Traded in my Ren in

So I went to guitar center to trade in some gear including the Ren, got rid of it once and for all. Walked out with a Fantom FA-06, couldn't be more hype about it. This thing will def be banging out more heat than that Ren. As I spent the next 4-5 hours in GC laying hands on every piece of equipment possible I noticed a few things.

I Compared the Ren to the MPC Studio. I feel the mpc studio is better built, more solid, looks dope, and those rubber buttons just feel awesome. No big waste of space with 16 qlinks that are good for nothing mostly. Why did they build the Ren with this crappy plastic buttons also? like really, those buttons on the studio are way better in my opinion, feel less fragile, etc.. If Akai gets the software right in the next decade I might pick up an mpc studio, but no way in hell I'll ever go near a Renaissance again, thats my word. Anyone who owns the mpc studio, I understand now why you like it, the hardware is dope, them buttons alone on the studio blow the Ren away. Rens buttons feel like they gonna break if you hit them too hard lol.

The mk2, and maschine studio hardware were also dope, all software talk aside, the maschine studio and even the mk2 are insanely ahead of the Ren hardware(isn't that supposed to be the Ren's advantage?) even with the Ren's built in audio interface and its huge footprint, and 16 qlinks(which are so under utilized its embarrassing) and classic "mpc pads" whatever etc... Where as the maschines,... The screens, the color pads, the feel of the buttons, everything on the maschines mk2 and maschine studio was super solid. Maschine software aside, those controllers are fk'in sick. I would put the mpc studio, mk2, and maschine studio in a class above the Renaissance, wierd right? thats just how I feel.

Either way, I'm so happy to have a fantom again. I'll be back here one day when Akai gets their shit straight, but def not with that POS Ren, maybe a mpc studio, but I would def buy take even a mk2 over the studio/ren anyway, let alone a maschine studio. I was also planning to walk out with maschine studio but chose the fantom, I had to...I mean I was looking for a fantom x for a while now and just so happens the day I walk into GC the new fantom arrives, is that a sign from God or what?

^
Same here.....

and Too bad we lost a valuable Family member...i Will get lonely in here
i am curious about the beats u Will Be dropping with the fantom...liked Your ren-beats

@Holland...ill still be here, dont worry i plan to pick up an mpc studio maybe late 2014 depending on what the software is looking like by then.

Surprisingly I really liked the feel of the mpc studio, pads felt fine to me compared to the Ren's, buttons felt better than the Rens, the look is sleek as hell on the studio, the jog wheels might look cheap but they feel great, that metal look is equally as cool as the Rens color scheme. Honestly the feel of the mpcstudio reminds me of the post mk1(mk2 style/buttons/size/look) Dude at GC Told me Maschines were outselling Mpcs 5 to 1, and Mpc studios were outselling Rens like 3 to 1. I see why, that mpc studio is mobile, solid, and pretty (hardware I'm saying)Either way no GC is selling an mpc per day, lucky per week.

@Lamp...Played with only a few hours, I'll dive deeper tomorrow after work and let u know. So far all the sounds I played were beautiful and crisp, and expressive, bass and synths were heavy and thick too, one thing I noticed my one gripe so far is they haven't added slicing/chopping... (yet? i dunno) Think they will though in an OS update, its just 1.0.1 right now. The Fa-06 basically has the same sampling engine from the G series(oddly no chopping now) with integra sounds, some extra bells and whistles, and a few things they left out, but its built also to control your DAW, it has templates for Logic, haven't used it yet, the keyboard has its own interface, and easy file import/export/ through usb, or sd card. I really need another day or 2 with it. Just got it today. Besides chopping, which ill do in maschine right now, I can actually just drop slices and make copies in the FA onto the pads. Im just tired I gotta wake up in 3 hours and I need to finish this joint and Zzz ill report back tho on the FA, I'm giving it a 30 day demo and bringing it back if I dont think it fits the bill.

