MPC Rig Signal Flow http://www.tweakheadz.com/signal_flow_3.

htm

Guitar | Bass | Keyboard | Microphones | Mixers | Audio Interfaces | Monitors | Sequencers | Soft Synths | Live Sound | Drums | Club | Accessories | Blowouts

condenser
Gear Search!

Guide | Rigs | Forums | Reviews | Bookstore | Jukebox | Blogs | Search | Mobile

Tweak's
Guide The Signal Flow of a
to
Recording Recording Studio
Success
page 1 2 3

Introduction The Basic MPC "Hip Hop" Studio

For Noobs
MIDI Basics
Audio Basics
Studio Rigs
Studio Pics
Past Studios
Signal Flow
System Guide
Mac vs. PC
Audio Interfaces
Latency
Install Issues
Buy Gear
Writing Music
Inspiration
Recorders
Keyboards
Controllers
CC Events
MIDI Routing
Mixers
Understanding
your Mixer
Digital Mixers
Analog Mixers
Mixer Hookup
Control Surface
Microphones
Mic Preamps
Converters
Monitors
MIDI Modules
Effects
Sequencers
VST, AU, RTAS
Soft Samplers
Soft Synths
Audio Plugins
Synth Prg Tips
MIDI to Audio
Cables
Impedance

1 of 6 11/23/10 3:35 AM
MPC Rig Signal Flow http://www.tweakheadz.com/signal_flow_3.htm

Patchbays
Studio Setup
Room Acoustics
War on Hum
Quiet Room
Dual Monitors
DJ studio
Networking
16 vs 24 bit
Word Clock
Timecode
Build a DAW
Tracking
Record Vocal
Session Tips
Vocal Editing
AutoTune etc
Using EQ
Harmonizers
Guitar Tracks
Guitar Tone
Drum Tips
Drum Patterns
Hip Hop Beats
Cymbals
Sampling
Samplers
Compressors
Pan, Vol, FX
Mixing 101 Ok! Lets be clear that there must be at least 10 ways to design an MPC 1000 studio. And at least 50
Mix Methods different ways to make a hip hop studio. You don't need an MPC to do hip hop music. But this article is
Mastering focusing specifically on the MPC, because it is a different type of recorder than is the multi track recorder or
computer based recorder. This is a simple setup, with the main purpose being recording and assembling a
Field Recorders
song. Notice no computer is required and there are no external paths for digital audio.
Archiving Songs
Make Money Yet the MPC is digital on the inside. All those analog sources coming from your
Sound Dev Tips Mic, preamp, turntable and CD player are digitized as samples as they are
Studio Social recorded in the MPC. These samples are triggered by MIDI notes, which occur by
Surround
Manners "Who be da pressing a Pad on the MPC or by pressing a key on the connected keyboard.
Audio for Film
Producah" Inside the MPC is a MIDI and Audio sequencer. The song is "assembled" by
Podcasting moving bits and blocks of MIDI data which trigger the samples. While that is what
Publishing (Producah is pronounced is happening underneath, for the user, the experience is one of tapping on the
PRO-DOOSE-SAH)
Congratulations! pads and the keys after hitting the record button.
Final Exam Teaching hip hop class to The chart above is based on the common MPC 1000, which only has 2 analog line
teenagers as I do, I have inputs and no mic preamps. Because of this I show how to use a DJ mixer to
Reviews witnessed the legitimate role add the analog inputs for a turntable and CD player as well as a common mic
Forums of the producah. While stereo mic preamp. The Mic preamp not only lets you connect microphones, but
many people dismiss this guitars, basses and other gear that has instrument level outputs.
role as ridiculous, (a "False
JukeBox
Producer" I am here to tell Newer MPCs have digital i/o and USB connections. These are excellent for
Guitar Gallery you it is not. If there is no connecting to a computer for storage and for bringing samples into the MPC from
one in charge I can sample libraries. The older MPCs use SCSI connections to proprietary Akai CD
Store Links
guarantee you the session is Roms. Don't go there, its a mistake unless you want to work they way we did in
at high risk for failure. For 1997!
Recording
every hip hop session there
must be a producah and The newest MPC 5000 has not only a sampler but also has an onboard soft synth.
Multitrack
they have the following MPC5000 is the first MPC ever to include 8-track streaming hard disk recording, a
Recorders
functions: 20-voice synthesizer with arpeggiator, a 100,000 note sequencing engine with 960
Microphones
ppq resolution, pad and track muting and mixing, 64 continuous sample tracks.
Mixers
1. They decide who is There's even a new FX engine with 4 FX buses and 2FX per bus.
Signal
supposed to show up, make
Processors
arrangements ahead of
Monitors
Accessories

