The Signal Flow of a
Recording Studio
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The Basic MPC "Hip Hop" Studio
Ok lets be clear that there must be at least 10
ways to design an MPC 1000 studio. This is a simple setup, with the main
purpose being recording and assembling a song. Notice no computer is
required and there are no external paths for digital audio.
Yet the MPC is digital on the inside. All
those analog sources coming from your Mic, preamp, turntable and CD player are
digitized as samples as they are recorded in the MPC. These samples are
triggered by MIDI notes, which occur by pressing a Pad on the MPC or by pressing
a key on the connected keyboard. Inside the MPC is a MIDI and Audio
sequencer. The song is "assembled" by moving bits and blocks of MIDI data
which trigger the samples. While that is what is happening underneath, for
the user, the experience is one of tapping on the pads and the keys after
hitting the record button.
The chart above is based on the common MPC
1000, which only has 2 analog line inputs and no mic preamps. Because of
this I show how to use a DJ mixer to add the analog inputs for a turntable and
CD player as well as a common mic stereo mic preamp. The Mic preamp not
only lets you connect microphones, but guitars, basses and other gear that has
instrument level outputs.
Newer MPCs have digital i/o and USB
connections. These are excellent for connecting to a computer for storage
and for bringing samples into the MPC from sample libraries. The older
MPCs use SCSI connections to proprietary Akai CD Roms.
  
Notes
One way to same money on this rig is to get a DJ Mixer that
has mic preamps onboard. However, there is a thing you have to watch out
for. Some DJ mixers have hi impedance mic preamps (look like guitar
inputs). These will NOT work with your professional mix with XLR jacks.
Also DJ mixers might not have phantom power. That means you can't use a
condenser mic. So be real careful on the DJ mixer. Two mixers that
might be good for using dynamic mics, like the Shure sm57, 58, might be the
Allen &Heath
Xone 2
and Xone
32
Various home studio systems
General Home Studio Rigs
Hip Hop, Trance, etc Studio Rigs
Analog Mixer and Multi-Track Rigs
Basic Signal Flow for Mixer and Mixerless Approach
The Cheapest Home Studio
DJ and Remix Studio
Multi-track Recording Signal Flow
MPC studio signal flow
MPC1000 Hookup
Classic Mixer Approach
Multiple Video Monitors
Understanding Cables
Build a Quiet Workspace
Studio Setup Tips
Studio Room Acoustics--Basics
The War on Hum
Setting Up a LAN
Budget Studio Rack
Laptop Rigs
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