Adding a mic pre / A-D converter to MPC1000?

SecretAgent · 3rd December 2007

First post,

I'm trying to keep it simple by using an MPC1000 for all sampling / arranging etc.

Currently sampling from vinyl into the 'record in' jacks, no problems there.

My problem being I want to track bass, keys and synth via my Avalon U5 and sample a speaker cab with a mic. The MPC does not have enough line inputs to accommodate the U5 at line level and has no mic inputs.

My idea is to use the s/pdif on the back of the MPC. So i am looking for a mono or dual mono mic pre / channel strip with s/pdif out capability OR a mic pre and separate A-D converter.

Now i've done alot of searching forums and found nothing on doing this with an MPC so your input would be appreciated.

So...can i do this and what gear do you suggest i look at?

Edit.

Signal path I am talking about is;

Instrument / Mic > Mic Pre > AD ( SPDIF out )> MPC (SPDIF in).

Rapslow · 3rd December 2007

mpc1000 has the crapiest AD converter imo
if you have any other sampling device, try A/B test recording vinyl
you will know what im talkin about (you lose a LOT of bass)
i love its DA converter though its clean and transparent
also normally its not good to use the spidif out of the mpc because you lose that punchy sound (especially for hiphop) but its just my opinion

do you have an audio interface?
if you don't u should get that first

SecretAgent · 4th December 2007

Thanks for your thoughts Rapslow.

So you are saying get an interface with SP/ DIF out and connect that to the MPC's SP/ DIF in, upgrading the AD and offering the extra inputs. Good idea!

From what I understand the converter/interface has to dither to 16 bit otherwise you get increased noise floor! Any interfaces you know that do this??

The only gear I have seen that do this are apogee ADs = Overkill or worth looking at second hand???!!!

SecretAgent · 5th December 2007

Anyone else got master plans??

As it stands i'm thinking separate mic pre / AD

Looking at second hand Apogee AD500 and the old Rosetta 44.1 48 AD wise.
Not sure on pre at all!

Help me out

cynic one · 5th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretAgent

Anyone else got master plans??

As it stands i'm thinking separate mic pre / AD

Looking at second hand Apogee AD500 and the old Rosetta 44.1 48 AD wise.
Not sure on pre at all!

Help me out

i have a mpc1k....right now i run it through a sebatron vmp2000e, or a langevin dvc.

BUT i am looking into that api a2d. you might want to do the same. that looks like a nice piece of kit. mic pre / DI, and AD in one................

i know shane fontane is using that setup - and his shit sounds nice and clean.

SecretAgent · 5th December 2007

Thanks Cynic

The API has got it all. Very nice. Big price but looks like a gear for life purchase and would let me get on with creating!

Will look at pre-owned A2D's

Anything that I could compare the A2D with? NO more cash than the API though!

SecretAgent · 5th December 2007

Tried looking through the API A2D manual on their site but no mention of the A2D dithering to 16bit through the SP / DIF. This is important as far as I know for what I need!

Anyone know this... maybe API Sez could chime in and answer this one ?

SecretAgent · 6th December 2007

Would still appreciate some more of that gearslut brain candy!

Any more suggestions people?

ninjasoards · 7th December 2007

Why don't u just record into that and then export to .wav files? Then import those into the 1k.

SecretAgent · 10th December 2007

No DAW and no interface. Just the MPC. I want to make the most of the 1k.

The Marrvel · 10th December 2007

Call API and ask about the 16 bit dithering. With JJOS, plus 128mb ram and a harddrive, the MPC 1000 could serve as a nice little multitrack recorder.

SecretAgent · 11th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Marrvel

Call API and ask about the 16 bit dithering. With JJOS, plus 128mb ram and a harddrive, the MPC 1000 could serve as a nice little multitrack recorder.

Thanks The Marrvel

I have already upgraded the MP as you mentioned (loving JJOS!) and will call API as you suggest.

tengu · 11th December 2007

An MPC will only act as master in terms of clocking.

The API will only act as master, correct?

Will there be any hassles in terms of clocking with this setup?

SecretAgent · 11th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by tengu

An MPC will only act as master in terms of clocking.

The API will only act as master, correct?

Will there be any hassles in terms of clocking with this setup?

