Top 10 MPC Ren Features

Andy has showed several videos of the MPC Ren hardware/software. I have compiled my top 10 list of features I like:

1. Hardware. I love the fact that Numark/Akai has designed the control surface of the MPC Ren similar to legacy MPCs I have grown to love. They kept the classic Data wheel, Cursor Keys, Transport buttons, Number Keys, and also gave us direct access to modes via dedicated buttons. So I can use the MPC exactly like I always have. The 16 Qlinks gives you even more control as they correspond to all the parameters displayed on the Ren's LCD and your computer monitor. This is one of the biggest feature requests of the MPC 5000. And of course, they included the standard 4 MIDI outputs for driving external sound modules and keyboards.

2. Browser. This is a very simple feature but very important. You can use the browser to locate any file stored on your computer's hard drive. There is no annoying process of importing libraries so the MPC Ren can read them as you have in products like Maschine.

3. Effects. Personally, I feel Numark/Akai has gone waaaaay overboard with the Effects. You can Insert 4 Effects on each Pad, 4 Effects across each Program, and 4 Effects across each track. You also have 4 send effects available. This is so much power and flexibility available for users. I can't see anyone needing more than this. And adding support for VST effects right out the box is awesome.

4. Plugin Support. The day has finally come where software plugin instruments are now fully integrated with an MPC. Users like me have been using MPCs with Nuendo/Cubase, Logic, Reason, and Battery for quite sometime. Now I can accomplish this workflow in an MPC environment. Because of VST support, I look forward to integration of powerful VST samplers such as Mach Five and Kontakt with their huge libraries.

5. Program Editing. I like that all program parameters are displayed on your computer monitor. The MPC Ren retains the classic MPC workflow using the F keys to navigate to specific program parameters. And as mentioned above, you can use the 16 Qlinks to control every parameter. This is especially nice for layering pads with samples. Quick turn of the corresponding Qlink knobs allows you to quickly layer 4 samples on a pad.

6. Chopping. Allows you to quickly chop samples and preview the sliced regions from the pads throughout 8 pad banks. Editing functions are available to process individual slices. After chopping you can generate a sequence to play back any drum loops you chopped up.

7. Step Sequencing. XOX drum maschine style step sequencing has been implemented. Can insert/remove notes in the grids using the pads.


8. Pad Mute/Track Mute Automation. I am glad they kept this great MPC 5000 feature. These functions is an easy way to arrange and build songs on the fly.

9. Quantize/Note Repeat/Shift Timing/Latency. Everything I have seen so far should alleviate any concerns some forum members have had. The sequencing looks awesome. I have yet to find a DAW that I can sequence drums on and can capture the feel I want first take they way I can with legacy MPCs. Numark/Akai looks like they have captured a key feature of legacy MPCs in the software domain than many software companies are still trying to accomplish.

10. Compatibility with legacy MPC programs and samples. The time has come where you can import all the programs/sounds/MIDI sequences of legacy MPCs into an MPC style DAW for completion. This gives added value for my hardware MPC where I can start a project on it if I choose, then import in into the MPC Ren for completion.


Those are my current Top 10 Favorites from watching all the MPC Ren videos. Feel free to share yours.

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10. Compatibility with legacy MPC programs and samples. The time has come where you can import all the programs/sounds/MIDI sequences of legacy MPCs into an MPC style DAW for completion. This gives added value for my hardware MPC where I can start a project on it if I choose, then import in into the MPC Ren for completion.


caught me.


Only thing is, i want the software to load off my CF card without using the Ren. so basically a DAW that loads my 1k beats. cheers.

