NEED HELP SETTING UP MPC 2500 and SP 303

[cryingabomination]

I’ve been running a combination of software and hardware in my setup.
I do an external fx loop in ableton w/ my 303 and I have the mpc controlling the midi for both ableton and the 303.

I want to change to a strictly hardware setup and I need help hooking up the 303 and the 2500 into a loop while also being able to sample from my turntable or laptop.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=24531

This post kind of pushed me in the right direction but I can’t figure out how I would sample from an external source.

I’ve scoured the forum for hours and still can’t find the answer so any help will be greatly appreciated

[cryingabomination]

Don't want to seem like I'm begging, but I could really use the help.
I haven't made anything since I made this post due to frustration in setting this up.

[h2o]

I would suggest a decent mixer and get familiar with aux sends or subgroups. I’m using a 404 and MPC 1000, outputs to my mixer. Whenever I want to sample something I open up the aux sends which are wired from the mixer back to the inputs on the 1000. So for example you could have aux 1&2 sending to the MPC and 3&4 sending to the 404, you could also achieve this with subgroups if your mixer has them. This also opens up sampling to anything going into the mixer (synths and bass DIs for me). I’m using a Mackie 1604 VLZ pro.

[Sharris]

I use a 2500 with a 404sx , turntable & multiple pieces of hardware, but use a mixer, which helps with routing so I don't have to unplug anything.

Before getting the mixer I would just do what I could. I had to unplug things, but was completely ok with that, I was having a blast making beats & even plugging things in was fun "what does this do?"

Attack 1 problem at a time, not the entire set up to lessen the frustration.

Too frustrating using everything together? Shit you have a 303 & a MPC 2500, either one can make beats on it's own.

Experiment & play. A great way to learn.

Since the 2500 & 303 are samplers you can sample anything into them & sample back & forth between them.

What is your turntable plugged into? Do you have a dj mixer?

Want to sample from your laptop? Plug it into the 303 then the 303 into the 2500, you can sample into the 2500 with 303 effects. Or plug the laptop straight into the 2500. Maybe plug the outs of the 2500 to the ins of the 303 to put 303 effects on the entire beat.

Sample from the 303 into 2500, sample from 2500 into 303. Can also midi them up, use the 2500 to control the 303.

You can use the equipment you have right now without a mixer you'll just have to unplug & replug things.

If you want to use everything you have all together without unplugging, a mixer or a patchbay would do the trick. I think there is even a small device you can get to switch between sampling into the 303 & into the 2500, but getting a mixer would be ideal.

If you want to use your equipment together but are ok with unplugging things as you use them, you should have all you need (you might need a few audio &/or midi cables depending on what you already have).

Are you having a specific issue? If so let us know, I'm sure someone on here can help. The MPC forums have a lot of info as well

[cryingabomination]

Thank you h2o and Sharris for your replies!

I ended up finding a decent mixer with auxiliary send tracks (I don't know the exact model off top of my head right now but I'll let you know when I'm home if you are interested.)

Now everything is working in unison like one big machine and I couldn't be happier.

I liked the whole un-plugging and experimenting approach for a while, but as time wen on it got more tedious than anything.

[Sharris]

Nice I'm glad you got it set up how you want it.

I shouldn't have assumed you didn't already make beats that way (unplugging & plugging back in)..... I get it's frustrating, it's the reason I got a mixer in the first place, to have everything up & running & ready to use without hassle.

When I first got a mixer & had everything ready to go it was a great feeling!

[cryingabomination]

Nice I'm glad you got it set up how you want it.

I shouldn't have assumed you didn't already make beats that way (unplugging & plugging back in)..... I get it's frustrating, it's the reason I got a mixer in the first place, to have everything up & running & ready to use without hassle.

When I first got a mixer & had everything ready to go it was a great feeling!

Again, thank you for the help. And that assumption wasn't out-of-line, my post was not that informative to begin with. I checked out some of your beats too, really good stuff my man. Keep up the good work

[Sharris]

You're welcome & thanks for listening, I'm glad you liked

The 2500 is a beast, I love it. If you don't have JJOS, you should check it out, at first I didn't think it was a big deal, but once I got JJOSXL I was blown away by how much it helped my workflow & how many features it added.

In case anyone is curious, below shows all the features each JJOS adds:
http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~mpc1000/mpc2500/chart_n.htm

Below is where you download & stuff:
http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~mpc1000/mpc2500/

[cryingabomination]

Actually this MPC I got off eBay came with JJOSXL free of charge.
It's an amazing maschine and I have fun using it, I;m just have trouble adapting my whole workflow from ableton onto it.
Timestretching especially is a pain.

[Sharris]

I started on hardware & only used hardware for 2 years.... I recently introduced software into my set up & can see why it would be hard to go from software to hardware. Ableton does almost everything imaginable & does it fast.

Maybe experiment with ways to use your hardware & software together.

Good luck!

[spliffsoldier]

Just wanted to bump this thread to say this is my new account. Can't figure out the email I used for "cryingabomination"

Thanks Sharris for your help back then, but I ended up selling my 2500 for a 404mkII lmao