Inspire me Akai!

dazastah wrote: Even the official release notes just say ... Bug fixes and enhancements.. No detail on what was fixed..

This. Even when asked directly on their Facebook page about these 300+ enhancements they flat out didn't answer. So easy to publish that list, and such a valuable customer service move. But this way, creates a perception that they really didn't make 300 enhancements. Maybe 300 changes so the software. But not every change is an enhancement.

Eyalc wrote:

dazastah wrote: Even the official release notes just say ... Bug fixes and enhancements.. No detail on what was fixed..

This. Even when asked directly on their Facebook page about these 300+ enhancements they flat out didn't answer. So easy to publish that list, and such a valuable customer service move. But this way, creates a perception that they really didn't make 300 enhancements. Maybe 300 changes so the software. But not every change is an enhancement.

Not surprising that you can't get a technical answer out of some marketing employee running their Facebook spam, you can't even get a technical answer, from the developers, through their tech support employees on their own community forum.

Seems that the development team is not only disconnected from their users, but also other areas within their own company.

Bomber4000 wrote:

you be inspired from yourself not a piece of equipment. thats number one and todays beat makers are spoiled to the core, classic songs and albums were made with less equipment and features than what we have today. its nothing wrong with the mpc software is something wrong with you, people want more features and have less talent.

True, but let's stop that old cat routine as this is NOT the 80's anymore.
Back then they had no proper computers and there was nothing else so they had to make do.
These days we have a surplus of processing power on our computers so when Akai decides to make a MPC that uses a computer they SHOULD make sure the software is top notch and nothing less !
It's not like the Ren just came out, it's been there for a while now and still there is sign of actual planned improvements from Akai itself.
The same as with Impc, the iphone/ipad software that simply has no serious support and it looks like Akai produces hardware, a couple of updates that don't address all the issues and then move on ...

Where have we seen this before ? Oh yes, the MPC 5000 was treated the same and if that JJ guy didn't make his custom OS updates the whole MPC experience wouldn't have been the same today on the 1000 and 2500.

Besides, let's be real ... Back in the days them low bit samples with hissing noises was da bomb, but i doubt that same quality and complexity would make it these days ....
Don't underestimate the power of nostalgia, it can really add a lot of kudo's to something that wasn't always that great.


As for Maschine vs MPC. I think the race is won.
The Maschine Studio looks great, operates good and the NI software isn't perfect but it's lightyears ahead of Akai.
Now, do you honestly think Akai can regain first place on both fronts ?

I own both and honestly I feel maschine is way overhyped the sequencer is still terrible, the only feature that maschine has over the mpc is komplete integration which not a big deal for me personally, all the extra bells and whistles that's on the maschine studio is beyond overhyped, and the new browser on maschine 2 is terrible as well the mixer in studio is terrible as well

I strongly disagree that the new browser is horrible, Come on ... A tag based filter system.. That can also read presets... You import your directories and they are in there.. Are infinite system of organisation.. Of course i like the fact that you can browse your actuall harddrive with the mpc but, you have to agree that going though the a big one shot directory of samples is not fun...

and the mixer is not terrible...
Let's be real... when in mixer mode you have metering for each channel on the dual screens... The screens are pin point resolution and are very fluid.. And if that's not enough, you also have led metering to the top right that is assignable via the buttons next to it..(master , group , sound ..and audio inputs) One other thing that is a step above mpc software is routing.. you can route the audio from one pad to another.. effectively creating some really good multi effects.. Also creating some exploits aswell with sidechaining limitation.(can only use one pad for sidechain but you can use sends from multiple pads to one pad and use it as a buss send to the sidechain).. on yeah you have sidechain aswell.... unlimited inserts ... and ... pad export... If the maschine mixer is terrible, how does the mpc soft mixer compare?

the sequencer for working on one beat composition isn't terrible.. It's no match for the way mpc software is in terms of tempo changing, time sig changing.. But that's the design flaw the mpc has... a non global mixer... Highly frustrating for peeps who mix as they go... I'm not speaking for anyone here but everyone i know personally that makes beats mix as they go...

I dont wanna turn this into a maschine vs mpc war, rather peeps should realise what is great in other products to make the mpc software/studio ren better and more inspiring to use...

for me, the new mixer and new functions in the sequencer for scene arrangement plus the drum synth is what really inspired me get back into maschine...

I guess in the end, the software is still considered infant, in that there are alot of expected mpc standard features not yet implemented, so akai will forever play catch up...

This is the reality... Maschine has the larger broader market atm, akai have aimed at the "ledgendary mpc work flow" ... I'm telling you now, from a retail perspective, if you haven't used a mpc before, you gonna have fun making beats on maschine because it easier to use/learn from the start...
If Peeps are using mpc hardware and see features missing from software mpc that they are use to , where does that leave akai in terms of inspiring them?

Some of you guys need to really listen to your yourselves. There's cats on the street beating on five gallons buckets and they're making beats that's so tight, that people gives them money. Do you think there's a forum those guys go to discuss what buckets has the best sound, features, updates and discuss bucket manufacture profit margins? I don't think so.

The telent starts with you. Update your mind, first on making good music. If you can't make a complete track with the tools you got. Then there's not a feature on any hardware or software that will help you. You are the limited features, that's keeps you from reaching your goals. Inspire yourself or give it up.

^^^^^ this basically what I'm trying to say

Yeah sure enough but i don't see why you are using a Ren then as you can buy a MPC60 that worked 30 years ago and probably still works in 30 years time.

