LOGIC 7 VS. MPC 60

[guitoffee]

I was trying to lock these two together and am having a bitch of a time. Although Logic feels great and will do in most instances, the swing and feel of the MPC 60 is better. I have been using Midi machine control to lock the two, but after a bar or so, it starts to drift bad. I am trying to record the beat in Logic as audio and add stuff on top with the Logic's intruments like ES2 etc. Anyone else doing this? If so, how do you sync the stuff up without drift?

Thanks.

[Fredrik]

I have experienced problem with logic sync aswell, if the beat is already done I would record it without sync and later adjust the tempo in logic to fit.

I have contacted Apple about it and hopefully the will adress it, but I was using 4.7 earlier and it had the same problem so my hopes arent to high.

I´ve got sugestions from different people about checking for alternative midi interfaces
but I doubt that is the reason. What kind of interface are you using?

[Hat]

I've been struggling with the same problem during a period of three years now and still haven't heard of anyone that have managed to sync Logic and a MPC (I've tried the mpc 60, the 3k and the 4k). I actually haven't heard of anyone managed to sync a mpc to Pro Tools, Cubase or any sequencer program either. It seems that it just can't be done. So I agree with Fredrik, record without sync and move the soundfiles to where you want them.

[Circuitt]

really?
thats odd... i had it syned to digital performer wth no probs at all...
weird, i slaved the mpc to digital performer using beat clocks.
i was thinking about buying logic.. but if it can't sync to or from external
sequencers, i don't think ill be getting logic then.

[goldphinga]

My 3000 syncs perfectly to logic. Dont use smpte or midi machine control ,just straight midi clock, sent from logic to slave the mpc. Mpc should just be set to receive midi clock.Mine is really tight to logic, wherever i click on the timeline bar the mpc picks up without delay and stays in the pocket. Can anyone explain the problems they are having a bit better? Never had any problems, im on logic 6.3.1 powerbook G4.

[Hat]

Sorry that I didn't express myself good enough. I meant the other way around. That the mpc is the master. I believe that you miss one dimension of the mpc if it's slaved.
That human feel because of its selfdrifting in tempo.

[Igotsoul4u]

I would second using midi beat clock. I am not sure what is better to use as the master. I would think that logic would be a little more solid. Midi time code is shite. Never use it.

[goldphinga]

Nah; you should slave the mpc from logic. The midi sync only tells the sequencer to start or stop, it doesnt in any way affect the feel of the mpc's sequencer.

[Hat]

Are you really sure of that? I remember that tracks sounded more stiff when I tried it that way having Logic as the master. But I'll definately try it again if you say so. But one thing that points to that I might having a point in this issue is that I'm 100% sure of that the swing on an mpc is affected when it's mastered by another mpc. At least on my machines as I really carefully have tried it. I once slaved my 4k from my mpc60. I had a beat pretty much swinged in the 4k.
When I synced it (by midiclock) from the mpc60 the swing feel was substantially reduced. Anyone would here the diffefence. That points to that every single note is affected when you slave a mpc.

[Fredrik]

My thought on this is that the slave get the clock characteristics of the master,but it could also be a workflow argument behind slaving logic to a mpc.

I have got good sync with ableton live though, both as master and slave.

Worth a try if you like that sequencer.

[Hat]

I buy that workflow argument but for me, keeping the "human feel" is much more important. So you mean that with ableton live you don't get any of that drifting that was discussed earlier?

[goldphinga]

Hat, i havent spent enough time to know whether the feel of the mpc is affected by the master clock of logic, but it still sounds the same to me and the fact that i can sync it that way is the major plus point. I think maybe you shouldnt worry too much and give it a try that way, if its really not to your satisfaction then just dont use logic as a master. Cant see another way to sync the mp with logic though other than slaving the mp to it.Im sure if there is a difference it will be miniscule.

good luck!

[Fredrik]

Originally Posted by Hat

I buy that workflow argument but for me, keeping the "human feel" is much more important. So you mean that with ableton live you don't get any of that drifting that was discussed earlier?

I just ment ontop of the feel thing (just to avoid getting in to a discussion whether the master clock affects the slaves feel, been there, my oppinion is that it does)

I haven´t used live with the mpc but got good results with midiclock and a sp1200, should be the same really. You wont get sample accurate sync due to the midiprotocol itself so a variation around 1ms is to be expected regardless.

I recomend that you download the demo from abletons site (saving & resample disabled) and try.

[soultrane]

it seems like every host has users complaining about the sync to mpc's etc...

i'm actually trying them all so i can chose my purchase...

i used logic 5.51 and it is really horrible when it comes to slaving to mpc, especially when you introduce plugs, or start triggering percussion samples etc..

i had better luck w. tracktion, and i'll be trying live, samplitude and sx3 soon... let me know if youi've got any suggestions!

[octatonic]

Drop it in without syncing and then line it up manually.
I do it all the time. It isn't difficult.

MTC is not shite- it is a 2 frame operation, which (on decent equipment and a dedicated midi port) is pretty tight.

If you are working with Logic and you want to clock then make Logic the master.

[Tibbon]

Make sure you're using decent MIDI interfaces. I have a Unitor 8 and an AMT8 that work great with Logic (as they were made to be THE logic MIDI interfaces). Very tight.

[AShah]

This is worth a try. I know Logic's resolution is different from the MPCs. But why not save the whole sequence on the MPC as a SMF, and then import that same smf into Logic. Then line the first Midi note(s) to line up at bar 1, and leave the rest. That way, you retain the feel, the file starts at bar 1. Then ofcourse the midi info on Logic uses the MPC as a sound module.
Just a thought....

~AJ

[illynoise]

I've synced my MPC2000 to Logic and Vice Versa, smpte, MTC, Midi Beats, whatever it works. But like everyone, midi beat clock works the best.

BaseJase
Illynoise

[Hexfix93]

any luck?

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

Make sure you're using decent MIDI interfaces. I have a Unitor 8 and an AMT8 that work great with Logic (as they were made to be THE logic MIDI interfaces). Very tight.

Hi Tibbon. agree on the AMT8.
How do you get the Unitor 8 to work with your G4 and AMT8?
I use the AMT8 now, and have a Unitor 8 sitting in the closet, because the serial stealth port in my G4 doesn't seem to work anymore. (have not yet installed the new Tiger driver for the stealth port)
Do you slave the Unitor with a serial cable from the AMT8?
I tried that but couldn't get Logic to recognise it.
I'm very confused about this, and need the extra fast midi ports badly, because of .. eh tightness and thru latency in my midi machines.

thanks!!!!!!!