Standalone vs Non-Standalone

Retrofreak wrote:If anything the MPC Studio should've had the ability to run in a basic none VST standalone mode with samples saved on a micro sd card.

thats a dope idea but really going to the beach and making a beat just seems sad like enjoy nature **** all the hitting the pads bs.

jpeg wrote:

Retrofreak wrote:If anything the MPC Studio should've had the ability to run in a basic none VST standalone mode with samples saved on a micro sd card.

thats a dope idea but really going to the beach and making a beat just seems sad like enjoy nature **** all the hitting the pads bs.

Why are you guys so hung up on the "beach" ? Retro didn't say "beach" once...

After thinking about it, the only thing the ren is missing to be standalone is a motherboard, cf card reader and ram slot. The 2500,1k,4k,5000 are fully capable of interfacing with software if they truly wanted it to. I would love to see them open the software up to interface with the older (not the legacy ones obviously) mpc's. The only valid new feature argument I've read is from HF and the output's, Everything else can and is already being accomplished by veteran mpc users and I'm not sure my money wouldn't be better spent on other needed gear.

ArKyve-31 wrote:After thinking about it, the only thing the ren is missing to be standalone is a motherboard, cf card reader and ram slot. The 2500,1k,4k,5000 are fully capable of interfacing with software if they truly wanted it to.

The Ren is also missing the effects board as well as whatever the 5000K's synths are stored on (flash rom perhaps?). Would be dope though!

ArKyve-31 wrote:Everything else can and is already being accomplished by veteran mpc users and I'm not sure my money wouldn't be better spent on other needed gear.

That's what I'm saying! I don't see why everyone is complaining. The most current MPC's can do everything the Ren will be able to do, production-wise. If you don't need a computer workflow, then you really don't need a new MPC. The 2500 is fast as shit as far as processing and loading sounds. And 128MB is more than enough sample memory. I've never even come close to maxing it out! The only place I find the hardware MPC's to be lacking is inefficient sample loading/auditioning, inefficient midi editing and inefficient multi-tracking!

Most of us have multiple MPC's. So if standalone is really so important, you can easily use your current MPC where ever you may be, and then load the project up in the Ren when you get back to the studio.

If people are looking for a new MPC then the Renaissance is it. But if they want to keep their current hardware MPC and have a computer based DAW then the Studio is it. I think there's something for everybody.

But for the hardcore hardware and tear users, Akai should fix the bugs and lower the damn prices already on their current line.

MPC 5000 - $999.00

MPC 2500 - $799.00

MPC 1000 - $599.00

MPC 500 - $299.00

Those should be the prices by now on their OLD line-up.

At first I didn't think no standalone was a problem as an 'Akai Maschine' would be a cool thing - MPD never cut it. Then I saw the price of the Ren.

See, what I liked about my MPC 2000 was that I could use it stand alone. REALLY standalone - in a different room, away from the clutter, just me, some samples, a turntable or a discman and sketch something out without having more plugins than God staring me in the face.

I miss my true MPC (currently use the pads on a Mircokontrol, Guru and Logic and while it does the job well don't like the computer-based workflow much) and would more likely pick up a good used 1000 or 2500 over a Ren as a computer-free sketchpad.

Also, I often work in a live band situation - guitar, bass, sequenced beats, other instruments. The 2000 was great for this as it was a 'drum machine on steroids' and didn't need a laptop on stage to run it.

Before I owned my MPC studio Black, I was making beats using a cheap M-Audio AxiomAir 25 MIDI keyboard and bought that little Akai LPD8 8 pad thing....
I was using LogicProX and dragging whatever into the project then slicing and shit with the ESX24 which in fairness to Logic is pretty good, but time consuming...

Anyway I really wanted to be able to chop and sample quickly so I decided to get a MPC. ...

I kinda wish I had got *think the 200xl which lets you use standalone... but then again I bought an iMac so it made sense to get the studio black.........

so standalone vs non .... i really don't know... I would be cool to go standalone, but as i have a powerful iMac... i guess it makes sense to go non..

Standalone is traditional to me and feels like an instrument that way like a guitar. You get inspirational and wanna go crouch in a corner or go up on a roof and make some ill shit. Sure you can walk around with a laptop and the controller for mobility but its less to carry when you can just carry the machine alone. Slip the MPC in the laptop carry-case without the laptop is logical to me I cringe at making beats in the same enviroment thats why I got my studio, my bedroom and the MPC500, I go where I feel creative, comfortably

Stand alone is a must, not for the mobility (which I could care less about) but the fact that I can make a beat without having the distractions from 10000's of VST plugins/VST instruments, effects, latency, CPU usage and other bullsssh. The foundation of your music has to be made inside a standalone MPC (a machine that does only 1 thing, which is making music), sequencing and all that. After that it would be nice to just hookup the MPC to the computer via usb/firewire or whatever to bounce the stems. And after this go into a MIXING session where you can add all the effects you want.

That's the problem nowadays, beatmaking on the computer is steering you in the direction of creating beats and mixing/mastering all at the same time.
Shit has to be seperate yo.!

But... also leave the option open to the user to work like they do now with the REN, studio etc.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS! HYBRID BITCHESS

I think the thought of a hybrid is way cool. But I see yalls point u can hook a 500 to ur computer as a pad controller for ur daw, u can get a cable to hook ur 500 to ur iPad and be mobile with a Mpc sequencer with iPad synths. I'm just gonna save my money and buy apps and sample packs and vinyl, times have been hard with money I got plenty of gear now, but if I didn't I would go hybrid

I still have nightmares of syncing midi devices for tracking out when I used the 1000.

yall tripping with this stand-alone mess.

