This is what Akai *SHOULD* have done

Disclaimer: The opinions shared in this thread are solely my own. You may not agree with them and they may be of no interest to you.

The 2500/1000 was the last *decent* machine they made (this is subjective). What they should have done is improved on the 2500/1000 so that it can be used as a hardware device, but hooked up to a computer using the USB can also be used as a hybrid which would actually bridge the gap between hardware and software. Being able to manipulate and control the the MPC on screen within the DAW or VST, but still keeping it a standalone machine if one wishes.

They could then have created their Akai DAW to work alongside the 2500/1000. As well as the DAW they could have released a VST that could be used within a DAW of your choice, such as Logic, Pro Tools etc. Or just kept their DAW and allowed for VSTs to be used within it (which I believe they have already done).

The Access Virus is about the only hardware I've used that does this well. Whilst it's not a drum machine/sampler, they pretty much have it locked in terms controlling and manipulating the hardware on screen.

This would have been a real hybrid and something worth discussing.

Feel free to elaborate and add in your own bits an pieces.

I agree... disappointing, but it still might be worth picking up to use in conjuction with my mpc 4000 and my other softsamplers ITB... we'll see

JamesJeffery wrote:What they should have done is improved on the 2500/1000 so that it can be used as a hardware device, but hooked up to a computer using the USB can also be used as a hybrid which would actually bridge the gap between hardware and software. Being able to manipulate and control the the MPC on screen within the DAW or VST, but still keeping it a standalone machine if one wishes.

There's no saying they won't eventually do this. The hardware is possibly only short of a circuit board and a few extra components to give it that capability. It has everything else.

I only say this because Akai have apparently said they're not finished with standalone units, and maybe the economic climate rules out the 'all singing all dancing' MP we'd all really want. Initially they probably just want to stop people buying Maschine as an MPC replacement, which makes sense. MkII versions of these hybrids could be a lot more interesting.

Sounds like a beat thang to me


I see your point, but i can also see the reason not too, mainly price. Drop the processor on the unit and you've cut costs dramatically. That, and then you only have 1 application to deal with. You think updates where bad before, now times that by 2 on seperate platforms, seperate interfaces, etc.

JamesJeffery wrote:Disclaimer: The opinions shared in this thread are solely my own. You may not agree with them and they may be of no interest to you.

The 2500/1000 was the last *decent* machine they made (this is subjective). What they should have done is improved on the 2500/1000 so that it can be used as a hardware device, but hooked up to a computer using the USB can also be used as a hybrid which would actually bridge the gap between hardware and software. Being able to manipulate and control the the MPC on screen within the DAW or VST, but still keeping it a standalone machine if one wishes.

They could then have created their Akai DAW to work alongside the 2500/1000. As well as the DAW they could have released a VST that could be used within a DAW of your choice, such as Logic, Pro Tools etc. Or just kept their DAW and allowed for VSTs to be used within it (which I believe they have already done).

The Access Virus is about the only hardware I've used that does this well. Whilst it's not a drum machine/sampler, they pretty much have it locked in terms controlling and manipulating the hardware on screen.

This would have been a real hybrid and something worth discussing.

Feel free to elaborate and add in your own bits an pieces.

I agree with this. I would be selling off every piece of kit I have to buy a new MPC if it had;

1) Integration with a PC for sample, program, seq and project management. How cool would it be if you could actually preview samples on the PC, easily creating programs and sending them over to the MPC.
2)Modern, industry standard components so that I can easily replace/upgrade memory, hard drives and optical media.
3.) Support for multiple file formats including mp3, wav, ogg etc. Oh and 24-bit support would be nice, thanks.
4) A component approach to the pads. What I mean by this is, wouldn't it be cool if like MPCSTUFF, Akai offered a store where you could purchase pads with different qualities. Want softer squishier pads, put the Akai MPC SoftXLs on your rig.
5) Akai support, with regular updates.

Sounds like the 4000 with AK.Sys.

Roland SP-606 was designed as both standalone and also could be used with bundled Cakewalk sequencer. It was released in 2005. I don't think this sampler was commercially successful.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr05/a ... dsp606.htm

I also wish that Akai Pro had gone to that direction, at least for MPC Ren.

mp3 wrote:Sounds like the 4000 with AK.Sys.

Never heard of AK.Sys. Will look into it now. Just found a review on Sound on Sound. Why wasn't this successful btw?

Also seen a few posts on here from users that actually enjoy AK.Sys.

at the end of the year a new stand alone device is due to be released from akia

jpeg wrote:at the end of the year a new stand alone device is due to be released from akia

Where was this information sourced?

jpeg wrote:at the end of the year a new stand alone device is due to be released from akia

Nothing but rumors.....

So far:
1. MPC Ren $2000
2. MPC Ren has actual converters of the MPC 3000
3. MPC Ren is an actual standalone MPC that you can use without PC
4. Ableton coding the software
5. MPC Ren has real-time timestretch and pitchshifting
6. MPC Studio is the MPC Ren without audio/MIDI interface like Maschine
7. MPC 5000 is the last hardware MPC
8. MPC Ren has onboard DSP chip
9. MPC Vintage Modes changes the circuits of the outputs....not digital emulations

may be rumours but i dont get why peeps are so hung up on if the unit is standalone, as im willing to be 90% of the time u will be using the shit in ur studio and you all have a computer so its not a big issue.

u cant down the product on the basis that u cant make beats on the train cos most of time u aint gonna be on the train.

and willing to be most live events u go to will feature a laptop with serato or some shit, the extra weight of carrying a laptop to run the mpc ren is neglible in comparisson to carrying around a heavy ass mpc60 or 3000 or a crate of records so miss me with that bullshit.

jpeg wrote:at the end of the year a new stand alone device is due to be released from akia

an akai insider but dont worry bout that its all about mpc - ren better get with it but ur sad devotion to the standalone unit is mostly groundless, be happy they are bringing the mpc hardware drum machine concept into the 21st century.


yes it would have been cool to have an mpc3500 that has a built in battery and connects as a usb controller but this is an expensive proposition.

jpeg wrote:may be rumours but i dont get why peeps are so hung up on if the unit is standalone, as im willing to be 90% of the time u will be using the shit in ur studio and you all have a computer so its not a big issue.

u cant down the product on the basis that u cant make beats on the train cos most of time u aint gonna be on the train.

and willing to be most live events u go to will feature a laptop with serato or some shit, the extra weight of carrying a laptop to run the mpc ren is neglible in comparisson to carrying around a heavy ass mpc60 or 3000 or a crate of records so miss me with that bullshit.

You're making pretty generalized and broad statements about why a person that WANTS to occasionally use an mpc in a standalone scenario should NOT want that... Everyone uses their MPC differently. You are chasing your tail.


I do not ride trains. I do not take my 3000 and a crate of records on the road with me...don't be goofy. I do however, take my 1000 and a few cf cards loaded with samples on trips. I do not want to have to take a laptop also...I take an ipad with me to web surfin'/porn oglin'... what is so hard to get about that?

Just because you don't get it why people are "so hung up on it" doesn't mean its an invalid reason to not buy something.

jpeg wrote:

jpeg wrote:at the end of the year a new stand alone device is due to be released from akia

an akai insider but dont worry bout that its all about mpc - ren better get with it but ur sad devotion to the standalone unit is mostly groundless, be happy they are bringing the mpc hardware drum machine concept into the 21st century.


yes it would have been cool to have an mpc3500 that has a built in battery and connects as a usb controller but this is an expensive proposition.

Are you really replying to yourself here?

b.read made a very valid response. I agree.