How can I mixdown beats to 8 separate tracks?

MPC Wizards!,

I have been using a Boss DR-3 for several years and want to expand my demos into something more studio-quality. I have been having some difficulty articulating what it is I want to do with my new machine so please bear with me!

Here is what I would like to do:

I want to take studio quality samples of actual drums and put them into a sampler/sequencer. I want to create beats for my songs.

I then I want to have the ability to take these beats and mix them down on a standard recording rig as one would mix down real drums, with the kick on track 1, the snare on track 2, tom on track 3, and so on.

I don't want to rely on the MPC for effects so I was hoping to get the more affordable MPC-500. I'm not at all interested in creating beats with software, (I like hitting the pads!) although I wouldn't mind editing the beats in some kind of program.

I hope someone can understand what I'm getting at, I'm not sure if I'm using the right lingo! Please let me know if you've come across a technique that makes this possible with the MPC-500!

Matt Dark

Check out my demos on MoodRingRecords.com if you're curios as to what kind of music I make!

Listen to my favorite band The Kills @ thekills.tv so see what kind of beats I'm going for. The Kills apparently used a vintage MPC-60 on their album "Midnight Boom."

Thanks!

Sounds like you're gonna need a multi-tracker. Nowadays an 8trk recorder is pretty cheap and some come with a cd burner to burn your project right there and then. Another alternative would be software such as Pro-Tools for all your multitracking needs.

Don't waste your time on the 500, go for a 1k w/ jj os.

Lampdog wrote:

Use a daw to record the multi inputs from the multi input audio interface/soundcard (you can route each input to a separate track just as you described.

If you want something portable that you can play beats on get the MPC500. I had one for awhile, but I took it back to get a 1000 with JJOS. If you don't want to spend that kind of money you could get an MPC500, or a SP-404 and make your beats on there.

Unfortunately to track them out you will have to track them out track by track...
For instance... you will have to mute everything and record the snare.... then mute everything and record the kick...
But if they aren't difficult long phrases that are 5 minutes a piece and they are mostly loops this take maybe 30min - 1hr.

Track them out to your computer or DAW and mix them.

Good luck!

Oh also all the studio quality samples can be imported to the MPC via USB from a computer.

i use a 500 and track out all my beats to logic.

i have a firewire 410 that i record into, its an audio interface, check it out.

but i dont use the sequencer in my mpc i use logics and i midi the mp to logic thru my 410. and when im done seqencing my midi notes in the mp i record the audio in from it to a audio track in logic and i do that for however many tracks i have and then at the end ive got a multi tracked beat that i can edit in the computer. hope that clears up everything.

Lampdog wrote:
For example.
Me, I have a 2kxl with 8 out board, I can output 8 mono tracks in my digi001 (8 inputs to computer)
and I can record those 8 tracks into my daw, Vegas. Digi inputs breakout into 8 tracks in Vegas.

If I made 16 tracks inside the mpc, I would just reroute the tracks in the mpc to the 8outs, and make another recording pass into 9-16 track in Vegas.

Easy.

How do the keyboards and turntables come into play. Do all of your devices (including the 8 outs from the mpc) go to a mixer first, then the interface?

digital022 wrote:

Lampdog wrote:
For example.
Me, I have a 2kxl with 8 out board, I can output 8 mono tracks in my digi001 (8 inputs to computer)
and I can record those 8 tracks into my daw, Vegas. Digi inputs breakout into 8 tracks in Vegas.

If I made 16 tracks inside the mpc, I would just reroute the tracks in the mpc to the 8outs, and make another recording pass into 9-16 track in Vegas.

Easy.

How do the keyboards and turntables come into play. Do all of your devices (including the 8 outs from the mpc) go to a mixer first, then the interface?

Some prefer a mixer, others like patchbays or direct input. I go the mixer route...24 channels.

^ Nice. What mixer are you currently using? I'm looking for something with with at least 8 mono channels w/ outputs...any recommendations?

digital022 wrote:^ Nice. What mixer are you currently using? I'm looking for something with with at least 8 mono channels w/ outputs...any recommendations?

I'm using a mackie clone. It's a behringer mx8000, the same as a mackie 24.8 mixer. I always suggest getting a mixer that's bigger than your needs, that way you can grow into it as your needs expand.