2 of 6 11/23/10 3:35 AM
MPC Rig Signal Flow http://www.tweakheadz.com/signal_flow_3.htm

Studio Racks

time. They set the time for

Computer the session.
Music
2. They decide who lays
Audio Interfaces down the beat, who is the
PCI main rapper, who is the
USB guest, and exactly what the
Firewire others are supposed to do.
Computers
Software 3. While they can accept
Sequencers input from others, they get
Soft Synths/ to make the decision. If
Samplers beatmaker does not show
Plugins and FX (common), the producah
MIDI Interfaces accepts input on who should
Control make the beat.
Surfaces
If push comes to shove, the
DSP Cards
producah must have the
Keyboards power to win all disputes.
This is best done by being Notes
Keyboard the studio owner, because if
Synths you shut it down, what are One way to same money on this rig is to get a DJ Mixer that has mic preamps
Samplers they gonna do? Its just as onboard. However, there is a thing you have to watch out for. Some DJ mixers
Keyboard important for the producah have hi impedance mic preamps (look like guitar inputs). These will NOT work
Accessories to know how to use a with your professional mix with XLR jacks. Also DJ mixers might not have
MIDI Modules sequencer. phantom power. That means you can't use a condenser mic. So be real careful on
Groove Boxes the DJ mixer. Two mixers that might be good for using dynamic mics, like the
Sounds Shure sm57, 58, might be the Allen &Heath Xone 2 and Xone 32
Keyboard
Controllers
Keyboard Amps
Expansion
Boards

Guitars, Amps,
and Effects
The Software MPC--
Electric Guitars
Guitar Effects You can mimic the MPC studio with a computer and software rather easily. A
Guitar Amps good sequencer like Sonar, Logic, Live or Cubase or Pro Tools Le outfitted with a
Acoustic Guitars drum type soft sampler like Motu's BPM and a few analog soft synths, an Akai
Accessories MPD controller along with the standard audio interface with preamps, mics, and
Classical Guitars cables and you pretty much have it.
Folk

Drums Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) BPM Beat Akai MPD18 Compact Pad Controller
Production Software
Electronic
BPM unites drum machine-style operation with advanced virtual The MPD18 is the easiest way to add genuine MPC pads to
Acoustic instrument technology to give you the ultimate rhythm your setup. This MIDI-over-USB pad controller for DJs,
Drum Machines programming experience. Combine drum kits, sequenced programmers, producers, and other musicians is built around
patterns, sliced loops and instrument sounds to realize your the pads and controls from Akai Professional's industry-
Drum Hardware
rhythmic vision, mixing and matching any playing style with standard MPC series. The MPD18 is an expressive and intuitive
Cymbals any drum kit. Or plug in your pad controller or MIDI keyboard instrument for the studio and stage. The MPD18 is built
Accessories to capture your live, groove-quantized performance directly in around the pads of the industry-standard MPC and contains
BPM. some of the same technology that gives tracks made with the
Other Drums MPC an unmistakably human feel.

Accessories

Cables
Bass Guitars,
Live Sound/PA
DJ

3 of 6 11/23/10 3:35 AM
MPC Rig Signal Flow http://www.tweakheadz.com/signal_flow_3.htm

Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini USB Audio Studio Projects B1 Large Diaphragm

Interface (Macintosh and Windows)
Meet Mbox 2 Mini the worlds smallest, most affordable Pro
Tools LE recording, editing, and mixing system ever. Whether
youre a singer/songwriter whos new to recording or a
seasoned pro on the go, Mbox 2 Mini packs professional
features into a robust, ultra compact, easy-to-use audio
workstation to record and mix music wherever your
inspiration takes you. And with its diminutive size, Mbox 2
Mini literally puts the power of Pro Tools in the palm of your
hand. Tweak: Comes with pro Tools Le (sequencer)
Condenser Microphone
The Studio Projects B1 condenser microphone is a large
diaphragm cardioid microphone in a
pressure-gradient transducer employing
high quality transformerless design and
extremely low noise. It will enhance any
professional or project studio application
at an unbelievable low price. As a result
of uncompromising dedication and
today's advanced production abilities,
Studio Projects has broken the barrier of
quality vs price for today's recording
studio environment.