People are feeling left out in the cold and feel like they are missing essential things in the software.
This has nothing to do with cats in the streets playing on buckets.
It's about paying good money for something that doesn't deliver what it should in the year 2014 !

Kinda like telling somebody to shut up in a restaurant who complains about his food being served cold and tell him that people in other parts of the world have no food at all.

Nobody is saying they can't make a beat, they simply wish for certain features or fixes that prevents them from doing work arounds and/or improving their workflow.

I also agree I've been knocking out my beats but when core stuff is missing its like wow really .I haven't updated to 1.6 cause it kind of disappointing there wasn't nothing major in my opinion.My advice to Akai would be get it together before it's to late cause to me they are reminding me of Roland with the fantom g in which they left a good product in the cold .

Bomber4000 wrote:Yeah sure enough but i don't see why you are using a Ren then as you can buy a MPC60 that worked 30 years ago and probably still works in 30 years time.

People are feeling left out in the cold and feel like they are missing essential things in the software.
This has nothing to do with cats in the streets playing on buckets.
It's about paying good money for something that doesn't deliver what it should in the year 2014 !

Kinda like telling somebody to shut up in a restaurant who complains about his food being served cold and tell him that people in other parts of the world have no food at all.

Nobody is saying they can't make a beat, they simply wish for certain features or fixes that prevents them from doing work arounds and/or improving their workflow.

^^ What he said.

Eyalc wrote:

Bomber4000 wrote:Yeah sure enough but i don't see why you are using a Ren then as you can buy a MPC60 that worked 30 years ago and probably still works in 30 years time.

People are feeling left out in the cold and feel like they are missing essential things in the software.
This has nothing to do with cats in the streets playing on buckets.
It's about paying good money for something that doesn't deliver what it should in the year 2014 !

Kinda like telling somebody to shut up in a restaurant who complains about his food being served cold and tell him that people in other parts of the world have no food at all.

Nobody is saying they can't make a beat, they simply wish for certain features or fixes that prevents them from doing work arounds and/or improving their workflow.

^^ What he said.

Exactly.....

I haven't heard too many people if at all since 1.5 say that they could not make music with it. I've been banging out beats but this machine still has yet to be worth the purchase price. If you were a owner of any of the hardware MPC's then you should/would understand. None the less I hope this improves and impress me a little quicker.

I think the moral of this story is that everyone is scared to introduce the MPC software into a studio environment. Its getting really tricky to operate and at times unstable. No one want to lose face if they were dependant on the MPC software to make money. One little stain in this competitive music industry and you are basically done.

Same goes for live performances. You don't want your software to just quit working in the middle of a performance. You would probably be done after that. No one will book you until you change your setup and then they will still feel iffy about your setup.

Also right now the MPC Software has not become a hallmark like the other MPCs and some artist probably do not want to be associated with having a track which was made with the MPC Software. Its all about hype of what you used and how popular that tool was with some of these artist. Look at us in this forum fighting about MPC vs Maschine... PS4 vs Xbox one.. American vs Japanese... etc etc.

This is just my opinion... pls don't flame me. Lol

BDRAKE wrote:
Exactly.....

I haven't heard too many people if at all since 1.5 say that they could not make music with it. I've been banging out beats but this machine still has yet to be worth the purchase price. If you were a owner of any of the hardware MPC's then you should/would understand. None the less I hope this improves and impress me a little quicker.

^^ What he said.

Consumer satisfaction is interesting these days. I don't blame anyone for being on either side, satisfied or unsatisfied. IMO, the current generation of consumers are so accustomed to shoddy releases, over-hyped products that don't ever deliver on the promises, and products that are obsolete in 3 or less years, that companies can repeat the same cycle over and over and over. Does its current state mean I can't make music with it? No. I don't use it much because it doesn't fit my workflow. But if that's all I had - sure I'd make music with it.

I'm hoping that Akai does something cool with this MPC line over the next year, because I think they stand to lose a lot in the near future. There are SO many features that people want, and with their current pace of enhancements, it'll be a LONG time (if ever) before they get them in. Recent history they don't stick with products that long.

For the members of this board, and others investing in MPC technology, given the fact that core features are still missing, and so many enhancements have yet to be addressed, I can't see how anything but an awesome MPC showing at NAMM could be considered a positive.

Louie lou wrote:Also right now the MPC Software has not become a hallmark like the other MPCs and some artist probably do not want to be associated with having a track which was made with the MPC Software.

I don't think that's the case at all.

A lot of people (myself included) have just adopted a 'wait and see' approach to the Ren/Studio. As time drags on it looks more and more like version 2.0 might be where it's at in terms of features and fresh hardware, but I'd like to see them abandon all the 'vintage' guff and focus on what an MPC should be capable of in 2014/15.

IMO all the vintage, iconic hype is what started their troubles with the consumers. Once people discovered that legendary analog 3000 circuitry was really just a plugin, many were turned off, and probably became more critical of akai as a result.

Unfortunately if a person really likes the mpc workflow, they have no choice but to wait and see. I hope to see at NAMM that akai will show everyone that they are on it.

Eyalc wrote:Unfortunately if a person really likes the mpc workflow, they have no choice but to wait and see. I hope to see at NAMM that akai will show everyone that they are on it.

Yep.. And i think akai needs to abandon "legendary classic mpc flow" approach and start thinking about what modern producers would want/inspire them... If they wanna make money that is..