MPC REN the most important MPC EVER

For the record..I own what is probably the most highly regarded, sought after MPC ever made (MPC 3000LE). And I don't/won't feel the need to turn it on.....with the Ren on the horizon. The Ren gets the position of honor in my studio.

Call it what ever you like.

JAH wrote:The feature set of MPC 5000 OS2 were based on plenty of feedback from this very forum. Several forum members beta tested the OS. I agreed that the OS can use an update. That would be great for those that actually use/own the 5K.

FYI...workstation doesn't mean standalone hardware. And you can call the Ren what ever you see fit. But once you get it in front of you...you won't mistake it for being anything but an MPC.

this isnt about arguing but pointing out facts. None of the mpcs first OS was highly regarded either, how many different updates these machines had to go thru to be where they at and mpc 5k still on os2, how long did that take to roll out ?? and Im not even talkn about feature set but usability/stability, feature set always expands over time, that's not the problem.

according to wikipedia...

digital audio workstation (DAW) is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier. Modern DAWs are software running on computers with audio interface hardware.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio_workstation

so i guess by modern standard, maschine and mpc ren can be called workstations only if they're attatched to external processor, by yesterdays standard, workstation was microprocessor based system..where is the microprocessor in ren or maschine ? without pc or mac attatched to it they're nothing, these devices need to be attatched to external microprocessor while mpc 4000, 2500, roland mv still can be called workstation since they have built in microprocessor and can operate independently of pc or mac.

**** wrote:

konc3pt wrote:how long it took them to get mpc2500 os right ?

they never got it right. jj has

Thats it, Exactly!!! thank you sir!

JAH wrote:For the record..I own what is probably the most highly regarded, sought after MPC ever made (MPC 3000LE). And I don't/won't feel the need to turn it on.....with the Ren on the horizon. The Ren gets the position of honor in my studio.

Call it what ever you like.

thats no surprise, it was similar story with the 2500, roland mv or fantom g when they first dropped...now look where they at today, certainly not in the position of honor in your studio anymore

you tend to praise every piece of hardware you get, prior to gettn. until you actually try it out...then once something new is on the horizon you do the same thing again....you praise it like the best thing out b4 it comes out, try it...dump it and onto the next one....same story every time, but somehow none of the honored position pieces ever stick around you studio for good

MPC-Tutor wrote:I certainly expect the software development to have had a development cycle to reflect that. Things got very lazy for the MPC range, the MPC5000 perfectly epitomises that IMO.

Maybe this is why it seems like akai is taking forever to release the Ren. If you noticed, Dan and Andy hasn't been on here in a minute. Maybe they took what the could from here (and other sources) and trying to either revamp the software or just tightening it up. so it could be as tight as it could for release date.

I am not sure exactly what your point is. The MPC 5000 OS came out less than a year after its release. It was the biggest OS update any MPC have ever received in terms of what it added. I think I have acknowledged several times that I feel the MPC 5K needs an update. But I know several MPC 5000 users that enjoy that MPC in spite of its flaws. As I beta tested the OS and used every MPC that you guys talk about...I can say it really isn't that bad. I am sure one or more actual MPC 5K users may disagree. But that is my opinion. My biggest gripe of OS2 was that moving mode to mode wasn't as fast as it was before they added all those additional features. Some of the functions I heard some forum members complain about I never use. There are alot of features found in the 5K I never cared to use. But common features that every MPC has...sampling, chopping, sequencing, effects, mixing, exporting audio tracks, etc., I can't recall any significant problem.

you tend to praise every piece of hardware you get, prior to gettn. until you actually try it out...then once something new is on the horizon you do the same thing again....you praise it like the best thing out b4 it comes out, try it...dump it and onto the next one....same story every time, but somehow none of the honored position pieces ever stick around you studio for good

Calling BS on this one. Every piece of gear I praise/dis....I own/owned them. I always keep multiple MPCs old/new models. I always but the latest flagship MPCs.