Thanks for that. The API will accept external master clock according to the info on their web site so no problem there.

SecretAgent · 11th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Marrvel

Call API and ask about the 16 bit dithering. With JJOS, plus 128mb ram and a harddrive, the MPC 1000 could serve as a nice little multitrack recorder.

API have confirmed the A2D outputs 24bit. Not a surprise just need confirmation the SPDIF on the MPC will accept 24bit. Have tried asking Akai on the email but heard nothing.

Anyone know if the MP will accept 24bit or only 16bit audio over the SPDIF?

cynic one · 11th December 2007

Why do you need it 16 bit? I thought you just wanted to record your 1k to the computer?

The way to roll is hook the mpc stereo outs to the API's line ins, then the spdif to your computer.

SecretAgent · 11th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by cynic

Why do you need it 16 bit? I thought you just wanted to record your 1k to the computer?

The way to roll is hook the mpc stereo outs to the API's line ins, then the spdif to your computer.

No I'm talkin about instrument / mic > mic pre > AD ( SPDIF out )> MPC (SPDIF in).

I agree the standard way the API would be used is the way you are saying to track the MP to a DAW but I want to sample say bass / rhodes straight onto MPC and start chopping it, save it to internal HD. I'm talkin MPC only!

Any reason the MPC can't be used this way?

tengu · 12th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretAgent

Any reason the MPC can't be used this way?

You will need to confirm there are no clocking issues.

The MPC can't slave to SPDIF as far as I am aware and from what I have read the A2D can only run as master when using it digitally.

It is important to know if they can work together digitally chained.

The Marrvel · 12th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretAgent

API have confirmed the A2D outputs 24bit. Not a surprise just need confirmation the SPDIF on the MPC will accept 24bit. Have tried asking Akai on the email but heard nothing.

Anyone know if the MP will accept 24bit or only 16bit audio over the SPDIF?

Not sure if this helps, but even though the MPC-1000 is only 16bit, it definitely accepts 24bit from the spdif on my DAW interface. I'm assuming that the signal still isn't optimal without dithering, but it sounds ok in the MP to me.

FULL-DUPLEX · 12th December 2007

Apogee Mini-Me used approx. 700 US-D...

SecretAgent · 13th December 2007

Hmmm..

This is more complicated that I first thought!

Tengu is right to reiterate the clocking issue. I am trying to find hard evidence the MPC can only act as master clock (not doubting you Tengu just want to make sure). Not having any luck.

If this is the case then the API A2D is out the frame cos it only acts as master. Same goes for any of the Apogee stuff (mini me / rosetta ad) cos they only act as master.

So...

I really need to know for sure the MPC can't accept master clock from an external device over SPDIF

And if this is true is there an AD converter out there that accepts external master clock over SPDIF??

Canine · 13th December 2007

Quote:

You will need to confirm there are no clocking issues.

The MPC can's slave to SPDIF as far as I am aware and from what I have read the A2D can only run as master when using it digitally.

It is important to know if they can work together digitally chained.

GOOD ADVICE !!!
that is where I have lost LOTS of TIME BEFORE.

tengu · 13th December 2007

There was a spelling mistake in my other post that I have now changed.

It should have read The MPC "can't" slave to SPDIF as far as I am aware not The MPC "can's" slave to SPDIF as far as I am aware

This could have caused some confusion.

SecretAgent · 14th December 2007

I totally got what you were sayin Tengu. Thanks for clearing it up tho.

I must admit to being confused about the MPC not being able to sync to an incoming SPDIF signal. Surely even for sampling from a CD player, which Akai added the SPDIF IN for, the MP will need to sync and accept the incoming digital signal being sent including clock info from the source. IMO the MP HAS to 'slave' for this basic operation to work properly. The only obvious constraint I understand is its sample rate being limited to 44.1 only.

So if this is true I can use an external ADC set to 44.1 sending digital audio and clock out via SPDIF for the MP to sync to. Right!!??

I really need someone to clear this up for me!

