+1 I compose outside the daw with hardware synths, MPC, effects and then track to the daw for mixing. I love the warmth and depth of analog. I’ve also created an analog chain for my 2buss, eq, color box, compressor, for that final analog pass before print. 62 yrs old btw, and still jamming. Love the channel, continuous inspiration.
I’m 52 years old and have been making beats since the mid 80’s. I still have my MPC 2000 and outboard gear. I also have Protools, Logic and FL Studio. I have grown love creating with FL and Logic but I still treat computers like a REEL to REEL, the old Adats, DA88’s or just plain old DATS.
To me there are two advantages of an analog production setup: Sound (the stereo field, the warmth/weight of the sounds) and the BIGGEST advantage is ZERO latency
MPC is a Computer and have naturally a latency. Debunked with your own argument. And Analog gear has also latency. (MIDI has also problems with higher polyphonie)
@@BoloDaProducer I get a scammer comment on every comment I leave on your videos these days. It is beyond terrible. I uasually go out of my way to report them and others I find on community replies around my post. They are really plaguing your channel 😐
I follow both of you guys. I’ve been bangin’ out for 30+ and I respect how you guys move when it comes to this music ish. Sound is important and of all the channels here on CZcams I watch you both are the most thorough. Tracking out beats is the best way to maximize your sound. Peace!
When are we going to get your hot take on the mpcs with new firmware? I know you did a video on he live a while ago but would be good to do a new one to see whether you think they’ve ironed out the issues- maybe the mpc one? Love your work anyway Ricky 💓
A large part of me putting my MPC 4000 back into rotation and making it the center of my studio set up once again is because of watching your videos and watching how you used it to make great house music. Honestly, I don't care how long it takes to make a great piece of art because for me the tool is just as important in that process. No need to rush creativity because things are timely when they need to be which makes the entire process fun!
I wouldn't call hardware rompler synths or drum machines "analog" gear. They are still technically digital equipment because they have their own DAC and uses sampled based sounds stored on a chip. Analog outboard gear like EQs and Compressors is different that's 100% pure analog like an analog mixing console.
@@CarlosRamos-lz8ul I agree but there are drum machines that are not samples based. I’ll record a live piano Rhodes Moog even drum set. There’s a process to everything. The digital was created to remember presets. A/D D/A there will always be a merger of the two.
@@jerzboybeats9555 as long as the hardware has an internal DAC for sound to come out its still some what of a digital peice of hardware because an embedded computer is need to talk to the DAC. The XV5080, MOTIF, Fantoms and Tritions are reffered to as Romplers. An MPC alone isn't going to give you that phat analog sound out of the box since it's a computer it's self. You are programming and sequencing midi data and the sound comes out of its internal DAC or bypass the DAC and use ADAT to connect to your Audio interface. Dr. Dre use to run his MPC through his large format analog SSL console and an analog outboard to give it some warthm and character.
You can pretty much do the same thing soft synths with a multi channel audio interface with some analog outboard compressors and eqs etc. You assign and route your soft synth line outs of your interface and route the signal through your analog gear and print the audio back into your DAW through the line inputs of your interface.
I definitely agree with you on this one, I use my MPC for 90% of my production.. It causes me to be more creative and original. I only use arcade to add a little sauce on the end of my creative content. Keep the videos coming bro ✊🏿
Bolo... i agree 100% .. MPC workflow is so slow compared to what you can do with Logic Pro and Serato Sample.. but MPC sounds different i can't explain why.. DAWLESS just sounds rich
Totally! I have been dawless since 2019 and folks keep asking me about my sounds. I’m glad I’ve moved over to dawless, especially since it’s just so much more hands on. However, I did recently mentor 20 youth on the importance of knowing both in certain cases, even just for longevity. Thanks for this! May you and your family stay in good hands. :)
Totally agree. Dawless recordings just have a warm fat sound. It goes back to early days and golden era of hip hop when everything was new and being created not imitated.
I like both because it keeps you having to come at ideas from different angles, keep you creative. I love having something like a Circuit around that I can just grab, lay down a framework for an idea that I can tinker with, go in and really flesh out with other gear, or in the box.
Do you think the Neptunes named themselves The Neptunes because they were using the triton so much? “Triton is the largest natural satellite of the planet Neptune, and was the first Neptunian moon to be discovered, on October 10, 1846, by English astronomer William Lassell. It is the only large moon in the Solar System with a retrograde orbit, an orbit in the direction opposite to its planet's rotation.”
@@WavetableMetaphysics I use my laptops as a sound module, then run the outputs to a small 4 channel mixer to get the analog goodness then to my DAW then to a 20 channel Yamaha mixer
I can remember those days of writing on my old Roland MP1 and having to "Truncate" most of the samples because you didn't have enough storage. I was able to track out 8 pads and take them on the road. I Really don't miss the long time frame, but the sounds that I was able to get then showed clearly that there was a definite difference. The sounds that my old Korg X3, Yamaha X5, and Roland SD50, and others were definitely the things that "Legends" have been made from. I have been trying for "Years" to try and recreate those "analog" sound on the different "DAW" platforms from Cakewalk all the way through to now my DAW of choice Presonus Studio One Pro. It is a work in progress, but those "Gems" from AKAI, Kurzweil, Korg, Roland, and Yamaha are staples in an industry that really knew what they were doing when they built those older workstations and then we bounced those tracks down to either DAT, ADAT or the old TASCAM 2 Inch Tape Decks. Those were the days of spending 4 hours on just 30 seconds of "Splice Tape" to make something that sounded in our terms "decent". Nice 15 second beat on your other youtube video. Thanks for sharing.
I like the technical side of a dawless set up. Using some keyboards running midi cables thru the MPC and making the MPC the main sequencer. Need to get into the Daw. I also use a Tascam DP-32 it so easy to track with. Love your videos their very helpful 🙏🏾💯✊🏾
Industrial secret: Standalones have sine wave output error correction and their clocks aren't on an interrupt request list. Computers are micro timeout factories. Interrupted sine waves= flattened dynamics. Doesn't matter what interface you invested in.
You could have nailed the reason for the differences for sure! My old MPC2K sounded killer back in the day before TRAP came in, I would just send individual outs on separate tracks on big desk, like SSL G4000. Since FL I have been tormented because although Cubase (I was early user of Cubase) was amazing with Drum and Key Editor, the FL sound was Hip-Hop. Reason with RB-338 was great but; niche method of working. Haven't used Studio One or delved into Logic but; now thinking of going DAWless with MPC Live II and linking with SP-1200 and just track out to PT. Sorry, for long reply but; my head is spinning on this topic! Peace to you and Bolo
@@deiwar2994 the technical term for error correction is: linear interpolation. Computers drop so many frames, they need to be dithered (a noise to mask quantization noise). Sequoia is the only DAW I know of that exports with linear interpolation.
