Bug reports & end-user support for Akai's MPC Software 'controllers' including the new MPC Studio 2, the MPC Touch, MPC Renaissance & original MPC Studio and MPC StudioB lack.
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By Airyck Tue Apr 16, 2013 3:15 pm
Seriously though? No Mod envelope with multiple destinations or "at least" one that has Pitch as a destination?

Doesn't anybody else feel like the MPC software sampler is EXTREMELY basic and quite limiting in the sound design department?

Good thing I have battery or I might go crazy.

Last night working on some detailed drum design and all I wanted was a pitch envelope... it's the first time that I truly doubted my purchase :roll:

The worst part is that they have limited the amount of things they can add because of the 6 page limit in the edit window.

I really hope the add some sort of "shift window" to make a whole new set of pages available because I don't see how they can add anything else in it's current state and in it's current state the sampler is weak at best.

*edit -- did any of the old MPC's have a pitch envelope?
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By Airyck Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:59 pm
foge1 wrote:4k
Had a user definable mod matrix


Yes :nod: This is what we need plus a few more Mod sources like Aux envelopes and extra LFO's along with the usual performance controllers like velocity and aftertouch.

Then we will have a decent sampler on our hands.... until then :fku: sampler
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By tapedeck Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:48 pm
historically the sampler inside the mpc has always been the weakest link. even the 4k which has the most advanced sampler (stock) out of them all is pretty basic when it comes to the breadth of samplers available.

jj has changed all that - but i wouldn't hold my breath waiting on any of the more innovative features to make it into these new mpcs.

the selling point however is that you can use a much nicer sampler as a vst / au.
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By JAH Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:30 pm
I am not currently sitting in front of my MPC 4000 and MPC 2500 running the JJOS128XL...but off the top of my head, JJ has done nothing 'significant' IMO to close the gap between the MPC 4000's sampler and the MPC 2500. These MPCs are night and day.

With 1.4, Akai implemented the Amp Decay Mode heavily requested by forums members...a feature that is absent in the MPC 4000 and latest JJOS. While Akai 'may' improve the sampler in the future...I don't feel its a priority as the Ren hosts plugins. The Ren's MPC Drum & Keygroup progams are essentially stock plugin instruments. There are plenty of sampler plugins on the market that are far more advanced than any MPC that include pitch/mod envelopes and all sorts of params that many people will never use.
By Jonespnice1 Wed Apr 17, 2013 2:53 am
Airyck wrote:Seriously though? No Mod envelope with multiple destinations or "at least" one that has Pitch as a destination?

Doesn't anybody else feel like the MPC software sampler is EXTREMELY basic and quite limiting in the sound design department?

Good thing I have battery or I might go crazy.

Last night working on some detailed drum design and all I wanted was a pitch envelope... it's the first time that I truly doubted my purchase :roll:

The worst part is that they have limited the amount of things they can add because of the 6 page limit in the edit window.

I really hope the add some sort of "shift window" to make a whole new set of pages available because I don't see how they can add anything else in it's current state and in it's current state the sampler is weak at best.

*edit -- did any of the old MPC's have a pitch envelope?


I kind of felt like you at first (when I purchased the Ren) but after I thought about it I started to basically think the same way that JaH has just expressed. I have a lot of plugins and other software/hardware stuff and I just need to use them all just like a toolbox in the sense that I can use a pair of diagonal cutters to do job of pliers, a screwdriver, scissors, ect. but it might not give me the best results or I might have to work harder to accomplish it. And this is the same way I look at the music gear/plugins, just use the best tool for the job. If you have Battery or Kontakt then use that for the pitch envelope. If you need some better sounding piano sounds then use your hardware synths. Sometimes Ableton might work better in some situations then the Ren and viceversa (one example is the "play as recorded" feature). We all have a lot of power in our musical toolboxes.
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By JAH Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:30 pm
I just updated to Battery 4. And low and behold, Pitch Envelope is front and center. On a side note...Battery 4 is looking like Maschine now.
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By Airyck Wed Apr 17, 2013 7:59 pm
JAH wrote:I just updated to Battery 4. And low and behold, Pitch Envelope is front and center. On a side note...Battery 4 is looking like Maschine now.


