For discussion about setting up your studio and advice on the gear and equipment within it.
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By Coz Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:13 am
Jamon wrote:Maybe you'll be so impressed you'll give up on the Thang and just use Fruity. :lol:


50 pages back when the virtual was announced I posed a similar question... Namely, why buy the virtual when Fruity does so much more? My opinion still hasn't changed one bit.
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By mr_debauch Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:14 am
fruity loops stock comes with hundreds of drum sounds especially when you include the fpc drums it comes with.

it comes with an 808 style BD synth (fruity kick) which is almost unlimited kicks and bass drums


if you look at all the synths it comes with stock (sim synth, DX10, sytrus, ts404, and depending you might also have one that comes stock with: toxic, poizone, and those fancy synths) there are several hundred patches for each of those... the amounts of sounds are way more then the beat thang comes with.

you cant even compare BTV to fl studio, maybe you could put it up against battery...

but even then, battery doesn't have a sequencer.... however as a sound module it is extremely good and very effective.



you definately cant touch FL studio 8 when it comes to features... the mpc 4k cant even.
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By Explicit- Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:19 am
jbraudio wrote:
BEATKANGZ wrote:you guys are so clever.... Thanks for spending your days and nights thinking and talking bout me.. . It's flattering really....




Just like all the time you spent making the "Massacre" and transcribing lyrics off Ex's page?

:roll:

LMAO
This kang fool is digging his own grave deeper.

Show us your pink grill already.
By BEATKANGZ Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:19 am
Just compared MPC 4k to fruity loops? ..... LOL akai warriors.....attack
By ONE Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:30 am
There is something I'm really not clear on. Can you sample into the Beat Thang in stereo? I only noticed the single combo jack for sampling. If you can't sample into it with regular straight forward methods, you are killing an important aspect of it being a stand alone sampler.

If I can't hook it up and get both channels going in at the same time and out or I'm relegated to sampling on the computer and bringing it in via USB or CF card, it kills the portability cause then you NEED a computer to work with it.

That single achilles heel would totally keep me from buying this product. If it can, or is changed to accommodate traditional sampling, I just might support the hell out of you dudes given the chance.
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By b.read Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:39 am
I'm still laughing @ Coz-


He said Burger Kangz :lol:
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By mr_debauch Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:48 am
BEATKANGZ wrote:Just compared MPC 4k to fruity loops? ..... LOL akai warriors.....attack



i am not on an attack, nor am i a brand specific type of guy...


but since people were comparing the abilities of the mpc VS the BT ... and the BT vs FL.... and people often compare mpcs to FL..


i pointed it out. fl is for sure going to have more abilities, it is a piece of software that is always getting updated.


also, it is super easy to include sounds with a piece of software.


i understand that a product like these needs to come with sounds, because people need to be able to work it right out of the box... however who is really going to buy a beat thang because of the sounds it comes with? maybe some people, but what matters really is what you can do to/with those sounds.


my post wasn't a hate thing, it was simply saying you cant compare BTV to FL because they are two different things entirely.
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By kneebone77 Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:50 am
You guys here are getting mad weird.

I don't like brussel sprouts!

But never do I go on and on about how brussel sprouts are wack, or try to get brussel sprouts banned from the supermarket, or tell others that they are silly or stupid for liking or wanting to eat brussel sprouts.
As a matter fact I went shopping yesterday looked directly at some brussel sprouts and didn't even think about the fact I don't like them. All of y'all dudes are straight up Beat Kangz Fans because your "Fan"-atic about this product weather you love it or hate it. I guess I just can't wrap my head around why anyone would want to continually talk so much about a product they claim to have no interest in, let alone dislike. But I know the Beat Kangz are loving you cats for all the polarizing energy your giving them...
Never have I seen a beat machine shrouded in so much fervor and controversy.
The Thang must truly be something special.
:lol:
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By kneebone77 Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:56 am
Jamon wrote:If the software develops to the point where it can do everything the MPC can do today, then it could potentially blow FL Studio out of the water for some people for hands-on workflow.


IMO, FL & Reason already Do More than an MPC.
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By b.read Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:06 am
Oooooooooookay-

You're a chef. You're on a cooking forum, and some guy starts a thread about a new company that makes brussel sprouts.

Now, you're a chef so you don't just have a closed mind about this new brand...your customers could like what you make with those brussel sprouts.

You read on- you read and read and read. You ask some questions. Your questions don't get answered and people start posting snarky comments.

Now: the brussel sprout company gets on the thread and starts acting like a bunch of jackasses. They go on and on about how REAL their brussel sprouts are and this makes you hate the company MORE.

You make more snarky comments.

Some people photoshopped pictures of said brussel sprouts going down a toilet.

And it was funny.

The brussel sprout company gets booty hurt and wants to call you out and see your recipe book, like you're not a real chef or something.

Only because you don't like THEIR brand of brussel sprouts and how it was presented.




Poor way to handle it? Sure! On both sides... but still- they are trying to get people's money and you don't sell brussel sprouts by being a bunch of jackasses.

Me personally, am not trying to make ANY money from ANY of you- so I can be as big of a jackass as I like. :D
Last edited by b.read on Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
By Jamon Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:08 am
There can't be very many people out there who actually believe any MPC can touch software like FL Studio in terms of power. I think most people know the reason why they use the MPC instead is workflow. Some people say "sound", but that is mostly myth.