I think it depends on what your working on.....the gear you use are the colors and your DAW or DAWless rig is the canvas......if the sound you are going for requires a DAWless sound then go for that......and if what you are working on requires a DAW sound then use it......I think going back and forth between the two as well as using other methods, creates appreciation for each approach. This will keep you organically creative instead of just recycling what everybody else is doing and will also help your ears to stay diverse and balanced. just my 2c
38 years old here still using a 1992 Korg 01R/W, Roland JV90, Roland Fantom G7, Roland Integra 7 and a Tascam DP-24SD 😁 I tried out ableton 11 live and everything was confusing so I went back to my Dawlessset up that's been working for me for a year. When I was recording with a buddy of mine we used a Mackie 32 bus mixer and HDD Recorders with CD burners 😅
In logic I like to throw the vintage console eq on the stereo out and drive it all the way and then make the beat into it. Closest thing to actually tracking into a real console that I’ve found
I come from the mpc60 family of beat making and i'm happy to hear you break down what up and coming beat makers are missing in being in that creative box without a computer. SALUTE to you BOLO.
Having all the options inside the box can be an amazing distraction. You have literally endless amounts of combinations to go through with the plug ins. It is great but can bog the creative process down with too many options. The DAWless set up has a ton of limitations that can be frustrating to work with at first but it can also provide a tremendous amount of focus but giving you the ability to make a solid foundation or the bones of a project. I like having the 26.2 seconds of sample time in my MPC60 and going into the guts into getting everything I can out of that limit. Even sampling at 45RPM and pitching it down "does things to the sound." A more deliberate process for sure but the sound is baked in on the way into to tape/DAW for mix down
Going manual can be a pain, but it sure does teach you alot. I have an Akai force that I am learning and it has been a real challenge moving from Ableton to a standalone machine. I use it for idea development, sound design, and general learning. It really does force you to think outside the box. My setup does have alot of flexibility for me to take things back to Ableton and work on them more, but just the pure development stage of beats is ruff. I have to spend more time with my setup to have that instant muscle memory of the features and to feel less limited by my knowledge.
Started making music in the DAW less era. Korg Trinity ASR 10 MPC 2000xl. The sound is Authentic. The Midi and Computer era is good as well. I just cannot stand the crashing and the not responding that takes place on the computer. Hardware works hard and the storage is Beautiful you just got to drop everything in the DAW. I'm the Old New School 91-2022 type of producer. I seen things change throughout the years.I prefer Hardware but DAW makes the editing more user friendly while mixing. I stayed in manuals and books back in those days. Great Videos BOLO Super Dope Producer
I’m ONLY in the box as a producer and mixer, but I have found a lot of uses for “Decimort 2” by D16. Lets you dial in specific ad/da conversion sounds from popular samplers and have very fine control over bit depth, and all the fixin’s. When it was a dirt cheap sale, which is often, I grabbed it and I dig using it to set bright, sharp sounds back in the mix. I heard 40 used it on some Drake stuff and I dig it. Love the channel, man! You always inspire
I use the Reaper Daw, but i always go back to just doing everything in the MPC because thats how i taught myself. Its definitely fun and the sound is extraordinary
Bolo I agree with everything you said. Very well explained. Like you I come from the traditional way of recording and mixing. Also like you I use a hybrid method of DAW and DAW less applications. There are characteristics that analog gear adds to an analog keyboard, bass, etc that just enhances the sound. Many times working with just plugins and vsts requires a little more work to achieve what analog provides. With that said, you can still be successful if you hone your craft and really understand how to use whatever you're working with to its best capabilities. You have made this clear many times. Thank you for your great videos. DT
You are absolutely right BOLO! There's no way that integrated technology can match true component. I went to school for electronics and I know first-hand that component is the way to go! You've Got To Be A O/G to know!😎
Right on big dawg you just helped me make up my mind... I'm going to start tracking my drums live. You really don't need as much processing if you get that authentic velocity. FL studio does a good job simulating it tho especially if you stack your drums
Bolo. Idk why man, but I'm being moved to tell you this. Don't quit. Absolutely love your content, its helped me tremendously. Extremely inspiring and motivating. You got a gift. God bless, keep you head up brutha!
I produced on Logic for 12 years after using Fruity Loops for several. I just started to dig into Cubase and Studio One, then got a Fantom and never looked back. After plugging it into the SSL interface, the sound is like no other. Technically speaking, I have a hybrid setup, using the interface and recording my projects through Pro Tools. I do this because the Fantom has a ridiculous set of steps to bounce a project, and I prefer 48k. I also like using the SSL plug-ins to master in a way that the keyboard cannot. I do still mess with Logic, but it is mostly to finish up old projects. The big difference is with finding sounds. While Logic seems endless, I never realized how much time I lost with pulling up plug-ins to change the sound. On the Fantom, it is a turn of a knob, or just a button to press, right next to where my hand is already. Not only is the sound quality superior, but the workflow is great. The Fantom ain't cheap, but neither were the thousands of dollars in software and plug-ins. As an audio engineer, I could tell you that the dynamics of this setup sound like they came from something that costs more than a few grand. Worth every penny. It definitely took my production to the next level, and I could never imagine switching back to producing on a DAW at this point. By the way, I am an old head (pushing 40) and started out on drum machines as a teenager. Been in the game for a minute.
man you cats are saying what I’ve been thinking for years now. I listen to songs that I’d done years before and I can hear a depth that I have to do a lot to make happen in a computer and it never quite gets there.
and ppl don't realize that if you dump a MPC session stems into Logic Pro... the audio already has depth and richness because of the MP. anything added after that just builds it up
The MPC is a digital hardware product basically a small integrated computer in a box. The MPC it's self has no effect on the depth and sound that's comming out of it, it's the analog outboard gear that the line outs of the MPC goes into that gives its color and saturation. Dr. Dre use to run his MPC through his SSL analog console to give it that warmth. You can do the same thing with soft synths in your DAW and run the line outputs of your interface into an analog eq, compressor or pre amp and print back into your DAW which pretty typical for Hybrid mixing.
I feel you! I love the DAWless production!! Sounds way better than the thin sounding production coming out of the computer. I miss Adats and reel to reels and analog boards. Beefed up the sound. Im only now getting into the computer production. It gets on the way sometimes. I just want to turn on the heat and make a beat with out the mouse.
I feel ya on that Analog sound. I was on the road with Juvy and UTP as producer and we set up camp in Nashville, TN at The Love Shack Studio to record Skip album and while the entourage went club hopping, me and John "JP" Pegram wanted my track to keep that phat analog sound from my ASR 10. We spent 15 hours trying to mix and sync that bad boy up but it was worth it.
agree about the A/D conversion adding some weight and depth to the sound; some times the computer beats can have a flat clean sound but also the hands on aspect of making beats on hardware
Bolo, I salute you brother! I'm old school man. 52 years young and I grew up mixing on 4 tracks. LOL. But, I just purchased the MPC One and I find that I do my best work on it because I'm giving myself limitations. I play my guitar through the MPC and honestly, it gives me the feeling I had when I first started recording on 4 tracks. I mix in logic and to your point, I find that I don't have to do much to enhance it. You confirmed my thoughts. Thank you again!
Over the past 30 years I have had a ridiculous amount of equipment. Right now I have the FA-06 and an Akai Force set up very similar to what you are using. When I hit on that combination I started selling off other things. 51
Another dope video Bolo...u hit the nail dead on with this one. I agree with u i do use both daw and dawless. Tbh the dawless is more gratifying when im done due to all the elements it takes to complete my track. But the daw is great for hashing out that vibe for instant ideas. The daw is always ready but my standalone section is just my favorite place to be.
