Twiiter @Akai Pro Reply Regarding MPC5000

Better integration with my DAW: Transfering files forth and back..

They definitely need to improve on the software integration aspect, along with a solid upgrade to the hardware.

Coz wrote:They definitely need to improve on the software integration aspect, along with a solid upgrade to the hardware.

Then everyone would be crying about the price. Forum members love to talk about the quality of the MPC 60 and MPC 3000. But I speculate that over 95% of the guys they spend the most amount of time here can't afford the $3000-$4000 price tag of these MPCs fetched when they were released...even the MPC 4000 could cost you up to $4000 fully expanded when it was released.

These less expensive designs is the reason why many people have MPCs today. Even Korg has done the same thing. I wasn't paying $6000-$7000 for an Oasys. But I could swallow spending $3000 of the Kronos which is more powerful than Oasys., but its build is about average.

....cheaper hardware design = greater sales as more people can fit it within their budget
.....more expensive design = for studio use only for people that make a living doing music

Askia Shaheed wrote:

Coz wrote:They definitely need to improve on the software integration aspect, along with a solid upgrade to the hardware.

Then everyone would be crying about the price. Forum members love to talk about the quality of the MPC 60 and MPC 3000. But I speculate that over 95% of the guys they spend the most amount of time here can't afford the $3000-$4000 price tag of these MPCs fetched when they were released...even the MPC 4000 could cost you up to $4000 fully expanded when it was released.

These less expensive designs is the reason why many people have MPCs today. Even Korg has done the same thing. I wasn't paying $6000-$7000 for an Oasys. But I could swallow spending $3000 of the Kronos which is more powerful than Oasys., but its build is about average.

....cheaper hardware design = greater sales as more people can fit it within their budget
.....more expensive design = for studio use only for people that make a living doing music

I don't buy that these day of age. Remember what a laptop cost 10+ years ago? If you buy a laptop now with a midi contoller and a sequencer it's a 1//4 of what a MPC or the likes cost and ten times as powerfull. If you break down the MPC is not that special for what you do with it and what you CAN do with it.

Unless it's handmade like a Moog I would understand the the 5-6000$ price range for a full on MPC.

I started all DAW and bought a MPC because I have ridicolous fun with it and I knew what I was getting into. It was my choice spending that much cash on the 5000, on a piece of equipment you could do on your Iphone. If you are realistic a drummachine is overpriced in the 21 first century.

top it off... anyone can afford the latest model when they sell the one they currently own first... anybody can take out a loan or put a 3000 dollar machine on credit or a credit card.... (as long as they are over 18)
Buying the gear is the easy part, and the wallets that get hit the hardest are of those that think a next piece of gear will improve their skill or ability to make something creative. That's the way a lot modern american marketing works... a person thinks (or is convinced0 they have a flaw (too fat, cant get drums to punch, skin is showing age... you name it) and there is always that company who benefits. Another example is the oprah show... every episode she informed you of something that was wrong with you and she had the solution, some guy who is an authority on the problem nobody knew existed... and he happens to be selling a book you need or your life is worthless. I mean the guy who started cover girl must be rolling in cash since he convinced half of america they look like shit.. haha

Coz wrote:They definitely need to improve on the software integration aspect, along with a solid upgrade to the hardware.

I think Askia nailed it as far what the situation would be for Akai to offer a better, more well specified machine, but I think the issue of Akai/software is the biggest problem. If you look at the 5000's OS issues along with the basically terrible design of their iOS SynthStation app, you realize they don't employ anyone who can design software or write good code.
The lack of innovation since Numark took over pretty much shows a pattern of how they're too stubborn or broke to hire better people or farm the work out to people that know what they're doing.

Every Akai release since 2005 has required almost no R&D, Micron=Miniak, 5000=2500+Fusion, MPD/MPK series = same tactile control pieces in cheaper boxes...and so on. So I feel hiring some good programmers to bring AkSys into the present using the 5000's USB 2.0 would have been the best move. Again, Askia is correct that something like Virus TI integration would add significantly to the cost, but a better editing/sound management solution should have been integrated.

