This 500 Series Made My MPC Kick & Bass Sound Analog (First Look at the GC Audio 500 Series)

I ran the kick and bass from a G-Funk groove out of my MPC One, through the SSL Alpha 8's 8 outputs, and into the GC Audio 500 series — the Realism Preamp and the Density Compressor. The groove is built from samples and the MPC's built-in instruments, and the bass started as the MPC's Mini D plugin. The kick went through the same chain. The difference wasn't subtle. In this edited first look, you'll hear the before and after in real time: the MPC's stock sound against the analog chain, the kick through the Realism and Density versus the AIR Tube Overdrive effect, and the Density Compressor head-to-head with my dbx 166A. Real-time reaction and commentary throughout, and some ideas for refining your own beats with analog signal processors and transformer-based circuits. This is an edited version of an 80-minute members-only session. The full session is available to channel members here: https://www.youtube.com/live/LrdT7WlEVPo (Affiliate Links) Affiliate Links: Use our affiliate links below to purchase the tools we use to produce these videos (We receive a commission from purchases made via the links below) Get 10% off of your purchase the GC Audio 500 Series using coupon code "Altruwest" at check out: https://www.fullscaleav.com/brands/gc-audio#500-series Other gear used in this video: Akai MPC One Gen 2 (current model — I use the original MPC One): https://www.zzounds.com/a--3996638/item--AKAMPCONEG2 Akai MPC Instrument Collection (currently $99, was $499, through Nov 26): https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/81-Bundles/58-Instrument-Bundles/10664-MPC-Instrument-Collection?a_aid=swjtmlfzhru0a&a_cid=1461e21b&data1=MPCInstCol&data2=YouTube SSL Alpha 8: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3996638/item--SSLALPHA8 Eventide H90: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3996638/item--EVNH90 Black Lion PBR TRS3-LIT Patchbay: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3996638/item--BLDPBRTRS3LIT TK Audio Transformer: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3996638/item--TKATRANSFORMER Antelope Audio Pure 2 (no longer available at zZounds) GC Audio 500 Series — Realism Preamp, Density Compressor, and 500 Rack, through Full Scale AV. Use code ALTRUWEST for 10% off: https://www.fullscaleav.com/brands/gc-audio/realism-preamp My current studio monitors https://altruwest.com/product/genelec-8040b-2-way-active-studio-monitor-producer-gray-single/ Akai MPC One Gen 2 Sampling Music Production Workstation https://www.zzounds.com/a--3996638/item--AKAMPCONEG2?siid=392061 Akai MPC Key 37 Gen 2 Music Production Center Keyboard https://www.zzounds.com/a--3996638/item--AKAMPCKEY37G2?siid=392057 Solid State Logic SSL Alpha 8 A/D-D/A Converter/Expander and USB Audio Interface https://www.zzounds.com/a--3996638/item--SSLALPHA8?siid=366405 Looking to add professional sound treatment in your room? Get 10% off Acoustic Treatment products from ProSoCoustic: https://www.prosocoustic.com/ Use the discount code: Altruwest Looking to purchase a new audio interface for your studio? Get 15% off MAP on RME Audio interfaces: https://www.rme-usa.com Use the discount code: Altruwest Our Top Interface Pick: RME UFXIII https://www.rme-usa.com/fireface-ufx-3.html Get 15% off MAP on Ferrofish Converters: https://ferrofish-usa.com/ Use the discount code: Altruwest Our Top Converter Pick: Ferrofish Pulse 16MX Analog to ADAT/MADI Converter https://ferrofish-usa.com/pulse_16_mx_analog_to_adat_madi_converter/ Looking to add professional grade analog signal processing to your hybrid setup? Handsome Audio Zulu 500 https://altruwest.com/product/handsome-audio-zulu-passive-analog-tape-simulator-500-series-edition-pair/ Join this channel to get access to The Tru Sound Creator Network, Altruwest Video Archive and Discord: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC0AqzhM9lEZ5m6uB98zQcw/join Join my free newsletter for the best music tech deals — and only the best. No fluff. No nonsense. Just practical hardware and software deals on products I've actually tested and used. Join the list here: https://altruwest.kit.com/deals Real deals only. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Join the Altruwest Beat Collective to vibe with the community and share your music and sounds https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19QHKhYU9k/ Donations: Cash App: https://cash.app/$Altruwest Paypal: https://www.paypal.biz/Altruwest Book a Consultation: https://altruwest.com/product-category/consultation/ Purchase the Sound Mind E-Book https://altruwest.com/product/the-sound-mind-e-book/ Chapters: 0:00 Intro & 500 Series Routing Setup 1:07 GC Audio Realism Preamp & Density Compressor Overview 1:40 Bass Test: Dry vs. Realism Preamp & Density Compressor 3:06 Pushing the Realism Preamp Gain 4:37 Running MPC Kick Drum Through the Chain 6:01 Density Compressor on the Kick (Fast vs. Slow Release) 8:00 Dialing In Sounds On the Way In vs. Mixing 9:28 Hardware vs. Digital MPC Tube Drive Plugin 11:42 Comparison: GC Audio vs. dbx 166A Compressor 13:16 Why Recording Gear & Preamp Mojo Still Matter