About to ditch hardware, please help..

[gerberma]

OK....
i finally decided to ditch my hardware, like Mackie D8B, triton rack and MPC3000 for a laptop computer approach....im thinking..
MacBook Pro with
Logic Pro 7
Novation Remote SL - for controlling software synths
GForce Futureretro Pack
Spectrasonics stuff

Should I keep the MPC or just cop a MPC2000?

I need to get a good audio interface, can anyone suggest any? Thanks and please let me know about what you think of this setup for production.....hip hop, house and experimental. thanks

[nukmusic]

why not try out some demos first. to see if you can work that way.

[heathen]

Don't sell your hardware for software.Serious.

[halfguard]

dont do it. i went almost all software, then one day i got the itch to use some of my hardware and i was like WOW, that sounds great. what have i been doing.softsynth just cant measure up, especially in the low end. i guess if you had some analog gear to run it through, ok. i was about to get the minimonster, so i downloaded the demo and fired it up. sounded pretty good. was all but ready to take out the cc and get it. then i compared it to my micro q (wich is an average va) the the q blew it away, its just not the same. thats just my opinion. now i still use a couple softsynths (imposcar & reaktor) but they dont replace hardware, they compliment it.also, im so much back into hardware, im about to pick up a virus, i cant wait. anyways, i would try out some demos before you go selling all your stuff.

[TonyBelmont]

Sell it all... but that setup you described probably won't work until 2007.

[gerberma]

wont it work? i was thinking of just ditching the d8b...

[TonyBelmont]

Yes, get rid of that thing...

It won't work, because of the time it will take for everything to be optimized with the intel setup and softsynths, etc. Many manufacturers aren't on target to have their plugs ported until the end of the year.

I would keep the MPC and dump everything else... I haven't turned on my MPC in months but don't have the heart to sell it.

[TonyBelmont]

Also how many I/O do you need for you audio interface?

[gerberma]

yeah i understand the issue with the binaries getting ported over, BUT i can still use Logic which has updated binaries for the intel macs. that i guess could hold me over until the other software gets ported.
on the issue or io i dont know...cause i will be keeping:
asr10 keys, mpc3k, motif es rack, triton rack, xv5080 and maybe mo phatt rack. i will also be bilding a rack with OSA pres (10space) and choose stuff from gamma, buzz, and osa to fill...thats it..now i need an interface into the laptop....

[gerberma]

11 space OSA rack...

[TonyBelmont]

Why are you buying all of those mic pre's? Are you going to be tracking a band or making beats?

[DivineMusic]

i haven't made a track with any of my hardware for almost a week..
i've been using Nuendo with, Guru, hypersonic 2, sampletank 2, trilogy, korg m1 and a few other things here and there... its funny cuz its actually quicker, and sounds just as good if not better at times. not getting rid of any of my hardware but now i have more ways of making tracks.

[kojo]

does it have to be mac? if no you can get a quick centrino laptop and use Cubase SX or Sonar 5. I use a compaq presario laptop with Cubase SX and vst plugins such as the Korg M1, Battery 2, Ravity, the Arp2600, and sometimes Reason 3.0. If you miss the pads, you can get the Maudio Trigger finger or the new Korg PadKontrol for 200 or even keep the MPC and just synch it up with cubase.

[halfguard]

software is quicker, but im not so sure its better...................

[DivineMusic]

Originally Posted by halfguard

software is quicker, but im not so sure its better...................

depends on how you use it and the sounds you use..

[gerberma]

thanks for all those interesting replies. the reason i wanted to but as many different pres was because I was also going to track some vocals and may some live instruments as well. i have now decided to hold onto the hardware but replace the D8B although i will miss the inputs for my synths and drum machine. the reason for me using a mac is because i have always used a mac and find it easier to use than wintel and i keep getting frustrated with wintel and its updates and issues. anyway for now i will keep the hardware, add Logic 7 use the Macbook Pro and just make music.

[Ray Sigmond]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

I would keep the MPC and dump everything else... I haven't turned on my MPC in months but don't have the heart to sell it.

I am currently seriously considering getting an MPC 4000, but want to know the pros and cons of going with an MPC 4000 vs Guru, Battery, Halion, Stylus & Trigger Finger? I already own the above except Guru which I just downloaded the demo.

Tony what are you using to replace the role of your MPC?

[Ray Sigmond]

Originally Posted by DivineMusic

i haven't made a track with any of my hardware for almost a week..
i've been using Nuendo with, Guru, hypersonic 2, sampletank 2, trilogy, korg m1 and a few other things here and there... its funny cuz its actually quicker, and sounds just as good if not better at times. not getting rid of any of my hardware but now i have more ways of making tracks.