For the record since you are distorting the truth....I never exactly praised the Fantom G which I own. Beautiful interface...terrible OS and support from Roland who just left us hanging. Korg Kronos...the worst built workstation I have ever seen...cheap data wheel...GUI interface font is so small...feel I need magnifying glass to operate it. Its sampling is primitive at best. MV-8000...great feature set..hated the sequencer. Maschine primitive OS that later received OS updates which lessened my complaints. Don't care for the hardware.

You can coun't on my to tell you my honest opinions of any product I purchased whether people like it or not. Visit any forum. Read my MPC 5000, 2500, 1000 threads...no holds barred on any discussion.

Remember that we are MPC purists. Trying to keep it hardware and really aware of the fact 'we have an MPC!'

Professionals who work in hired studio's and dealing with deadlines probably will laugh at us. Good to hear people still trying to do it with a standalone hardware piece, but it's just outdated. You can only keep working with it if you're:

A) have been working with it for longer then a decade like dj Premier. Even Preemo is messing with pro-tools for years now.

B) Really have love for the hardware method and like to press buttons.

Except for a small group, I think most people will only invest in a new mpc if it's capable of being integrated easily with a software set-up.
Back to those exepensive studio's. Money and time is always an issue there. They will pick up on something faster that's less time consuming and costs less money. Software instead of hardware is less space, less maintenance = cheaper.

Look at the near future. Almost everybody has a computer in their setup. All the new kids who start making beats will use a computer. And they will use it even more intense then we do. Why buy a soundmodule if you can get free vsts. Since I rewired my cracked Reason with Live I also pushed back my plans on buying a soundmodule.

I really was into hardware. Still am. Sometimes I just want to fool around and fire up the s950. Accept the fact that I might spend a whole afternoon on pressing buttons without even making something specific.
Lately people come to me and just want beats. That beat I started working on just yesterday and they want to have it on their album next month. So time is also starting to become an issue for me. Less time, more quality. And people won't hear and give a **** wether you made it on a piece of hardware or not. So I stepped up my game and now use the mpc ableton combo. Works for me, and is almost the same concept as the REN.

My MPC wet dream still is a 3000 (from a hardware geek point of view), but if my 2500 would die I'd probably go for the REN first.

Menco wrote:
My MPC wet dream still is a 3000 (from a hardware geek point of view), but if my 2500 would die I'd probably go for the REN first.

The MPC 2500 regardless of OS is way more fun to use than an MPC 3000. Once I find the white MPC 2500 at a reasonable price...its mine.

sparq wrote:

MPC-Tutor wrote:I certainly expect the software development to have had a development cycle to reflect that. Things got very lazy for the MPC range, the MPC5000 perfectly epitomises that IMO.

Maybe this is why it seems like akai is taking forever to release the Ren. If you noticed, Dan and Andy hasn't been on here in a minute. Maybe they took what the could from here (and other sources) and trying to either revamp the software or just tightening it up. so it could be as tight as it could for release date.

Since Akai stated that the Ren is coming out in the Summer...and we are only a few weeks into the Summer....what seems like forever really isn't.

From what I have seen...I can say Akai is going all out to make sure this product delivers.

JAH wrote:

Menco wrote:
My MPC wet dream still is a 3000 (from a hardware geek point of view), but if my 2500 would die I'd probably go for the REN first.

The MPC 2500 regardless of OS is way more fun to use than an MPC 3000. Once I find the white MPC 2500 at a reasonable price...its mine.

Believe that instantly. Still want one just to have one. The 3000 would be like those pair of retro Jordans that this sneaker freak has but never wears.

JAH wrote:There are alot of features found in the 5K I never cared to use. But common features that every MPC has...sampling, chopping, sequencing, effects, mixing, exporting audio tracks, etc., I can't recall any significant problem.

The main problem for me is the lagginess; OS2 is sluggish and there is no denying that and TBH I find it hard to believe that anyone using a 5000 does not find this frustrating.

As for the bugs, well, some are very random so I can appreciate that they may be hard to fix. However some of them are painfully obvious, have been reported for years, and can clearly be fixed very easily. For example, the V > ATT setting works the opposite way to all other MPCs before it. This will be a single character in one line of code that used a 'greater than' sign rather than a 'less than' sign. 5 minute fix, but it never happened. As such, velocity sensitive drum kits cannot be implemented correctly in the flagship MPC.

