Akai MPC Tutorial. Air Enhancer Saturation & Harmonics. Secret MOJO Sauce in your mixes on the MPC.

[@harrisg5]

Another MPC tool demystified. Thank you

[@TheCratesMotel]

You’re welcome dude.

[@mikaleppaaho]

This Air Enhancer has turned out to be quite useful for the finishing touch. I've used it on MPC 2 software. I think of it as a some sort of saturating eq. In the software when the gains are zero the high and low frequency knobs won't seem to do anything, only harmonics does. Anyways, I put the gains first really high to hear clearly the sweet spot when dialing the frequency knobs, then turn down the gains to proper level and then maybe fine tune a bit the frequencies because the sweet spot seems to move a bit depending on the gain level. Lastly, I dial the harmonics knob really carefully if at all, it makes sometimes a bit harsh sound quite quickly. The reason why it is good for the last finishing is that it is really simple and there's nothing visual meters so you really have to just trust your ears. Result is usually really smooth, clear but lush sound :)

[@TheCratesMotel]

Yup it’s definitely very useful if used correctly. Thanks for watching.

[@5thelementalsounds]

Subscribed! Amazing information! I feel like I'm in class.

[@TheCratesMotel]

Thanks dude and thanks for watching.

[@Noise-Conductor]

This is more gold in the bank! I hope you do 1 on the Amp Sims. You can get a lot of different sound textures out them for all kinds of sounds, not just guitars.

[@TheCratesMotel]

That’s a good shout. Noted. Thank you for watching.

[@LewisSales]

would love to see a IR Loader added to these amps!

[@TheCratesMotel]

@@LewisSales That would be next level

[@manatee_flips6811]

Hola, you giving away the special sauce!! Of course you are.....very, generous. Get his drums, well crafted and sonically superior then most. I used that enhancer all over my last joint, 😆

[@TheCratesMotel]

Hey brother! Thank you. Yeh man, it's definitely a bit of an unsung hero. Takes a bit of tweaking, but once you get it right...boooooom

[@morningbluesarewaste]

Great content as always!

[@TheCratesMotel]

Thanks man and thank you for watching.

[@eddiexx]

Conan, a tiny bit off topic maybe but..Have you used the MPC Software autosampler? I have this problem where it fails to sample the attack of certain instruments. For instance, The M1 (vst) Organ2 preset has this percussive attack in the higher notes and it doesn't get sampled or doesn't translate. Maybe you know what it is or have experienced something similar? In standalone it works perfect, this happens only with the software but they should be the same right? Cheers

[@guillll]

Amazing, thank you ! I wasn't quite sure how to use this one.

[@TheCratesMotel]

There’s so much potential with this one if it’s used in the right way. Thanks for watching.

[@spindlenine]

Always love seeing your videos pop up in my subs. Another great one - keep them coming.

[@TheCratesMotel]

Thanks dude, I appreciate the support, and thank you for watching.

[@jellemeeuwsen9842]

Amazing how that got rid of that +-2k resonace completely in the drums

[@TheCratesMotel]

🙏🏼

[@DJDigitalJosh]

All of your videos are super helpful! Thank You! 👍

[@TheCratesMotel]

Thank you for watching

[@bartboguski635]

The Bass sounds mad nice!!!Great content...each evening i am appriciating your advices applied in creating.Thank You Bro.True teacher IT comes from the heart.Blessings

[@TheCratesMotel]

Hey man, I appreciate your kind words. Thank you for watching.

[@PoZhiznenno]

For me, your channel is a pleasant discovery.🔥🔥🔥🙏🏼

[@TheCratesMotel]

Thank you dude and thank you for watching.

[@riddim7774]

👑

[@DisraeliGears]

Brilliant brilliant brilliant AGAIN!! Thank you so much for your content bro.

[@TheCratesMotel]

Thanks man

[@philippebackprotips]

Phase inverts the phase of the generated harmonics. (From an older ProTools manual).

[@TheCratesMotel]

Ah cool, makes sense. Perhaps Akai should mention it lol

[@Mr.Gump5780]

Very enlightening..thanks very much

[@TheCratesMotel]

Thanks for watching dude.

[@dafunkycanuck]

Thanks, I'm going to start using this.

[@TheCratesMotel]

Yeh man, it's a great plugin. Thank you for watching.

[@yzimsx]

It's in the EQ/Filter category and not in Harmonic... dunno if that means anything though.

[@TheCratesMotel]

Thanks for watching. Under normal circumstances, it might be relevant, however Akai’s category choices seem to be all over the place lol, it could have quite easily have been in the reverb section.

[@leogolive]

I’ve been experimenting with this enhancer since watching this video and it definitely makes a difference! Hey I have a question which is off topic but have you ever used open or semi open backed headphones and Do they have any advantages over always using closed backed cans?

[@TheCratesMotel]

Hey man, thank you for watching. Yes, I use both open and semi. When I am mastering for clients I use Audeze LCD-X which are open back. It makes a massive difference with things like the stereo field etc. There is no wrong or right though, and don’t let anybody tell you there is. I know very high end professional sound engineers who mix in closed backs. I use closed back to check low end. The most important thing is to learn your headphones. Learn how what you are hearing translates to other sound systems. So do open backs have advantages over closed? The answer is different for everyone. I wish I could be more definitive.

[@leogolive]

@@TheCratesMotel No I know there’s no definitive answer but that helps. I was thinking of maybe getting a set just to see how they sound because I use closed back headphones.

[@TheCratesMotel]

@@leogolive it’s definitely worth demoing some if you can. You might prefer. Or use them both. As I said, I always check low end on closed backs.

[@leogolive]

@@TheCratesMotel I see also that you have a lot of videos using Studio One. I prefer working in standalone using my MPC X, but when I do use a DAW I also have Studio One. I really like it. I’m gonna start watching those videos now also! I haven’t used it in a while so I’m sure you’ve got some great videos that’ll make me start back using it again as well lol!

[@pelvinsjamz]

Great tutorial 🙏😎

[@miszymat]

Wow. In your opinion,, how do you think Air Enchancer should be used? before or after drum compression?

[@TheCratesMotel]

Hey buddy, there is not really a right or wrong answer here. It really depends on what you are trying to achieve. Generally, I would saturate or add harmonics after I have control of the source by using EQ and compression. However, there is nothing wrong with saturating first and then compressing and EQing. The only thing I would say is if you saturate first, that you then have to get control of that with EQ and compression after the fact. Adding color tends to be something you would do once you have the source in a place you want it to be in terms of having control over it. But as I said, there are no rules and it is good to experiment and sometimes have happy accidents. Thank you for watching.