MPC5000 reviews, bug reports and fellow user support on the most recent standalone, hardware MPC from Akai
By Cat3 Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:16 am
hi,

since I use the mpc as a all-in-one box, I was wondering if exporting the mixdown of my songs with the "HD RECORD - SAVE AS MIXDOWN FILE" gives to the file the same "mpc sound" that I hear from my main outs.... (or the only way to get "that" sound is recording my mpc outs?) since I don't have top notch AD converters I thought exporting could be a solution!

anyone did the test?

thx,
cat3
By dreadnutz Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:00 am
when you mixdown you song you miss the d/a process.

this means when you record something with your mpc you only have the a/d converters in use. and when you load files (w/o recording) and mixdown these files you shouldnt hear any soundcolouring (a/d + d/a converting), so your files are exactly the same as these you have loaded. alternative is to use the digi outs, should sound the same.

when you really want your mpc sound (the same as your analog outs) you have to record it analog from jack to jack (xlr).

hope it helps.

btw: the 5k has really great converters, it sounds so smooth and warm, love it!!! :D
for me its the best sounding mpc (next to the 60, but this is another story cause its 12bit)

i dont use my digital outputs for that reason and go analog in my apogee card.
By Cat3 Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:41 am
hey dreadnutz,

many thanks for your explanation! I also love the sound of the 5000... I love it so much that I have connected the main outs directly to my adam monitors... the sound is astonishing!

and as a new user I take the opportunity to confirm to anyone wants to buy an mpc that the same samples sound way better from a 5000 than from a soft sampler... I was really doubtful about this until hearing it with my ears... I believe that people in this forum stating that the sound of an mpc and of a softsampler is the same haven't really never made the comparison. at least with a 5000... or at least with mine.... :lol:

however, do I have to record it through a preamp or the result is pretty good also recording directly to my apogee? in the first case, did you find a preamp / DI that suits particularly well to the mpc sound?

please asvise!
By dreadnutz Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:44 am
you dont need a preamp, the mpcs line out has enough level (as most outboard gear: samplers, synths, workstations etc.)

preamps are neccesary for mics etc... go with a jack cable from the analogouts straight to the jack inserts from your audiocard.
if the level is too low change the masterout db settings (from -24db to 0 db)
i am not in front of the mpc but i think i am right. should be anywhere in the global settings.

and if this isn't enough buy a cheap 2nd hand mixer , fe. mackie (they have nice preamps for your budget)... for mpcs IMHO you dont need expensive preamps.