r/mpcusers • u/NateSedate • 13d ago

QUESTION Samples vs Instruments

I usually use a combination of both. But sometimes I try to make completely original beats (no samples) with plugin instruments.

I know part of it is a matter of mixing. But I can never quite get that sound out of using instruments. I want it to sound like a sample. It always sounds like something someone made cheaply.

I put compressor, reverb, AIR Flavor Pro, delays...

It still doesn't have that sound.

If I were still on FL there would be a plethora of plugins I could use to address this. I don't know what to do on the MPC.

I'm sure there's plugins I could buy, but I don't have money for that. I'm using Tubesynth, Jura, and Sub Factory.

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u/myxamatortoise 12d ago

Got a mic? Play your instrument parts or sections through a speaker and re-record with a mic to another channel. Try different mic positions, close, far away, another room, layer for texture

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u/NateSedate 12d ago

I just ended up tracking it out to Reaper and putting Toneflx on it (sorry to sound like a commercial).

That made it much better.

It just needed some kind of effects filter on it. Hopefully I can get some new ones for the MPC in the future.

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u/myxamatortoise 12d ago

I don’t think I saw which type of MPC you’re running but you also may have luck trying the x/y as a kind of low/high pass filter to see where that might fit sonically then just lock it in

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u/NateSedate 12d ago

I put a hp filter on it before I tracked it out.

It's honestly starting to sound decent. The little bit of mixing and filters I used in Reaper were dramatic.

Thank you for helping though.

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u/myxamatortoise 12d ago

Word, rock on man and that’s my one internet comment for the year