Tutorial: Using Logic Pro 8 With Your MPC4000

itslikezacanduh wrote:Thanks OP! But I have a question... or ten.

Since I'm a noob when it comes to 'Syncing' the MPC to a DAW, I'll try not to embarrass myself too much here.

What's the benefit of doing this over, say, tracking out a beat with each instrument in audio format (not midi) in its sequence to Logic and just syncing time?

I know having the midi notes there is convenient, but what about adding/adjusting effects, levels, mastering, compressing and all that good stuff? Can you add all that good **** to the midi notes? I wouldn't think you'd be able to since those aren't audio at all... but I definitely can be wrong because like I said, I'm pretty noobish when it comes to this.

I guess the root of the question would be: why would I do this over tracking out the audio?

Thanks again!

Just giving some of my input on this..
The biggest benifit for me is to have total control over your seq's data in a visual DAW layout... Like Haze said you would be able to shift parts very easy..
About the MIDI and adding Dynamics & efxs
Your DAW i.e Logic, PT, Cubase etc.. will into a sound mod and midi multitrack recorder..
Logic comes with loads of instruments and plug ins effects.. These effects can be added in real time with Logic as a sound mod.. experiment.. you wont look at your MPC the same way...

Valid question

There are many advantages to the method described in the original post here are a few.

1. Many people do not have eight outputs to work with so the whole process of tracking out can become quite tedious and error inducing. Audio does not need to tracked out using this method so all MPC users can benefit from it.

2. Many people also have problems trying to synchronise the MPC to their software, which again can hamper the process of tracking out the beats. Synchronisation is not required for this to work successfully.


3. You do not need to load any samples into the memory of your MPC, so some older MPC users can put away the zip/ floppy/ SCSI or whatever and just use/ load samples in Logic using the EXS24 sampler or other sampler plug-in such as Kontakt or Battery.

4. You have a much bigger screen to work with whilst manipulating your samples, not to mention a better choice of effects and other options not available on the MPC.


5. By recording the midi output in Logic rather than tracking out audio, you now have the luxury of changing the voicing of any part instantly by simply changing the instrument or preset on a given channel. You also retain the abilty to edit notes, change tempo, copy and paste parts and many other benefits associated with midi programming. You can achieve these thing with audio. But it involves an awful lot more work


To answer your other query, you can add all that ‘good shit’ to the midi notes. You can audition a multitude of effects within Logic whilst the beat is still in midi form using the inserts and sends of the Logic mixer. It is the audio output of your instrument that are affected, not the midi. It is normal practice to convert your midi tracks to audio dry (no FX) and then mix the track from its audio files for the best sound quality. You can do a mixdown direct from midi notes if you want to but I wouldn’t advise it. Once you have a good stereo mix recorded, mastering can be carried out on the two track stereo Wav file.



Hope this helps, if in doubt just try it !

itslikezacanduh wrote:Thanks OP! But I have a question... or ten.

Since I'm a noob when it comes to 'Syncing' the MPC to a DAW, I'll try not to embarrass myself too much here.

What's the benefit of doing this over, say, tracking out a beat with each instrument in audio format (not midi) in its sequence to Logic and just syncing time?

I know having the midi notes there is convenient, but what about adding/adjusting effects, levels, mastering, compressing and all that good stuff? Can you add all that good **** to the midi notes? I wouldn't think you'd be able to since those aren't audio at all... but I definitely can be wrong because like I said, I'm pretty noobish when it comes to this.

I guess the root of the question would be: why would I do this over tracking out the audio?

Thanks again!

Yes this is noobie for sure. But it is simple you can use and control software instruments to produce audio. If you even have Logic Pro or Logic Studio just setup a software instrument on a audio instrument track and see what happens.

Please read here: http://www.tweakheadz.com/software_samplers.htm

Nice highlight Clint

This is the most efficient & practicle means to utilizing the hidden gems in the 4k (DAW+4k).

I use kontakt 3 hosted with Nuendo 3, but this method I don't think I've tried yet.

Thanks Clint.

I get what you're saying now. I'll give it a try, but I'm so wrapped up in my current workflow and how I'm getting things done that I'm skeptical of change... I owned an mpd24 prior to my MPC so this indeed was one of the selling points for trading up (still being able to program midi).

As for the soft samplers, Blue Haze, thanks for the link -- I bookmarked it. I use a few soft synths and samplers (Kontakt, Arturia Mini Moog/Moog Modular) but I was mainly asking why I'd do midi over actual audio. Indeed it will be helpful for advanced arrangements.

Thanks all.

I put in a request for some of these threads about using the MPC with the various leading software DAW's to be stickied or better still get a section of their own on the forum.

Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase and Reason are probably the most common DAW's used by the MPC fraternity and certainly warrant at least a sticky if not an exclusive section.

As it stands 'Studio Environments' only has one sticky (Pics of your cribs) and 'Production Techniques' only has one too (and that is dedicated to the Subtractor for some reason (couldnt resist the pun!).

The lack of a MPC + DAW section is an obvious oversight in my view, but hopefully it will be implemented soon (Tutor?)

clint246clint wrote:I put in a request for some of these threads about using the MPC with the various leading software DAW's to be stickied or better still get a section of their own on the forum.

Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase and Reason are probably the most common DAW's used by the MPC fraternity and certainly warrant at least a sticky if not an exclusive section.

As it stands 'Studio Environments' only has one sticky (Pics of your cribs) and 'Production Techniques' only has one too (and that is dedicated to the Subtractor for some reason (couldnt resist the pun!).

The lack of a MPC + DAW section is an obvious oversight in my view, but hopefully it will be implemented soon (Tutor?)

I second that a NEW section dedicated MPC + DAW would be a great FORUM for all. MPC Tutor san how about it???

itslikezacanduh wrote:Thanks Clint.

I get what you're saying now. I'll give it a try, but I'm so wrapped up in my current workflow and how I'm getting things done that I'm skeptical of change... I owned an mpd24 prior to my MPC so this indeed was one of the selling points for trading up (still being able to program midi).

As for the soft samplers, Blue Haze, thanks for the link -- I bookmarked it. I use a few soft synths and samplers (Kontakt, Arturia Mini Moog/Moog Modular) but I was mainly asking why I'd do midi over actual audio. Indeed it will be helpful for advanced arrangements.

Thanks all.

It is cool just remember the MPC = midi production center so as a sequencer it is outstanding to use along with any sound module no need to just use the internal sampler with so many soft synths and samplers with a far superior libraries and functions built in plus I got the mpc 5k beat with battery 3 and I save a gang of money along with Ultrabeat that I love as my drum synth.

As Clint has already stated before with midi programming and midi tracks you got a hell of alot more control with editing, sounds, and effecting even the midi with groove templates and the whole nine. The my own mpc 4k pads and sequencer just make track making simplified for me tracking and the respond it great than my own MPD24 too.

For me at least I already had Live, Logic and a couple of other software with my main DAW so I just got wise and switch to programming with the soft synths and samplers with the mpc. No need to click a mouse and believe it or not most pros use it too as I realize from Busta`s "Technomatic" or some what sequence when I came across the sounds.

Actually with the 60 or 3k many can still sequence midi tracks into Logic instruments to program and play no need to get the latest greatest mpc. If I had known what I know now I would had just stayed with my mpc 2xl and no 4k. But regardless I still learn alot with my 4k as far as keygroups and layering so it was a good primer at least for sound designing traditional samplers and synths for me.

Anyways to tell the truth it is all an different paradigm to directly record audio tracks into a DAW from a hardware drum sampler just like a full band cuz I don`t need too. I can record vocals, live bass, guitar and whatnot by audio inputs into the DAW if I needed too. See before I used to work with just a hardware sampler programming my bass, piano, and guitar from samples and synths using my MPC pads as controller and mpc sequencer as the recorder hence all MIDI. Inside the DAW I have more options for arranging, layering, effecting and mixing than an just my MPC options.

Give it a try and like Clint and others said to see for yourself.


Lets have a forum for dedicated MPC + DAW users.

hey there,
i have Logic pro 7.1 and still cant figure this out. First off i dont have an electronic template. also i cant seem to locate inspector. I really want to figure out your method though. it seems alot better than tracking out each track.

im using a firepod right now so i can do 8 simultaneous, but still i cant get that boost. my drums are always so low. is that from tracking or from the sounds im using on my MPC? should i layer more?

any help will be greatly appreciated.

LEVON wrote:hey there,
i have Logic pro 7.1 and still cant figure this out. First off i dont have an electronic template. also i cant seem to locate inspector. I really want to figure out your method though. it seems alot better than tracking out each track.

im using a firepod right now so i can do 8 simultaneous, but still i cant get that boost. my drums are always so low. is that from tracking or from the sounds im using on my MPC? should i layer more?

any help will be greatly appreciated.

I dont have LOGIC 7 and despise using it since Im so familiar with 8 now, but in theory its the same. Grab some other genere template. Think that inspector on the old one is to the left? Most DAWS have the configuration for the tracks to the left.. the inputs and outputs for either Audio or MIDI.. and channel selection.
Follow Clints walk thru in setting up your MPC.. record enable all your midi tracks on Logic and see what happens..

About the 8 outputs and the low levels.. It could be a combination of the two.. but Ive never tracked out using 8.. so really I dont know..

Blue Haze wrote:Lets have a forum for dedicated MPC + DAW users.

There should be one or at least a sticky within production techniques... this is a key feature lots of people dont realize they have , a MIDI production center..

LEVON wrote:hey there,
i have Logic pro 7.1 and still cant figure this out. First off i dont have an electronic template. also i cant seem to locate inspector. I really want to figure out your method though. it seems alot better than tracking out each track.

im using a firepod right now so i can do 8 simultaneous, but still i cant get that boost. my drums are always so low. is that from tracking or from the sounds im using on my MPC? should i layer more?

any help will be greatly appreciated.

I have Logic pro on my desktop Mac G4 and Logic Studio on my Mac Duo laptop intel. Now both programs are essentially the same but Logic Studio has a few more enhancements and shortcuts have logic pro 7.

