Hardware to Software?

johndough · 27th December 2005

Ive been a hardware guy for years. Current setup is: MPC2000XL, Orig Motif, modules, etc...

Im getting really tired of the MP. Its slow, its hard to store stuff on zip, editing in sound forge first is better. You know the routine.

Ive been seeing a lot of people using software stuff. I also know the big dogs doing movie soundtracks etc are on giga these days and those soundsets kill any keyboard or module.

Anyway anyone go through this that can shed some insight? Im a pro tools guys so it would probably be kontact.

Either way I gotta get rid of the MPC2000. I am so over it. Maybe a Fantom if I stay hardware so I can communicate straight with the computer and primarily use one main device...

C Heat · 27th December 2005

...or a 1k or 4k?

illynoise · 27th December 2005

look up sample robot, it's going to blow your mind. I think it's the future, like the flying car of our industry.

www.samplerobot.de I think. It's built into the Neko workstations.

Enjoy.

BaseJase
illynoise

jlotto · 27th December 2005

I moved over to gigasampler and reason about 1 year ago from an mpc3000/4000, triton, planet phat, motif rack setup.

I did this after I saw Timbaland and a few other cats pull out the laptop and hard drives in their sessions and noticed how easy and fast it was to make tracks. especially chopping up samples and gettin them on beat. I used to get bored with the sounds in my synths and wind up auctioning them off on ebay every 18months or so and gettin something different. Now I got more sounds then enough and have samples of all the synths I used to have.

soultrane · 27th December 2005

funny how cats switch back and forth between software and hardware... i had a full software setup and have now moved to hardware... but i wouldn't have done it if i couldn't make use of software for editing...

i don't use the mpc for sampling.... i just "sample" into the computer, slice in recycle, set up the program using mpc editor, and transfer it via zip to the mpc...

i could have a 4 bar break sampled, chopped, and loaded into the mpc, w. individual outputs assigned, in 2 minutes... even using zip drives... about 30 seconds longer than it would take to import it into a software sampler.

as a matter of fact, i like to try starting my computer and mpc at the same time, to see which one is ready to roll w. a saved song faster... invariably, the mpc w. program is loaded up and waiting to go while the computer software is still initializing asio drivers...

i don't think software or hardware is "faster." it's a feel thing... even if you go the software route, i would advise against selling the mpc (or almost any decent hardware piece, really)... it will always come in handy

27th December 2005

MPC 4k ONe of the MAIN reasons i went for a 4k was the marriage of Hardware and software

Igotsoul4u · 27th December 2005

I went from 2000xl, motif rack, ms2000 to Logic. I like being able to work visually as far as sequencing is concerned. In logic and can look at the entire song layed out from beginning to end. I can rearrange the song within several seconds if need be. I also read music so its nice to be able to go to the scoring window and punch in chords that I like or edit something I played wrong without going back and playing the whole thing. Matrix editing is also great in logic. If I want to layer kicks I can just drag and drop. Overal you should get with someone that works in logic and just watch. You wil immediatly see the difference in flexibility and workflow. Also, Logic's complete flexibility can some times be a hindrance at first. There are so many ways to do the same thing that people get confused and end up running around saying logic sucks. Its not an easy program to use. You need to spend some serious time figuring out how you want to work. If you are in the NYC area I would be glad to give you a demo.

johndough · 28th December 2005

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

C Heat: Ya I think a 1k 4k or fantom could do the trick too.

illynoise: Im not sure what that is its in a different lang.

jlotto: Actually I was hoping to hear something like that. Great info thanks. What are you recording to and seq giga with?

Soultrane: I fell you brother maybe im just getting lazy I have been doing that too. Im just tired of the back and forth zips.

no ssl: Thats another serious option. Why did you do that instead of trying the software stuff? I am assuming you already have pro tools etc. Granted I am a little concerned with doing everything in the box and Im not sure what effect latency will play into going out to outboard gear then back in but hey thats why I am asking all the questions. I am also concerned about pro tools running as a seq. I dont like the way seq are made on the MP BUT when you press play its worth it.