I could go on, but I won't. We've been here before and I've got better things to do

JAH wrote:My biggest gripe of OS2 was that moving mode to mode wasn't as fast as it was before they added all those additional features.

MPC-Tutor wrote:

JAH wrote:There are alot of features found in the 5K I never cared to use. But common features that every MPC has...sampling, chopping, sequencing, effects, mixing, exporting audio tracks, etc., I can't recall any significant problem.

The main problem for me is the lagginess; OS2 is sluggish and there is no denying that and TBH I find it hard to believe that anyone using a 5000 does not find this frustrating.

That is exactly what I meant. And one of the reasons why I don't use an MPC 5000. The Ren will not get a pass...it must peform the way legacy MPCs perform to satisfy me.

JAH wrote:I am not sure exactly what your point is

since you this forgetful lets rewind...my point is ren is not a workstation. ren is not a mpc. based on mpcs track record and its OS maturity at the release it will take a while before anything can be said about ren.... if it took akai a year to release os2 update, dont count on ren gettn one soon....btw did mpc 5k os2 address 50+ bugs akai was aware of at the release, or it only added new requsted features to keep users quiet ? .... how long before laggy screen will get a fix, can it even be fixed with os update without taking out major os features cuz the cpu cant cope with the load and size of the screen at same time?

JAH wrote:For the record since you are distorting the truth...

Im not disorting the truth, you are blurring it with multiple forum names...all I ever said on here can be tracked down by my user name...you on the other hand been thru several...

Jah/Jahrome/Askia Shaheed...anyone can search for themselves (Jahrome in every other forum). Check the Gear Slutz, Fantom G Forum, and Korg Forum...and let me know where I hyped up these products. And you have the nerve to say before I own them. Serial # for the Kronos was #31. And among the first to own every MPC created since 1997

The Ren is an MPC, certainly is a workstation, and you will have to try it out for yourself before you can really form an opinion on it. There is nothing wrong with being skeptical if you owned an Akai product that has let you down. I will be the first person to tell you not to buy a product that doesn't meet your needs. I love the new direction Akai is going in (read my MPC Unplugged thread). Nuff said. Everything else is not really relevant to me. Buy and support the company that meets your needs. If Akai and MPC Ren is not it...there are other alternatives you know....But if you are spending all your time here and not discussing or using the alternative....that says a lot...(perhaps you are not satisfied after all).

It is too early to say anything about Ren, whether be negative or positive until it has proven itself in daily use. Akai has history of letting us down, lets hope ren is extra special and they wont do it this time

JAH wrote:The Ren is an MPC, certainly is a workstation

Computer becomes a digital workstation once ren software is installed and hardware connected. Without PC or Mac hooked Ren by itself is no workstation since it cant perform its functions without computer present can it


again...

The music workstation can be described as a portable electronic music studio. The workstation combines the basic functions of a synthesizer (it creates different timbres), a sampler (it can call on and manipulate sounds that have been digitally recorded), a drum machine (it can record and play rhythm tracks), an effects device (it produce ambient effects such as reverberation and delay), and a sequencer (it can record, store, and recall the digital data that represent composition).

http://donmuro.com/articles/music_workstation.htm

The concept of a music sequencer combined with a synthesizer originated in the late 1970s with the combination of microprocessors, mini-computers, digital synthesis, disk-based storage, and control devices such as musical keyboards becoming feasible to combine into a single piece of equipment that was affordable to high-end studios and producers, as well as being portable for performers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_workstation

as you can read, by definition ren by itself isnt a workstation, if anything it's workstation ready

Workstation or not it's a bold move for Akai. I really hope the wait is worth it. I'm looking forward to visiting guitar center and checking it out.

I just hope we get to see any new footage of the ren on the summer namm! Do you guys think that's possible? Man, it's cracy, i just can't wait any longer for it to be released, i am sick of checking every day for any new infos... it's cracy.

acura wrote:I just hope we get to see any new footage of the ren on the summer namm! Do you guys think that's possible? Man, it's cracy, i just can't wait any longer for it to be released, i am sick of checking every day for any new infos... it's cracy.