(Thanks to all that have contributed so far

)

3rd December 2007	#1
SecretAgent Gear Head Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 69 Thread Starter	Adding a mic pre / A-D converter to MPC1000? First post, I'm trying to keep it simple by using an MPC1000 for all sampling / arranging etc. Currently sampling from vinyl into the 'record in' jacks, no problems there. My problem being I want to track bass, keys and synth via my Avalon U5 and sample a speaker cab with a mic. The MPC does not have enough line inputs to accommodate the U5 at line level and has no mic inputs. My idea is to use the s/pdif on the back of the MPC. So i am looking for a mono or dual mono mic pre / channel strip with s/pdif out capability OR a mic pre and separate A-D converter. Now i've done alot of searching forums and found nothing on doing this with an MPC so your input would be appreciated. So...can i do this and what gear do you suggest i look at? Edit. Signal path I am talking about is; Instrument / Mic > Mic Pre > AD ( SPDIF out )> MPC (SPDIF in).

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3rd December 2007	#2
Rapslow Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 161	mpc1000 has the crapiest AD converter imo if you have any other sampling device, try A/B test recording vinyl you will know what im talkin about (you lose a LOT of bass) i love its DA converter though its clean and transparent also normally its not good to use the spidif out of the mpc because you lose that punchy sound (especially for hiphop) but its just my opinion do you have an audio interface? if you don't u should get that first

4th December 2007	#3
SecretAgent Gear Head Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 69 Thread Starter	Thanks for your thoughts Rapslow. So you are saying get an interface with SP/ DIF out and connect that to the MPC's SP/ DIF in, upgrading the AD and offering the extra inputs. Good idea! From what I understand the converter/interface has to dither to 16 bit otherwise you get increased noise floor! Any interfaces you know that do this?? The only gear I have seen that do this are apogee ADs = Overkill or worth looking at second hand???!!!

5th December 2007	#4
SecretAgent Gear Head Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 69 Thread Starter	Anyone else got master plans?? As it stands i'm thinking separate mic pre / AD Looking at second hand Apogee AD500 and the old Rosetta 44.1 48 AD wise. Not sure on pre at all! Help me out

6th December 2007	#8
SecretAgent Gear Head Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 69 Thread Starter	Would still appreciate some more of that gearslut brain candy! Any more suggestions people?

10th December 2007	#10
SecretAgent Gear Head Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 69 Thread Starter	No DAW and no interface. Just the MPC. I want to make the most of the 1k.

10th December 2007	#11
The Marrvel Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 618	Call API and ask about the 16 bit dithering. With JJOS, plus 128mb ram and a harddrive, the MPC 1000 could serve as a nice little multitrack recorder.

11th December 2007	#13
tengu Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Posts: 672	An MPC will only act as master in terms of clocking. The API will only act as master, correct? Will there be any hassles in terms of clocking with this setup?

11th December 2007	#16
cynic one Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2005 Location: san jose, califas Posts: 2,610	Why do you need it 16 bit? I thought you just wanted to record your 1k to the computer? The way to roll is hook the mpc stereo outs to the API's line ins, then the spdif to your computer.

12th December 2007	#20
FULL-DUPLEX Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 621	Apogee Mini-Me used approx. 700 US-D...

13th December 2007	#21
SecretAgent Gear Head Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 69 Thread Starter	Hmmm.. This is more complicated that I first thought! Tengu is right to reiterate the clocking issue. I am trying to find hard evidence the MPC can only act as master clock (not doubting you Tengu just want to make sure). Not having any luck. If this is the case then the API A2D is out the frame cos it only acts as master. Same goes for any of the Apogee stuff (mini me / rosetta ad) cos they only act as master. So... I really need to know for sure the MPC can't accept master clock from an external device over SPDIF And if this is true is there an AD converter out there that accepts external master clock over SPDIF??

14th December 2007	#24
SecretAgent Gear Head Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 69 Thread Starter	I totally got what you were sayin Tengu. Thanks for clearing it up tho. I must admit to being confused about the MPC not being able to sync to an incoming SPDIF signal. Surely even for sampling from a CD player, which Akai added the SPDIF IN for, the MP will need to sync and accept the incoming digital signal being sent including clock info from the source. IMO the MP HAS to 'slave' for this basic operation to work properly. The only obvious constraint I understand is its sample rate being limited to 44.1 only. So if this is true I can use an external ADC set to 44.1 sending digital audio and clock out via SPDIF for the MP to sync to. Right!!?? I really need someone to clear this up for me! (Thanks to all that have contributed so far )