Computers are cool , but ain’t nothing hitting like analog or the older machines hands down . The sound is deeper , richer and full now you may have limitations with dawless gear and you will put in more work but it’s worth it in the end
Its more a waste of time when you can get the very same result(sometimes even better)faster using a daw. When you work in a studio, you quickly realise how precious time is
@@BigSocksProds youre not getting the same result from fl studio that you’d get from an mpc 3000. To me it’s a waste of time trying to mimic it in a daw
Rompler Hardware Synths and Drum Machines are NOT "analog" hardware. They are digital hardware products. They are acutally computers themselves because they have a CPU, internal memory, the sounds are digital that's stored on a flash chip and they have their own Digital interface such as a DAC or ADAT. The MOTIF and MPC has their own OS or firmware that controls and runs the whole thing just like your Mac or PC. It's an integrated computer in a box.
Agreed, Bolo. I listened to the beat on your last vid, and the sound was HUGE! I'm an old school producer and today's sound is loud digitally but doesn't feel as alive as dawless.
Right now I'm using a Roland Juno and the Akai Force with FL studio. I really like the sound that I'm getting with that combo. The texture of the sounds are just different. I completely agree with what you were saying about the beats sounding big out of an mpc. I used to be fully based out of FL studio but about a year ago I just really wanted to change my sound. I wanted something different, something warmer
Thank you bolo. I thought i was getting crazy.. I bought a MPC and I can't use my iPad no more. The sound in the mpc is crazy and the limitation force the creativity to the sky.
I’m like you close to the same age range. Grew up using dawless, lord triton kurzweil and the Roland xp80. I’m getting back in the game and all this mouse and computer stuff has a different feel and it doesn’t sound as rich. I appreciate the work you putting in and I enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work! I’m a fan. Also, you just have a down to earth feel.
I would be willing to try the Dawless way. It sounds pretty good. Using a Daw works best for me at the moment. I'm used to it. I like your videos. They are very informative. Thank you.
Bolo Great Music Takes Time , the Albums they made back in the Day, remember it took almost 9 month for an album to come out. Bro i don't have to say enjoy the process.
someone coming from 15 years on a DAW to going into an MPC and outboard synths just in the last 3 months, I've been very much enjoying dawless even though it is kind of a pain in the ass in some respects. I've moved towards a more hybrid setup with the arrangement and mixing done more on the DAW, but one of the things I enjoy is figuring out how to do certain things that would be super simple in a DAW but requires more thought on the MPC. It's just super satisfying to figure it out and is akin to solving a puzzle.
I’ve been doing the dawless setup for about two years now and the quality is a lot different better in my opinion and once you learn the gear and set up some templates you’ll move just as fast as you would on a daw.
I only recently started dabbling in DAWless production. I've owned the Roland FA-06 for a couple years, but bought the MPC Live II a couple months ago. I made my first complete beat with those two recently. Then I tracked it all into Pro Tools and mixed it, and yes, the sound is definitely richer and fuller! I still use FL Studio sometimes, and I think FL and DAWless can definitely complement one another.
2003.... I started with a MPC 2500XL, Triton, MicroKorg and Motif ES6, 2021.. I have a MPC X, FL Studio and a host of VST's.. I love digital. I totally agree with you about the sound you get going dawless however, I love how clean my studio looks digital. I'm 41 btw so you definitely know your core audience.
I love the DAWless setup because it feels so vintage. I love having my rack units daisy-chained to the MPC2000 and all outputs running thru my analog mixer then into the computer for final mixing. You cant beat the warmth of having a Joe Meek at the end of the chain just before it hits the computer and not having to do much besides recording the vocal in the box thru my analog mixer
Used to have outboard gear. EPS / ASR-10. Went the way of the DAW in 98. Cakewalk to Studio One. Started using Gigasampler / Gigastudio. Kept all the libraries, converted them. Started sampling my own sounds. Loved the vintage sound, can emulate it in the DAW nowadays.
Damn you Bolo!!! I ended up buying those HS 8's you suggested to me... NOT CHEAP!!! but they show me what is wrong for sure!! Thanks my man.. cost me $$$$ but provided the light I needed in my Journey!!!
Didn't matter what the video was about... I saw a Bucs hat and clicked... I work off a daw but I also have analog equipment, so this helped also... Keep doin your thang... Go Bucs 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿
I do agree with you to a point. I route my audio to get the sound. I remember the old days, I had a Mac LC2 running music shop sequencer to trigger the instruments a M1 korg and Roland tr808. I enjoy the ease of today’s process. I still use a Roland JV 880, but I won’t return to a sequencer.
I find using software very fatiguing. Being hunched over a bright laptop and clicking with a mouse. Not a very inspiring way to create. I use my mpc(s) standing up like I dj. Its better for my back and gives me full access to everything in my studio. Using a daw can be overwhelming with the truly endless options. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy quickly throwing a idea together on Ableton but nothing beats taking time to master each piece of equipment and using unique setups to create music.
Building a whole track on hardware is a very tedious process. It slows me down and takes hours to peice the whole arrangement together. Then you have to mute and solo each track each individual instrument part out to record into your DAW. if you were recording all that to tape, good luck, if you mess up, you have rewind and start all back over. Technology has evolved that made things more easier instead of going backwards in the past working harder.
i came across this video in my recommendations and i’m glad i did man. as a younger rapper/producer, i started on FL Studio but this year i started transitioning into a hybrid setup out of curiosity and bro… the difference is definitely there. i have an MPC One, a Juno synthesizer keyboard and the MicroFreak by Arturia and the timbre of my drums hit harder on the MPC as opposed to drums programmed in FL. (he’s not lying ya’ll lol.) Dope video big homie 🤙🏾🛸
As long as you don't spend a couple of thousand dollar on a compressor or channel strip, there is nothing analog in your chain that's worth it soundwise.
I totally feel you Bro. I typically sequence everything on the Motif then dump. I mainly use the computer to add a voice or 2 that I might not have on a board and to mix/master. Sound stay thick!!!
I started making music in 1997 on the MPC 2000XL and the EMU MoPhatt. Then came the Korg triton, trinity etc... then Roland modules XV3080 and then the XV5080 and then the Fantom. But about two years ago I revamped my setup made my MPC 4000 the brain of my studio after not using any hardware to make music for more than a decade. When I listen to music I made for artist years ago, I can say with absolute certainty that although the computer is easier and quicker and gives a ton of flexibility when it comes to making music....It does indeed sound different from anything I made then and make now on hardware. I actually went back to making everything at 44.1k 16bit which is just a different kind of magic that happens in the hardware MPC world and gives me that umph that I forgot that I missed. Great video bro....keep um coming
I believe that the 2 different setups are basically just like the two tides high and low. Once you have experienced both, it becomes instinctual to know when to move in the opposite direction. It also comes around the 5-10 year mark of the computer being used. Maxing out the specs first and then the hard drive space demands some relief for the desktop computer and going back to dawless with limited desktop functions like you mentioned solves that concern. Today I learned a new technique of using iOS and the cloud for older midi devices and now even older gear will get subbed back in. So the next 3-5 years will prove or disprove whether the audience’s expectations and hopes are met with better quality music. Thanks for sharing your philosophies on the 2 sides because it is impossible to see the entire field from a single perspective!
I would love to have both. There's nothing like the feel of a Two Inch Reel To Reel Tape. The warmth is comforting. Feels good to the ears and the soul.