Good luck to all the 5000 owners on getting this OS update, Akai owes you guys.

Askia Shaheed wrote:....cheaper hardware design = greater sales as more people can fit it within their budget
.....more expensive design = for studio use only for people that make a living doing music

That's it in a nutshell, and assuming Akai want to make some decent money they'll go for option 1. Drum machines are a niche product, so making a $3000 product in the current climate makes no sense.

NI have already shown they can bang out a product with tight software and reasonable hardware for $500, so Akai should take a leaf out of their book.

For starters, the next MPC should be fully functional as a standalone box, but it should also be able to act as a hub for VSTs... So within the software front end you would have the added bonus of using 3rd party effects and instruments, with full drag and drop to and from the MP and/or PC. I don't see how they can even compete unless they do this.

I would say they need to look to the future, but in reality they need to see what's going on NOW!

CoinOP! wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:

Coz wrote:They definitely need to improve on the software integration aspect, along with a solid upgrade to the hardware.

Then everyone would be crying about the price. Forum members love to talk about the quality of the MPC 60 and MPC 3000. But I speculate that over 95% of the guys they spend the most amount of time here can't afford the $3000-$4000 price tag of these MPCs fetched when they were released...even the MPC 4000 could cost you up to $4000 fully expanded when it was released.

These less expensive designs is the reason why many people have MPCs today. Even Korg has done the same thing. I wasn't paying $6000-$7000 for an Oasys. But I could swallow spending $3000 of the Kronos which is more powerful than Oasys., but its build is about average.

....cheaper hardware design = greater sales as more people can fit it within their budget
.....more expensive design = for studio use only for people that make a living doing music

I don't buy that these day of age. Remember what a laptop cost 10+ years ago? If you buy a laptop now with a midi contoller and a sequencer it's a 1//4 of what a MPC or the likes cost and ten times as powerfull. If you break down the MPC is not that special for what you do with it and what you CAN do with it.

Unless it's handmade like a Moog I would understand the the 5-6000$ price range for a full on MPC.

I started all DAW and bought a MPC because I have ridicolous fun with it and I knew what I was getting into. It was my choice spending that much cash on the 5000, on a piece of equipment you could do on your Iphone. If you are realistic a drummachine is overpriced in the 21 first century.

We are talking about those individuals that say they want an MPC with a more expensive hardware design and not lap top and computers. And just because you claim something is 10x as powerful, it doesn't necessarily make it the best musical instrument. There is a market that you could never sell them on a computer, software, and controller..which is the reason why Yamaha and Korg released new hardware workstations in the past year. I would rather use an MPC that as created 10 years ago before I use a computer as my go-to drum machine and sequencer.

[/quote]
We are talking about those individuals that say they want an MPC with a more expensive hardware design and not lap top and computers. And just because you claim something is 10x as powerful, it doesn't necessarily make it the best musical instrument. There is a market that you could never sell them on a computer, software, and controller..which is the reason why Yamaha and Korg released new hardware workstations in the past year. I would rather use an MPC that as created 10 years ago before I use a computer as my go-to drum machine and sequencer.[/quote]


I'm not refering to using a laptop as a musical instrument perse, but about production cost and value. I thought I made that clear in my post.
What is that btw expensive hardware design? That's so vague! Explain to me what's so special about the internal parts/boards of the 5000 compared to a good laptop? Unless it's handmade like a Moog the MPC should be 10x as powerfull for the retail price. Initial retail price was what? 3500$ Do yo actually believe that the specs of the 5000 justify 3500$?

Its good to see excitement and good vibes about the MPC line, considering all the hating i have seen.... I'm excited to see if they actually provide an update to the MPC5000, as Akai replied 'work in progress'... also I checked chemical records UK, who are one of Akai's distributers, they have dropped the MPC 5000 to 1100 pounds, anyone else seen a price drop? Summer NAMM is coming up in interested if we will hear an announcement regarding the 'MPC line' maybe thats just speculation, but I'm excited either way...

