Renaissance discussion 1 year later

telecom99 wrote:So i use Maschine as a VST inside on MPC software.Best workflow ever Maschine library and MPC content equals much inspiration.

I just set my Maschine library as a favorite in the MPC and load the Maschine sounds directly from the hard drive. No need to load Maschine as a plugin.

crossings wrote:does the UNDO function work yet?

Yup! It works pretty much as expected now. A couple times it's erased mad shit on me. But since I did a fresh install of 1.4, it's been working fine (fingers crossed).

MeSoHordey wrote:

DJ A-Sharp wrote:
I'm like Jah at this point. Nobody better say nothing bad about THE MPC REN.

LOL

Every post about buying one is approached with trepidation and warnings to get it as cheap as possible. That, to me, is a sign that these new PC-based controllers simply aren't that much fun to use.

Unfortunately, that is how EVERYTHING in retail is now-a-days. Unless you're a coon ass rapper that thinks something is more cooler if you spend more money on it!

plovdiver wrote:the software was ported over from the 5k.

This is false! And I'll just leave it at that!

As for O'Donnell, I think his reputation is irrelevant. I doubt if the average MPC consumer even know's who the hell he is. I think the only reason anyone even knows who he is is because of Roger Linn's popularity and his mention of his disgust in O'Donnell.

Nobody (at least seasoned consumers) pay manufacturer suggested prices or even advertised prices for gear on websites. These prices are set by the manufacturer. Authorized dealers are not permitted to advertise products for sale lower than the amount set by the manufacturer.

The MPC 2500 had an advertised price of approx $1999 when released. I called Alto Music and got it for $1600 without haggling. The MPC Ren has a $1299 advertised price. Since it became widely available in stores, you could call most dealers and they will give you 10 - 15% discount right off the top.

As far as PC controllers not fun to use....sounds like someone is not using the right controllers. Software without a controller thus forcing you to use a mouse is not fun to use....at least not for me. This is the reason why MPCs are great to use in the first place. Now that the MPC software is in your computer, we are "...no longer constrained by the small and 'fixed' processing power found in a traditional hardware MPC." The MPC Ren controller is as rugged as most MPCs not costing $3000. If Akai (or a 3rd party) adds functionality to make the controller compatible with other software...this will certainly be the most sought after controller on the market.

I have found that it is difficult to go back to primarily using a hardware MPC now that I have found my way around most of the Ren's capabilities.

DJ Hellfire wrote:

plovdiver wrote:the software was ported over from the 5k.

This is false! And I'll just leave it at that!

Not entirely false. The entire app obviously is not ported but the MPC5000 FX were indeed ported over. Peteblues posted that himself over on GS and also on this forum. It stands to reason that some other element may have been ported as well. I don't think any expects Numark to state any details pertaining to that.


Edited - "is not"

moyphee wrote:

DJ Hellfire wrote:

plovdiver wrote:the software was ported over from the 5k.

This is false! And I'll just leave it at that!

Not entirely false. The entire app obviously is ported but the MPC5000 FX were indeed ported over. Peteblues posted that himself over on GS and also on this forum. It stands to reason that some other element may have been ported as well. I don't think any expects Numark to state any details pertaining to that.

Well, I don't really see how that's possible being that the Ren's effects are VST plugins. Maybe the Ren's effects were modelled after the 5000, but that's not a "port" so-to speak. Either way FX doesn't account for the entire app , which I know for a fact was not an MPC 5000 port!

moyphee wrote:

DJ Hellfire wrote:

plovdiver wrote:the software was ported over from the 5k.

This is false! And I'll just leave it at that!

Not entirely false. The entire app obviously is ported but the MPC5000 FX were indeed ported over. Peteblues posted that himself over on GS and also on this forum. It stands to reason that some other element may have been ported as well. I don't think any expects Numark to state any details pertaining to that.

Ported over? What does this actually mean?

The Ren software was obviously created using the software specs of hardware MPCs to include the MPC 5000, 4000, 2500, 2000XL, 1000, etc.

Not trying to start an argument...but have you actually used the MPC Ren/MPC Software or the MPC 5000? Based upon everything you have written here for the past several years...you have not.

Ported over code base beyond the FX algorithms? Yeah that's patently ridiculous. If that were the case the Ren installer would be like less than 2MB. FX and maybe some MIDI timing code, anything beyond those basic things, no.

JAH wrote:Ported over? What does this actually mean?

It means exactly what it says. Some elements of the 5000 made it's way to Ren/Studio hardware.

xparis001 wrote:
no, actually, the team is a completely different team. The Effects in the MPC Ren use the same algorythms but the basic code is different.

"The entire app obviously is ported but the MPC5000 FX were indeed ported over."


My correction - I meant 'is not". Sorry for the confusion but most would have picked up on the exception in the statement "but the MPC5000 FX were indeed ported over" or that started by saying the claim was "Not entirely false".

Ported over code base beyond the FX algorithms? Yeah that's patently ridiculous. If that were the case the Ren installer would be like less than 2MB. FX and maybe some MIDI timing code, anything beyond those basic things, no.

Exactly , some things like Swing and smaller element could be brought over to stay consistent with the older hardware.

moyphee wrote:

JAH wrote:Ported over? What does this actually mean?

It means exactly what it says. Some elements of the 5000 made it's way to Ren/Studio hardware.

Give this man a cigar. Every MPC ever created contained elements of the MPCs (as in plural) that came before it.

Example...Next Sequence Mode for the MPC Ren/MPC Software has more in common with the MPC 4000 than 5000.

The effect 'algorythms' of the MPC 5000 reportedly found its way into the MPC Software but the actual implementation of the effects are completely new for an MPC product. Only the Ren/Studio have Insert Fxs for all 128 tracks. Most other MPCs only have Program Effects that are Sends versus actual Inserts.

And you are still trying to have a discussion about products you have never used or actually have any interest in using.

Any chance we can keep this discussion on topic or are we going back to the some old 'discussions'?

Perhaps some thoughts about where the Ren/Studio stand today from some other members who have not contributed yet?

FWIW i've let go of mine.. no probs with the hardware but the software left something to be desired.. unfinished is what i would call it.. and it's my opinion that one should buy gear on what it can do, not what it may do in an uncertain future..

daftmunk wrote:FWIW i've let go of mine.. no probs with the hardware but the software left something to be desired.. unfinished is what i would call it.. and it's my opinion that one should buy gear on what it can do, not what it may do in an uncertain future..

I agree, at this point in time, the software is IMO still a work in progress. Basically a year after release, it's still very much about 'what it will be in the future' (IMO). Clearly it's continually being developed, so maybe this time next year people will be less focused on what it can't do and more about all the cool things it can do.

But yes, if you are looking to buy something to use now, you should only buy based on what it actually does now. Assess the features, see if you can demo the hardware, and then look around to see what other companies have to offer and compare to your specific requirements.

If you are buying new, trust me, ring around and negotiate and you'll almost certainly be offered a new Ren for under $1k.

Buying second hand - remember that only one license transfer is officially allowed, so you could struggle to sell it on. I'm not sure if Akai are sticking rigidly to this policy.