@JAH:

> Latency

Compared to what? A 5k? Are you speculating?

hjolkie wrote:@JAH:

> Latency

Compared to what? A 5k? Are you speculating?

please read through all the threads... Dan and Andy from Akai spoke on here regarding latency a couple of times. The latency is damn good on the ren

Jahrome nailed all points for me. I am in fron the start

sparq wrote: The latency is damn good on the ren

bullshyt!

if you´re using plug-ins with the ren then your latency can become very high (depending on the plug-ins).

i was using a friend´s maschine (and he has a powerful mac, btw.) and the latency, even if barely noticeable was killing it for me. i didn´t feel at home.

so back to my 2500

@JAH:

The whole thing's so fantastic it just could be true.

I´d like to adjust the PPQ from 24 to 960:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYVei7SFWgo

TheUnfu*kwithable wrote:

sparq wrote: The latency is damn good on the ren

bullshyt!

if you´re using plug-ins with the ren then your latency can become very high (depending on the plug-ins).

i was using a friend´s maschine (and he has a powerful mac, btw.) and the latency, even if barely noticeable was killing it for me. i didn´t feel at home.

so back to my 2500

that's the problem with most of you.... you make negative remarks about what the ren/studio will not be able to do. the fact is, none of us are exactly sure what they will be able to do because none of us regular folk have not even touched the ren/studio in any length (if at all) to be able to tell exactly what they can do. all we have to go on is what andy and dan tell us and what little we've seen in videos they put up. my comment on latency above is based on what they stated about latency. do you not think that before they make a statement regarding latency, they would have tested it using vsts? this is an mpc NOT maschine so it doesn't matter what you based your comment on. who knows... maybe you're right but then again you can be completely wrong.

my point is to you and all the people who hate/not interested in buying/don't like akai products/etc... just stay off this section of mpc-fourms.com and you can continue using whatever product helps your music making abilities. i also understand that these comments are your opinion and you have every right to state your opinion but at some point, your(not just you but in general) negative opinions can have a negative impact on these boards and the topic then gets losts and for the people who really want to know whats going on will not be able to find their answers due to all the negative opinions. as with your opinion, this is just my opinion...

sparq wrote:

TheUnfu*kwithable wrote:

sparq wrote: The latency is damn good on the ren

bullshyt!

if you´re using plug-ins with the ren then your latency can become very high (depending on the plug-ins).

i was using a friend´s maschine (and he has a powerful mac, btw.) and the latency, even if barely noticeable was killing it for me. i didn´t feel at home.

so back to my 2500

that's the problem with most of you.... you make negative remarks about what the ren/studio will not be able to do. the fact is, none of us are exactly sure what they will be able to do because none of us regular folk have not even touched the ren/studio in any length (if at all) to be able to tell exactly what they can do. all we have to go on is what andy and dan tell us and what little we've seen in videos they put up. my comment on latency above is based on what they stated about latency. do you not think that before they make a statement regarding latency, they would have tested it using vsts? this is an mpc NOT maschine so it doesn't matter what you based your comment on. who knows... maybe you're right but then again you can be completely wrong.

my point is to you and all the people who hate/not interested in buying/don't like akai products/etc... just stay off this section of mpc-fourms.com and you can continue using whatever product helps your music making abilities. i also understand that these comments are your opinion and you have every right to state your opinion but at some point, your(not just you but in general) negative opinions can have a negative impact on these boards and the topic then gets losts and for the people who really want to know whats going on will not be able to find their answers due to all the negative opinions. as with your opinion, this is just my opinion...

lol top ten .. shit ant even out yet

sparq wrote: this is an mpc NOT maschine

this isn´t an mpc. it´s a midi controller/software combo like ni maschine.

if you use a linear phase eq with 1024 samples latency with the ren what do you expect the overall latency to be? 1024 samples and up.

if that´s too complicated for you ask your mother...

MONSTA wrote:lol top ten .. **** ant even out yet

I clearly indicated my Top 10 features I like from the VIDEOS Andy has posted. And not being available anywhere that you would find most professional music production gear is not stopping you from supporting the Beatthang.

**** wrote:

sparq wrote: this is an mpc NOT maschine

this isn´t an mpc. it´s a midi controller/software combo like ni maschine.

if you use a linear phase eq with 1024 samples latency with the ren what do you expect the overall latency to be? 1024 samples and up.

if that´s too complicated for you ask your mother...