For example the inspector on logic pro 7 just has the channel strip for the currently selected track no aux or output channel displayed next to it like Logic studio. That is ok just do it the old way and set it up in track mixer page F2 or apple+2 on your keyboard.

Logic pro 7 preset templates are in your user>temple folders but I always use autoload for my own custom made template.

As for as your sound card it is important to have either preamps built into the sound cards (I have a little digi002 with 4 preamps) or if you are using your mpc only use the stereo outs and your volume knobs to get it up. Or invest in some great preamps but that is an extra investment on your part. Check with Rickrock and others on great ones to buy.


HOWEVER the point of this thread please REREAD IT AGAIN!!!! You can use your software instruments as your sampler, and synths controlled by your mpc so making tracking in audio from your MPC moot!!!!!!

To get the lowdown on Logic check this site too.


http://www.logicprohelp.com/viewforum.p ... 1bc04885a4

http://www.macprovideo.com/browse/logic

ok ill take all that info and see what i come up with.

really, thanks alot guys. i think this is the most supportive forum ive been to. well, compared to tweakheadsz and logic pro help. dont want to dis just comparing from personal experience.


thanks again!!

OK Clint here's the question so everybody can see and thanks for the info. Ok i have followed the previous steps in using the Mpc and logic and it works just fine. my midi controller is a motif xs6 and what i wanted to know is? is there a way to make the motif sounds appear on the midi channels of the mpc through logic's ability to allow external midi instruments. I have tried it the other way but that would be tracking audio and also even though i tried to used the other 16 channels on the mpc it plays the sounds in the keyboard at the same time.I have used it in the external midi in the logic and i know i have to turn the internals sounds of so logic can trigger them but im just not sure if it allows you to put it on one of the 16 channels im using for logic i know this is possible in logic but is it also possible with the mpc controling the instruments in the arrange window that clint has showed us. so i am basically tring to make the motif one or some of logic instruments that way i can edit the moitf midi rather than audio i hope you guys can help. ANd also wanted to know if anyone knew how to put samples into the exs 24 instrument and how to use the apple loops utilty. I use to use recycle and acid pro 6 to do this but now i dont so more help or a section of input on that would ne helpful too thank you all and thanks Clint if its unclear what im trying to do i will try to explain it better but i think this should do it. oh by the way my equipment is an mpc 2000xl and clints methods work just fine a motif xs 6 and power mac g5 with 3 gigs of rams oh does anybody use virtual pc on a g5 and should i get more ram would i be able to tell a difference i am having some issues triggering the surround instruments in logic would this help if i axed it out it can take up to 8gigs of ram ok im not asking anymore questions im lying but thanks again man i love this post.

duanereed wrote:OK Clint here's the question so everybody can see and thanks for the info. Ok i have followed the previous steps in using the Mpc and logic and it works just fine. my midi controller is a motif xs6 and what i wanted to know is? is there a way to make the motif sounds appear on the midi channels of the mpc through logic's ability to allow external midi instruments. I have tried it the other way but that would be tracking audio and also even though i tried to used the other 16 channels on the mpc it plays the sounds in the keyboard at the same time.I have used it in the external midi in the logic and i know i have to turn the internals sounds of so logic can trigger them but im just not sure if it allows you to put it on one of the 16 channels im using for logic i know this is possible in logic but is it also possible with the mpc controling the instruments in the arrange window that clint has showed us. so i am basically tring to make the motif one or some of logic instruments that way i can edit the moitf midi rather than audio i hope you guys can help. ANd also wanted to know if anyone knew how to put samples into the exs 24 instrument and how to use the apple loops utilty. I use to use recycle and acid pro 6 to do this but now i dont so more help or a section of input on that would ne helpful too thank you all and thanks Clint if its unclear what im trying to do i will try to explain it better but i think this should do it. oh by the way my equipment is an mpc 2000xl and clints methods work just fine a motif xs 6 and power mac g5 with 3 gigs of rams oh does anybody use virtual pc on a g5 and should i get more ram would i be able to tell a difference i am having some issues triggering the surround instruments in logic would this help if i axed it out it can take up to 8gigs of ram ok im not asking anymore questions im lying but thanks again man i love this post.

Basically connect just your midi out of your motif to the midi in of your mpc so that all your midi notes go through your mpc first and then to logic.


I suggest you check out or for videos on http://www.macprovideo.com/tutorial/Logic8101 and or go to http://www.grooveboxmusic.com/store/tra ... -training/ they are great and break out the software instruments manual on using the exs24 sampler. Remember it is just a sample player so you have to either record and chop in logic`s audio tracks or use a audio editor of some sort. I use bias Peak. I use a lowly Mac G4 with 2GB of ram so get as much ram as you can.


P.S. if you wanted to send midi from logic to your motif turn the local off switch in your motif to off and make sure that your motif has its own port like midi output b from your soundcard going into your motif midi input.

For an more elaboratee step by step setup Clint or others will give info on that. But this is just some intial basic steps I covered. The Macprovideo gives alot of informative details on Logic DAW itself which I think every logic user will find userful and the Groovebox`s site is very deep in the useage of exs24 sampler.