USB Mixers with Standalone MPCs, Step by Step

[@MichaelBLevi]

That was a terrific explanation and demo. The fact that Akai even developed the device with this capability is incredibly awesome. I don't want to say that we're spoiled quite yet but we ARE getting a lot of what we've been asking for all these years from manufacturers. Top shelf content as always Jorb. Keep it up man.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Really appreciate that, cheers. I totally agree, Akai did add some serious functionality here. Spoiled is fair, relative even to 5 years ago

[@epochphilosophy]

Never totally understood the price premium for the Tascam Model 16 Mixer (as others in it's class offer a bit more or the same immediate features: more output busses, FX returns, etc for the price.) but being able to take channels in your DAW and mix them on the board is just straight slick.

[@JorbLovesGear]

That's it exactly, direct recording 16 channels on the board, or separately over usb to a daw or now MPC makes it worth. But I do agree, FX & extra routing is pretty bare.

[@epochphilosophy]

@@JorbLovesGear Right. I have a Mackie 1642 VLZ4 simply because those routing options with effects, and the extra output busses. I would kill if someone added that level of functionality with the ability to direct record and do all that nice USB stuff.

[@quintenoorschot3500]

Isnt there another option instead of the Tascam Model?

[@Rollur1234]

I love this one! The Tascam and multitracking opens up diversities quickly.

[@peet._.]

This was great Jorb, I can see this follow is going to affect me financially in a way I hadn’t anticipated. Thanks!

[@JorbLovesGear]

LOL high praise, thanks so much

[@Number01]

Thanks for showing the set up in such detail. This really helps everyone make sure they are hooking it up correctly. :) Great video. I learned a lot.

[@JorbLovesGear]

This is a really targeted compliment, thanks so much

[@teddybearasaurus]

They were pretty good keygroups Jorb🙌🏽 They weren’t too hot. The volumes were nice and they responded nicely

[@JorbLovesGear]

Thank you! If the 3P sticks around, I might do a bunch more with the feedback.

[@tommyoz777]

I have everything there but the Mopho and the effects. Great video. Thanks for showing this setup.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Cheers, glad I did this one. Good collection! 😁

[@THEREALDATALORD]

Funny this video doesn't have more views. Such good information, thank you Jorb.

[@JorbLovesGear]

🙏🙏🙏

[@dannymoses1309]

Youre awesome ! Much appreciated no more searching

[@JorbLovesGear]

Glad to help!

[@cabrioletcooperworkstation4859]

That the best video on tascam and mpc pairing on KZbin ! Thanks man, I was not sure what mixer I need, now .. I know 😄

[@JorbLovesGear]

Really appreciate that, thanks so much! They are quite good.

[@sudbenzer6603]

so this became gradually an mpc channel

[@JorbLovesGear]

It's all related, and its what I've been spending a lot of time with lately. Synths are still my main love, I hope you saw the AX73 video as well, lol

[@Gainn]

The Tascam is worth every single penny. I picked up a Model 24 on a flash deal for about $50 more than the 16's retail, but even at full price it's worth it - more so if you have a couple of things with individual outs. The only other ones I still use are Behringer RX-1602 racks for live stuff because they're just so convenient..

[@JorbLovesGear]

Yeah, this model 16 was used, I can't believe I didn't mention that! But yeah, high key good mixers

[@Rollur1234]

If the Tascam Model had at least half of the channels with stereo line inputs this would be so easy choise.

[@JoeMcGuire]

Thank you for this~! I have a Soundcraft 12MKT that I am planning on using with my MPC1 once I get the hang of the MIDI side of things down. BABY STEPS. Though I'm wishing I'd been able to wait for the Tascam unit. It was between the Tascam and the Soundcraft but I couldn't wait for the Tascam unfortunately.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Of course, getting a mixer is really essential for hardware setups, hard to wait for the right one when you can make music without any

[@JoeMcGuire]

@@JorbLovesGear I had an old Behringer, but it went belly up so... I do absolutely loooove the eq section on the soundcraft though.

[@JorbLovesGear]

@@JoeMcGuire my xenyx 1604 developed a really serious noise problem, that's why I went changed to the tascam

[@JoeMcGuire]

@@JorbLovesGear I had a eurorack 12 channel that would just... Get loud and soft and loud and soft and it was 12 years old and so I mean.. It was time. Ps, emailed ya a thing.

[@volcadosdecerebro]

Excellent explanation. Very helpfull!

[@marcosrotllan]

Well, not the mopho video I was waiting for.