Damn my man, you'll be missed around here. Honesty is hard to come by. I feel you tho. Hard to stay optimistic of the Ren while Akai keeps dropping all this other BS instead of perfecting the "flagship" product. If Akai doesn't SERIOUSLY impress me by summer, I'm out too. Maschine Studio with UA Apollo Twin Duo is really looking good to me right now. Let me know how you feel bout the FA-06. I'm thinking Korg Kronos-X73 right now but your opinions and input have always been solid IMO. If you're truly feeling the FA, I might save some stacks and snatch one. Be good fam.

me 3 on that fantom i was debating on getting that or the machine studio … ended up with the maschine so far faster work flow and the mixer is fab surprisingly!!! seq is much better but not there yet and i agree with InspectahEX the studio on both lines (maschine & mpc) are very nice far as hardware.

GedaBlaq wrote:If Akai doesn't SERIOUSLY impress me by summer, I'm out too. Maschine Studio with UA Apollo Twin Duo is really looking good to me right now.

i actually jus got both and yes it is a great Duo i jus couldn't grab that fantom at the moment but i will soon tho.

InspectahEX wrote:So I went to guitar centre to trade in some gear including the Ren, got rid of it once and for all.

Hopefully your blood pressure levels are back to normal now.

The FA-06 looks really nice.

I've been thinking about trading my Ren for a Studio as well. I've really been digging using Ableton Push but the one area it lacks is in the sample chopping area (without using the computer anyway). The Ren is pretty big and kind of overkill for just chopping alongside the Push, but a Studio could be perfect for chopping up loops because it doesn't take much space.

I'm sure we'll see you around. I haven't used my Ren for quite a few months and I still pop in to say hello

Yes the FA looks awesome. Guess I'll see you in the Roland forums. Good luck and congratz.

The thing about the Studio is that it's now being sold so cheaply that it's only the price of an MPD + a good drum sampler plugin. Makes sense as a value offering even if Maschine's the king of software groove boxes.

I use Geist with or without an MPD when I'm with my laptop alone but my JJOS 2500 is my first choice machine. If the Akai software (which I've never used more than 5 minutes) is on a par with Geist the Studio starts to look very attractive, especially if it can load 2500 projects.

InspectahEX they really feel baf they redesigned their Whole page
give it a look, notice the, download 1.6 300+ enhancements..... but okay...my ren might receive a dirty look and raised eyebrows more then often nowadays...
also removed their twitter feed...i don't have twitter but on the previous site I kept sawing: we"re working on it / we understand your frustration / we"re looking into it / its a know issue / there is a workaround/ and a lotta of hyping their pathetic new toys, like it are game changers....ohyeah and don't forget the lies about release dates, not responding when exceeded the deadline weeks!! U know its getting embarrassing.... Akai....damn man... Mpc whennesaince????

Glad to find out that you found something that works to your liking...

I'm hearing good things about the FA series.

I do have a question about that Axial Library. Are those patches cross compatible with everything on the page?

I always here good things about the Ren's hardware, surprised you feel MStudio has a more solid build. My MPD32 actually feels heavier then my Maschine Studio lol

but anyway, it is built real nice, and the pads are thick and soft..

but yea man, I hear to many of you not touching your Ren for months.. why did ya'll buy it to begin with.. Honestly.. before I bought Maschine Studio I made sure it could do everything that I needed it to do.. and now I am loving it, I just never really understand buying something, then complaining that it lacks key features

InspectahEX wrote:So I went to guitar center to trade in some gear including the Ren, got rid of it once and for all.

How much did they give you for it?

I returned my Ren to GC last week. I bought it used but I was assured that it was in great condition. Looks wise it was good but two of the lights under the pads weren't functioning properly and then two other pads were not as responsive as the rest. Considering that the Ren really isn't that old and dude traded it into to GC not long after he got it, I was surprised and pretty pissed that the machine was breaking down already. As a early adopter of the Ren, I was very pleasantly surprised with how far the software has come but it really has a long way to go. But it definitely has come a very long way since 1.0.

With that said, I agree, the Studio looks and feels like it's build quality is MUCH better than the Ren and I to might jump back on the Akai ship at some point in the future and I'd be interested in a Studio this time around.

Now with that said, I just got a Maschine Studio in today and well, from a hardware and software standpoint, the Ren/Studio can't compare. Hopefully I'll be able to fully wrap my head around the Maschine method. The software and hardware is just way too good to pass up. Hopefully Akai will get there someday.