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For HHG/Ask Dr No questions, comments, and queries email me at: askdrno@gmail.com

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CLINIC RECORDING SERVICE - Professional Mixing, and Mastering clinicrecording@gmail.com for the details

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Congratulations and much respect to Ankh Amen Ra on his informative and insightful journal. This type of education and enlightenment is much needed by the Hip Hop Community.

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Q. Thanks for responding Doc. So basically you mix the song to your preference and let whoever masters the song handle the rest?

A. Yes, but don't be afraid to try new things out and experiment. That's how you'll learn what does what and how it sounds when you turn a knob or press a button. Don't be afraid to stack multiple EQ's, etc... But also get the DVD's and read some stuff to point you in the right directions.

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Q. Peace. My problem is simple I hope.

My setup production wise, I use a MPC 2000xl, an asr10, and a Roland JV-1080. The problem is lately whenever I sample into the ASR. It won't playback into the MPC's sequencer unless I trigger the samples from the MPC's pads. Also, with the sound module only certain channels playback sounds as well through the MPC. I was thinking maybe it's a setting i have in my MPC that needs to be adjusted. Any answers you could provide would be greatly appreciated, thank you. Peace!

A. I'm not really clear on your problem. I don't understand "won't playback into the MPC's sequencer". It sounds like a setting but I can't be sure unless you can explain it better.

Q. My bad for being unclear. First thanks for the reply..

I have my ASR 10 and my Roland sound module midi-connected into my MPC for sequencing... this used to work fine until recently. Now, when I sample into the ASR, they'll playback through both the ASR and the MPC but, the samples will only record into a sequence when played through the pads on the MP. (basically however I manipulate the sample won't record into the MPC's sequencer as a performance unless I play the samples directly from the MPC's pads). At first I figured I just needed new midi cables, negative, I replaced all of them, still no luck...also with the sound module, only certain sounds play through the MPC as well, although the midi receive light blinks steady when all are selected. And last, the sound module no longer picks up the midi messages on the ASR so I can't play them on the ASR's keys. I hope I've been clear enough this time. Thanks again for taking time out to help me, it is much appreciated.

A. You're using the MPC as your sequencer and the both ASR and Roland are connected as sound modules. So yes you have to record the sequence into the MPC by using the pads on the MPC. Remember the MPC is recording and playing back the notes and performance not the sounds. The sounds are being triggered by the MPC sending a message to your sound module that says play whatever sound that is assigned to the note number I'm sending you. The MPC doesn't know what the sound (or sample) is. That's setup in the sound module. Here's an example - Let's say that Pad 1 in the MPC is set to note C3. You assign a kick drum sample in your ASR to be triggered by note C3. With the Midi out of the MPC connected to the Midi in of the ASR. When you hit the pad the kick will play. If you change the note assignment in the ASR to a bass sample now the bass will play instead of the kick. If you don't have any sample assigned to C3 in the ASR nothing will play when you hit the pad but the Midi receive light on the ASR will still flash because the ASR is still receiving Midi. It's just that no sample is assigned to play for note C3. Also there is a control in the ASR named Local Control. Local Control connects the ASR's keyboard to the ASR's sound module. So if Local Control is off when you hit the ASR's keyboard the ASR's sound module won't receive a trigger and won't play a sound. Any external modules you have connected Midi receive light will light and if there is a sound assigned to the given note the sound will play.

Here's what you do - connect both Midi in and out of the ASR to the MPC. Turn Local Control on the ASR off. Connect any external modules you have to another Midi output of the MPC. Now you can trigger sounds from both the ASR's sound module and the Roland module with both the ASR keyboard and the MPC's pads. When you want to record a sequence it will be recorded into the MPC.

Yes I left out some info regarding specific settings on the MPC but hopefully you are familiar with assigning MPC tracks to its different outputs, etc… This hopefully will help. If not ask some more questions.

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Q. Dr. No. - Is it considered unethical, cheating or unoriginal by hip hop production standards, to use samples from those sample/loop cd's that people sell in stores or online? You know the ones that claim to be royalty free and come in different categories like piano, guitar, drums etc. etc. I am just wondering because to me it feels kind of like cheating, but I hear people's beats and it sounds like everyone is using those cd's. Sampling from another record is one thing but I am not too sure about these cd's I'm describing. What do you think? Thanks for your time.

-PHANTOM

A. No it's not unethical or cheating it's just that most people want to use samples that no one else has. There's nothing 'wrong' with it. As a matter of fact if you are creative enough to only use royalty free samples and still sound original you and your artist and record companies will save a lot of money in clearances and everybody will love you.

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Q. I just wanted 2 ask u what you think is the secret to recording at a good level, as far as an artist sounding good spitting into the mic.

A. I read somewhere recently that it's “outdated” to say that you should record as hot as possible to use all the bits available and therefore get the best sounding recordings. The writer went on to explain that with today's better converters that you don't have to do that anymore.

I know from experience that recording vocals, and anything else for that matter, hot but without clipping sounds better then recording at lower levels. I use a Pro Tools HD2 system, at 24/44.1 or 24/96 though a Digidesign 96 I/O which is pretty decent. It sounds muffled and I have to reach for the eq when the recording level is too low. It sounds better when I hit it at a good hot level. I get all that good air, sibilance and good stuff (lips, breath, noise) recorded. If I don't want it I can then get rid of it or I have the option to just keep as much as I want. I'd rather have to remove it then not capture it.

You don't have to kill yourself trying to get it exactly as high as possible before clipping. Just get close and use your ears. And never, never, ever go into clipping because… blah, blah, blah….

No secret.

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Damn Ma I'm gonna miss you in the game. Yeah, yeah I know that there are other women MC's but they're not in the game Punk…

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Check some of the back columns for info before asking something that's been covered before.

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And before I forget - Yo, Family… I need some MySpace friends I'm felling un-loved….

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PEACE

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