Igotsoul: Great feedback. Im in Los Angeles and dont know anyone that uses logic, but I am invested into pro tools big time.

tekn0 · 28th December 2005

I do everything in the box with pro tools and i love it.
My only outboard atm is my MOTIFES-RACK. and i trigger it with an maudio-oxygen8 or an akai-mpd16.
Plus with realtime quantize in pro tools 7 you are able to get that mpc swing on each midi track and you can **** with it till you like it because it's now a real time midi effect. Plus Battery and GURU are prety much digital MPC's also there are a few plugs that help with grit/dirtying up your sounds also, and battery has one built in.

Relax · 28th December 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by soultrane

funny how cats switch back and forth between software and hardware... i had a full software setup and have now moved to hardware... but i wouldn't have done it if i couldn't make use of software for editing...

i don't use the mpc for sampling.... i just "sample" into the computer, slice in recycle, set up the program using mpc editor, and transfer it via zip to the mpc...

i could have a 4 bar break sampled, chopped, and loaded into the mpc, w. individual outputs assigned, in 2 minutes... even using zip drives... about 30 seconds longer than it would take to import it into a software sampler.

as a matter of fact, i like to try starting my computer and mpc at the same time, to see which one is ready to roll w. a saved song faster... invariably, the mpc w. program is loaded up and waiting to go while the computer software is still initializing asio drivers...

i don't think software or hardware is "faster." it's a feel thing... even if you go the software route, i would advise against selling the mpc (or almost any decent hardware piece, really)... it will always come in handy

FWIW I hated the way recycle made my samples sound.

illynoise · 28th December 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndough

illynoise: Im not sure what that is its in a different lang.

There is an english page there on that page www.samplerobot.com

Basically if you have a motif, it will go through your whole machine and sample everything and put it in SoundFont format and you will have all of your sounds from your motif. Works with any keyboard with midi.

sounds hot?

it is.

BaseJase
illynoise

soultrane · 28th December 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relax

FWIW I hated the way recycle made my samples sound.

relax;

u got better ears than me!!!

ps how do u like that little micron? i'm thinking about picking one of those or the ion up....

28th December 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by illynoise

There is an english page there on that page www.samplerobot.com

Basically if you have a motif, it will go through your whole machine and sample everything and put it in SoundFont format and you will have all of your sounds from your motif. Works with any keyboard with midi.

sounds hot?

it is.

BaseJase
illynoise

Sample robot as a concept is pretty OLD I bought "autosampler" a few years ago and it does the same thing. NEKO just started putting a version of this (sample robot) into their stuff THEY R LATE

28th December 2005

http://www.redmatica.com/Site/Pages/AM.php

Igotsoul4u · 28th December 2005

Protools 7 is supposedly a huge midi upgrade. Might be worth checking out since you have protools already.

Relax · 28th December 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by soultrane

relax;

u got better ears than me!!!

ps how do u like that little micron? i'm thinking about picking one of those or the ion up....

Pretty dope editing is so much easier than i thought it would be, theres a shortcut to almost every paramater. The filters are ill, and it dosent have its own va sound (aka microkorg) it sounds like old analog synths

gsilbers · 5th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndough

Ive been a hardware guy for years. Current setup is: MPC2000XL, Orig Motif, modules, etc...

Im getting really tired of the MP. Its slow, its hard to store stuff on zip, editing in sound forge first is better. You know the routine.

Ive been seeing a lot of people using software stuff. I also know the big dogs doing movie soundtracks etc are on giga these days and those soundsets kill any keyboard or module.

Anyway anyone go through this that can shed some insight? Im a pro tools guys so it would probably be kontact.

Either way I gotta get rid of the MPC2000. I am so over it. Maybe a Fantom if I stay hardware so I can communicate straight with the computer and primarily use one main device...

giga is just another softsampler. it doesnt have anything special that you cant get in another sampler. you cant use it mac but there are sample convertion programs that will let convert whatever library format (giga, EXS, NNTX etc) to another.

giga as well as anyother sampler will give real sounding strings and instruments intead of the synthy sounding strings found on motifs, fantom etc.

the fantom by the way was a akai style pads which is fairly ok. but will work really good with native instruments Battery2. youll have waaaaaaaaaay more flexibility in editing, composing, riiping, sound desing etc than with the MPC

Typan1486 · 6th October 2006

I recently went through the same thing that you are considering. I am still having growing pains. I would see if I could intergrate the mpc someway with software or switch to one of the other mpcs. The thing I miss the most is the sequencer, not the pads or the sound of the mpc. If you are totally committed to switching I would play around with the software you have in mind before I get rid of it. The grass always looks greenier on the other side but once you are on the other side you find it has its own set of problems and compromises. YMMV.

