Option to use software on my laptop without REN connected?

what ever protection im not bothered one bit as long as we can use it on the go

maschine doesn't need to be connected to run it's program, and it's program is still superior to the ren's, i'm just saying....

third wrote:maschine doesn't need to be connected to run it's program, and it's program is still superior to the ren's, i'm just saying....

With the Ren and Studio the profitability comes from selling the hardware.

The software is no fun for making beats without the hardware component.

A lot of legacy hardware users would like just the software, once the conversions are finally sorted out. That's a no-brainer.

I think it's only a matter of time before the standalone MPC software starts floating around. Akai should consider the implications of their 'all or nothing' strategy before it backfires spectacularly.

third wrote:maschine doesn't need to be connected to run it's program, and it's program is still superior to the ren's, i'm just saying....

That is weird as this is an MPC Ren/Studio forum with Ren/Studio users...and several of us stopped using the program which you dubbed 'superior'. Go figure......

Clint wrote:I think it's only a matter of time before the standalone MPC software starts floating around. Akai should consider the implications of their 'all or nothing' strategy before it backfires spectacularly.

I don't think anyone outside of these forums really care....

JAH wrote:I don't think anyone outside of these forums really care....

Life and common sense does exist outside this forum, believe it or not. If the Ren/Studio loads legacy format as it should, lots of legacy users would be interested in that, whether they are members here or not has no significance. The majority of MPC hardware users probably are not members here, that doesn't make them any less knowledgeable or demanding.

JAH wrote:

DJ Hellfire wrote:

JAH wrote:I think there is no need to follow what NI does. For one, Maschine has only been on the market for a few years. MPCs have been around for 2 1/2 decades. MPC users far exceed the number of Maschine users.

I believe the software sold alone would be attractive for hardware MPCs users especially if it supports loading of legacy MPC programs, sounds, sequences, and songs.

Whether Akai intended the Ren/Studio to be dongles for copy protection or not.....I think a Ren crack would be more appealing than a Maschine one.

It does matter what NI does because for one NI isn't new to software. Only maschine is new, and that is only in comparison to MPCs. A person today currently shopping for a new drum machine will likely be debating between the Ren, studio, and maschine. So paying attention to each others key features is something both akai and NI should be doing to each other.

As far as a Ren crack being more appealing than a Maschine one, well, Maschine doesn't need one.

I don't think Akai needs to use the same copy protection scheme as NI. I believe the majority of folks buying these products (that don't frequent these forums) are not looking at these schemes nor factor them into the equation.

Key features are a different story.

Actually, this is a key feature and one that many people do value highly. It's never spoken about by maschine users as a feature because it was always there and was never an issue. Just ask any long time pro tools user how great it was when avid dropped this copy protection in pro tools 9 and up. This is now a feature they highlight frequently. Manufacturers seem to mainly highlight features that they didn't have before. So if maschine had dongle protection before, then dropped, this would be highlighted as a key feature, as it is with pro tools. And I'm sure sometime in the future, avid will likely stop highlighting this feature as it will just be a common feature for them. No other major gear manufacturer has protection like this anymore. It's inconvenient.

AyePee wrote:what ever protection im not bothered one bit as long as we can use it on the go

The form of protection would be to carry your Ren with you on the go.

Clint wrote:Life and common sense does exist outside this forum, believe it or not. If the Ren/Studio loads legacy format as it should, lots of legacy users would be interested in that, whether they are members here or not has no significance. The majority of MPC hardware users probably are not members here, that doesn't make them any less knowledgeable or demanding.

Not caring one way or the other has nothing to do with common sense, knowledge or any demand. If any specific feature the Ren/Studio has that is attractive to legacy MPC users or otherwise, they will buy it. I am sure Akai weighed the pros/cons of having certain features. And they are obviously going with the business model they feel will make their product relevant and successful.

DJ Hellfire wrote:Actually, this is a key feature and one that many people do value highly. It's never spoken about by maschine users as a feature because it was always there and was never an issue. Just ask any long time pro tools user how great it was when avid dropped this copy protection in pro tools 9 and up. This is now a feature they highlight frequently. Manufacturers seem to mainly highlight features that they didn't have before. So if maschine had dongle protection before, then dropped, this would be highlighted as a key feature, as it is with pro tools. And I'm sure sometime in the future, avid will likely stop highlighting this feature as it will just be a common feature for them. No other major gear manufacturer has protection like this anymore. It's inconvenient.

I tried to use Maschine without the hardware...not so great. I had to test the MPC Ren software without the hardware....not a pleasant experience. While it seems convenient to run software without its controller...I don't think there is a significant amount of Maschine users that run the software without the hardware. The software just isn't that good to want to do that IMO. If this is a key feature that helps them sell units over the Ren/Studio...I say let them shine. Competition is better for consumers in the long run.