Good stuff. I fully agree with you completely. I was just listening to the 80s album by Stanley Clarke ‘if the space could only talk’ The recording quality of that is magical. I’d like to devise a test of how the mpc stay sounding Like real analog instruments. Of course there’s a small computer inside. But there’s so much hardware otherwise that thing couldn’t run on two gigs of RAM. It’s majority hardware. 8 outs into a board
I just dropped a beat and it seemed so hot when I was in running it through the console. When I tracked it out and played out outside of the console.... 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️ Those preamps... Good mixing... No substitution. Good content Bolo
Great video bro. I agree. I use the MPC Live for all my sample based beats and most of my drums. And then I track out and do whatever remaining mixing and mastering through Pro Tools. The only time I spend in my DAW is doing sound design with (and I cannot stress enough of how AMAZING of a sound bank it is) SampleTank 4. Then I can bounce those melodies out and into the MP. Time consuming yes, but the music sounds so professional.
You preaching some truths here Bolo. I have both hardware and software set ups. I have a Native Instruments set up of the Mikro mk2, the Jam, and the S61 mk2. My favorite and my go to is my hardware set up. I have 2 analogue synths (Moog Sub37 and Korg Prologue) MIDI sequenced by the MPC2000XL. I have 5 pre MIDI synths that I play live when I add them and I loop playing strings or wind instruments with a Boss RC505. The Native Instruments set up is a lot faster to create with and the sound is clean and modern. The Hardware set up can take more time depending on what I am doing but the sound is warm and alive. Both have their place and it's great to have the options.
Bolo, I concur. Still love Reason and Maschine Studio. However, I've invested in a gang of analog gear over the past couple years for the live hands-on aspect of manipulation. Keys, knobs, buttons, faders, etc at my fingertips vs. track pads and mouse clicks. Initially, becoming reacquainted, I felt like a fish out of water having to relearn how to produce creatively with hardware. It has forced me to become a better creater and I love it❗And yes, arranging, sequencing, editing, etc are indeed, entirely different animals this way. That analog warmth is where it's at though. Dope vid bruh❗
I am currently in the process of trying to put together a dawless setup. Was using Pro Tools for some time but I’m looking at having to upgrade my computer. Using my MPC at the moment and looking at building around that for a dawless setup.
you summed it up perfectly brother...love the magical sound of real keyboards and drum machines but still like the vsts for convenience BUT THE SOUND with the AD/DA converters - for sure!!! In saying that there's something amazing about synths like Vital, especially for its digital clarity and sublime, often shimmering overall pristine cleaness.
Wassup Bolo. I hope all is well. Great video. I started with a DAW-Less setup years ago. (ASR 10 and a Pyramid Mixer) Went to school to learn to engineer. Over time I got other equipment and soon life took over and I did not have as much time to make music. Finally, I got back to it and I was using my DAW but, it did not feel as fun as when I was using my ASR or MPC I even got Maschine (I don't like the sequencer) So, now I use both. Basically pretty much the same as you do.
Started in fl studio and reason many years ago. Got an mpc live about a year and a half ago. Since getting my mpc, I've made so many more beats than when I used software only.
Sup champ - I just purchased the Akai Force about 3 weeks ago - I fell Studio One is always going to be my goto but wanted to learn a new way to produce vs learn a new DAW - I was so tired of hearing others say analog sounds richer {which I already lowkey know} - The learning curve does not intimidate me, however there are not a lot of tutorials on the Force right now. Nonetheless I am committed to learn it by having nothing less than 20 minute sessions daily -
Yep I'm in my early 30s...you are correct on the "hardware" & that analog sound has a vibe... its the same with my tube amps vs. plugins. Tone Differences
You nail it when you say it comes down to the preamps. That and maybe also analog EQ and compression. Even if you also apply EQ and compression in the DAW after you've tracked your analog instruments into it, being able to shape the sound in the mixer before going into the interface makes a big difference.
@@crnkmnky - Yes. I actually watched an audio engineer do this many years ago. I asked him why he did that and wouldn't that degrade the signal, and he answered that it brings analog warmth back into tracks that were recorded straight to digital, and that as long as the digital-to-analog conversion on the outbound side and the analog-to-digital conversion on the return side were all done with good equipment and resolution, then the signal wouldn't degrade. And the end result proved him right.
Hell I'll say that sh!#* str8 up, I still got a MPC 2000 in my Mastering Recording Studio set up somewhere & a Korg Triton Studio 76 Key with maxed out EXB's... So I can go either way depending on the project, honestly these days I set up a whole another cpu hub in my office space where I do most of my Graphic's to rock with the MPC Software & all my Plug In's, so you already know how that goes Bro... 🔥💥🔥 #Salute...👑✨👑
Great vid Bolo. Love listening to you. I use Both dawless (mpc one and recently Force) and use S1. Both ways are good.. depends how I’m feeling and what’s in my head. Dawless makes you (well, me!) work/think in a different way and it does let you come up with pieces that you would never think of when in a daw. Main difference is the spontaneity for me. The tools we have now are so incredible!!
First off big ups on ya videos. J-Love the producer. Put me on Reason years ago, became efficient ass hell with it. But when he put me up on the Mpc x… my Mac is for watching your tutorials now. The sounds are close to the Mpc 60. I am a 70’S. Baby so I have seen a lot & heard most.. Keep it coming Bro 😎
+1 I compose outside the daw with hardware synths, MPC, effects and then track to the daw for mixing. I love the warmth and depth of analog. I’ve also created an analog chain for my 2buss, eq, color box, compressor, for that final analog pass before print. 62 yrs old btw, and still jamming. Love the channel, continuous inspiration.
I’m 52 years old and have been making beats since the mid 80’s. I still have my MPC 2000 and outboard gear. I also have Protools, Logic and FL Studio. I have grown love creating with FL and Logic but I still treat computers like a REEL to REEL, the old Adats, DA88’s or just plain old DATS.
🙌
To me there are two advantages of an analog production setup: Sound (the stereo field, the warmth/weight of the sounds) and the BIGGEST advantage is ZERO latency
Yes!
Mpc is digital
MPC is a Computer and have naturally a latency. Debunked with your own argument. And Analog gear has also latency. (MIDI has also problems with higher polyphonie)
Even digital circuits are made from analog parts
@@BoloDaProducer I get a scammer comment on every comment I leave on your videos these days. It is beyond terrible. I uasually go out of my way to report them and others I find on community replies around my post. They are really plaguing your channel 😐
Couldnt agree more! Dope video Bolo
Thanks man, love your videos 💪🏾
I follow both of you guys. I’ve been bangin’ out for 30+ and I respect how you guys move when it comes to this music ish. Sound is important and of all the channels here on CZcams I watch you both are the most thorough. Tracking out beats is the best way to maximize your sound. Peace!
Same 👊🏼🙌🏼
When are we going to get your hot take on the mpcs with new firmware? I know you did a video on he live a while ago but would be good to do a new one to see whether you think they’ve ironed out the issues- maybe the mpc one? Love your work anyway Ricky 💓
A large part of me putting my MPC 4000 back into rotation and making it the center of my studio set up once again is because of watching your videos and watching how you used it to make great house music. Honestly, I don't care how long it takes to make a great piece of art because for me the tool is just as important in that process. No need to rush creativity because things are timely when they need to be which makes the entire process fun!
