Imo, it is not only a question of appearance. The hard can be improve, but it will increase the price dramatically. Only 5 persons will buy it ? Or 100000 ?
1°- Change these click buttons for mechanical buttons (cf Clavia). These buttons have the advantage that they can be pushed on the fly, very quickly, no need to push the finger until the click. And i feel they are far more resistant.
2° - 50% higher, and as large as the unit, hires colored flip screen.
3° - USB 3, Thunderbolt.
4° - Jog/Wheel, (Cf Avid add-on) to use flawlessly in case of audio tracks.
5° - MPC Ren Adds-on : Bank of faders for example (audio tracks)
5°bis - Mod/pitch wheels on the two sides like Beat thang.
6° - Build in power AC.
7° - Standalone (
), so 8 outs, partnership with motu for the card. No sorry, Apogee..Metric Halo..
I'm not so excited about the Maschine Studio hardware. Strangely, i find it not so well balanced, it look likes several elements have been mount together : to much space around the screens (so, put bigger screens), this flat wheel that can't be taken between two fingers, flat screens (no flip) again above the knobs (Push understood the screen must be under the knobs), no led rings, and these ugly and flashy colored pads. Ren solution for enlightned pads was far ahead cleaver.
Waiting for labelled screens under the pads... Not ready : wait 5 years i think, to get a decent cost. Art Lebedev did a step backward with their keyboard project. It's in fact a whole screen behind the keys.
Yeah, Ren MK2. 2500 $ ? Take my banknotes, quick.