Not only is the MPC Ren an MPC...its the most powerful MPC ever created. We are no longer stuck with 128 MB of memory and an limited CPU as found in the MPC 1000 (which by the way is still a very capable product). Using the Ren with an off-the-shelf PC, I have 8GB RAM and a i5 processor which dwarfs every MPC ever made. Its much more than Maschine. Not only is the controller more advanced (touch sensitive Qlink knobs...hello ), the software is way ahead from what I have seen. MIDI capabilities, Effects routing, pad/track mixing, sample editing tools, program editing, etc are among the features the MPC Ren has that easily surpasses Maschine which still doesn't have an easy method to stop long one-shot samples from playing.

I see that you mention latency. So if you have your MPC 1000 MIDI'd to your favoirite DAW and insert a linear phase eq with 1024 samples latency what do you expect the overall latency to be? In case this goes over you heard...I am talking about using your MPC to sequence software instruments.

JAH wrote:

MONSTA wrote:lol top ten .. **** ant even out yet

I clearly indicated my Top 10 features I like from the VIDEOS Andy has posted. And not being available anywhere that you would find most professional music production gear is not stopping you from supporting the Beatthang.

**** wrote:

sparq wrote: this is an mpc NOT maschine

this isn´t an mpc. it´s a midi controller/software combo like ni maschine.

if you use a linear phase eq with 1024 samples latency with the ren what do you expect the overall latency to be? 1024 samples and up.




beat thang . i never owned one .. but from what i see .. looks like akai copied from it . .. and i would never knock any one who brings thier ideas 2 life .. BUT PEOPLE WHO JUST PLAN COPY AND AND DONT BRING ANYTHING NEW TO THE TABLE . AND CHARGE TRIPLE THE PRICE . SMDH .. AND TO TOP IT OFF MAKE IT UGLIER THAN THE ORIGINAL .. ps i ant knockin ya list . but vintage mode ahahaha wheres the video .. smh

sparq wrote:

TheUnfu*kwithable wrote:

sparq wrote: The latency is damn good on the ren

bullshyt!

if you´re using plug-ins with the ren then your latency can become very high (depending on the plug-ins).

i was using a friend´s maschine (and he has a powerful mac, btw.) and the latency, even if barely noticeable was killing it for me. i didn´t feel at home.

so back to my 2500

that's the problem with most of you.... you make negative remarks about what the ren/studio will not be able to do. the fact is, none of us are exactly sure what they will be able to do because none of us regular folk have not even touched the ren/studio in any length (if at all) to be able to tell exactly what they can do. all we have to go on is what andy and dan tell us and what little we've seen in videos they put up. my comment on latency above is based on what they stated about latency. do you not think that before they make a statement regarding latency, they would have tested it using vsts? this is an mpc NOT maschine so it doesn't matter what you based your comment on. who knows... maybe you're right but then again you can be completely wrong.

my point is to you and all the people who hate/not interested in buying/don't like akai products/etc... just stay off this section of mpc-fourms.com and you can continue using whatever product helps your music making abilities. i also understand that these comments are your opinion and you have every right to state your opinion but at some point, your(not just you but in general) negative opinions can have a negative impact on these boards and the topic then gets losts and for the people who really want to know whats going on will not be able to find their answers due to all the negative opinions. as with your opinion, this is just my opinion...

Everbody is different. If we are using a computer already it should`t be too big of a problem once you get a handle on it. We do know that a lot of studio releases are produced and released using computers. But some may never get pass their own paradigms.

hjolkie wrote:@JAH:

The whole thing's so fantastic it just could be true.

I´d like to adjust the PPQ from 24 to 960:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYVei7SFWgo

64(3) timing = 96 notes / measure

96/4 = 24, so...

24ppqn = 64(3) quantize setting. Ren can do this. so can the 5000.