MPC Ren Price Drop - $799

beat thang cost more.

Great value at this price...

At these prices, I've really been thinking about upgrading the Studio to a Ren, but I don't know, the cautious consumer part of me says "big price drop + competition releasing new stuff + being 12 months into Akai's historical pattern of 24 month product development (I'm estimating here) = inability to pull the trigger until I'm sure I'm investing in something that's going to be around for a while.

But my apprehension is also fueled by that lingering sting of Akai abandoning the MPC 5000 before it was completed (which I still own and love btw). I bought the 5000 shortly before it was discontinued - right after a big price drop.

While I believe the software will be a staple going forward, I can't imagine they'll be able to keep competing with the Ren controller as is. I'm hedging my bet on them releasing a new controller (mkII?) within the next 12 - 18 months.

Eyalc wrote:At these prices, I've really been thinking about upgrading the Studio to a Ren, but I don't know, the cautious consumer part of me says "big price drop + competition releasing new stuff + being 12 months into Akai's historical pattern of 24 month product development (I'm estimating here) = inability to pull the trigger until I'm sure I'm investing in something that's going to be around for a while.

But my apprehension is also fueled by that lingering sting of Akai abandoning the MPC 5000 before it was completed (which I still own and love btw). I bought the 5000 shortly before it was discontinued - right after a big price drop.

While I believe the software will be a staple going forward, I can't imagine they'll be able to keep competing with the Ren controller as is. I'm hedging my bet on them releasing a new controller (mkII?) within the next 12 - 18 months.

Yup
Theyre going for $725 now on eBay brand NEW now
Wait til the Maschine actually comes out smh....

Some posts deleted - no MPC Ren vs Maschine discussions here please - there's already one in the comparison forum.

The guy I stold my 5k to a few weeks ago won auction for a Ren a week later off Ebay for $660. That was right before price drop was announced. Just before Xmas, they could be around the price I paid for my Studio...

I'm hedging my bet on them releasing a new controller (mkII?) within the next 12 - 18 months.

I would be more worried about software support after Akai moves all of it hardware onto the street. Once that happens the incentive to continue the software support is greatly diminished. I think Akai needs to get ahead of this now while to address the price drop and put customers nerves at ease because this seems to be a closeout.

Closeout prices always expose the (sometimes ridiculous) markups on a given product.

moyphee wrote:Closeout prices always exposes the (sometimes ridiculous) markups on a given product.

i have a really old usb harddrive that i can no longer use because the manufacturer no longer updates the drivers..... anyone think that this could eventually happen to the REN? If Akai decides to stop providing software updates or driver updates is it possible that the REN will just be useless? (ie. OS updates will no longer recognize the USB device)

MeSoHordey wrote:

godlike wrote:I can not imagine that a "new" MPC Studio is selling for $350.00, this is false, yes?

Not false. Key is "right now". New MSRP is $399. GC has a 15% off coupon which makes it $340.

One problem, Akai apparently does not participate in GC's 15% off promotion:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/GC-Coupon-Details-g25685t0.gc

I found this out because I was trying to get ZZounds to do a price match:(

Bummer! Wakai. Guitar Center sucks too. The bozo manager at my local store wouldn't even price match a used item from another Guitar Center. I asked if he would come close ($100 vs. $49 at the Atlanta store). He offered to go down to $94. Guess what, ATL made the sale. They were much more helpful and shipped it very quickly and it was in much better shape and included the software (NI Kore 2).

Yeah. The list of brand exlusions in GC's published deals runs in the hundreds. But, a good GC rep will never turn down 15% off on an undiscounted MSRP, even if you don't have a coupon. I went into GC one day without a coupon and asked if they'd give me 15% off a novation mininova. The guy looks it up in their system and says, "I can do even better. It's currently on sale for close to 20% off at Sweetwater, so I'll match that price."

MeSoHordey wrote:Yeah. The list of brand exlusions in GC's published deals runs in the hundreds. But, a good GC rep will never turn down 15% off on an undiscounted MSRP, even if you don't have a coupon. I went into GC one day without a coupon and asked if they'd give me 15% off a novation mininova. The guy looks it up in their system and says, "I can do even better. It's currently on sale for close to 20% off at Sweetwater, so I'll match that price."

You're right. I did a follow up and contacted them. The agent that chatted with me said the Akai equipment WAS in fact eligible for the 15% discount and even gave me a code which he had tested.

ZZounds was trying to get over on me:) I bought the Studio from them less than 30 days ago and they have a 30 day price match guarantee. Lol

Montebello wrote:i have a really old usb harddrive that i can no longer use because the manufacturer no longer updates the drivers..... anyone think that this could eventually happen to the REN? If Akai decides to stop providing software updates or driver updates is it possible that the REN will just be useless? (ie. OS updates will no longer recognize the USB device)

Yes there is a chance Windows 9 10 11 won't support the Ren if it gets discontinued. The Mpd 24 still works with Win 7 though and that hasn't been updated in a long time.

coolderb wrote:

MeSoHordey wrote:Yeah. The list of brand exlusions in GC's published deals runs in the hundreds. But, a good GC rep will never turn down 15% off on an undiscounted MSRP, even if you don't have a coupon. I went into GC one day without a coupon and asked if they'd give me 15% off a novation mininova. The guy looks it up in their system and says, "I can do even better. It's currently on sale for close to 20% off at Sweetwater, so I'll match that price."

You're right. I did a follow up and contacted them. The agent that chatted with me said the Akai equipment WAS in fact eligible for the 15% discount and even gave me a code which he had tested.

ZZounds was trying to get over on me:) I bought the Studio from them less than 30 days ago and they have a 30 day price match guarantee. Lol

Outstanding. That's a good point too about the price match and one of the other secrets I've learned from GC is that if you buy something, and then they have a discount or a lower price within 30 days, you can get the price. But obviously not every GC employee knows about or will even follow this policy.