The only thing the MPC lineup has going for it is workflow. With software you have to click to do anything. You have to have a computer running, which often has other things distracting you like forums and instant messaging. It's just not as fast or fun.

A MPC is more than just "beats". It is a MIDI sequencer and sampler. It can control external gear, and allow you to tweak your recorded MIDI. There are lots of little functions for working with audio and MIDI to help with this process.

To compete with the MPC you have to do everything it does, with less clicks so it's more efficient, plus extra functions it can't do. This starts with the basics like sequencer grid/piano roll, standard waveform utilities, functions to edit MIDI, mixer, etc.

But you can't stop there. There's so much more.

Since you're not opening the source code of the software, the programmers have a long journey ahead of them. So far though, the attitude appears to be that all one needs is this basic tap the pads and see them replay like you did stuff.

That doesn't seem very hopeful, and doesn't put it in competition with the MPC. The Roland SP-series does that stuff fine, the pads even light up like yours. Plus they have wild FX to tweak the sound. Why wouldn't someone buy one of those instead?

The Thang seems anti-tech, but tech seems to be its best chance for success. It's more money than a MPC500, but can't compete with the features found in a 1000/2500 with JJ OS. That makes it a competitor for the SP555, which is like half the price.

Who is the market then? Techs choose the MPC, performers choose the SP. Who chooses the Thang? Just because it comes with sounds in a proprietary format doesn't make either of those types of people jump for it. You need a better plan.

Like, chill out a little, and get the software to the point where if you compare it to JJ OS feature-wise it's no contest. Then start pimping it hardcore like you're doing now. Why is it already being pushed publicly? Did investors demand to see something?

It'd be nicer to see this thing come out fully baked and have Akai sweating than come out looking like lopsided lumpy goo that has everyone laughing.

-

The reason why some people talk so much about the Thang, is because the hardware scene is drying up. There's only a few tools available that do something similar to the MPC, and they all suck, including the MPC. We need better tools.

The Kangz came here saying they're listening, and want to help build us a new tool. That's why people talk to them, so they influence what happens, and everyone wins in the end.

-

The Thang seems to have XLR / Stereo line-in.
By ONE Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:18 am
Jamon wrote:

The Thang seems to have XLR / Stereo line-in.


If it's in fact stereo that isn't so bad I guess, but I need this verified if I'm ever going to be a customer. How about stereo outs? Or is that just the headphone jack?

It's just some of the choices on the hardware leave me confused. It just seems like a REALLY expensive controller for the virtual software, and an expensive groovebox.

Work flow is where it's at, and If I have to be tied to a computer to do simple things like stereo sampling, then I have no need or want for this at all.

The only reason I'm giving a damn is because I do see potential here, and a lot of things about the machine I really think are next level and useful, but if the Kangs don't take care of the basics of workflow and basic sampling, I'm just going to stick with the MPC line, cause I at least know it does what I need it to do on the most basic levels without having to put up with a lot of uncalled for annoyances.
By BEATKANGZ Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:29 am
ONE wrote:
Jamon wrote:

The Thang seems to have XLR / Stereo line-in.


If it's in fact stereo that isn't so bad I guess, but I need this verified if I'm ever going to be a customer. How about stereo outs? Or is that just the headphone jack?

It's just some of the choices on the hardware leave me confused. It just seems like a REALLY expensive controller for the virtual software, and an expensive groovebox.

Work flow is where it's at, and If I have to be tied to a computer to do simple things like stereo sampling, then I have no need or want for this at all.

The only reason I'm giving a damn is because I do see potential here, and a lot of things about the machine I really think are next level and useful, but if the Kangs don't take care of the basics of workflow and basic sampling, I'm just going to stick with the MPC line, cause I at least know it does what I need it to do on the most basic levels without having to put up with a lot of uncalled for annoyances.


Stereo Combo Jack input..... So yes stereo sampling, Mic sampling and bass/guitar sampling

2 head phone stereo outs

and regular stereo outs

6 stereo outputs total
By ONE Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:35 am
BEATKANGZ wrote:
Stereo Combo Jack input..... So yes stereo sampling, Mic sampling and bass/guitar sampling

2 head phone stereo outs

and regular stereo outs

6 stereo outputs total


Thank You! That makes me happy. If the Thang comes to Canada, my 1000 breaks down, or I just really like your product you just may have a new customer.

Carry on!
By Jamon Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:35 am
Image

They need to verify the Stereo in (which he just did), but you can see yourself it's stereo out.

That's what it is, a controller and groovebox. The "Virtual" is the same software that runs on the hardware, because the hardware is a controller + PC built into a metal box. The groovebox is because they make such a big deal about the packaged sounds, and that's basically what the software is right now.

You can see a list of all the functions on my site, and it does have some stuff already like reverse and normalize, but it's not ready to go head-to-head with JJ yet. Plus, you'll have to try it yourself, but the design of the software doesn't seem to be super fast or easy. Not that the MPC is, but the workflow isn't impressive.

One of the best things going for the Beat Thang is that Akai completely ignores its customers and leaves us stuck with buggy firmware they don't intend on improving. Love them or hate them, if the Kangz can keep paying developers and talking to customers, that is the reason why it'd succeed. But that's a long growth process.