The Software looks dope!

JAH wrote:

padlock wrote:as far as mouse clicking(which i hate).. every single button or drop box function should be able to be custom assignable to users preference of controller button/slider/whatever..
that should def be key!

If every single button or drop box function in the software is mapped to the hardware so it performs like a traditional MPC, why would you need customize anything?

one good reason might be if akai did not do something correct in the software. or forexample, you have a very niche need that would be silly for most users, but for you its crucial - im thinking like some kind of live performance thing.....like maybe there is a user out there that needs a knob always dedicated to tune or something while you are performing (okay maybe not the best example but i know someones got one out there).

plus, doesn't maschine let you do this?

not to mention............what if mpd users want to just get the software (if akai even goes for that) or want to use the controller for other gear, or add more controllers to use the software. options, options, options

Blue Haze wrote:However unlike a DAW it seems not to have any audio tracks, mixer pages, automation tracks, or direct midi channels. It is more akin to a drum machine which is ok for most software users. Need to track out beats just bring your laptop and sound card or email the file.

Did you not see in the pic I posted there is a mixer section at the bottom? Also, I noticed on the Studio controller that there is a "Latch" button. That indicates some sort of automation ability.

DJ Hellfire wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:However unlike a DAW it seems not to have any audio tracks, mixer pages, automation tracks, or direct midi channels. It is more akin to a drum machine which is ok for most software users. Need to track out beats just bring your laptop and sound card or email the file.

Did you not see in the pic I posted there is a mixer section at the bottom? Also, I noticed on the Studio controller that there is a "Latch" button. That indicates some sort of automation ability.

Come now every mpc has a so called MIDI mixer, but a DAW truly has a Audio mixer that goes beyond a level and pan. These have no auxs and the returns are limited to 4 like a standard drum machine no different than we have now.

Sure you with be able to insert a plugin in the channel but not even maschine is at the level of Pro Tools, Logic Pro or any other DAW for mixing. And the Latch is for midi control. And yes all mpcs do the same now your can use mid to modulate the level, pan, pitch, cutoff and etc by midi. However don't expect to do mouse clicking to click point, draw a line or steps as again it is not at that level of a major DAW. Expect the same as we do now on MPCs drum machines these are definitively not DAW killers.

Better yet, I`m willing to bet the format is exactly the same as hardware mpc just the software is in the computer. But that is a good thing in 2012 when tracking and mixing tracks in your DAW of choice.

Latch equals qlink control aka knob or slider control you have to assign to the major parameters I mention before just like we do now using midi tracks in a midi sequencer cuz besides the 5k and 2k5 no other mpc has audio tracks.

JAH wrote:why would you need customize anything?

padlock wrote:user preference

damien907 wrote:

Retrofreak wrote:I wonder if it has piano roll?

it looks like the sequencer is similar to a piano roll, dont you think?

713_HOU_TX wrote: In my humble opinion, if Akai's DAW cannot go beyond my DAW then the only thing your getting out of the package is just the unit......

Thoughts

Not really,

I was referring to a Logic/FL Studio type piano roll with graphical keyboard interface, so you can step edit notes and click and hear the note your editing (Maschine fails at this) imo.

akai did that with the 4000. Idoubt if they dropped that feature.

just becuz an MPC looks like a drum machine does'nt mean you have to treat it that way I been doing whole songs vocals and all since the 3000 and every MPC after that and all they had to do was add clear stereo sampling. so I'm sure whole songs will be able to be done on the new studio/ren software,vocals and all.

padlock wrote:

JAH wrote:why would you need customize anything?

padlock wrote:user preference

So what type of customization? You want the Tap Tempo button to be customize to add slice markers?

Blue Haze wrote:

DJ Hellfire wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:However unlike a DAW it seems not to have any audio tracks, mixer pages, automation tracks, or direct midi channels. It is more akin to a drum machine which is ok for most software users. Need to track out beats just bring your laptop and sound card or email the file.

Did you not see in the pic I posted there is a mixer section at the bottom? Also, I noticed on the Studio controller that there is a "Latch" button. That indicates some sort of automation ability.

1. Come now every mpc has a so called MIDI mixer, but a DAW truly has a Audio mixer that goes beyond a level and pan. These have no auxs and the returns are limited to 4 like a standard drum machine no different than we have now.

Sure you with be able to insert a plugin in the channel but not even maschine is at the level of Pro Tools, Logic Pro or any other DAW for mixing. And the Latch is for midi control. And yes all mpcs do the same now your can use mid to modulate the level, pan, pitch, cutoff and etc by midi. However don't expect to do mouse clicking to click point, draw a line or steps as again it is not at that level of a major DAW. Expect the same as we do now on MPCs drum machines these are definitively not DAW killers.

1. Well you weren't specific as to how advanced a mixer you were taking about. A mixer is a mixer! And Ren appears to have one, although it appears to be on a similar level as Reasons 14:2!

2. Again, you were unspecific on the level of automation you meant. You can automate gain changes, pitch changes, and all kinds of other changes with the q-links on a 2500. May not be as advanced as a dedicated DAW but it's still automation non-the-less. So I'm sure Ren will have some level of automation that will be programmable from the controller or editable with a mouse from the note parameter window just above the mixer's send/insert buttons. May not be what the latch button is for like I suggested, but are you sure it's for midi and not for plugins?

Digital Audio Workstation


1. a true mixer mixes audio.

2. Automation lines can be curved, straight, and stepped by drawing in. All of the mpcs are a bit jagged if you are just using a qlink controller in real time.



All I`m stating is simply the Ren and all mpcs operate the same as midi mixers. All mpc are midi mixers like way back in the 80s when Logic was Notation and just midi channels control the sampler or synths, but the outputs of those run into a hardware mixer and then to a multrack recorder of some sort.

Ren is not a audio mixer. You will still need to print your midi files to audio which the same as any other mpc by tracking it in or bouncing down to audio stems. Digital Audio Workstation is the same as a hardware mixer and audio multi tracker in one which is why akai designed it as a plugin and with audio outputs.


That said do as you will as many people bounce down the sampler audio out the box with little to no mixing I do too sometimes for demos. But when I do mix I bring it into my DAW of choice (logic) to serious tackle it with the audio on their own tracks and subgroups for stems.

Interesting comments in this thread.....I can't wait to see the specs.

The MPC 5000 has hard disk audio recording...you can bounce tracks down to stems for import into your DAW....its has automation...it actually has quite a few features I would like to see added to the Ren...

I want the Ren to bridge the past with the future...it would be nice if it has every feature that any MPC every created has...

Blue Haze wrote:Ren is not a audio mixer. You will still need to print your midi files to audio which the same as any other mpc by tracking it in or bouncing down to audio stems.

If the audio resides on your computer and you can use VST effects, I imagine you can do a very nicely polished 'rough mix' before you even have to think about tracking out.

JAH wrote:

padlock wrote:

JAH wrote:why would you need customize anything?

padlock wrote:user preference

So what type of customization? You want the Tap Tempo button to be customize to add slice markers?

whatever i feel the need for whenever i feel the need to do it..

its called workflow man...

and how hard can it be to better a few lines of code so i can do such things?
why is it such an issue... if i wanna be able to take the software passed the limits it was first thought upon conception.. why cant i do so.. not everybody has the same drumming style.. not everybody has the same mpc style.. but few ppl have a carrot drived up their ass as the likes of you do..

im kiddin round man, but you seem uptight when it comes to this type of thing, why cant we just brainstorm.....

i apologize.. but dont retract my carrot