MPC STUDIO

the good thing with maschine is all the functions are either one to two button presses away and can be done entirely from the controller for the most part.

and thats the magic once all the samples have been loaded on the pads u can get busy and do all the sample manipulation without sing the screen.


the controller was basic but very functional and it allows u to get into the heart of making beat, so long as the new studio joint allows u to work in the same way as the mpcs in general but quiker in some respects so u dont have to dig thru unecessay menus. then im happy.

JAH wrote:I still don't get this. They did a good idea with the concept, and software but certainly not the hardware. Why do people keep saying a plastic MIDI controller that probably cost $75 to make is great. Its not. The MPD 32 is of higher build quality.

Just for balance, there are plenty (I'd say majority) of postings from other users out there that claim hardware quality is outstanding. Just Google, "Build quality of Maschine".

NI forums, Gearslutz, harmony-central...they're all pretty much the same in tone.

JAH wrote:
Its a plastic controller. I am not saying that it will break from use..far from it. What I am saying is that it is not a very expensive design.

The MPD32 is also plastic. But placing it side by side with Maschine and holding them in my hands....the MPD 32 feels better to me. I only wish the MPD32 had an adjustable LCD screen.

JAH wrote:Its a plastic controller. I am not saying that it will break from use..far from it. What I am saying is that it is not a very expensive design. Coming from an MPC, I just need something that is more robust and professional. Check the same websites you posted. Plenty of Maschine users won't something a little better. Akai got it right by the looks of the MPC Ren. I can't wait to see what these others look like.....

The aesthetics are not going to make your productions sound any better. Neither is the "feel" of a piece of hardware ... SP1200 plastic pads anyone? Still a great bit of kit though.

JAH wrote:

MeSoHordey wrote:

JAH wrote:I still don't get this. They did a good idea with the concept, and software but certainly not the hardware. Why do people keep saying a plastic MIDI controller that probably cost $75 to make is great. Its not. The MPD 32 is of higher build quality.

Just for balance, there are plenty (I'd say majority) of postings from other users out there that claim hardware quality is outstanding. Just Google, "Build quality of Maschine".

NI forums, Gearslutz, harmony-central...they're all pretty much the same in tone.

Its a plastic controller. I am not saying that it will break from use..far from it. What I am saying is that it is not a very expensive design. Coming from an MPC, I just need something that is more robust and professional. Check the same websites you posted. Plenty of Maschine users won't something a little better. Akai got it right by the looks of the MPC Ren. I can't wait to see what these others look like.....

Ok. I've double checked the sites that I suggested YOU read, and I see a lot of people talking about how they are satisfied with the build quality and the responsiveness of the pads. Then, very consistently, I also see a guy named Jahrome in almost every one of them talking about his broken Maschine that has come unglued. Color me perplexed JAH.

BTW - The only reason I'm in this conversation is that I've been a little bit interested in the Maschine myself. I went down to Guitar Center to check one out for myself and the build quality doesn't seem that bad. Isn't it actually an aluminum casing? The one I looked at sure seemed like it. And it certainly doesn't have the feel of the cheapness of similar Akai $70 controllers such as the MPK Mini or Synth Station.

Anyways, I ended up walking out with an MPD32. It's not that Maschine is bad, but just that I have invested a lot of time in learning Ableton (which I love dearly). Using the midi maps for MPD32 in Geist/Tremor and I'm pretty happy with it so far.

MeSoHordey wrote:Geist/Tremor

I've been looking at these today, I'm very impressed from what I've seen. Can I pop you a PM about them? Got a couple questions be nice to get answers from a fellow MP forum member.

MeSoHordey wrote:Ok. I've double checked the sites that I suggested YOU read, and I see a lot of people talking about how they are satisfied with the build quality and the responsiveness of the pads. Then, very consistently, I also see a guy named Jahrome in almost every one of them talking about his broken Maschine that has come unglued. Color me perplexed JAH.

MeSoHordey wrote:BTW - The only reason I'm in this conversation is that I've been a little bit interested in the Maschine myself. I went down to Guitar Center to check one out for myself and the build quality doesn't seem that bad. Isn't it actually an aluminum casing? The one I looked at sure seemed like it.

The entire top plate of Maschine controller is stainless steel clad aluminium and yes, it's solidly built.

Maschine and Ableton Live are a very popular combo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WcbjOm1uhY

JamesJeffery wrote:

MeSoHordey wrote:Geist/Tremor

I've been looking at these today, I'm very impressed from what I've seen. Can I pop you a PM about them? Got a couple questions be nice to get answers from a fellow MP forum member.

Of course man. Or take it to the studio forum so others can chime in. Your choice.

MeSoHordey wrote:
Ok. I've double checked the sites that I suggested YOU read, and I see a lot of people talking about how they are satisfied with the build quality and the responsiveness of the pads. Then, very consistently, I also see a guy named Jahrome in almost every one of them talking about his broken Maschine that has come unglued. Color me perplexed JAH.

