Part II: MPC Ren/Studio Post Namm 2013

JAH wrote:The MPC Ren is already A DAW for music production. The Ren primarily needs audio tracks and for Akai to continue expanding on the features it already has.

Imho like this they are gonna kill it, we all here mainly for the mpc workflow.

Why do we need audio tracks when everyone has a D.A.W. a click away inside his computer?

Just making an unnecessary feature that to me seems just redundant, even you can use the mpc as a plug-in.

Maybe i can understand it for a standalone mpc...

Audio tracks means even a more cluttered interface, from hw and software side.

I dont understand why they cant build up a solid background made of a clear and easy-accessible interface,from hw and software side, comprehensive of all the key features from the s-rack and mpc series.

After that if you want really add something else they should make different version of the same software (like the jjos) for different purposes.

JAH wrote:Currently, Akai uses Izotope Radius for time stretching and pitch shifting. Logic and Soundtrack Pro also uses this technology. If the same technology is used for realtime functionality...this is just fine IMO.

The time-stretch is usable and specially the pitch shifter is much better than the 2500-1K one, anyway it eats up transients easily and even if the developer is the same i feel the logic one is better implemented, has more algorithm (and works better in general).

Hope they will improve it as well.

andreat668 wrote:

JAH wrote:The MPC Ren is already A DAW for music production. The Ren primarily needs audio tracks and for Akai to continue expanding on the features it already has.

Imho like this they are gonna kill it, we all here mainly for the mpc workflow.

Why do we need audio tracks when everyone has a D.A.W. a click away inside his computer?

Just making an unnecessary feature that to me seems just redundant, even you can use the mpc as a plug-in.

Maybe i can understand it for a standalone mpc...

Audio tracks means even a more cluttered interface, from hw and software side.

I dont understand why they cant build up a solid background made of a clear and easy-accessible interface,from hw and software side, comprehensive of all the key features from the s-rack and mpc series.

After that if you want really add something else they should make different version of the same software (like the jjos) for different purposes.

Adding audio tracks will certainly not kill MPC workflow any more than having plugin tracks. You can simply choose not to use the audio tracks. MPCs have had continuous sample tracks and then audio tracks since 1994. And they have not cluttered up anything. The Ren will be the 4th MPC with this functionality when Akai decides to add this feature.

Why do we need audio tracks? To record audio is the best reason. This could be RAM based but hard disk would be ideal. With this type of functionality added so it is completely accessible from the hardware (like all the other track types), MPC users would have no need to open up a DAW (Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, etc) until they wanted to mix with a tools that have more options. With audio tracks, I would personally never open up another DAW..nor do I even check for the latest JJOS128XL updates since using the Ren.

andreat668 wrote:

JAH wrote:Currently, Akai uses Izotope Radius for time stretching and pitch shifting. Logic and Soundtrack Pro also uses this technology. If the same technology is used for realtime functionality...this is just fine IMO.

The time-stretch is usable and specially the pitch shifter is much better than the 2500-1K one, anyway it eats up transients easily and even if the developer is the same i feel the logic one is better implemented, has more algorithm (and works better in general).

Hope they will improve it as well.

I don't use this function much at all. But when I initially tested it....I found it far superior than the same functionality in hardware MPCs...in terms of speed and sound quality.

andreat668 wrote:Why do we need audio tracks when everyone has a D.A.W. a click away inside his computer?

do we NEED them? no

would it be an improvement? yes

why?

workflow -

if im making a beat in the ren standalone and wanna record some bass from my bass guitar, i currently have to sample it into the ren, trim, assign to a pad, etc... this is definitely do-able but if i could just arm an audio track and hit record it would be a big improvement to workflow! (which is what mpcs are all about anyways_

nowdays we HAVE the power, lets use it

es-k wrote:

andreat668 wrote:Why do we need audio tracks when everyone has a D.A.W. a click away inside his computer?

do we NEED them? no

would it be an improvement? yes

why?

workflow -

if im making a beat in the ren standalone and wanna record some bass from my bass guitar, i currently have to sample it into the ren, trim, assign to a pad, etc... this is definitely do-able but if i could just arm an audio track and hit record it would be a big improvement to workflow! (which is what mpcs are all about anyways_

nowdays we HAVE the power, lets use it

This is a need more than a want IMO. Same principle applies to MIDI sound modules. MIDI instruments are nicely integrated into the Ren minus a way to get their sound into the Ren. I want to be able to record my sound modules using MIDI tracks...and then later render them as audio tracks. Then export all my tracks (audio, MIDI, MPC, plugin) as stems and send them to my partner (whom just recently jumped onboard the MPC Studio).

Audio track would be a great addition!

JAH wrote:This is a need more than a want IMO.

A supposed sampler/sequencer without features like step edit of cross-fade loop, but with audio tracks...

A not full accessible hardware interface but daw-like features...

