Touch Users: Selling Ren for Touch worth it?

Would it be worth it if I sold the MPC Renaissance on ebay/craigslist (I have everything + box) and use that money towards an MPC touch?

- the Ren was my only audio interface
- I don't use any external MIDI or anything just sampling from turntable, and use vsts sometimes
- I want a more portable setup/smaller MPC but still be able to sample through the MPC.

I really want to be able to take my MPC anywhere, and if I can fit in my backpack with a MacBook even better. Is this financially and ergonomically a smart decision?

**Plan B** Would it be better to sell the Ren and get a studio + a better audio interface (portable like Apollo Twin for example)

**Plan C** Stfu and stick with what I got
2.4 core 2 duo MacBook
mpc ren

How much do you use the 16 qlinks?

a good amount when fine editing a sample because I like to loop a lot sometimes just for fun. But other than that I don't fuss with the q links.

- I don't have any of theses new MPC's. But I was considering setting up a ITB rig in the future, and was looking at the Studio version. The size of the Studio seems to be a better choice for a ITB setup. I feel that if your making your music all in the box. Why bother with bulky controllers that need power supplies and audio cables etc.. Unless you need an audio interface, than the other two larger MPC's would be the best bang for the buck without hurting your pockets too much. Most audio interfaces nowadays sound really good. So I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the interfaces that are in the market nowadays, even with the ones included with the new MPC's.... My ITB setup would be the Akai MPC Studio, MacBook, an Apogee Duet, and some decent headphones. Small, streamline, to the point. Add some wax and a turntable, and I'm good to go.

im honestly ok with that too. im just going to weigh my options for a bit more

Wise choice. Your not missing out on much. Unless size and portability is a must.

If you don't choose a touchscreen your losing out on features that are not on the other models. Off the top of my head your losing out on XY effects and workflow. You will be using a mouse more instead of the controller. You will lose out on future developments that Akai implements.

The Touch is good for being portable. I bought a Magma producer backpack, that is airline friendly and size. I carry around a laptop, Roli Rise, MPC Touch, headphones, and peripherals.

To me 16 encoders is not a selling point. On the Touch you can access those same 16 encoders with a bank change button.

I sold my MPC Ren and got a Touch. I thought I would miss the q links but with the Touch I can double tap on the parameter and make my changes. This is better since I don't have to look at the laptop screen. Naming tracks is easy. Wish it had a better sound card and will miss phantom power when audio tracks come. Even though I wanted a standalone the Touch works pretty good.

Back to the beats.

- These guys will have a better experience/ advice on what functions better with the new line of MPCs, that's for sure. But I personally would'nt want to put out anymore money on Akai, until the new software and Legacy comes out. IMHO. You already have there flagship machine. You might be beating yourself in the head at that point.

Qlinks on the touch are still clumsy. If your press start or end on the touch screen it should change the qlink bank button to reflect that.

If the legacy has 16 qlinks and a bigger screen I'll definitely upgrade.

pspsounds wrote:I sold my MPC Ren and got a Touch. I thought I would miss the q links but with the Touch I can double tap on the parameter and make my changes. This is better since I don't have to look at the laptop screen.

Can you elaborate on that? When you say double tap on the parameter do you mean to change the length of a slice/loop by numbers?

I really just like hitting the pad and adjusting slowly (using Q link, kinda like ASR-10 workflow) choosing my start and end points by ear rather than visually or by entering numbers.

Stoney79 wrote:- But I personally would'nt want to put out anymore money on Akai, until the new software and Legacy comes out. IMHO. You already have there flagship machine. You might be beating yourself in the head at that point.

The WHAT now? LOL I had no idea what you were talking about "Legacy" I thought you were referring to older mpcs. I think I should just stfu and be content until they drop the Legacy with 2.0 probably. If that user from gearslutz, theknoq, is right, it's what we all been waiting for lol hybrid standalone.

kaydigi wrote:Qlinks on the touch are still clumsy. If your press start or end on the touch screen it should change the qlink bank button to reflect that.

Clumsy like how? And what do you mean by if you press start or end on the touch screen. Like i have to hit start point first, and then move q links? and vice versa for end and LOOP too?

How much better are the pads on the touch compared to the ren? I seen videos saying night and day difference. Although to be quite honest, i chop drums and play like a live drummer (just for fun) i never noticed really any problems with the ren's pads....

UGH! At this point it's probably smart to hold onto the Ren and maybe buy a new laptop...
P8600 core 2 duo 2.4 macbook

theNovice wrote:

kaydigi wrote:Qlinks on the touch are still clumsy. If your press start or end on the touch screen it should change the qlink bank button to reflect that.

Clumsy like how? And what do you mean by if you press start or end on the touch screen. Like i have to hit start point first, and then move q links? and vice versa for end and LOOP too?

In sample edit mode you are in qlink 1 which are all start knobs. If you press the end tab on the sample screen you can only move the end marker by touching the end marker on the screen or the data wheel. You can not move the end marker with the qlink unless you press the qlink button to bank 2 which are all ends.

Imo if you press end on the screen the qlink a should jump to bank 2 (ends)

How much better are the pads on the touch compared to the ren? I seen videos saying night and day difference. Although to be quite honest, i chop drums and play like a live drummer (just for fun) i never noticed really any problems with the ren's pads....

UGH! At this point it's probably smart to hold onto the Ren and maybe buy a new laptop...
P8600 core 2 duo 2.4 macbook

There is no problem with the RENs pads. It's when you use the Touchs pads it's that much better. There fatter, softer and more responsive.

You could look at this way. You have access to start and end. In practice it's one button push, the bank change button.

dustymaestro wrote:You could look at this way. You have access to start and end. In practice it's one button push, the bank change button.

If you want to go back to start it's 3 button presses. In the grand scheme things it's not a big deal, it's just something I always thought was awkward. QLINK edit mode can't come fast enough, it's my biggest feature right now, ahead of audio tracks and realtime time stretching!!!