By
Clint
Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:58 pm
Most people use a DAW such as Pro Tools, Cubase or Logic as part of their set-up when using an MPC. While it is technically possible to produce a complete song using the MPC alone, this is not the prefered option for a number of reasons.
Some of the more obvious reasons:
1. The ability to use plug-in effects and instruments during the programming and mixdown stages. The MPC's onboard effects are average at best and quite limited compared to modern day software plug-ins.
2. The ability to see, edit and manipulate waveforms/ samples easier on your larger computer monitor.
3. Some people prefer to arrange their songs in software and benefit from added flexibility.
4. Most people prefer to record vocals and acoustic instruments direct to their DAW of choice using maybe a pre-amp and compressor along the signal-chain to get a better quality recording.
5. Saving and keeping beats on the MPC can be troublesome trying to keep everything organised. Track out to your DAW as soon as possible to be sure of keeping everything together in one place.
6. Distribution. How you gonna share the beat if it in the MPC? Yeah you can burn a CD but you gonna do that each time you make an edit? Once your beat is in software share it with artists and collaborators quickly and easily with an MP3 export.
7. The MPC sequencer is its best asset. So make the 'skeleton' of the track on the MPC and track this out to your DAW. Then use your soft-synths to fill out the track rather than messing with keygroup programs all the time.
In essence we use the DAW as a multi-track recorder and the MPC as an 'instrument' like any other. Each instrument will be recorded to the multi-track prior to mixdown. In days gone by studios recorded to multi-track analogue tape recorders with maybe 16 or 24 tracks available, but it was time consuming and costly making lots of edits and overdubs on tape. So now we use our computers for the task which explains why every man and his dog has a 'studio' at home now.
If you do get an MPC you'll probably need a DAW at some point. Remember that Reason is regarded more as a scratchpad or sound-module than a full blown DAW as it CANNOT RECORD AUDIO.
Pro Tools is what you'd expect to find in the best studios money can buy, but that is the HD version not the LE version seen in most beat-making videos. They may look similar, but the HD version relies upon very expensive hardware and DSP cards to achieve professional results. In reality Pro Tools LE isnt that useful unless you (or your clients) use the HD version and want a portable, transferable option. You cant go wrong with Cubase or Logic but there are other choices that suit producers depending on the style of music they normally create.
MeSoHordey wrote:Unfortunately for you, both Clint and Lamp are right..
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