ADVANCED ONLY: Syncing an MPC's sequencer to a computer based sequencer.

This is not as simple as it sounds. I really don't recommend it for a newbie. There is much confusion over
the word "sync" thanks to some ill informed people with MPCs. What sync does is allow BOTH sequencers
to run together and lets each sequencer's transport buttons control the other. To do this there is one sync
master and one MMC master (MIDI machine control ). Whichever is the synchronization master is the MMC
slave. Note only the MPC 2500 and 5000 have (as of this writing 1/2010) MMC and sync by MTC. (Always
remember, all MPCs are not created equal!) The MPC1000 uses MIDI sync which cannot synchronize both
transports. (Only the master transport will work but the slave will still follow). However, even with MIDI
sync you can have the MPC's sequencer follow the Computer sequencer.

Connections:

Computer MIDI Out to MPC Midi In

MPC MIDI Out to Computer MIDI IN

You also need to get audio to the speakers from both the audio interface and the MPC. The easiest way is
to set up an Aux channel in the sequencer that takes the audio arriving ar the audio interface line inputs
and routes it to the Main outs. You might also have to setup a track in the sequencer that defines this audio
bus.

4 of 6 11/23/10 3:35 AM
MPC Rig Signal Flow http://www.tweakheadz.com/signal_flow_3.htm

By the way, this is the same way you hook up a the sequencer in a keyboard workstation to an computer
sequencer.

USING an MPC as a Controller, Sound Module and Sampler in a computer based rig

But note that you don't have to sync the 2 sequencers by MIDI to get your MPC working. You can still use
the MPC as a controller, sampler and midi module. This is what most newbies should do. It works
great. Your sequencer will trigger samples on the MPC and the MPC will play them with no latency. That is
probably what our mis-informed user thinks "sync" is. I don't blame them though. This is a confusing
area.

Connections:

MPC main outs to audio interface line inputs

Computer MIDI Out to MPC Midi In

As above you have to setup a bus to route the MPC audio through the audio interface. You can also use a
mixer if you cannot afford to use the audio interface's line inputs. Here both the MPC and the Audio
interface feed the mixer and the mixer feeds the speakers. Here the pads will trigger soft synths in the
sequencer, your sequencer will trigger samples in the MPC which can either pass through the sequencer or
be recorded onto tracks. See, its all a matter of signal flow and being able to follow the signal.

Read this thread for more on MPC/MTC/MMC synchronization

Here is another helpful link

Go to the Next Page

5 of 6 11/23/10 3:35 AM
MPC Rig Signal Flow http://www.tweakheadz.com/signal_flow_3.htm

Back to the Previous Page

Tweak's Articles on Essential Studio Concepts

Hooking Up Audio
MIDI Basics
The Many Functions of MIDI Data
The Audio Interface
Signal Flow Computer-based Studio
Signal Flow of an MPC Hip Hop Studio
Signal Flow of a MultiTrack Studio
Assembling Your Studio Rig
Studio setup in a Nutshell
5 Hot Tips
Building a Quiet Room
Understanding MIDI Interfaces
The War on Hum
Multiple Video Displays
Latency and how to Deal
Word Clock
TimeCode
Everything About Cables
Digital Audio Converters
Bit Depth and Sample Rate
Studio Monitors
Impedance for Musicicans
How to setup a Patchbay
Room Acoustics Basics
Studio Monitors Price List
Acoustic Products
Catalog of MIDI Interfaces

TweakHeadz Lab | Studio-Central | Audio-Pro-Central | Master INDEX | Store Affiliations | Site Map | Support the Lab | Privacy Policy | ©2010 TweakHeadz.com

6 of 6 11/23/10 3:35 AM