, but to say akai sounds better than the emu/sp1200 for snares and hi hats I totally disagree. Maybe when you want a snare to be warm and not to punchy the 950/ but when you need the snare to crack through the mix, its the sp all day.Check DJ evil dee and Mr Walts(The Beatminerz) whole catologe for a reference They have all the gear were talking about but they said in a interview if their sp would break, there career would be over cuz they do all there drums in the sp. :D
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By tbiggz Sun May 18, 2008 11:14 pm
Funny how much strange info gets passed around here.

The 950 and SP are both linear 12-bit. The Emax is non-linear companded 12-bit ... which kind of means 12-bit that gets mp3'ed into 8-bit for memory, and then de-mp3'ed into 12-bit again for playback (the mp3 thing is an analogy).
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By kebzer Tue May 20, 2008 4:01 am
Check the Ensoniq Mirage. :lol:
By firework Thu May 22, 2008 12:16 am
Its all overated bro trust me. If you want a snare/kick to have that sound just cop a emax - chopping these just suck, old/new OS dont matter. its the hard glassy buttons, it was not meant for choping.