DivineMusic, can you tell me what you think of Guru and how it works for you with Nuendo? Also if you have or have owned an MPC how do you like the workflow of Guru and VST's as compared to the MPC workflow?

[Igotsoul4u]

Do not sell a mpc3000. They are destined to be a classic piece of hardware. Even if you don't like it, you will most likely be able to sell it for as much as you bought it for, probably more. There are to many producers out there that rely on it and there is a limited supply of 3000's.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Ray Sigmond

I am currently seriously considering getting an MPC 4000, but want to know the pros and cons of going with an MPC 4000 vs Guru, Battery, Halion, Stylus & Trigger Finger? I already own the above except Guru which I just downloaded the demo.

Tony what are you using to replace the role of your MPC?

Logic or Cubase and Battery/Kontakt.

[DivineMusic]

Originally Posted by Ray Sigmond

DivineMusic, can you tell me what you think of Guru and how it works for you with Nuendo? Also if you have or have owned an MPC how do you like the workflow of Guru and VST's as compared to the MPC workflow?

vs a mpc its just as easy if not a little easier.
i do use a mpc4000 with a motif, triton studio and fantom X... guru can do ust about anything. i've never been a person to care for software at all.. just got into over the last month really b/c my cousin moved in with me and all he uses is software. every single sample or hit i have with the mpc i have in guru if not more and i can do anything with guru that i can do with a mpc. i like things like hypersonic 2 for the guitars.. if you know how to play the keys a little you can make hypersonic sound just like a guitar...(takes a good ear too)
i use some of the basses too...i also love trilogy for bass. the korg m1 and wavestation have a lot of the sounds in my korg TS.
sampletank 2 has some good sounds too... just gotta go though them

as for how it works with nuendo 3, flawless....simply go to your vst instruments(f11) load it up. and start loading drums...
if you'd like i can send you a few joints.. 1 or 2 track done with hardware vs software.. i bet you'll get atleast one of them wrong...

[Ray Sigmond]

Originally Posted by DivineMusic

vs a mpc its just as easy if not a little easier.
i do use a mpc4000 with a motif, triton studio and fantom X... guru can do ust about anything. i've never been a person to care for software at all.. just got into over the last month really b/c my cousin moved in with me and all he uses is software. every single sample or hit i have with the mpc i have in guru if not more and i can do anything with guru that i can do with a mpc. i like things like hypersonic 2 for the guitars.. if you know how to play the keys a little you can make hypersonic sound just like a guitar...(takes a good ear too)
i use some of the basses too...i also love trilogy for bass. the korg m1 and wavestation have a lot of the sounds in my korg TS.
sampletank 2 has some good sounds too... just gotta go though them

as for how it works with nuendo 3, flawless....simply go to your vst instruments(f11) load it up. and start loading drums...
if you'd like i can send you a few joints.. 1 or 2 track done with hardware vs software.. i bet you'll get atleast one of them wrong...

Cool:

I'll take the quiz and see if I can tell the difference.

One of my best friends just purchaed an MPC 4000, and most Hip Hop heads here in NYC swear they are a must for your studio and workflow. So we are going at the age old battle; of MPC/Hardware vs Guru/Software

I also am pretty much a software based guy, I have a Roland A33 Controller, Mackie Control, Trigger Finger, Triton Rack with Moss card, Motif ES Rack for hardware. For software, I have Battery, Stylus RMX, Hypersonic 2, Trilogy, Atmosphere, Reaktor, Pentagon I, z3ta+, Absynth 3, Reaktor 4, Pro 53, B4 Kontakt, Halion, Big Tick Rhino, Xphrase, Albino, Sonik Synth 1, FM7, Omni Synth, Plex, Reason, Waldorf Attack, PPG Wave, Virtual Guitarist, The Grand, Scarbee Rhodes and Wurlitzer, and more that I can not remember right now.

[bigbaby987]

say what you want about software.. firstly.. it 's one of the worst investments on the planet.. you can't resell the stuff and if you don't like it..you're stuck with it..

secondly, for me, i like being able to just crank up the mpc 4k and go to work.. now a lot jiving with the computer and whatnot.. hopefully you'll never have a computer crash.. how often do you get into that situation with an mpc..

next... you have to constantly kick out your cash for updates and a lot of bug fixes on software that should have worked from the beginning.. remember logic 7 first dropped? i'm not saying the mpc is perfect but i'm sure you can understand not having the same headaches..