Im not against "questionable" features, what im talking about is priority and the the fact that IMHO is always better a device (hardware, software or both) that do very good specific tasks than a generic tool which can do a lot of stuff but not going deep.

Because this is the risk, a lot of features but a CLUTTERED hardware-software integration without deep sampling and sequencing option.

Its not my fault if they advertized it as the "continuation of legacy mpcs in the world of software.

And just for clarifying my 60II doest not have audio tracks, nor my 2000.

Just the 1000-2500 with jjos.

andreat668 wrote:

JAH wrote:This is a need more than a want IMO.

A supposed sampler/sequencer without features like step edit of cross-fade loop, but with audio tracks...

A not full accessible hardware interface but daw-like features...

Im not against "questionable" features, what im talking about is priority and the the fact that IMHO is always better a device (hardware, software or both) that do very good specific tasks than a generic tool which can do a lot of stuff but not going deep.

Because this is the risk, a lot of features but a CLUTTERED hardware-software integration without deep sampling and sequencing option.

Its not my fault if they advertized it as the "continuation of legacy mpcs in the world of software.

And just for clarifying my 60II doest not have audio tracks, nor my 2000.

Just the 1000-2500 with jjos.

This 'continuation of legacy MPCs' is far superior to any MPC that came before it....to include the MPC 4000 and 5000 which have the most advanced software as well as the JJOS. The features not available from the Ren hardware is minimal and insignificant IMO....and every update to include the new 1.4 update improves upon this aspect. I couldn't me any happier than the direction Akai is taking the Ren.

There is no way that adding an additional track type will make it cluttered. That just doesn't make any sense. Not having Step Edit or crossfade loop is completely unrelated and has no bearing on audio tracks....which by the way is included in the MPC 5000 (hard disk audio tracks) as well as the continuous sample tracks found in the MPC 2500/1000. I feel that audio tracks should have been a 1.0 feature. Every workstation released in recent years have audio tracks.

Stop being afraid of the audio tracks. I promise they won't hurt you.

JAH wrote:This 'continuation of legacy MPCs' is far superior to any MPC that came before it....to include the MPC 4000 and 5000 which have the most advanced software as well as the JJOS.

Are you serious? have you ever used this machines?

The 4000 is far superior regarding sampling features, the jjosxl about sequencing is in another solar system, light years ahead.

In dont know about the 5000, but i doubt has better sampling or sequencing than the 4000-2500jjxl.


Anyway im going to clear it up again for you:


just copy-carbon all the features from the rack samplers and the mpc about sampling and sequencing.

Make them all accessible from the hardware and make an easy and intuitive interface.

Solve all the bugs.

After that implement what you want without messing up the goods.

JAH wrote:Stop being afraid of the audio tracks. I promise they won't hurt you.

Man...you are making jokes but i should make a joke about you and your thread:

in this moment you are alike a little girl making a Santa's wish list for Christmas, i guess you even get horny/wet when you think about audio tracks...
Get a life dude or at least make some tracks with your equipment.

Im done here.

andreat668 wrote:
Anyway im going to clear it up again for you:


just copy-carbon all the features from the rack samplers and the mpc about sampling and sequencing.

Make them all accessible from the hardware and make an easy and intuitive interface.

Solve all the bugs.

After that implement what you want without messing up the goods.

andreat668 wrote:

JAH wrote:This 'continuation of legacy MPCs' is far superior to any MPC that came before it....to include the MPC 4000 and 5000 which have the most advanced software as well as the JJOS.

Are you serious? have you ever used this machines?

That is the question I should be asking you. I have been using MPCs continuously since '97. I have owned nearly every model released since then. I currently own an MPC 2500 running JJ OS128XL, MPC 4000, and an MPC 3000....a Ren and Studio. I know what I am talking about. And I can and have given numerous detailed examples why I feel the way I feel.

The Ren is the most advanced MPC to date. It doesn't have every single function that has ever been in a hardware MPC. Not all of its functions are available from the hardware. But the culmination of everything it does have crushes every MPC before it. Update 1.4 puts even more distance between it and hardware MPC.

24 bit recording, Sample Editing/Chopping to include time stretching and pitchshifting, Pad/Track Mute recording, FX implementation, plugin support to include ability to make custom layouts, MIDI control over external modules, Qlink implementation, Track Mixer, Next Sequence Mode, Step Sequencing, Automation, import MP3 and Rex files, drag-n-drop support, export capabilities, global program editing......again, the culmination of all these Ren/Studio features outclasses what is found in each individual MPC.

No need to get upset. But you need to spend more time with the MPCs you are discussing as it sounds as if you have never used any of them extensively.

Also....I write feature requests in this forum just to keep MPC dialogue open. Akai already has my Christmas list. And this Christmas will be the best ever.

These lists are getting chopped down.

IMAKEMADBEATS wrote:These lists are getting chopped down.

But you know how that goes. As soon as 1.4 is released, there will be more feature suggestions for 1.5.