Status · 6th October 2006

There's no such thing as "switching" imo. I use both. I have a mpc 1000, fantom x61, Reason 3.0, battery, cubase, etc. I don't dedicate myself to hardware or software. I just go with the flow. I might sync my mpc with battery and edit the sounds in battery. Using my mpc as just a sequencer. I might like a horn patch I heard on the fantom and layer it with a string patch I heard on Reason. Maybe I might sample from my turntable straight to the pc or I might sample straight to the mpc. Or I might sample straight to the fantom. Possibilities are endless. Never give up one for the other unless you're having financial issues. Just upgrade and expand.

ToneCre8 · 8th October 2006

What he said ^^ .

bigbaby987 · 9th October 2006

i have pro tools, logic and and mpc 4k and i get it done with what's feeling good at the time..

i admit that i do the majority of my work on my mpc.. i really don't sample anything.. i'd rather play it myself.. but i love the time of the mpc.. nothing swings like an mpc.. granted i don't go much beyond 62%, but i love it.. much better than logic.. much better that pro tools.. but if i have an idea and want to just get it going fast.. it's logic.. that's just using audio instruments.. (btw... i only like one or two plug instruments.. spectrasonics stuff is hot!! after that, there's is much to be desired) .. i have just about everything on my laptop though.. sony acid, reason, pro tools, and more.. get it going quick without tons of hardware.. but in studio.. i love my hardware..

just my opinion..

lata playa

Dor · 10th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

http://www.redmatica.com/Site/Pages/AM.php

Just got autosampler & it seems like a great tool.

27th December 2005	#1
johndough Gear nut Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 128 Thread Starter	Hardware to Software? Ive been a hardware guy for years. Current setup is: MPC2000XL, Orig Motif, modules, etc... Im getting really tired of the MP. Its slow, its hard to store stuff on zip, editing in sound forge first is better. You know the routine. Ive been seeing a lot of people using software stuff. I also know the big dogs doing movie soundtracks etc are on giga these days and those soundsets kill any keyboard or module. Anyway anyone go through this that can shed some insight? Im a pro tools guys so it would probably be kontact. Either way I gotta get rid of the MPC2000. I am so over it. Maybe a Fantom if I stay hardware so I can communicate straight with the computer and primarily use one main device...

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27th December 2005	#2
C Heat Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In a house by the sea Posts: 2,656	...or a 1k or 4k?

27th December 2005	#3
illynoise Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,665	look up sample robot, it's going to blow your mind. I think it's the future, like the flying car of our industry. www.samplerobot.de I think. It's built into the Neko workstations. Enjoy. BaseJase illynoise

27th December 2005	#4
jlotto Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Gotham City Posts: 640	I moved over to gigasampler and reason about 1 year ago from an mpc3000/4000, triton, planet phat, motif rack setup. I did this after I saw Timbaland and a few other cats pull out the laptop and hard drives in their sessions and noticed how easy and fast it was to make tracks. especially chopping up samples and gettin them on beat. I used to get bored with the sounds in my synths and wind up auctioning them off on ebay every 18months or so and gettin something different. Now I got more sounds then enough and have samples of all the synths I used to have.

27th December 2005	#5
soultrane Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,707	funny how cats switch back and forth between software and hardware... i had a full software setup and have now moved to hardware... but i wouldn't have done it if i couldn't make use of software for editing... i don't use the mpc for sampling.... i just "sample" into the computer, slice in recycle, set up the program using mpc editor, and transfer it via zip to the mpc... i could have a 4 bar break sampled, chopped, and loaded into the mpc, w. individual outputs assigned, in 2 minutes... even using zip drives... about 30 seconds longer than it would take to import it into a software sampler. as a matter of fact, i like to try starting my computer and mpc at the same time, to see which one is ready to roll w. a saved song faster... invariably, the mpc w. program is loaded up and waiting to go while the computer software is still initializing asio drivers... i don't think software or hardware is "faster." it's a feel thing... even if you go the software route, i would advise against selling the mpc (or almost any decent hardware piece, really)... it will always come in handy