[@JorbLovesGear]

😂😅😅SOON

[@nkultraknocks8852]

Excellent presentation

[@iancain6647]

Jorb! You're an animal! Thanks for this!

[@JorbLovesGear]

Happy to do it!

[@fjfrancois]

I have a mopho desktop and it is a keeper. 👍

[@JorbLovesGear]

It's a ripper, absolutely. Some quirks on the keys, but it sounds amazing!

[@KattKirsch]

Jeez, Jorb. Great video. I'm still wrestling with inputs and outputs between Reason and my Model 24, can't I can't really deduce if the problem lies within software or between keyboard and chair. This is the week I hopefully solve that, and I'll be checking back with this, or maybe harassing you if you're around on Thursday, lol.

[@JorbLovesGear]

A lot of this will be applicable, oh yeah. I can help in the tascam stuff, but daw-land is another dimension to me, I'll do my best lol.

[@Lord_UND_Himself]

Makin the shit we wanna see! Jorb 5ever

[@JorbLovesGear]

😂🙏🙏🙏

[@Kevinjames0976]

Jorb , you still use the Model 16 ? Any issues with it ? Do you recommend it for this setup with the MPC keys ?

[@SourMoonBlues]

I've been eyeing these tascams so hard. However, I want to wait for the Mackie onyx multitrack mixer that's about to release.

[@JorbLovesGear]

OOooo theyre doing multitrack? Thats a big move, I'll have to check that out.

[@mr.DorianJames]

Great video! How is the MIDI -sync over USB. I heard it was possible through MTC over usb to sync the tascam multitrack and the MPC? That would be great for punching in.

[@nkrock]

Hi Jorb-this is a very helpful video for getting set up. I know you posted it awhile ago, but I’m hoping you could help me out with something. I just picked up a model 16 and I’m setting it up with my mpc one. My setup is very similar to yours, ie several hardware synths via midi, some software drums/synths coming from within the mpc. I’m pretty sure I have everything correctly set up with the tascam via usb, but upon monitoring audio coming in from mpc through the usb to the 16, each channel receiving the mpc outs is incredibly hot! I’ve needed to reduce the gain by about -12db. I’ve been thinking maybe it’s because of the difference between digital (mpc) db coming into the analog environment-but after revisiting this video, it doesn’t look like you’re having this problem at all. Your faders on both mpc and tascam are matching. *The signal in my mpc are well below clipping. I’m just wondering if there’s some setting or routing detail I’m missing that you can think of? Or if you have heard of this issue from anyone else? Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated! Thanks

[@K24U76]

Jorb, you have any issues with crackling and audio anomalies while using the tascam AI in the Mpc? Using the MPC audio interface it’s fine.

[@JorbLovesGear]

I havent, but dont do it very often. Check the usb cable?

[@PorchBass]

Second hand tascam 12s will surely appear soon i hope.

[@JorbLovesGear]

They vanished off of reverb when Akai used them in marketing materials for 2.10. I think you're right, people with give up on them / realize they don't need as many channels soon enough and slap up on reverb.

[@iancain6647]

Sorry if you covered this, have you any experience with the Roland mx1 connected to the MPC live2?

[@JorbLovesGear]

No experience, sorry! Could be sick tho

[@iancain6647]

@@JorbLovesGear I haven't tried it yet, but I'm wondering if it will record the separate tracks?

[@tylergates4075]

Is it possible to use usb audio outs and the stereo outs in the same project? I want to route some pads thru the actual stereo outs and the rest thru USB outs. Thanks

[@LaymensLament]

i think a third video to the mpc midi & mpc interface video, where you show how you use your setup in practice to make music would have been cool. maybe you can still do one? just showing your typical workflow would be interesting.

[@schloelelelele]

Hi Jorb, thank You so much for all Your good work - really helpful :D I have a question about the Model 16, I could not find the answer to anywhere and since Yours is the best video I´ve seen on this topic, it would be great, if You could probably help me out.. Is it possible e.g. to plug in a Synth in channel 1 - route it (via usb interface function) to the MPC and then back to channel 1? So You only hear the output that is routed through the MPC on that channel. In Your video You take input 6 and output it on channel 1&2, but would it also be possible to route it back to channel 6? You know to save channels.. With the Soundcraft Signature MTK that is possible, but I would love the standalone recording possibilities from the Tascam Models.. I hope that was understandable ^^ Thank You upfront and I am looking forward to new videos and sounds :)

[@JorbLovesGear]

That's tricky...I'm not around my gear currently, but as far as I understand it, you couldn't do that live, all in one pass, but you could have the channel on live, record as audio into the MPC, then switch over to PC input, and have it come through? Let me know if you figure anything out, good question!