I'm in the same boat, I really dig Battery 4 as well so I've just started using that now instead of the internal sampler in the Renaissance.

The only point is that the more and more I use outside of the Renaissance the less I feel the need to use it all. I'm going to keep using it of course though because I do like the workflow laying out sequences but until there are some improvements I find myself using it for less and less. I can always hope that the improvements will keep coming and that it will end up being something I feel I can use a lot more... it's just a waiting game I guess.
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By Airyck Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:04 pm
Jonespnice1 wrote:
Airyck wrote:Seriously though? No Mod envelope with multiple destinations or "at least" one that has Pitch as a destination?

Doesn't anybody else feel like the MPC software sampler is EXTREMELY basic and quite limiting in the sound design department?

Good thing I have battery or I might go crazy.

Last night working on some detailed drum design and all I wanted was a pitch envelope... it's the first time that I truly doubted my purchase :roll:

The worst part is that they have limited the amount of things they can add because of the 6 page limit in the edit window.

I really hope the add some sort of "shift window" to make a whole new set of pages available because I don't see how they can add anything else in it's current state and in it's current state the sampler is weak at best.

*edit -- did any of the old MPC's have a pitch envelope?


I kind of felt like you at first (when I purchased the Ren) but after I thought about it I started to basically think the same way that JaH has just expressed. I have a lot of plugins and other software/hardware stuff and I just need to use them all just like a toolbox in the sense that I can use a pair of diagonal cutters to do job of pliers, a screwdriver, scissors, ect. but it might not give me the best results or I might have to work harder to accomplish it. And this is the same way I look at the music gear/plugins, just use the best tool for the job. If you have Battery or Kontakt then use that for the pitch envelope. If you need some better sounding piano sounds then use your hardware synths. Sometimes Ableton might work better in some situations then the Ren and viceversa (one example is the "play as recorded" feature). We all have a lot of power in our musical toolboxes.


You make a good point and that's generally how I look at my toolbox as well. The only thing is that if everything else does it's part better than the Renaissance then whats to point of even using it? I dig the workflow more than anything else and I've never been able to layout an arrangement in less than an hour until now. So I really like to use it but I run into all kinds of snags (in it's current state) that really slow me down and limit me a little too much.

I see potential and it's coming along but I feel like it still has a ways to go until it stands up with the rest of whats out there. I'll wait and see; it will either continue to grow as a go-to tool or diminish and drift out, only time will tell.
By daslicht Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:43 pm
Airyck wrote:it will either continue to grow as a go-to tool or diminish and drift out,

That depends 100% on $$$ imo

If companies start listening without the factor money we will get the best built Music Production thing ever :nod:

So where is the hidden sponsor{s} we are waiting for!?
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By JAH Wed Apr 17, 2013 9:17 pm
Airyck wrote:
JAH wrote:I just updated to Battery 4. And low and behold, Pitch Envelope is front and center. On a side note...Battery 4 is looking like Maschine now.


I'm in the same boat, I really dig Battery 4 as well so I've just started using that now instead of the internal sampler in the Renaissance.

The only point is that the more and more I use outside of the Renaissance the less I feel the need to use it all. I'm going to keep using it of course though because I do like the workflow laying out sequences but until there are some improvements I find myself using it for less and less. I can always hope that the improvements will keep coming and that it will end up being something I feel I can use a lot more... it's just a waiting game I guess.

Plugin hosting is a major part of the Ren.
By Jonespnice1 Wed Apr 17, 2013 9:30 pm
Airyck wrote:
You make a good point and that's generally how I look at my toolbox as well. The only thing is that if everything else does it's part better than the Renaissance then whats to point of even using it? I dig the workflow more than anything else and I've never been able to layout an arrangement in less than an hour until now. So I really like to use it but I run into all kinds of snags (in it's current state) that really slow me down and limit me a little too much.


Think about all the hardware MPCs (I used a MPC 4000) and how easy it was to make beats, the REN does what they do and more. Remember the true strength of the MPC is its sequencer, the sampler itself has been outdated for several years. Nowadays we all have more tools in our toolbox and more choices than ever before, let the task dictate which tools you'll use.