It’s all about those sound cards. Analog equipment has a certain umph. Oh and 51 💪🏾
hardware holds its value, vsts you have to almost give away after paying $300 for it over time that can reach up in the 1,000 are more.
I wouldn't call hardware rompler synths or drum machines "analog" gear. They are still technically digital equipment because they have their own DAC and uses sampled based sounds stored on a chip. Analog outboard gear like EQs and Compressors is different that's 100% pure analog like an analog mixing console.
@@CarlosRamos-lz8ul I agree but there are drum machines that are not samples based. I’ll record a live piano Rhodes Moog even drum set. There’s a process to everything. The digital was created to remember presets. A/D D/A there will always be a merger of the two.
@@jerzboybeats9555 as long as the hardware has an internal DAC for sound to come out its still some what of a digital peice of hardware because an embedded computer is need to talk to the DAC. The XV5080, MOTIF, Fantoms and Tritions are reffered to as Romplers. An MPC alone isn't going to give you that phat analog sound out of the box since it's a computer it's self. You are programming and sequencing midi data and the sound comes out of its internal DAC or bypass the DAC and use ADAT to connect to your Audio interface. Dr. Dre use to run his MPC through his large format analog SSL console and an analog outboard to give it some warthm and character.
You can pretty much do the same thing soft synths with a multi channel audio interface with some analog outboard compressors and eqs etc. You assign and route your soft synth line outs of your interface and route the signal through your analog gear and print the audio back into your DAW through the line inputs of your interface.
I definitely agree with you on this one, I use my MPC for 90% of my production.. It causes me to be more creative and original. I only use arcade to add a little sauce on the end of my creative content. Keep the videos coming bro ✊🏿
Bolo... i agree 100% .. MPC workflow is so slow compared to what you can do with Logic Pro and Serato Sample.. but MPC sounds different i can't explain why.. DAWLESS just sounds rich
Totally! I have been dawless since 2019 and folks keep asking me about my sounds. I’m glad I’ve moved over to dawless, especially since it’s just so much more hands on. However, I did recently mentor 20 youth on the importance of knowing both in certain cases, even just for longevity. Thanks for this! May you and your family stay in good hands. :)
💪🏾
Totally agree. Dawless recordings just have a warm fat sound. It goes back to early days and golden era of hip hop when everything was new and being created not imitated.
i think it was mostly the golden era b/c sampling hadnt been made so prohibitively expensive.
I like both because it keeps you having to come at ideas from different angles, keep you creative. I love having something like a Circuit around that I can just grab, lay down a framework for an idea that I can tinker with, go in and really flesh out with other gear, or in the box.
give me a triton and a MPC countless of hits have been made with this combo
Tru
Do you think the Neptunes named themselves The Neptunes because they were using the triton so much? “Triton is the largest natural satellite of the planet Neptune, and was the first Neptunian moon to be discovered, on October 10, 1846, by English astronomer William Lassell. It is the only large moon in the Solar System with a retrograde orbit, an orbit in the direction opposite to its planet's rotation.”
@@MCEEZR always figured it was because they were from Virginia Beach.
Hybrid set up over here some days start in dawless some days start in daw enjoy having best of both worlds 👍🏾
You ain’t lying.🙏
@@soufpro deffly
I just sum everything through my Analog mixer, Fat sound!
@@allenthomas182 analog summing? Which one you usin? That’s interesting
@@WavetableMetaphysics I use my laptops as a sound module, then run the outputs to a small 4 channel mixer to get the analog goodness then to my DAW then to a 20 channel Yamaha mixer
I can remember those days of writing on my old Roland MP1 and having to "Truncate" most of the samples because you didn't have enough storage. I was able to track out 8 pads and take them on the road. I Really don't miss the long time frame, but the sounds that I was able to get then showed clearly that there was a definite difference. The sounds that my old Korg X3, Yamaha X5, and Roland SD50, and others were definitely the things that "Legends" have been made from. I have been trying for "Years" to try and recreate those "analog" sound on the different "DAW" platforms from Cakewalk all the way through to now my DAW of choice Presonus Studio One Pro. It is a work in progress, but those "Gems" from AKAI, Kurzweil, Korg, Roland, and Yamaha are staples in an industry that really knew what they were doing when they built those older workstations and then we bounced those tracks down to either DAT, ADAT or the old TASCAM 2 Inch Tape Decks. Those were the days of spending 4 hours on just 30 seconds of "Splice Tape" to make something that sounded in our terms "decent". Nice 15 second beat on your other youtube video. Thanks for sharing.
I like the technical side of a dawless set up. Using some keyboards running midi cables thru the MPC and making the MPC the main sequencer. Need to get into the Daw. I also use a Tascam DP-32 it so easy to track with. Love your videos their very helpful 🙏🏾💯✊🏾
Industrial secret: Standalones have sine wave output error correction and their clocks aren't on an interrupt request list. Computers are micro timeout factories. Interrupted sine waves= flattened dynamics. Doesn't matter what interface you invested in.
Very Interesting 🧐 Kool Bro 👍🏾
You could have nailed the reason for the differences for sure! My old MPC2K sounded killer back in the day before TRAP came in, I would just send individual outs on separate tracks on big desk, like SSL G4000. Since FL I have been tormented because although Cubase (I was early user of Cubase) was amazing with Drum and Key Editor, the FL sound was Hip-Hop. Reason with RB-338 was great but; niche method of working. Haven't used Studio One or delved into Logic but; now thinking of going DAWless with MPC Live II and linking with SP-1200 and just track out to PT. Sorry, for long reply but; my head is spinning on this topic! Peace to you and Bolo
@@deiwar2994 the technical term for error correction is: linear interpolation. Computers drop so many frames, they need to be dithered (a noise to mask quantization noise). Sequoia is the only DAW I know of that exports with linear interpolation.
Recording in the box adds clicks and pops to your music.
@@BigStereoVR would summing mixer help?
I think it depends on what your working on.....the gear you use are the colors and your DAW or DAWless rig is the canvas......if the sound you are going for requires a DAWless sound then go for that......and if what you are working on requires a DAW sound then use it......I think going back and forth between the two as well as using other methods, creates appreciation for each approach. This will keep you organically creative instead of just recycling what everybody else is doing and will also help your ears to stay diverse and balanced. just my 2c
38 years old here still using a 1992 Korg 01R/W, Roland JV90, Roland Fantom G7, Roland Integra 7 and a Tascam DP-24SD 😁 I tried out ableton 11 live and everything was confusing so I went back to my Dawlessset up that's been working for me for a year. When I was recording with a buddy of mine we used a Mackie 32 bus mixer and HDD Recorders with CD burners 😅
In logic I like to throw the vintage console eq on the stereo out and drive it all the way and then make the beat into it. Closest thing to actually tracking into a real console that I’ve found
There should be a video on this setup!
@@casecold1864 not always
@@OnlyEricB czcams.com/video/H_XCprKGU2A/video.html
Logic's "Phat FX" also sounds dope and gives an analogue feel on the master.
You preaching the Gospel Family !! A/d then D/A converters hitting real preamps cannot be beaten !!!!! Facts !!!!!
I come from the mpc60 family of beat making and i'm happy to hear you break down what up and coming beat makers are missing in being in that creative box without a computer. SALUTE to you BOLO.