BTW - The only reason I'm in this conversation is that I've been a little bit interested in the Maschine myself. I went down to Guitar Center to check one out for myself and the build quality doesn't seem that bad. Isn't it actually an aluminum casing? The one I looked at sure seemed like it. And it certainly doesn't have the feel of the cheapness of similar Akai $70 controllers such as the MPK Mini or Synth Station.

Anyways, I ended up walking out with an MPD32. It's not that Maschine is bad, but just that I have invested a lot of time in learning Ableton (which I love dearly). Using the midi maps for MPD32 in Geist/Tremor and I'm pretty happy with it so far.

Quoting myself I know (at least I'm not speaking the post out loud);

Ok, I just looked at some reviews. I was wrong, the chassis is a metal/plastic hybrid. Most reviews seem content with build quality. What strikes me about this whole situation is that you are so incredibly biased JAH that I have a natural tendency to distrust everything you say about Akai. And I know that you'd call me a hater, even though I'm probably as big of a fan as you. I don't make it a policy to block people but I probably just need to foe you, because you're actually creating a negative impression of Akai's products in my mind with your misrepresentation of both Akai's products as well as competitor products.

emptysea wrote:

MeSoHordey wrote:Ok. I've double checked the sites that I suggested YOU read, and I see a lot of people talking about how they are satisfied with the build quality and the responsiveness of the pads. Then, very consistently, I also see a guy named Jahrome in almost every one of them talking about his broken Maschine that has come unglued. Color me perplexed JAH.

MeSoHordey wrote:BTW - The only reason I'm in this conversation is that I've been a little bit interested in the Maschine myself. I went down to Guitar Center to check one out for myself and the build quality doesn't seem that bad. Isn't it actually an aluminum casing? The one I looked at sure seemed like it.

The entire top plate of Maschine controller is stainless steel clad aluminium and yes, it's solidly built.

Maschine and Ableton Live are a very popular combo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WcbjOm1uhY

I didn't realize you could use it with Ableton......hmnnn. Gonna take another look now that I know that.

MeSoHordey wrote:

emptysea wrote:Maschine and Ableton Live are a very popular combo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WcbjOm1uhY

I didn't realize you could use it with Ableton......hmnnn. Gonna take another look now that I know that.

Yup. Both Maschine and APC40 were announced at NAMM at the same time but Maschine came out in early 2009 way before Akai eventually shipped the APC40 and ironically became the first controller to navigate and launch clips in Live's session view matrix like that.

JamesJeffery wrote:

JAH wrote:Its a plastic controller. I am not saying that it will break from use..far from it. What I am saying is that it is not a very expensive design. Coming from an MPC, I just need something that is more robust and professional. Check the same websites you posted. Plenty of Maschine users won't something a little better. Akai got it right by the looks of the MPC Ren. I can't wait to see what these others look like.....

The aesthetics are not going to make your productions sound any better. Neither is the "feel" of a piece of hardware ... SP1200 plastic pads anyone? Still a great bit of kit though.

I can agree with that.

But so far i like the knobs on maschine better than the mpd line. So lets just hope that akai improved the quality a little bit.

I always liked akai transport buttons best tho. Not squishy.

@ jah:

man, please, i don't want to flame but you really teasing me.
sayng that mpd 32 has a better build quality than maschine's controller is totally false.
i've been on mpc's for years (2000xl , 4000, 1000 jjos2xl), now i'm on maschine.
it is not perfect but the build quality is far superior to those cheap toys akai's been building in the latest years...even mpc 1000 is crippled with buttons breaking up more often than not, you have to manually substitute switches and customize buttons in order to have a solid hardware....

1000's pads , even with nu style pads which i had, even with corx which i tried, were not completely satisfying in terms of sensitivity and overall feel.
maschne's pads , even tho they feel different from oldschool mpc pads, are great.
the overall quality is huge, only downside is knobs can be either a bit loose or a bit hard, i checked various controllers they sometimes feel different and i fear some of my knobs will break sooner or later. but that's it. other than that build quality is HUGE. aluminium coat is lightweight but resistent and easy to clean.

i now own also an mpk 25 and must say i don't like the knobs, as in other akai controllers like mpd's and apc's...

we'll see what this nu renaissance line will do.

i sincerely don't trust akai that much anymore...they shown us in the past years a complete inability to support their customers, to seriously update their existing awesome products and to bring real innovation with new ones.
think how they left mpc 4000 rot in dust for never updating an already good os with new features, bug fixes and all that... mpc 4000 is their biggest shame.
awesome hardware, awesome os that could be improved for years and years.

unfinished.
unupdated.

it will take miracles to have my trust back to akai.

Ok now Im interested.

This machine looks great!!!

The Renaissance has a terrible name and a fugly design.

But this shit right here looks dope. I am very interested now on what Akai can do with the software. I will forsure be more interested on whats to come out of this.

hyena wrote:i sincerely don't trust akai that much anymore...they shown us in the past years a complete inability to support their customers, to seriously update their existing awesome products and to bring real innovation with new ones.

unfinished.
unupdated.

it will take miracles to have my trust back to akai.

But of course there is this...