Hardware Vintage mode mystery uncovered

labcoats wrote:I'm under no illusions as to what it actually is. A controller - with an unnecessary soundcard bolted on

I thought this at first as well, but the sound card is actually quite useful. Being that the Ren has a soundcard, you can run the MPC app in standalone mode along side of Pro Tools. So for example, yesterday I was working on a couple of ideas for a friend and wanted to send him a few snippets, and didn't want to bother setting up song mode or set up audio routing to run Ren in plugin mode for something so quick. So without even exiting the MPC app, I launched Pro Tools, setup and audio track and tracked the Rens outs right into Pro Tools through my 003. Can't do this with Maschine because Maschine has no interface and two apps can't use the same ASIO device at the same time. The soundcard is actually really convenient for quick 2-track shit like that!

This also means the Ren can be used to use Pro Tools (or any DAW) as a sound module like any hardware MPC, without having to have the Ren in plugin mode!

DJ Hellfire wrote:

labcoats wrote:I'm under no illusions as to what it actually is. A controller - with an unnecessary soundcard bolted on

I thought this at first as well, but the sound card is actually quite useful. Being that the Ren has a soundcard, you can run the MPC app in standalone mode along side of Pro Tools. So for example, yesterday I was working on a couple of ideas for a friend and wanted to send him a few snippets, and didn't want to bother setting up song mode or set up audio routing to run Ren in plugin mode for something so quick. So without even exiting the MPC app, I launched Pro Tools, setup and audio track and tracked the Rens outs right into Pro Tools through my 003. Can't do this with Maschine because Maschine has no interface and two apps can't use the same ASIO device at the same time. The soundcard is actually really convenient for quick 2-track shit like that!

This also means the Ren can be used to use Pro Tools (or any DAW) as a sound module like any hardware MPC, without having to have the Ren in plugin mode!

That's dope. But not anywhere close to a reason to buy the Ren for me... Or why it needs a sound card other than to pretend its more than controller... IMHO.

DJ Hellfire wrote:

labcoats wrote:I'm under no illusions as to what it actually is. A controller - with an unnecessary soundcard bolted on

I thought this at first as well, but the sound card is actually quite useful. Being that the Ren has a soundcard, you can run the MPC app in standalone mode along side of Pro Tools. So for example, yesterday I was working on a couple of ideas for a friend and wanted to send him a few snippets, and didn't want to bother setting up song mode or set up audio routing to run Ren in plugin mode for something so quick. So without even exiting the MPC app, I launched Pro Tools, setup and audio track and tracked the Rens outs right into Pro Tools through my 003. Can't do this with Maschine because Maschine has no interface and two apps can't use the same ASIO device at the same time. The soundcard is actually really convenient for quick 2-track **** like that!

This also means the Ren can be used to use Pro Tools (or any DAW) as a sound module like any hardware MPC, without having to have the Ren in plugin mode!

Thanks HF - you actually just answered the NO1 question I had. This is a + point and I regress does make the sound card a lot more useful. I had assumed that becasue I hadnt seen anyone mention this aspect it couldn't be done.

So, your sure both your sound cards were accessing the same ASIO driver using one computer?

It strikes me as a great feature and for Akai not to have mentioned this just seems rather strange. (Maybe they did I just never saw it) To me I always thought if they were pushing the vintage modes and the use of some of the same components found in the MPC 3000 then it stands to reason the sound cards line outs have to be used to effectively reproduce vintage modes but if you couldn't use it as the same time as your expensive Apogee it was a moot point/feature.

Im still not buying in to the same as the MPC60/3000 sound but that doesn't really matter to me - although it would be nice. Just being able to use the sound card inside the Ren along with our other interfaces is cool.

Actually it makes perfect sense. I can run two Daws at the same time, or run a Daw, and wavelab in the background which is something I do all the time. Just never put 2+2 together in this case .

So, you could just send midi clock from the Ren to Pro Tools or whatever Daw when you need to track. The clock should be stable - but no absolute guarantee until it was checked and measured of course . I notice it doesn't have the ability to receive midi clock yet but Im sure that will come, or at least I hope it does. Not bad at all actually

labcoats wrote:

DJ Hellfire wrote:

labcoats wrote:I'm under no illusions as to what it actually is. A controller - with an unnecessary soundcard bolted on

I thought this at first as well, but the sound card is actually quite useful. Being that the Ren has a soundcard, you can run the MPC app in standalone mode along side of Pro Tools. So for example, yesterday I was working on a couple of ideas for a friend and wanted to send him a few snippets, and didn't want to bother setting up song mode or set up audio routing to run Ren in plugin mode for something so quick. So without even exiting the MPC app, I launched Pro Tools, setup and audio track and tracked the Rens outs right into Pro Tools through my 003. Can't do this with Maschine because Maschine has no interface and two apps can't use the same ASIO device at the same time. The soundcard is actually really convenient for quick 2-track **** like that!

This also means the Ren can be used to use Pro Tools (or any DAW) as a sound module like any hardware MPC, without having to have the Ren in plugin mode!

So, your sure both your sound cards were accessing the same ASIO driver using one computer?

No. Two separate ASIO drivers. The 003 used it's own driver and Ren used it's own. Both can run simultaneously. But Pro Tools and MPC can't use the 003 at the same time and both apps can't use the MPC at the same time, unless the MPC app is in plugin mode of course!

labcoats wrote:So, you could just send midi clock from the Ren to Pro Tools or whatever Daw when you need to track. The clock should be stable - but no absolute guarantee until it was checked and measured of course . I notice it doesn't have the ability to receive midi clock yet but Im sure that will come, or at least I hope it does. Not bad at all actually

Yeah, I'm assuming so. Haven't tried it yet though! But it should work that way!

wow! thanks for sharing!!

DJ Hellfire wrote:

labcoats wrote:I'm under no illusions as to what it actually is. A controller - with an unnecessary soundcard bolted on

I thought this at first as well, but the sound card is actually quite useful. Being that the Ren has a soundcard, you can run the MPC app in standalone mode along side of Pro Tools. So for example, yesterday I was working on a couple of ideas for a friend and wanted to send him a few snippets, and didn't want to bother setting up song mode or set up audio routing to run Ren in plugin mode for something so quick. So without even exiting the MPC app, I launched Pro Tools, setup and audio track and tracked the Rens outs right into Pro Tools through my 003. Can't do this with Maschine because Maschine has no interface and two apps can't use the same ASIO device at the same time. The soundcard is actually really convenient for quick 2-track shit like that!

This also means the Ren can be used to use Pro Tools (or any DAW) as a sound module like any hardware MPC, without having to have the Ren in plugin mode!

So wait, you run the outs of a PC based sound card into the ins of a PC based sound card to use a VST in standalone mode.....instead of using it in the DAW? What does this accomplish? I'm curious.
And I'm sorry hellfire, but any other sound model wouldn't need a computer to operate.

I kinda see the convenience of 2 tracking, but I don't see how it justifies the extra 300 that they charged to put it in. I was considering a Ren for a long time, but this still don't sell me.

Not hating, just asking for a clearer explanation. Why not just use the ASIO on the REN to preview your 2 track?

Also, coudnt that create a ground loop?

I do a similar thing with reaper and a extra rme uc interface.....
This works perfect for me.. But i'm hoping for a multitimbral mode for the ren...



Thread has gone on way too long though for what it is...


I agree that the MArketing is shady and cloudy...