Having all the options inside the box can be an amazing distraction. You have literally endless amounts of combinations to go through with the plug ins. It is great but can bog the creative process down with too many options. The DAWless set up has a ton of limitations that can be frustrating to work with at first but it can also provide a tremendous amount of focus but giving you the ability to make a solid foundation or the bones of a project. I like having the 26.2 seconds of sample time in my MPC60 and going into the guts into getting everything I can out of that limit. Even sampling at 45RPM and pitching it down "does things to the sound." A more deliberate process for sure but the sound is baked in on the way into to tape/DAW for mix down
Going manual can be a pain, but it sure does teach you alot. I have an Akai force that I am learning and it has been a real challenge moving from Ableton to a standalone machine. I use it for idea development, sound design, and general learning. It really does force you to think outside the box. My setup does have alot of flexibility for me to take things back to Ableton and work on them more, but just the pure development stage of beats is ruff. I have to spend more time with my setup to have that instant muscle memory of the features and to feel less limited by my knowledge.
Started making music in the DAW less era. Korg Trinity ASR 10 MPC 2000xl. The sound is Authentic. The Midi and Computer era is good as well. I just cannot stand the crashing and the not responding that takes place on the computer. Hardware works hard and the storage is Beautiful you just got to drop everything in the DAW. I'm the Old New School 91-2022 type of producer. I seen things change throughout the years.I prefer Hardware but DAW makes the editing more user friendly while mixing. I stayed in manuals and books back in those days. Great Videos BOLO Super Dope Producer
I’m ONLY in the box as a producer and mixer, but I have found a lot of uses for “Decimort 2” by D16. Lets you dial in specific ad/da conversion sounds from popular samplers and have very fine control over bit depth, and all the fixin’s. When it was a dirt cheap sale, which is often, I grabbed it and I dig using it to set bright, sharp sounds back in the mix. I heard 40 used it on some Drake stuff and I dig it.
Love the channel, man! You always inspire
I use the Reaper Daw, but i always go back to just doing everything in the MPC because thats how i taught myself. Its definitely fun and the sound is extraordinary
Bolo I agree with everything you said. Very well explained. Like you I come from the traditional way of recording and mixing. Also like you I use a hybrid method of DAW and DAW less applications. There are characteristics that analog gear adds to an analog keyboard, bass, etc that just enhances the sound. Many times working with just plugins and vsts requires a little more work to achieve what analog provides.
With that said, you can still be successful if you hone your craft and really understand how to use whatever you're working with to its best capabilities. You have made this clear many times. Thank you for your great videos.
DT
You are absolutely right BOLO! There's no way that integrated technology can match true component. I went to school for electronics and I know first-hand that component is the way to go! You've Got To Be A O/G to know!😎
From one artist to another....
You're so smart, my dude.
Keep up the good work
so true old things never die they duplicate & imitate then multiply
Right on big dawg you just helped me make up my mind... I'm going to start tracking my drums live. You really don't need as much processing if you get that authentic velocity. FL studio does a good job simulating it tho especially if you stack your drums
Bolo. Idk why man, but I'm being moved to tell you this.
Don't quit.
Absolutely love your content, its helped me tremendously. Extremely inspiring and motivating. You got a gift. God bless, keep you head up brutha!
I produced on Logic for 12 years after using Fruity Loops for several. I just started to dig into Cubase and Studio One, then got a Fantom and never looked back. After plugging it into the SSL interface, the sound is like no other. Technically speaking, I have a hybrid setup, using the interface and recording my projects through Pro Tools. I do this because the Fantom has a ridiculous set of steps to bounce a project, and I prefer 48k. I also like using the SSL plug-ins to master in a way that the keyboard cannot.
I do still mess with Logic, but it is mostly to finish up old projects. The big difference is with finding sounds. While Logic seems endless, I never realized how much time I lost with pulling up plug-ins to change the sound. On the Fantom, it is a turn of a knob, or just a button to press, right next to where my hand is already. Not only is the sound quality superior, but the workflow is great.
The Fantom ain't cheap, but neither were the thousands of dollars in software and plug-ins. As an audio engineer, I could tell you that the dynamics of this setup sound like they came from something that costs more than a few grand. Worth every penny. It definitely took my production to the next level, and I could never imagine switching back to producing on a DAW at this point.
By the way, I am an old head (pushing 40) and started out on drum machines as a teenager. Been in the game for a minute.
man you cats are saying what I’ve been thinking for years now. I listen to songs that I’d done years before and I can hear a depth that I have to do a lot to make happen in a computer and it never quite gets there.
and ppl don't realize that if you dump a MPC session stems into Logic Pro... the audio already has depth and richness because of the MP. anything added after that just builds it up
💪🏾💪🏾
The MPC is a digital hardware product basically a small integrated computer in a box. The MPC it's self has no effect on the depth and sound that's comming out of it, it's the analog outboard gear that the line outs of the MPC goes into that gives its color and saturation. Dr. Dre use to run his MPC through his SSL analog console to give it that warmth. You can do the same thing with soft synths in your DAW and run the line outputs of your interface into an analog eq, compressor or pre amp and print back into your DAW which pretty typical for Hybrid mixing.
I feel you! I love the DAWless production!! Sounds way better than the thin sounding production coming out of the computer. I miss Adats and reel to reels and analog boards. Beefed up the sound. Im only now getting into the computer production. It gets on the way sometimes. I just want to turn on the heat and make a beat with out the mouse.
I feel ya on that Analog sound. I was on the road with Juvy and UTP as producer and we set up camp in Nashville, TN at The Love Shack Studio to record Skip album and while the entourage went club hopping, me and John "JP" Pegram wanted my track to keep that phat analog sound from my ASR 10. We spent 15 hours trying to mix and sync that bad boy up but it was worth it.
agree about the A/D conversion adding some weight and depth to the sound; some times the computer beats can have a flat clean sound but also the hands on aspect of making beats on hardware
8:05 it’s so worth it. That special thing you hear is warmth. I feel that’s missing today in alot of songs today.
Bolo, I salute you brother! I'm old school man. 52 years young and I grew up mixing on 4 tracks. LOL. But, I just purchased the MPC One and I find that I do my best work on it because I'm giving myself limitations. I play my guitar through the MPC and honestly, it gives me the feeling I had when I first started recording on 4 tracks. I mix in logic and to your point, I find that I don't have to do much to enhance it. You confirmed my thoughts. Thank you again!
Over the past 30 years I have had a ridiculous amount of equipment. Right now I have the FA-06 and an Akai Force set up very similar to what you are using. When I hit on that combination I started selling off other things. 51
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Love you content.
Another dope video Bolo...u hit the nail dead on with this one. I agree with u i do use both daw and dawless. Tbh the dawless is more gratifying when im done due to all the elements it takes to complete my track. But the daw is great for hashing out that vibe for instant ideas. The daw is always ready but my standalone section is just my favorite place to be.
I agree 1000 percent with Bolo plue it forces you to be more creative in some ways.
