BREAKING: MPC Ultra

So will my studio and ren become like my 5000 abandon and forgotten about. I doubt they will keep working on the software once a new unit comes out.

Pretty sure the point is that the software won't change. So shouldn't be like abandoning the 5000 (I feel the same way btw - I have a 5000 too). Backwards compatability will most certainly give the current Ren and Studio a shelf life after this release though. But honestly, if it functions standalone (true standalone, as in, not connected to a computer), then I'm all for it. Personally wouldn't care about the price tag to have an advanced, standalone MPC again.

Eyalc wrote:...But honestly, if it functions standalone (true standalone, as in, not connected to a computer), then I'm all for it. Personally wouldn't care about the price tag to have an advanced, standalone MPC again.

I am with you 100%!!! Bringing a standalone back to the market would be the best MPC news for me.

dryad-66 wrote:how does it sound?

People should realize that there are no more devices that color the sound (if that's what you mean). That goes for DAWs, too – they all sound the same as they are.

Early MPCs did color the sound, but they were not intended to do that. We've reached the technology that produces pristine audio after sampling, and it'll be like that forever – and that's what Akai wanted even way back...it's just the then contemporary technology (converters) that were so "poor" that they were not able to give you uncoloured samples.
There may be plugins to color the sound, but you can be almost 100% sure there won't be an MPC that will change the sound after sampling the way the older ones did.
Algorithm/plug-in-based emulations such as those in Ren (software), that's a different thing.

^ Agree.

And btw, not sure if I ever said anything Fanu, but your album is NICE. Cool that you got it on the ReDef brand.

So then how would we use synth plugins on MPC pads like we can do with the Ren? I'm just a little worried about this whole "system already built in with no way to change it" thing. Akai has dropped the ball year after year and product after product when they're the ones deciding which features we get. They ALWAYS leave out crucial features, especially on their first rounds/initial releases.

PS-This thing better have 10 audio outs!!!! (or more than that is fine too!!!)

^^ This is a good question, but I think this problem is already solved. They already have that software (comes with the new Advance Keyboards) that acts as a host for running plugins. And with that, the Advanced Keyboards can interact with a plugin (view patches, settings, send midi to it, etc). No difference in including that software with this type of MPC, and allowing the same type of interaction from this MPC screen. If you want to use plugins - launch that host and connect the MPC to your computer. Don't want to use plugins, use the MPC standalone. As soon as I saw those Advanced Keyboards comes with that software, I thought this would be the direction of a new MPC. At least that's what I'd be trying to do with a new MPC.

Now, saying all that, if this is what they're up to, then I don't know how they can avoid rendering the current Ren / Studio / software obsolete. But this solution would be SO much better IMO, that it wouldn't even matter. LOL. I'm sure it would make some people unhappy, but I bet there'd be a LOT more happy people.

this one goes directly to the akai staffers:
hey, whats up, pete goodliffe, geoff smith, andy mac, dan gill, glen darcey, peter thom, alex souppa, john mcauliffe, chris parks, ultan henry, david brenan, patrice tarabbia and jennifer hruska?
feel free to use my product name suggestion.
i´d be rather happy if you pick "mpc ultra".
as a depeche mode devotee it would always remind me of the title of their ninth studio album, released in ´97.

GNRFAMZT wrote: "mpc ultra"

Corny AND wack...

dryad-66 wrote:how does it sound?

like trap music... probably

I hope the software includes audio tracks, and the soundcard should have at least four audio inputs that can be used simultaneously. Quarter inch/XLR

richie wrote:A year from now people who bought this will be asking why their software keeps crashing.

mr_debauch wrote:

dryad-66 wrote:how does it sound?

like trap music... probably

Akai has several native soundpackages. Such as House etc...