Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

Bug reports & end-user support for Akai's MPC Software 'controllers' including the new MPC Studio 2, the MPC Touch, MPC Renaissance & original MPC Studio and MPC StudioB lack.
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Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By jpeg Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:03 pm
Blue Haze wrote:
MPC-Tutor wrote:
Blue Haze wrote::| Well I hope the testers get it right.


Dont blame the testers for anything, those guys work very very hard. Ultimately any issues with the product are the responsibility of the company making it, period.



No blame just hope and I do know they have been working hard at.



what feature get in the way of making beats i/sampling with maschine? cos i hear some peeps saying that vst support made the maschine software clunky my thoughts on that is gtfoh

Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By jpeg Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:07 pm
MPC-Tutor wrote:
jpeg wrote:i dont see support as a huge issue ive had all sorts of samplers and drum machines and have neva used the support from any company.
.


I think the key issue isn't necessarily 'support' in terms of 'I need help', it's more concern about whether bugs will be fixed (e.g. like they weren't with the 5000, no matter how loud we screamed), whether new features will be implemented, and if they are, will they be the ones people actually want. What will happen to these new MPCs in 3 years time?

Obviously Akai want to make long term money from their customers, but will it be the same business model as before (release, minor software updates, abandon for new model), or is this different (release, lots of ongoing updates, new software options available via paid 'upgrade' process so no need to buy new hardware etc).

Will the ren be the only MPC hardware you'll ever need to buy? Will it still work with MPC software releases a few years down the line, will you have to completely replace hardware to use future versions of the software, or can you purchase incremental hardware upgrades?



this si why u dont buy products on the promise of whats to come lotta cats make that mistake with maschine then get bent out of shape when the shit dont materialise.

like i know before i by what features and workflow requirements that are non-negotiable so i wont buy shit that dont fit that criteria.

yes updates are nice buy i dont require that shit best to make sure the shit has what u need when u buy, if u have any doubts dont buy on day one then complain let the dust settle, see where shit goes if ur happy shit is moving in the right direction then purchase.

its really that simple.
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Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By Lampdog Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:15 pm
jpeg wrote:yes updates are nice buy i dont require that shit best to make sure the shit has what u need when u buy, if u have any doubts dont buy on day one then complain let the dust settle, see where shit goes if ur happy shit is moving in the right direction then purchase.

its really that simple.


True words right there. So simple yet so many miss the mark on that.

Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By dazastah Wed Apr 04, 2012 5:10 pm
MONSTA wrote:to each its own .. but dont you think 1299 is a expensive toy ?? plz help me understand .. so you are sayin u want the ren just to have fun and sample ?? hey im not knocking you at all .. i just dont understand ??

Why else would you buy it? The only reason i can think of would be to have fun with it.
It's not fun if you find you get frustrated with it. It's fun if your creating beats with it.. Usually 30mins with hitech gear for me decides wether i can use it. This is my work btw.. so if i can make work fun why not?

jpeg wrote:what feature get in the way of making beats i/sampling with maschine? cos i hear some peeps saying that vst support made the maschine software clunky my thoughts on that is gtfoh


To me it did.. Maybe to you it didn't..
For me my particular process starts with sampling/chopping and basic arranging creation of loops.. Then i move onto tracking with live instruments and vsts.. So i just port it over to the daw and not bother with a sampler sequencer at that stage(i may sometimes add in new chops but i chop it in live and track it in live but very rarely)... So in my workflow when these two combined(maschine with vsti support inside standalone mode) it became a massive mess.. And then i just avoided it..didn't hate on it . And i'm sure it works for a lot of crew.
That is why i seperate them... I prefer arranging in a daw like cubase/logic/reaper .. And sequencing vsti/midi keyboard intruments in them as they are better suited to do that... mpc's/maschine for me are better at sampling and chopping phrases..
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Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By psr Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:41 pm
MeSoHordey wrote:5. In the case of the Fly, I don't believe Akai will be able to keep the hardware compatible with new versions of the iPad. You're buying this thing to last a couple of years.

7. Existing VSTs and integrated controller solutions have already gotten a headstart on the new Akai lineup. The first group of people working with these solutions will essentially be beta testers with no real offical way to learn from each other. Workflows may eventually get better over time, but not before the kinks are worked out.


I'm sure this has been and can be said of any similar products.
As someone else said... only time will tell but

I go thru similar debates about iphones and blackberry every day at work in a support role. People want/desire/need these different products for various reasons. what works for some may not work for others. Some may even have reasons that make getting a couple years use out of a product well worth it. others need a decade. the idea is to consider the intended life cycle of the product. Computers change and anything dependent on them eventually change to accommodate them if the public demand is such that dictates the change. I'm not sure I'd concern myself with the reasons if you so desire the product. Every product was new at one point or another. i think there is a market for it and for those that think not... well guess what you may just find that you are not the intended customer so much as you are for the stand alone units or another product all together.
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Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By JAH Thu Apr 05, 2012 12:44 am
Blue Haze wrote:
MeSoHordey wrote:There are some dope things about each product to be sure...but nothing has really convinced me to buy. Here's why;