Computers are cool , but ain’t nothing hitting like analog or the older machines hands down . The sound is deeper , richer and full now you may have limitations with dawless gear and you will put in more work but it’s worth it in the end
Its more a waste of time when you can get the very same result(sometimes even better)faster using a daw. When you work in a studio, you quickly realise how precious time is
@@BigSocksProds youre not getting the same result from fl studio that you’d get from an mpc 3000. To me it’s a waste of time trying to mimic it in a daw
Rompler Hardware Synths and Drum Machines are NOT "analog" hardware. They are digital hardware products. They are acutally computers themselves because they have a CPU, internal memory, the sounds are digital that's stored on a flash chip and they have their own Digital interface such as a DAC or ADAT. The MOTIF and MPC has their own OS or firmware that controls and runs the whole thing just like your Mac or PC. It's an integrated computer in a box.
Agreed, Bolo. I listened to the beat on your last vid, and the sound was HUGE! I'm an old school producer and today's sound is loud digitally but doesn't feel as alive as dawless.
Bolo said, you even got cakewalk.. that’s what I started on before they called it sonar.. like cakewalk 7 or 8 🤣
Me too!
Right now I'm using a Roland Juno and the Akai Force with FL studio. I really like the sound that I'm getting with that combo. The texture of the sounds are just different. I completely agree with what you were saying about the beats sounding big out of an mpc. I used to be fully based out of FL studio but about a year ago I just really wanted to change my sound. I wanted something different, something warmer
Came back to DAWless last year with my MPC One! So nice to be liberated from the laptop!
Thank you bolo.
I thought i was getting crazy.. I bought a MPC and I can't use my iPad no more.
The sound in the mpc is crazy and the limitation force the creativity to the sky.
I’m like you close to the same age range. Grew up using dawless, lord triton kurzweil and the Roland xp80. I’m getting back in the game and all this mouse and computer stuff has a different feel and it doesn’t sound as rich. I appreciate the work you putting in and I enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work! I’m a fan. Also, you just have a down to earth feel.
Thanks 🔥
I would be willing to try the Dawless way. It sounds pretty good. Using a Daw works best for me at the moment. I'm used to it. I like your videos. They are very informative. Thank you.
100% True. The heat going through those analog wires cannot be replicated by a daw :))
Even piping VSTs out of the computer either back into itself through my interface or into my Akai force. You can get a greater sound.
Bolo Great Music Takes Time , the Albums they made back in the Day, remember it took almost 9 month for an album to come out. Bro i don't have to say enjoy the process.
True!!
someone coming from 15 years on a DAW to going into an MPC and outboard synths just in the last 3 months, I've been very much enjoying dawless even though it is kind of a pain in the ass in some respects. I've moved towards a more hybrid setup with the arrangement and mixing done more on the DAW, but one of the things I enjoy is figuring out how to do certain things that would be super simple in a DAW but requires more thought on the MPC. It's just super satisfying to figure it out and is akin to solving a puzzle.
I’m in my 60s, and still listening bro 👍🏼✌🏼
Getting the MPC and liking the sound forced me to learn how to "print" the audio to the computer. There's a big difference.
I’ve been doing the dawless setup for about two years now and the quality is a lot different better in my opinion and once you learn the gear and set up some templates you’ll move just as fast as you would on a daw.
I only recently started dabbling in DAWless production. I've owned the Roland FA-06 for a couple years, but bought the MPC Live II a couple months ago. I made my first complete beat with those two recently. Then I tracked it all into Pro Tools and mixed it, and yes, the sound is definitely richer and fuller! I still use FL Studio sometimes, and I think FL and DAWless can definitely complement one another.
Nothing beats FL piano roll
2003.... I started with a MPC 2500XL, Triton, MicroKorg and Motif ES6, 2021.. I have a MPC X, FL Studio and a host of VST's.. I love digital. I totally agree with you about the sound you get going dawless however, I love how clean my studio looks digital. I'm 41 btw so you definitely know your core audience.
I love the DAWless setup because it feels so vintage. I love having my rack units daisy-chained to the MPC2000 and all outputs running thru my analog mixer then into the computer for final mixing. You cant beat the warmth of having a Joe Meek at the end of the chain just before it hits the computer and not having to do much besides recording the vocal in the box thru my analog mixer
Used to have outboard gear. EPS / ASR-10. Went the way of the DAW in 98. Cakewalk to Studio One. Started using Gigasampler / Gigastudio. Kept all the libraries, converted them. Started sampling my own sounds. Loved the vintage sound, can emulate it in the DAW nowadays.
Really interesting talk, thank you Bolo!
Damn you Bolo!!! I ended up buying those HS 8's you suggested to me... NOT CHEAP!!! but they show me what is wrong for sure!!
Thanks my man.. cost me $$$$ but provided the light I needed in my Journey!!!
Didn't matter what the video was about... I saw a Bucs hat and clicked... I work off a daw but I also have analog equipment, so this helped also... Keep doin your thang... Go Bucs 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿
I do agree with you to a point. I route my audio to get the sound. I remember the old days, I had a Mac LC2 running music shop sequencer to trigger the instruments a M1 korg and Roland tr808. I enjoy the ease of today’s process. I still use a Roland JV 880, but I won’t return to a sequencer.
Making beats on my mpcx and running it through SSL Six is Super Sick!!
I find using software very fatiguing. Being hunched over a bright laptop and clicking with a mouse. Not a very inspiring way to create. I use my mpc(s) standing up like I dj. Its better for my back and gives me full access to everything in my studio.
Using a daw can be overwhelming with the truly endless options. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy quickly throwing a idea together on Ableton but nothing beats taking time to master each piece of equipment and using unique setups to create music.
Building a whole track on hardware is a very tedious process. It slows me down and takes hours to peice the whole arrangement together. Then you have to mute and solo each track each individual instrument part out to record into your DAW. if you were recording all that to tape, good luck, if you mess up, you have rewind and start all back over. Technology has evolved that made things more easier instead of going backwards in the past working harder.
Actually playing a track on overdub is way more satisfying than laying out a pattern
i came across this video in my recommendations and i’m glad i did man. as a younger rapper/producer, i started on FL Studio but this year i started transitioning into a hybrid setup out of curiosity and bro… the difference is definitely there. i have an MPC One, a Juno synthesizer keyboard and the MicroFreak by Arturia and the timbre of my drums hit harder on the MPC as opposed to drums programmed in FL.
(he’s not lying ya’ll lol.)
Dope video big homie 🤙🏾🛸
I'm glad trap producers are turning to analog more and more. I'm a sample producer I male 90s beats I've been hip
As long as you don't spend a couple of thousand dollar on a compressor or channel strip, there is nothing analog in your chain that's worth it soundwise.
@@casecold1864 what do you mean? Like digital and analog are basically the same?
I totally feel you Bro. I typically sequence everything on the Motif then dump. I mainly use the computer to add a voice or 2 that I might not have on a board and to mix/master. Sound stay thick!!!
FACTS BROE I AGREE, MY FLOW IS MPC X ,KEYBOARD TO LOGIC to mix and master.
Yessir!!!!🔥🔥🔥
today i woke up and took a giant Boloooooo😂😂😂 whatup OG!! love yah G keep up the good videos family
🔥🔥🔥
The MPC 2000XL AD/DA converters and pre-amps are unmatched!!!! I agree with you. You're about to make me buy outboard gear again.