27th December 2005	#6
no ssl yet Guest Posts: n/a	MPC 4k ONe of the MAIN reasons i went for a 4k was the marriage of Hardware and software

27th December 2005	#7
Igotsoul4u Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,808	I went from 2000xl, motif rack, ms2000 to Logic. I like being able to work visually as far as sequencing is concerned. In logic and can look at the entire song layed out from beginning to end. I can rearrange the song within several seconds if need be. I also read music so its nice to be able to go to the scoring window and punch in chords that I like or edit something I played wrong without going back and playing the whole thing. Matrix editing is also great in logic. If I want to layer kicks I can just drag and drop. Overal you should get with someone that works in logic and just watch. You wil immediatly see the difference in flexibility and workflow. Also, Logic's complete flexibility can some times be a hindrance at first. There are so many ways to do the same thing that people get confused and end up running around saying logic sucks. Its not an easy program to use. You need to spend some serious time figuring out how you want to work. If you are in the NYC area I would be glad to give you a demo.

28th December 2005	#8
johndough Gear nut Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 128 Thread Starter	Thanks to everyone for the replies. C Heat: Ya I think a 1k 4k or fantom could do the trick too. illynoise: Im not sure what that is its in a different lang. jlotto: Actually I was hoping to hear something like that. Great info thanks. What are you recording to and seq giga with? Soultrane: I fell you brother maybe im just getting lazy I have been doing that too. Im just tired of the back and forth zips. no ssl: Thats another serious option. Why did you do that instead of trying the software stuff? I am assuming you already have pro tools etc. Granted I am a little concerned with doing everything in the box and Im not sure what effect latency will play into going out to outboard gear then back in but hey thats why I am asking all the questions. I am also concerned about pro tools running as a seq. I dont like the way seq are made on the MP BUT when you press play its worth it. Igotsoul: Great feedback. Im in Los Angeles and dont know anyone that uses logic, but I am invested into pro tools big time.

28th December 2005	#9
tekn0 Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 501	I do everything in the box with pro tools and i love it. My only outboard atm is my MOTIFES-RACK. and i trigger it with an maudio-oxygen8 or an akai-mpd16. Plus with realtime quantize in pro tools 7 you are able to get that mpc swing on each midi track and you can **** with it till you like it because it's now a real time midi effect. Plus Battery and GURU are prety much digital MPC's also there are a few plugs that help with grit/dirtying up your sounds also, and battery has one built in.

6th October 2006	#18
Typan1486 Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 18	I recently went through the same thing that you are considering. I am still having growing pains. I would see if I could intergrate the mpc someway with software or switch to one of the other mpcs. The thing I miss the most is the sequencer, not the pads or the sound of the mpc. If you are totally committed to switching I would play around with the software you have in mind before I get rid of it. The grass always looks greenier on the other side but once you are on the other side you find it has its own set of problems and compromises. YMMV.

6th October 2006	#19
Status Gear Head Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 40	There's no such thing as "switching" imo. I use both. I have a mpc 1000, fantom x61, Reason 3.0, battery, cubase, etc. I don't dedicate myself to hardware or software. I just go with the flow. I might sync my mpc with battery and edit the sounds in battery. Using my mpc as just a sequencer. I might like a horn patch I heard on the fantom and layer it with a string patch I heard on Reason. Maybe I might sample from my turntable straight to the pc or I might sample straight to the mpc. Or I might sample straight to the fantom. Possibilities are endless. Never give up one for the other unless you're having financial issues. Just upgrade and expand.

8th October 2006	#20
ToneCre8 Gear addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 397	What he said ^^ .

9th October 2006	#21
bigbaby987 Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dallas Posts: 534	i have pro tools, logic and and mpc 4k and i get it done with what's feeling good at the time.. i admit that i do the majority of my work on my mpc.. i really don't sample anything.. i'd rather play it myself.. but i love the time of the mpc.. nothing swings like an mpc.. granted i don't go much beyond 62%, but i love it.. much better than logic.. much better that pro tools.. but if i have an idea and want to just get it going fast.. it's logic.. that's just using audio instruments.. (btw... i only like one or two plug instruments.. spectrasonics stuff is hot!! after that, there's is much to be desired) .. i have just about everything on my laptop though.. sony acid, reason, pro tools, and more.. get it going quick without tons of hardware.. but in studio.. i love my hardware.. just my opinion.. lata playa