1. Not convinced Akai can code a decent VST - latency and CPU load are my biggest concerns here (Ren / Studio)
2. Not convinced Retronyms can code a decent MPC app.
3. Not convinced Akai will be able to provide decent support for any of the new products. For the Fly, outsourced apps are notoriously hard to support anyways, and especially so for companies with a poor track record like Akai. For integrated controller setups like maschine, a close relationship with your customers is especially important. Akai has no support forum which is critical to users for comparing notes, submitting bugs and helping each other with solutions. In addition, Akai has never been good about developing updates. Each new hardware release becomes the most important and older models are quickly forgotten. This won't work for a complex PC-based environment that is constantly changing.
4. Controllers, by nature, become obsolete over time as operating systems evolve - they rarely hold their value over time and often have very little aftermarket parts support (Ren / Studio / Fly)
5. In the case of the Fly, I don't believe Akai will be able to keep the hardware compatible with new versions of the iPad. You're buying this thing to last a couple of years.
6. Cost for all three is too high. I can buy any traditional MPC for the price of the Ren and have money left over to buy a bunch of additional hardware.
7. Existing VSTs and integrated controller solutions have already gotten a headstart on the new Akai lineup. The first group of people working with these solutions will essentially be beta testers with no real offical way to learn from each other. Workflows may eventually get better over time, but not before the kinks are worked out.

I'm still interested in these products, but I'll be more interested if Akai can prove they are not all about the latest release and solve some of these concerns through their actions - rather than just a couple of reps assuring us through you tube video clips.



Reasonable concerns good. 8)


Reasonable.....but if I had those concerns, I would simply not buy it. Or I would wait until I can read user reviews from forum members.

MPC-Tutor wrote:
Blue Haze wrote::| Well I hope the testers get it right.


Dont blame the testers for anything, those guys work very very hard. Ultimately any issues with the product are the responsibility of the company making it, period.


Co-sign.
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Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By Blue Haze Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:38 am
Lampdog wrote:Not to jump on the bandwagon but that's a narrow minded thing to say BH.



In the context that naysayers have been saying it wouldn't work. I do believe they will work and I have a bit of insight how well they are working.

Which is why I said the second post I mean as in hope.
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Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By Ill-Green Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:53 am
I'll wait til the next wave of updates to check out the Ren. A few key features that I'm looking for won't be in there at launch like sampling with effects on. The features it has are pretty beastin' so far, but some things should be essential already.
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Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By JAH Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:01 am
Ill-Green wrote:I'll wait til the next wave of updates to check out the Ren. A few key features that I'm looking for won't be in there at launch like sampling with effects on. The features it has are pretty beastin' so far, but some things should be essential already.

What key features are you talking about? As far as "sampling with effects on", you may have been misled.
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Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By Ill-Green Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:49 am
JAH wrote:
Ill-Green wrote:I'll wait til the next wave of updates to check out the Ren. A few key features that I'm looking for won't be in there at launch like sampling with effects on. The features it has are pretty beastin' so far, but some things should be essential already.

What key features are you talking about? As far as "sampling with effects on", you may have been misled.


No I'm not.

viewtopic.php?f=36&t=151890&start=30
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Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By JAH Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:25 am
Ill-Green wrote:
JAH wrote:
Ill-Green wrote:I'll wait til the next wave of updates to check out the Ren. A few key features that I'm looking for won't be in there at launch like sampling with effects on. The features it has are pretty beastin' so far, but some things should be essential already.

What key features are you talking about? As far as "sampling with effects on", you may have been misled.


No I'm not.

viewtopic.php?f=36&t=151890&start=30


You stated there will be no sampling with effects on which is not accurate. You can add an effect to a pad/sample and "resample" with said effect.

What Dan describes is that you can't apply an effect to incoming audio and sample it.

Both of these methods accomplishes the same thing.

Also you said a "few" key features. That is only one.

Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By GodDevilWhatever Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:42 am
Man I'm going to be honest. I own the Maschine, and have used MPCs. And Maschine's workflow is like 70% there. However, there are a lot of alterations that you would want to do that can't be easily done without a DAW. Then comes the problem of how efficiently a plugin can work inside a DAW. Maschine made this portion complicated once again, and I'd say over half of the people that would like to have the ability, can't do it (being that it's quite tedious and intricate to be able to seperate midi channels and change certain preferences).

That being said, I'll be purchasing the MPC Renaissance just because their original workflow was so intuitive plus I've invested days of my life to that specific workflow. Still they are literally half-stepping back into the game.

Audio production has progressed exponentially in the past half decade and it feels like Akai has not done their research. What they're putting out right now, controllers put out in 2010 can do. And it's a 1200 dollars. It can't be standalone and you can't use VST/Plugins when you use it as a plugin inside a DAW.

Maschine is already ahead in software, as they delt with countless people complaining all day on their forum. And I know Akai is going to go through the same shit (probably much worse) if they don't stop half-stepping and take an alpha stand and have full steps into the integration of software/hardware, because trust me, if Akai doesn't do it, some smart-ass company WILL make a production center that is both software and hardware independent, and customers are only so loyal to a corporation. It's 2012, where the customers are in control. If Akai puts out their 1200 dollar production center and it can't be a production center without an entire computer, people are going to mock the **** shit and Akai will **** fall and **** die.

They need to get their shit straight before actual release. 1200 dollars for a midi controller that's useless without a computer is illogical at this point.
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Re: Reasons why I might pass on the new hardware lineup

By Blue Haze Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:47 am
Cool and reasonable statement. I use the maschine too and I really miss the mpc workflow which always bring me back to the my mpc. True the plugin has to work well inside the daw (logic for me) to be effective.
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