Sigh.... The "Sonics" Conversation.... AGAIN...

Since this sonics conversation seems to be permeating everything I figure that I'd drop some gems for those looking to improve their sonics with WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY

Honestly, This sh*t is getting crazy out of hand.

I completely understand what people are talking about when they mention the sonics of their gear..

Im the type of person to find some type of solution to the problem that Im having..

I never really noticed anything ‘wrong’ with the Force/MPC system per se..

Actually the issues i’m having have more to do with the ‘resampling’ algorithms they’ve been using to pitch samples and the warping algorithms not matching the best of what Zplane currently has to offer..

But that’s a convo for a later date…. Like 2024 if need be..

ok but back on topic

‘SONICS’

if you want to get some good ‘sonics’ out of your MPC here is a list of shit you can do NOW instead of complaining at all..

1. Go Back to the old MPC sampler workflow…

2. Resample/Sample through the preamps

3. Add hardware emulation to the sample signal flow

4. Downsample your samples to 12 or 16 bit

5. Use MPC filter on ALL pads

6. Use Hardware eumlation on MULTIPLE channels

7. Drive into Air Transient to preserve sonics while limiting

8. Drive into MPC3000 emulator for free ‘limiter’ and MPC style effect

9. Track out directly into your DAW instead of bouncing and use different MPC outs

LIsten, i don’t know too much about Coverters and D/A ones and zers type of stuff.

What I do know is that if it sounds good, then keep rocking with it.

Ultimately the main thing that makes a mix sound good is great use of balance, EQ and Compression..

The only way to get these things without a massive amount of coloration to your audio is to ensure that your monitoring environment is completely flat..

Chances are if you’re monitoring through headphones through your MPC or Force you’re going to have some type of adjustment to the signal response.

Its just the nature of the monitoring device, every headphone or monitor has its own curve..

If you track out directly into your DAW you can use SoundID to make sure your monitoring frequency response is flat when you’re mixing (if you mix your stuff ITB)

It CAN also be calibrated for a monitor setup BUT not every interface operates the same, so you may have to monitor the MPC through the DAW to benefit from the plugin.

Which kind of brings me to my final point.

If you track your stuff OUT of the MPC to get the benefit of the outs and the coloration there..

Then whatever you track INTO can also add / take away from the sound however you like.

Sampling OUT of the Audient iD44 into the Preamps on the FOrce then BAck out of the force into the Pres on the Audient definitely gives a darker warmer sound to my stuff..

Honestly its not desirable in every application BUT what I always need to do is Eq and balance everything (cuz i don’t have money for professional engineering)

Over time i’ve found the coloration of the MPC workflow to be less desireable and in other cases it really makes mixning almost unnecessary.

Honestly yu can just hide everything behind all of the grit and it works..