Why not just go back to older model MPCS.

Seems like this would only be geared toward hobbyist and amateur Music Makers. But that may be why Akai chooses to make it. To make Quick $$$$

With Hardware Standalone. you will need to update the whole Hardware every three to five years to keep up with the times. An the update times of electronic life cycle is becoming shorter.

There's really no excuse for non Standalone controllers. They just need to update the software. But see they lose money



The whole reason the Renaissance was created is because producers needed more power, control and optimize speed over the music they make. That's why computer integration came about. To tame that Beast. Just the software side never developed to its full potential as of yet.

I.e latency and full control via Hardware.

But I must say patience is a virtue my friends.

All we need is Wireless controller with a huge touch screen, full hardware control of the software that has audio tracks lol and frequent updates.... O and A built-in battery. Now That would be a very close substitute 2 standalone.

Quickstrike2.0 wrote:yall tripping with this stand-alone mess.

Why not just go back to older model MPCS.

We do... but why wouldn't you want an standalone/hybrid MPC, something like the 4000 but updated to 2016 standards. Lots of storage, indiv. outs for if you want to go the old analog way, easy way to incorporate with daw's to bounce stems/loops, no need for extra equipment when live performing, own sound, better filters (analog?), better options for resampling, a switch for aliasing effect or not etc...

Seems like this would only be geared toward hobbyist and amateur Music Makers. But that may be why Akai chooses to make it. To make Quick $$$$

You've got to be kidding me

With Hardware Standalone. you will need to update the whole Hardware every three to five years to keep up with the times. An the update times of electronic life cycle is becoming shorter.

There's really no excuse for non Standalone controllers. They just need to update the software. But see they lose money

Nope, if the machine works it works.. People that use an 3000 or 60 or 2000xl haven't had to update in years and it still works perfectly.

The whole reason the Renaissance was created is because producers needed more power, control optimize speed over the music they make. That's why via computer integration came about. To tame that Beast. Just the software side never developed to its full potential as of yet.

I.e latency and full control via Hardware.

Read what you've said the last point.. Seems to be happening more with the controllers like the Renaissance and studio.......

All we need is Wireless controller with a huge touch screen, full hardware control of the software that has udio tracks lol and frequent updates.... O and A built-in battery. Now That would be a very close substitute 2 standalone.

Not a bad idea, but why not incorporate this into a new standalone/hybrid. A option to connect your MPC with or wireless to a big screen using HDMI or bluetooth or something would be dope.

AKAI needs to address both of these target audiences in one machine. The old way and also the new way.

i think in 2016, it should have class compliant USB so you can use any DAC you want as well as a built in one for stereo outputs... ADAT is nice, but over a decade after the 4000 came out and that is the best we've got?

sjeff wrote:

Quickstrike2.0 wrote:yall tripping with this stand-alone mess.

Why not just go back to older model MPCS.

We do... but why wouldn't you want an standalone/hybrid MPC, something like the 4000 but updated to 2016 standards. Lots of storage, indiv. outs for if you want to go the old analog way, easy way to incorporate with daw's to bounce stems/loops, no need for extra equipment when live performing, own sound, better filters (analog?), better options for resampling, a switch for aliasing effect or not etc...

Seems like this would only be geared toward hobbyist and amateur Music Makers. But that may be why Akai chooses to make it. To make Quick $$$$

You've got to be kidding me

With Hardware Standalone. you will need to update the whole Hardware every three to five years to keep up with the times. An the update times of electronic life cycle is becoming shorter.

There's really no excuse for non Standalone controllers. They just need to update the software. But see they lose money

Nope, if the machine works it works.. People that use an 3000 or 60 or 2000xl haven't had to update in years and it still works perfectly.

The whole reason the Renaissance was created is because producers needed more power, control optimize speed over the music they make. That's why via computer integration came about. To tame that Beast. Just the software side never developed to its full potential as of yet.

I.e latency and full control via Hardware.

Read what you've said the last point.. Seems to be happening more with the controllers like the Renaissance and studio.......

All we need is Wireless controller with a huge touch screen, full hardware control of the software that has udio tracks lol and frequent updates.... O and A built-in battery. Now That would be a very close substitute 2 standalone.

Not a bad idea, but why not incorporate this into a new standalone/hybrid. A option to connect your MPC with or wireless to a big screen using HDMI or bluetooth or something would be dope.

AKAI needs to address both of these target audiences in one machine. The old way and also the new way.

Lol this guy. Okay if it's not for hobbyist or amateurs how can a professional who would like to get things done Speedy for his clients integrate keyboards and VST Instruments to work. Without synchronizing and making things more of a headache with tracking out. Especially when it comes to mixing the track for preparation for a artist.

I mean you're talking about multiple outs and things of that nature but mostly everybody has at least one or two or a dozen high-end interfaces. why would you want more. If this is really for professional Advanced non hobbyist / amateur MPC users, why would you want to do that to your self. Just to be portable?

I didn't get amnesia on the reason why I got rid of all my old MPCs. It's because of time issues and keeping up with modern times. I mean if we were just making beats that nobody needed 2 use or anything I would love my MPC standalone. I wouldn't have a reason to track out my sequences.