But we had this conversation before........and if someone wanted to do something on the road....the Studio is lightweight. You can easily whip it out on an airplane and modify your tracks as you see fit. Simply set your laptop power options so they computer doesn't turn off or sleep when the lid is closed...set your MPC Studio on top of it, and place them on your tray to knock out some beats or modify and existing one.

...Obviously this is something some are passionate about. So start your poll, petition, etc. Fill up Pete's and Dan's PM box and post on Akai's technical support page.

JAH wrote:I tried to use Maschine without the hardware...not so great. I had to test the MPC Ren software without the hardware....not a pleasant experience. While it seems convenient to run software without its controller...I don't think there is a significant amount of Maschine users that run the software without the hardware.

The more I read your posts, the more I realize how clueless you really are, homie. Let me help you on this one. You create a full track in Maschine or the Ren. You are then on the go OR, imagine this, at a real studio with your laptop and the track you made in Maschine or the Ren. Now, with Maschine, you can edit you entire track and all of its parameters and/or export your track wherever/whenever you are without the need to carry the actual hardware, again, all you need is the laptop. With the Ren, this is not possible. You'd either have to carry the Ren with you or buy the Studio (an extra $599?!?) just to use it as a mobile dongle. C'mon man. That just doesn't make any sense and there is NO WAY to defend that. None. You can't say, well, if you need to take the Ren soft on the go, buy a Studio.

Also, just in case you try, do not go ahead and compare what you would have done in this situation with a hardware MPC because the Ren IS NOT a hardware MPC. If the Ren is supposed to be "like" a hardware MPC, it needs to get ALL of the BASIC functions of a hardware MPC FIRST. Then, and only then, are YOU allowed to compare a hardware MPC and a Ren in the same post. AND, IF the Ren did end up getting all of the features of a hardware MPC, it would STILL make no sense for one to carry the Ren/Studio just to use the software. Because then really, where is the advantage of the Ren/Studio over an MPC1000 with JJOSXL, a laptop, a small midi interface and Reaper? That combo is more portable then a Ren/laptop combo, CHEAPER, and a ton more powerful.

EDIT: I feel that what you, and perhaps Akai, really need to understand here is that in order for the Ren to be truly successful it needs to BOTH offer everything that a hardware MPC offers (at this point it can't) AND offer advantages over a hardware MPC (moot right now because of what I just typed) while ALSO offering some of the advantages that its competitors can offer (really far from this at this point). In this case, it's hardware free use of the software. Get it?

Also, keep in mind that I no longer have either of these units, though I had both. I just had to come in and post this as I see that you are posting a lot of garbage around here that some people who may not be as experienced as others might actually think is true.

Jah, again, it's not about making music without the hardware. For example, I was on the go with my laptop one time when ES-K sent me a beat to collab. Because I didn't have my Ren, I couldn't even listen to the beat to check it out even though I have the software. Shit like that. Or if I have my laptop and I just want to bounce some beats to put on my iPod. Or if I bounced a beat at the studio and while listening on the go, I realize I need to tweak the gain on a track, I can't do it without the hardware even though I don't need the hardware to do it. Sometimes when I'm on vacation with my laptop, I just wanna listen to beats that I haven't finished, or to beats that I haven't bounced, but can't because I didn't bring the hardware. Obviously, when I am making the actual beat, I want my hardware with me.

DJ Hellfire wrote:Jah, again, it's not about making music without the hardware. For example, I was on the go with my laptop one time when ES-K sent me a beat to collab. Because I didn't have my Ren, I couldn't even listen to the beat to check it out even though I have the software. **** like that. Or if I have my laptop and I just want to bounce some beats to put on my iPod. Or if I bounced a beat at the studio and while listening on the go, I realize I need to tweak the gain on a track, I can't do it without the hardware even though I don't need the hardware to do it. Sometimes when I'm on vacation with my laptop, I just wanna listen to beats that I haven't finished, or to beats that I haven't bounced, but can't because I didn't bring the hardware. Obviously, when I am making the actual beat, I want my hardware with me.

+1 common sense

Jah, I don't know about you, but I sell beats, and when I track out a song it IS hard to lug around my MPC ren to customize somebody's beat to their liking. I guess Akai expects people with the Ren to get the Studio or something, which is messed up, I thought the AKAI people weren't jerks, as the guy said in the NAMM show...

And at least with pro tools when they had this form of copy protection, they at least offered a much smaller MBox Micro which was the size of box of kids crayons at a restaurant and could be had for $150. So you at least had another option besides lugging around your huge interface. It couldnt record external sources, but it allowed exactly what we are asking for here; mixing and tweaking.