Option to use software on my laptop without REN connected?

Maybe the R2R or the ASSIGN team will buy a Studio and find how to bypasses this annoying protection just to defend customers rights and for the hacking glory.

Common sense approach is to:

A) Keep petitioning Akai to implement this as mentioned above noting the 'official' response for the past 1 yr 3 months is that they will not allow the software to be used without the hardware attached.

B) Purchase the MPC Studio. It is cheap, lighweight and smaller than a Macbook.

C) Export or have friends export their MPC Ren/Studio tracks as audio stems...then email to you

D) Buy or continue to use a product that allows you to use the sofware without the hardware attached

I prefer option C. There is no way I would want to use the software without hardware attached.


Edit - Tutor just created a Subforum for feature requests. I will no longer debate the merits of any suggested features unless it would negatively impact the way I use the Ren/Studio. This suggestion (numerous threads/posts with the same request) will not negatively impact any Ren/Studio user. So thumbs up!

I'll keep the discussion of workarounds in the Main forum in dedicated threads.

JAH wrote:I prefer option C. There is no way I would want to use the software without the hardware.

Really? So let's say I'm an artist that bought a beat from you and the version you originally sent me has 8 bar hooks but I need 4 bar hooks, but you're away from your home, say on a vacation for a week. But you have your laptop. You're telling me you'd rather have your Ren attached and have to wait to you get all the way back home possibly a week later, than to just be able to quickly make the change with just the software and send me the updated version? We all do small music related tasks, even while on vacation.

DJ Hellfire wrote:

JAH wrote:I prefer option C. There is no way I would want to use the software without the hardware.

Really? So let's say I'm an artist that bought a beat from you and the version you originally sent me has 8 bar hooks but I need 4 bar hooks, but you're away from your home, say on a vacation for a week. But you have your laptop. You're telling me you'd rather have your Ren attached and have to wait to you get all the way back home possibly a week later, than to just be able to quickly make the change with just the software and send me the updated version? We all do small music related tasks, even while on vacation.

Ooops. I actually meant B. MPC Studio and Macbook for portability. MPC Ren + iMac (or rumored new, smaller MacPro) for home.

Have you tried out the MPC Studio yet?

DJ Hellfire wrote:

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.

Haha I meant without the Ren for quick edits think a dongle would make sense or online activation

I bought the Mpc studio,to me it felt like a toy. The cursor is the worst thing about it.The screen alike maschine is very uncomfortable personally for me to view it ,unlike the ren imo due to the non flip screen. It doesn't make sense to spend 600$ on something I don't enjoy so it's time with me was short lived. I'm sticking with the ren..

Regardless, I need to be able to use the software with and without my ren connected.

Hopefully AKAI see's this post and understands, there are many different workflows one needs to have when working with audio software.

I hate dongles ;( akai get right

bobbybland wrote:I bought the Mpc studio,to me it felt like a toy. The cursor is the worst thing about it.The screen alike maschine is very uncomfortable personally for me to view it ,unlike the ren imo due to the non flip screen. It doesn't make sense to spend 600$ on something I don't enjoy so it's time with me was short lived. I'm sticking with the ren..

Regardless, I need to be able to use the software with and without my ren connected.

Hopefully AKAI see's this post and understands, there are many different workflows one needs to have when working with audio software.

I hate dongles ;( akai get right

What?

I find the Studio beautifully crafted. The cursor buttons are much better than the Ren's in my opinion. I would have certainly like to have a flip screen..but then it would probably not be as sleek. I would never really want to take the Ren out of my lab. But the Studio is perfect for that....and worth the $600 I spent.

JAH wrote:

DJ Hellfire wrote:

JAH wrote:I prefer option C. There is no way I would want to use the software without the hardware.

Really? So let's say I'm an artist that bought a beat from you and the version you originally sent me has 8 bar hooks but I need 4 bar hooks, but you're away from your home, say on a vacation for a week. But you have your laptop. You're telling me you'd rather have your Ren attached and have to wait to you get all the way back home possibly a week later, than to just be able to quickly make the change with just the software and send me the updated version? We all do small music related tasks, even while on vacation.

Ooops. I actually meant B. MPC Studio and Macbook for portability. MPC Ren + iMac (or rumored new, smaller MacPro) for home.

Have you tried out the MPC Studio yet?

Nah, not yet. Just can't justify that extra $600 knowing that ill never use it to actually make beats with after using the Ren, just like I could never use a Mashine micro. I may get one in the future if I just have money laying around or if the price drops.