[@schloelelelele]

@@JorbLovesGear hi Jorb, thanks for responding! I would have never thought this would work and was really surprised when figuring out it does with the Soundcraft.. If I get my hands on a tascam model and make it work, I will report back.. Cheers and greetings from munich

[@ushnicyuvnikof2748]

My 2000xl has 8 outs my Boss BX-8 mixer has 8 ins and 2 sends, I have a RNC compressor and over 20 guitar pedals, what more do I need? Yet I still watched this and thoroughly enjoyed the content.

[@JorbLovesGear]

That setup sounds rippin. But cheers, thank you!

[@sylegg]

Fantastic video. No one else has described how to connect it all up and route it so well. I have a slightly unrelated question as I’ve just watched your video on synths you own and I’m interested to know if you think it is worth getting a reface cp when the MPC has the electric plugin. I bought a reface cs and I love it. The electric plugin is great but I’ve heard the cp and it seems to reproduce the Rhodes sounds better ? Interested to know your thoughts as you’ve used both.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Electric is great, but the reface does way better at getting the "right" sounds, and they feel better to play expressively. If you really want the rhodes sound, Electric doesn't nail it, but if you want a strong suggestion of an e-piano, built in to the mpc, it's great

[@sylegg]

@@JorbLovesGear ah fantastic I’m looking at one now. I have a soundcraft mtk 22 mixer I never know which cables to use to connect it to the mixer. I’m assuming it’ll be mono ts cables ? And not trs cables is that right ? Many thanks for coming back to me :-)

[@JorbLovesGear]

@@sylegg It's tricky, and doesn't matter that much in most scenarios. But it depends on a few things! If your mixer can take balanced inputs, (I believe soundcraft does, but check) and your gear has balanced outputs (Modern MPC's do) you can use a pair of TRS cables for balanced audio, and theoretically less noise. But TS will work fine for most gear with balanced outputs too, (what would be the inverted signal just goes to ground) so if you're buying a bunch, or ever not sure, typically you'll be fine with TS.

[@sylegg]

@@JorbLovesGear I thought so as I’m going direct from the back of the reface cs and the cp into the mixer I’m pretty sure the soundcraft mono inputs are trs for line input. Just wondered if it made any difference to volume of the signal. You have a great channel I’ve spent most of today watching various videos. thank you 🙏 for the info

[@JorbLovesGear]

@@sylegg really appreciate that, cheers 🙏🙏 Reface keyboards are all unbalanced, so TS indeed. Shouldn't be a volume difference!

[@poeticgeenetikstv4672]

Hey Jorb, I use the ZOOM L12, it is suppose to do the same thine but I cant get it to work as far as routing the MPC LIVE, TRACKS INTO MIXER. I think its because of this USB BUTTON.

[@JorbLovesGear]

if its class compliant, doesnt need its own drivers, and does multi track simultaneously, it should be possible

[@poeticgeenetikstv4672]

@@JorbLovesGear Yeah it is, I just cant get it to function.

[@paul_weigl]

does it work now? want the l12 exact for this. bit if it doesn't work, i have to buy the tascam

[@Lordxfx]

Really nice vid. How about the overall sound quality of the complete USB signal chain compared to an analog setup. I also wonder what you do on gain-stage of the outputting parts. Any latency issues in this digital setup?

[@ambidex]

This is incredibly helpful, especially since I'm trying to figure out how my new (to me) MPC One is going to fit in my workflow. 1 huge question. If I have another USB device that runs softsynths that I need to leave a USB interface connected to, but also want an interface connected to the MPC One through USB, is that possible? Would an ADAT I/O between 2 interfaces work? Any way to connect an interface to more than one USB device at the same time? I'm hoping to be able to virtually assign tracks to multiple hardware effect paths with send/return in an interface, with what I'm sending either being a softsynth, hardware instrument, or sound from the MPC. Am I S.O.L?

[@kenonsheffield9770]

How would I go about using something like elektron analog heat with a tascam 24 in standalone mode?

[@enyceofnyc]

Thanks for the info. I just bought a model 12 to use with my mpc live or my mpc key .. I’m considering exchanging it for a model 16. Do you have any opinion between the two mixers with mpc?

[@brawndothethirstmutilator9848]

I’m trying to decide between the 12 and 16 (not an MPC user though). What are the main differences that have you thinking of an exchange for the 16?