CoinOP! wrote:

We are talking about those individuals that say they want an MPC with a more expensive hardware design and not lap top and computers. And just because you claim something is 10x as powerful, it doesn't necessarily make it the best musical instrument. There is a market that you could never sell them on a computer, software, and controller..which is the reason why Yamaha and Korg released new hardware workstations in the past year. I would rather use an MPC that as created 10 years ago before I use a computer as my go-to drum machine and sequencer.[/quote]


I'm not refering to using a laptop as a musical instrument perse, but about production cost and value. I thought I made that clear in my post.
What is that btw expensive hardware design? That's so vague! Explain to me what's so special about the internal parts/boards of the 5000 compared to a good laptop? Unless it's handmade like a Moog the MPC should be 10x as powerfull for the retail price. Initial retail price was what? 3500$ Do yo actually believe that the specs of the 5000 justify 3500$?[/quote]

The reason its so pricey is because its a specialist piece of kit, if they were as popular as laptops they would be cheap as chips, ...

CoinOP! wrote:

We are talking about those individuals that say they want an MPC with a more expensive hardware design and not lap top and computers. And just because you claim something is 10x as powerful, it doesn't necessarily make it the best musical instrument. There is a market that you could never sell them on a computer, software, and controller..which is the reason why Yamaha and Korg released new hardware workstations in the past year. I would rather use an MPC that as created 10 years ago before I use a computer as my go-to drum machine and sequencer.[/quote]


I'm not refering to using a laptop as a musical instrument perse, but about production cost and value. I thought I made that clear in my post.
What is that btw expensive hardware design? That's so vague! Explain to me what's so special about the internal parts/boards of the 5000 compared to a good laptop? Unless it's handmade like a Moog the MPC should be 10x as powerfull for the retail price. Initial retail price was what? 3500$ Do yo actually believe that the specs of the 5000 justify 3500$?[/quote]

I think $2500 is a reasonable price for an MPC 5000 or another high end MPC. Workstations are generally in the $2000-$3000 range in spite of the fact that computers boast to be "10x" as powerful.

CoinOP! wrote:

We are talking about those individuals that say they want an MPC with a more expensive hardware design and not lap top and computers. And just because you claim something is 10x as powerful, it doesn't necessarily make it the best musical instrument. There is a market that you could never sell them on a computer, software, and controller..which is the reason why Yamaha and Korg released new hardware workstations in the past year. I would rather use an MPC that as created 10 years ago before I use a computer as my go-to drum machine and sequencer.[/quote]


I'm not refering to using a laptop as a musical instrument perse, but about production cost and value. I thought I made that clear in my post.
What is that btw expensive hardware design? That's so vague! Explain to me what's so special about the internal parts/boards of the 5000 compared to a good laptop? Unless it's handmade like a Moog the MPC should be 10x as powerfull for the retail price. Initial retail price was what? 3500$ Do yo actually believe that the specs of the 5000 justify 3500$?[/quote]

Who sold it for 3500.00? I've had mine since 2008 and I paid 2Gs. Most I saw it for back then was 2.5
With regards to MPCs/laptops, performance, efficiency etc.,- they are all tools to achieve a desired result right?
Whatever you get down with, just make sure you're havin' fun. If it ain't fun, you're workin with the wrong tools.

Later.

Fess wrote:
Who sold it for 3500.00? I've had mine since 2008 and I paid 2Gs. Most I saw it for back then was 2.5
With regards to MPCs/laptops, performance, efficiency etc.,- they are all tools to achieve a desired result right?
Whatever you get down with, just make sure you're havin' fun. If it ain't fun, you're workin with the wrong tools.

Later.

Such a cliche... Subject is not creativity. The price point of a powerfull future MPC is....

CoinOP! wrote:

Fess wrote:
Who sold it for 3500.00? I've had mine since 2008 and I paid 2Gs. Most I saw it for back then was 2.5
With regards to MPCs/laptops, performance, efficiency etc.,- they are all tools to achieve a desired result right?
Whatever you get down with, just make sure you're havin' fun. If it ain't fun, you're workin with the wrong tools.

Later.

Such a cliche... Subject is not creativity. The price point of a powerfull future MPC is....

Yawwwwwn...you avoided the question...WHERE did you see the MPC5000 advertised for 3500.00? BS...