I started making music in 1997 on the MPC 2000XL and the EMU MoPhatt. Then came the Korg triton, trinity etc... then Roland modules XV3080 and then the XV5080 and then the Fantom. But about two years ago I revamped my setup made my MPC 4000 the brain of my studio after not using any hardware to make music for more than a decade. When I listen to music I made for artist years ago, I can say with absolute certainty that although the computer is easier and quicker and gives a ton of flexibility when it comes to making music....It does indeed sound different from anything I made then and make now on hardware. I actually went back to making everything at 44.1k 16bit which is just a different kind of magic that happens in the hardware MPC world and gives me that umph that I forgot that I missed. Great video bro....keep um coming
I believe that the 2 different setups are basically just like the two tides high and low.
Once you have experienced both, it becomes instinctual to know when to move in the opposite direction.
It also comes around the 5-10 year mark of the computer being used. Maxing out the specs first and then the hard drive space demands some relief for the desktop computer and going back to dawless with limited desktop functions like you mentioned solves that concern.
Today I learned a new technique of using iOS and the cloud for older midi devices and now even older gear will get subbed back in.
So the next 3-5 years will prove or disprove whether the audience’s expectations and hopes are met with better quality music.
Thanks for sharing your philosophies on the 2 sides because it is impossible to see the entire field from a single perspective!
I would love to have both. There's nothing like the feel of a Two Inch Reel To Reel Tape. The warmth is comforting. Feels good to the ears and the soul.
That's our top-secret! The new Jacks will never understand. Using both is best sometimes. Analog wins every time!
Good stuff. I fully agree with you completely. I was just listening to the 80s album by Stanley Clarke ‘if the space could only talk’
The recording quality of that is magical. I’d like to devise a test of how the mpc stay sounding Like real analog instruments. Of course there’s a small computer inside. But there’s so much hardware otherwise that thing couldn’t run on two gigs of RAM. It’s majority hardware. 8 outs into a board
I just dropped a beat and it seemed so hot when I was in running it through the console. When I tracked it out and played out outside of the console.... 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
Those preamps... Good mixing... No substitution. Good content Bolo
Great video bro. I agree. I use the MPC Live for all my sample based beats and most of my drums. And then I track out and do whatever remaining mixing and mastering through Pro Tools. The only time I spend in my DAW is doing sound design with (and I cannot stress enough of how AMAZING of a sound bank it is) SampleTank 4. Then I can bounce those melodies out and into the MP. Time consuming yes, but the music sounds so professional.
You preaching some truths here Bolo. I have both hardware and software set ups. I have a Native Instruments set up of the Mikro mk2, the Jam, and the S61 mk2. My favorite and my go to is my hardware set up. I have 2 analogue synths (Moog Sub37 and Korg Prologue) MIDI sequenced by the MPC2000XL. I have 5 pre MIDI synths that I play live when I add them and I loop playing strings or wind instruments with a Boss RC505. The Native Instruments set up is a lot faster to create with and the sound is clean and modern. The Hardware set up can take more time depending on what I am doing but the sound is warm and alive. Both have their place and it's great to have the options.
Bolo, I concur. Still love Reason and Maschine Studio. However, I've invested in a gang of analog gear over the past couple years for the live hands-on aspect of manipulation. Keys, knobs, buttons, faders, etc at my fingertips vs. track pads and mouse clicks. Initially, becoming reacquainted, I felt like a fish out of water having to relearn how to produce creatively with hardware. It has forced me to become a better creater and I love it❗And yes, arranging, sequencing, editing, etc are indeed, entirely different animals this way. That analog warmth is where it's at though. Dope vid bruh❗
You spot on right about this subject that's why I use analog gear.
Thank you. This helps and your questions are Golden.
great vid man. Totally agree bout the dawless setup. It takes more time to learn and to pull off sometimes but it's sooo worth it.
If y'all on a budget I highly recommend getting a sp404 or standalone
I am currently in the process of trying to put together a dawless setup. Was using Pro Tools for some time but I’m looking at having to upgrade my computer. Using my MPC at the moment and looking at building around that for a dawless setup.
I agree brother! I had to go and cop an alesis 3630 compressor just because of the circuitry on it. Combine that with the mpc1000 and it’s magic
you summed it up perfectly brother...love the magical sound of real keyboards and drum machines but still like the vsts for convenience BUT THE SOUND with the AD/DA converters - for sure!!! In saying that there's something amazing about synths like Vital, especially for its digital clarity and sublime, often shimmering overall pristine cleaness.
Wassup Bolo. I hope all is well. Great video. I started with a DAW-Less setup years ago. (ASR 10 and a Pyramid Mixer) Went to school to learn to engineer. Over time I got other equipment and soon life took over and I did not have as much time to make music. Finally, I got back to it and I was using my DAW but, it did not feel as fun as when I was using my ASR or MPC I even got Maschine (I don't like the sequencer)
So, now I use both. Basically pretty much the same as you do.
Started in fl studio and reason many years ago. Got an mpc live about a year and a half ago. Since getting my mpc, I've made so many more beats than when I used software only.
Sup champ - I just purchased the Akai Force about 3 weeks ago - I fell Studio One is always going to be my goto but wanted to learn a new way to produce vs learn a new DAW - I was so tired of hearing others say analog sounds richer {which I already lowkey know} - The learning curve does not intimidate me, however there are not a lot of tutorials on the Force right now. Nonetheless I am committed to learn it by having nothing less than 20 minute sessions daily -
My foundation is in dawless. Since 88 it has been a long time of back n forth of dawless to daw set up. Either way is awesome
Yep I'm in my early 30s...you are correct on the "hardware" & that analog sound has a vibe... its the same with my tube amps vs. plugins. Tone Differences
Coming from a beginner in the beat making community I really appreciate your videos bro
I have a dawless set up and man... One of the best decisions I've made regarding my specific sound.
You nail it when you say it comes down to the preamps. That and maybe also analog EQ and compression. Even if you also apply EQ and compression in the DAW after you've tracked your analog instruments into it, being able to shape the sound in the mixer before going into the interface makes a big difference.
Do you think running the digital tracks through the same analog equipment (and then back into the DAW) would “elevate” their sound?
@@crnkmnky - Yes. I actually watched an audio engineer do this many years ago. I asked him why he did that and wouldn't that degrade the signal, and he answered that it brings analog warmth back into tracks that were recorded straight to digital, and that as long as the digital-to-analog conversion on the outbound side and the analog-to-digital conversion on the return side were all done with good equipment and resolution, then the signal wouldn't degrade. And the end result proved him right.
Hell I'll say that sh!#* str8 up, I still got a MPC 2000 in my Mastering Recording Studio set up somewhere & a Korg Triton Studio 76 Key with maxed out EXB's... So I can go either way depending on the project, honestly these days I set up a whole another cpu hub in my office space where I do most of my Graphic's to rock with the MPC Software & all my Plug In's, so you already know how that goes Bro... 🔥💥🔥 #Salute...👑✨👑
Great vid Bolo. Love listening to you. I use Both dawless (mpc one and recently Force) and use S1. Both ways are good.. depends how I’m feeling and what’s in my head. Dawless makes you (well, me!) work/think in a different way and it does let you come up with pieces that you would never think of when in a daw. Main difference is the spontaneity for me. The tools we have now are so incredible!!
First off big ups on ya videos. J-Love the producer. Put me on Reason years ago, became efficient ass hell with it. But when he put me up on the Mpc x… my Mac is for watching your tutorials now. The sounds are close to the Mpc 60. I am a 70’S. Baby so I have seen a lot & heard most.. Keep it coming Bro 😎