[@melnollem1500]

Hey Jorb, i have a Mpc 1000. Can i MIDI SYNC to a Model 16 or 24

[@idanieljr2282]

I love your knowledge.........I was so confused though. I have a similar set 11up just with different gear. I think that I need more audio inputs due to the fact that I want to hook up my akai xr20 to the mix and I want everything to have it's own channel. I'm Still learning the mpc one but I. Still able to record via my zoom r8 and my beringer m4 channel mixer. Any advice?

[@guysmiley7289]

I tried this with my RME and ran into a lot of crackling issues. How is your stability?

[@JorbLovesGear]

No issues, may be something else!

[@guysmiley7289]

@@JorbLovesGear Yeah, it is difficult to gain stage. It might be that.

[@AutisticCuriosity]

So now I think I need a digital mixer feel sick … damn they’re so expensive. Thanks for another video…I love and hate you! I do appreciate what you do especially introducing me to the term GAS… ironic eh 🤣

[@JorbLovesGear]

😂😅😅Happy to do it. And totally accept the fact that I enable it for people lmao. Cheers!

[@Gainn]

For what this one can do I think it's comparatively good VFM. When you look at other 16ch mixers, you don't pay a whole lot less for things with half it's featureset. Or if you do get something far cheaper they're usually noisy, have nasty faders or aren't really that usable.

[@quintenoorschot3500]

Im looking for alternative for the Tascam model because of its price. Is there any other option with almost the same features? What makes the Tascam Model 12 or 16 stand out to other mixers?

[@teddybearasaurus]

Is there a way to plug the mpc into the tascam and route it to the channels on the tascam, and then to the computer also as an interface? I think i may need another interface to listen. Also can you route the tracks to the tascam in controller mode on the akai? 😂 One can dream

[@JorbLovesGear]

Not both at once, mpc acts as the computer when you do usb. That I'm not sure, I assume this doesn't work in controller mode, but at that point just plug the tascam into the pc and use it like normal. Right?

[@teddybearasaurus]

@@JorbLovesGear agreed. Can you route channels from your daw into the tascam to mix and record to SD? I would assume so.

[@teddybearasaurus]

I think about getting this or the new sp404 mk2🤔 such different applications but similar price.

[@JorbLovesGear]

@@teddybearasaurus you can!

[@JorbLovesGear]

@@teddybearasaurus yeah that's the reality of it though... So you need a sampler or a mixer more?

[@stuartmccallum91]

I’ve been consider a Model 12 or Model 16 for exactly this setup lately! (Currently I run all of my synths and drums into my computer to add effects and processing in Ableton Live or Logic Pro, but the tiny bit of latency has really put me off playing live so I am trying to figure out a completely standalone solution) Did you find there was any latency running audio-over-USB into and then out of the MPC? Was the Model 16 a worthwhile investment for this setup, or am I better off getting a cheaper mixer and investing in a couple effects modules to mix everything without any USB audio involved? I’ve got a Tascam Model 3 from the 70s that I am considering using instead, which sounds absolutely incredible when you hammer the transformers on the front end, but it lacks a dedicated effects send. I would need to invest in a mountain of 1/4” to xlr and 1/4” to rca cables to make it all work. Curious how you feel about the setup from this video after all this time?

[@stuartmccallum91]

Also wanted to mention this! When I have used my MPC as a mixer for mini synth setups (sequencing a MicroFreak and Neutron from the MPC, then running their audio into the two audio inputs and applying effects etc on the MPC) it is really helpful to take advantage of the submix features in the mixer (found through the menu) to setup all of your DSP intensive time based effects as sends instead of inserts on each instrument. Saves a ton of processing that way because you just set up one instance of reverb and delay there then mix to taste.

[@EshockT]

Tefty measured 8ms of latency mixing 8 outputs of the MPC.

[@LaymensLament]

do you actually record into the mpc through the tascam or do you record on the tascam itself? I have a usb interface/mixer but i found it very bothersome to actually record into the mpc, for one it disables all the regular i/o, also the setup, also using usb return etc. I found it alot nicer to just use mixer with the mpc and then record into something else. Like my mixer going into my ipad and im thinking to replace the mixer/ipad with a bluebox.

[@ILLUDIUM_Q_36]

Yo you slippin putting your serial number on camera like that

[@JorbLovesGear]

I'll go through KZbin blur, wish it wasn't such a pain in the ass. Tanks for letting me know, I had no idea

[@ILLUDIUM_Q_36]

@@JorbLovesGear thank you for the content 👍🏾

[@hut48]

Need a version of this for the Akai Force with the Tascam! Trying to do this, but can't get it to work 🤣😭🥹

[@JorbLovesGear]

Should be 90% the same, are you on the latest firmware?