JAH wrote:

bobbybland wrote:I bought the Mpc studio,to me it felt like a toy. The cursor is the worst thing about it.The screen alike maschine is very uncomfortable personally for me to view it ,unlike the ren imo due to the non flip screen. It doesn't make sense to spend 600$ on something I don't enjoy so it's time with me was short lived. I'm sticking with the ren..

Regardless, I need to be able to use the software with and without my ren connected.

Hopefully AKAI see's this post and understands, there are many different workflows one needs to have when working with audio software.

I hate dongles ;( akai get right

What?

I find the Studio beautifully crafted. The cursor buttons are much better than the Ren's in my opinion. I would have certainly like to have a flip screen..but then it would probably not be as sleek. I would never really want to take the Ren out of my lab. But the Studio is perfect for that....and worth the $600 I spent.

The problem with the studio, for me is the non-tilt screen. My 1000 was a beast of a machine to travel with, but the lack of a tilt screen killed my neck. Same thing with maschine, which is why I bought the elevated wood panels. But those made maschine much less travel friendly. The Studio looks great, IMO, but the screen turns me off from it.

DJ Hellfire wrote:Nah, not yet. Just can't justify that extra $600 knowing that ill never use it to actually make beats with after using the Ren, just like I could never use a Mashine micro. I may get one in the future if I just have money laying around or if the price drops.

Man...Studio can't quite compare to Mikro, is more comparable to maschine itself. The only thing that not have is the extra q-links but is as good as the Ren...For Real!

Namm 2014, Drop a Bomb Musikmesse 2014, Drop a BOmb again

I have no Macbook, I only do my music in my Home-Studio.. I'm not very concerned, but the issue for me will be the 4 computer license... just put an online infinite registration and no need to attach the Hardware everybody should be glad.

Another thing, I'll update my win7 x32 to 64bits when 1.4 drops, does it count for one more registration... oupsss... I feel like 2 registration only are left for me... frustrating...

DJ Hellfire wrote:Really? So let's say I'm an artist that bought a beat from you and the version you originally sent me has 8 bar hooks but I need 4 bar hooks, but you're away from your home, say on a vacation for a week. But you have your laptop. You're telling me you'd rather have your Ren attached and have to wait to you get all the way back home possibly a week later, than to just be able to quickly make the change with just the software and send me the updated version? We all do small music related tasks, even while on vacation.

DJ Hellfire wrote:Nah, not yet. Just can't justify that extra $600 knowing that ill never use it to actually make beats with after using the Ren, just like I could never use a Mashine micro. I may get one in the future if I just have money laying around or if the price drops.

You are going on about how everyone does music related tasks while on vacation, the Studio would let you do that, and let you actually make some beats while doing it.

It seems to be selling at street prices of around $500 new, will have to be some second hand bargains around soon, if not already.

I think everyone would love an adjustable screem on the Studio. But unlike the MPC 2000/1000....you have your lap top screen in addition to the LCD on the Studio to work with.

As far as the license limitation...I use the Ren at home on one computer designated for music production only. Unless that computer goes down or I buy a more powerful computer, I won't be using my other authorizations. In the event I do need additional authorizations, I would contact Akai technical support.

JAH wrote:
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.

Agreed!
It would probably sell like hotcakes.

It would certainly be friggen useful to a lot of people.

That would be amazing to be able to make your beats on hardware if thats the way you preferred,
and then just move the whole folder over to your computer, open it up and keep going into your Daw.

As far as I understand that is what it does (to differing degree's),
but it would seem like a more reasonable way to warm people up towards this new MPC interface/concept to let them open up and use the software optionally when they need it.

Next thing you know they might prefer it.

But kind of like w8,
I'm thinking that Akai has deliberately packaged their new direction as a hard sell.

When you consider that they are simultaneously phasing out all Hardware MPC production.

Its just business.

They're putting all their chips in the controller basket and are going to be depending on the sale of those controllers to carry the weight.

Just selling the program for 200 bucks and letting people get the benefits of it while keeping their old MPC's isn't going to reap the profits they're looking for.

Although 500 bucks for a Studio dongle to enable the software and you get a cool controller for it is reasonable enough for a complimentary tool to a hardware MPC.

Once the computer App is smartened up and firing on all cylinders.

JAH wrote:What?

I find the Studio beautifully crafted. The cursor buttons are much better than the Ren's in my opinion.

Yeh and I hated it, I forgot to add the q-link knobs are terrible as well, They went for sleek, too uncomfortable for me, looks cool, to me it's more about the feel vs. the look.