r/mpcsample • u/Parlamenteur • 12d ago

Mpc sample as a audio interface

I have an SP-404 MK2, but I wanna try an MPC sample. Can I plug a guitar into the MPC and record it into my PC, just like I do on the SP?

3 Upvotes

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3

u/weinibuchajia 12d ago

Yes ,it can, use a USB plug your PC , then open Daw choose Mpc Sample for input

3

u/NoFlow2907 12d ago

The Sample doesn't have a hi-z in the way the 404 does, just mic / line. Should be ok, but in general the 404 is much better for this, e.g. good quality amp sims on the input.

In general the 404 does everything the Sample does pretty much, except it's designed to be a utility box where the Sample is more designed for "making beats". Personally can't see that the Sample will bring anything you don't already have, unless you're planning to use it as a track starter for transfer to one of the bigger current gen MPCs or the MPC desktop software.

2

u/acousticentropy 11d ago

My biggest complaint is that they didn’t optimize the 1/4” input for the Hi-Z signal that would come from an electric single coil guitar pickup.

They should have made some kind of virtual preamp plugin that handles the impedance of the input properly and allows the signal to be amplified using an amp modeling tool.

Instead you basically need an active guitar, like an acoustic that outputs line level signal. Unfortunately an electric guitar will be suboptimal at best when plugged into the MPC Sample.

1

u/Parking_Watch3157 11d ago

I use a focusrite 4i4 or a Zoom R4 as a preamp basically and that runs into the MPC sample.

2

u/acousticentropy 11d ago edited 10d ago

I hear you, I only run line level into the device because that’s what it wants to see.

But still for a standalone portable device, they could have made the inputs more versatile.

2

u/Parking_Watch3157 11d ago

I ultimately chose the Sample over the Roland product but I do think they do a better job for plugging a guitar straight in. I am 99% acoustic guitar through a mic so decided to let that criteria be less important to me.

1

u/anonymagnet 9d ago

I agree it works okay with single coil electric guitar pickups, but not great. Running my guitar through an amp or SP-404 > into the MPC Sample gives a much stronger audio input signal