one more thing is technology.. you can never keep up with the times when it comes to computers.. mac or pc.. i'm personally sick of that.. i have 4 computers and yes i'm happy with where they right now.. and yes.. my mac is 4 years old hanging in there, but it's not nearly the beast it was when i got it.. now it's another 2k-3.5k to update and now you have to wait on all the new architecture with pci slots and other crap.. in fact.. i am the cat ray was talking about that bought the mpc 4k.. i was stuck between buyin a new mac or an mpc.. the deal was that i would have to put more money in the mac.. and then i would be even more screwed because i would have to buy a new soundcard because i have a rme multiface 2 which runs off of a regular pci card and not pci-e and rme hasn't even mentioned updating that architecture after 6 months to a year. so that would mean i would have to break down and plunk down another couple of grand to just have sound card that would work.. then on top of that i would be kicking myself for buying a mac now because the new intels which i'm sure are going to be worlds faster.. i've sunk quite a few thousand dollars into computer technology with all the software instruments and i still can't get the inspiration and feel as with my mpc 4k, motif, and triton and soon more hardware... you heard it right.. more..

lastly.. i'm not doggin software, but FOR ME.. i do like some stuff like spectrasonics and scarbee, but i'm not sinking too much more dollars into a never ending cycle updates, new cpus, operating systems.. then you have to make them all talk together nicely.. you almost have to have a phd in technology to write a song nowadays...

i just want write songs.. not be a computer tech..

[halfguard]

it also depends on what kind of sounds you use. if your just using samples, than the sound is comparable. i mean a fantom/triton/motif/mpc their all samples anyways. i hear the difference in the softsynth emulations. they just dont sound as good as a va and certainly not the analog keyboards.

[bigbaby987]

this is true halfcard.. ALL of the analog software instruments sound like crap..... like i said.. some of the sample library stuff is awesome, but very few.. like spectrasonics, scarbee and you can't forget vienna..

[bigbaby987]

btw.. i'm a gospel, r&b, and a little hip hop with some scoring on the way..

[Ray Sigmond]

I dunno Divine, there is just something to sitting with an MPC, CD Turntable or Turntable and just fuc***ing with sheeeeet.

Maybe after going through all the software I am coming full circle and just getting back to basics. It is still a thought. I am going run Guru through the paces and see how it works for me.

One thing for sure, for those that have clients that want to rent time, the MPC 4000 is surely in demand for Hip Hop purist. The other thing is you usually get a good return on hardware if and when you sell it. By the time you try to sell sofware, you have to transfer the licensce and the crack version of the next updated version is already on Limewire.

On the other hand, if mobility is necessary for you, then software is absolutely the way to go.

[DivineMusic]

Originally Posted by Ray Sigmond

By the time you try to sell sofware, you have to transfer the licensce and the crack version of the next updated version is already on Limewire.

On the other hand, if mobility is necessary for you, then software is absolutely the way to go.

but hearing the 4 tracks i sent you its hard to tell which is which isn't it? its all about how you do it... i'm not gonna sit and say software is the new ssl or the new mpc.. i'm not getting rid of my hardware for years... i just happen to have an extra route to go if need be. i've done some track with hardware/software together... ppl be looking at me like were did you get those sounds in the triton or motif and they don't even know its actually a vsti

your right about selling software but i'm not really trippin on that. i always have young homies i sell software to. i sold reason 2.5 with like 30gig worth of samples,hits and refills to a friend for $300... i didn't need it anymore so its whatever. but about the cracked stuff... thats funny. i tried to sell someone my old copy of nuendo 2 in the box,manual, dongle and all.. for a small price of $500.. dude told me he downloaded it yesterday but it scucks b/c its unstable and keeps crashing.. i wonder why????

[bigbaby987]

hey divine... i hear you on what you're doing, and i'm not against software and it's extremely true that talent is talent... which means that you should be able to write with anything.. for me though.. software has this sterile sound to it... i don't know if i want to call it too clean but no soul to it if you know what i'm sayin.. now if you're not playing any real chord progressions and whatnot then vst's are cool for sparse arrangments... no diss to anyone here, but hip hop is not the most musical genre.. and i'm not saying it has to be.. but real keys and the sounds that keyboards give me make things pop without having to go through extensive mixing and extra effects and stuff.. for me, hardware works.. btw.. sequencer software is not hard to sell and you can get about a third of what you paid for it.. and really only about 20 percent after you factor in the upgrade costs.. as far as hardware you get atleast 60-80% of what you paid for it depending if is still a hot item.

[DivineMusic]

bigbaby check your PM
i have come across some sounds that lacked feel to them and sounded a lil sterile too but not just in software but in quite a bit hardware too...
my new fav hardware workstation though the price makes many of us CRY like a baby.. the Korg oasys SOUNDS AWESOME. i was thinking about getting the 76key for my new spot but i mean damn.. almost 8stacks.. that crazy but for the sounds and power it has its just having a triton studio, motif es and fantom x which would cost around the same price...