Standalone vs Non-Standalone

I keep seeing people complain about lack of standalone with the new line. But I just feel like, who gives a ****?! 90% of people that make beats now-a-days are making them right next to a computer anyway, or later ending up with the beat in the computer. I think if you're not taking advantage of computer integrated production then you really don't even need a brand new MPC. You should be fine with the MPC you already have. I personally don't think there's really any further they could have taken a hardware only MPC that any current MPC can't do, other than adding non-destructive chop and q-link chopping (JJ excluded). Those two features, to me, aren't really worth making a whole new hardware MPC. The fact that the new line will read your old machines data is enough. You can easily use your old MPC as standalone/travel and load your project into the Ren later.

Bottom line is, I don't think the Ren in standalone mode could really do much more than the 1000/2500/5000 can do. Plus, it's looking like you are gonna be able to do just about anything from the controller anyway. So having a USB cable connecting won't be any different that having a power cable connected. Just turn your monitor off.

Anyway, do you care about standalone or not? If so, why is it important for you?

Of course we care bout stand alone,thats all we ever knew,until 2weeks ago.but
in order to get a better more upgradable machine,we understand a change had to come.if they would have made another stand alone,we would have wanted computer Intergration.personally,I think they did the right thing.

Why? Before the MPC Ren was announced, everybody..I really do mean everybody around these forums were talking about the end of Akai and MPCs and how NI and Maschine was the future.

Now we have people talking about hardware and hardware-software hybrids all of a sudden.

No...I don't need a standalone MPC nor do most people around here because the days of $2500-$3500 drum maschines are porbably gone. But if Akai made one, I would buy it.

my eyes and my hands out there the four corners of the perimeter of my mpc is a pain for me.

DJ Hellfire wrote:I don't think the Ren in standalone mode could really do much more than the 1000/2500/5000 can do.

could add wifi or...

I want both!

Bringing software to the mix leaves more room for error, I personally would've like to see a standalone more capable audio wise like the mv's, I mean I'm happy with my 4k anyways so it would take something crazy to make me ditch it. But there are times where I make music and don't go near the pc for days. I do agree that a hardware based mpc has been pushed to the limits, I just wish it was both standalone and non standalone

I'd have liked it to be standalone, but I understand the choice to make it like Maschine.

the only thing that bothers me is that it won't be like that, since it has already been said that for some thing you will NEED to watch the computer screen... (ex. when editing samples, you'll see the waveform only on the comp screen)

cmon, on Maschine you can even control VST's on the 2 lcd screens!

I'm ready (gonna cop a mac and dive into reason 6,too) been with akai mpc's for a long time I've owned four of them stopped at the 5000 and I'm ready.

64padzzx3 wrote:I'm ready (gonna cop a mac and dive into reason 6,too) been with akai mpc's for a long time I've owned four of them stopped at the 5000 and I'm ready.

Yeah that's what I did. Still own my MPC1000 and use it with Kong or just use it "standalone" away from the computer. Next thing on my list is Logic Pro 9.

It doesnt matter to me...

Look, it's a controller, plain and simple. It's is aimed squarely at people like me who really use their box as an integral part of their DAW setup ... I think Akai should be commended in this regard.
However, lets see if their aftersales support for once adds up to something more than 'Er, pass' when they are presented with a meaningful tech query ? This will show how genuine Akai are to make amends for real shitty past after-sales service/ tech support to me ?!

rookie wrote:...personally,I think they did the right thing.

Hear Ye, Yay and Amen. I think where the problem for some perspective buyers was understanding what "stand alone" really meant in the first place. Akai's definition of 'stand alone' (as it pertained to the Ren and Studio) IS it can do drum and sample based production WITHOUT the need to run inside of a seperate DAW program - it would still need a computer!. It would make absolutely no sense for them to continue with the same dated business model (500, 5000, etc.) when companies like NI (and yes even BeatKangz) are leap frogging them in terms of modern day beat production, user desired flexibility and ultimately their bottomline. Users wanting a "true" hardware / software combo are ALREADY (with current tutorials available) doing this in their existing set ups.

As it stands, todays music production (be it on the front or back end) is approx 90 percent computer based. The remaining 10 percent of beatmakers is either afraid of computer based production and how it may convulute the process and would rather stay in the comfort zone of a purely hardware based unit. Or some just can't afford the added cost and have rationalized that the additional investment to make music just isn't worth the financial committment (its usually here that those REALLY SERIOUS about music production, seperate themselves from the hobbyist or part time beatmaker).

So, bottomline for me NO they don't lose points and based on where all music and media production is headed, they're actually late to the party .

Well said Keys! However, I don't think cost even has anything to do with it anymore. Computers are so damn cheap now, it isn't even a factor. Shit, what I paid for my computer and Maschine is less than I paid for my 2500. And my computer (I custom built) is comparable to a high end Mac Pro, so it ain't no cheap Dell. But even prefab computers are still fairly cheap and very powerful. MPC Ren with decent built computer, you're still ahead of the game cost wise than what a new hardware model would have costed.

DJ Hellfire wrote:Well said Keys! However, I don't think cost even has anything to do with it anymore. Computers are so damn cheap now, it isn't even a factor. ****, what I paid for my computer and Maschine is less than I paid for my 2500. And my computer (I custom built) is comparable to a high end Mac Pro, so it ain't no cheap Dell. But even prefab computers are still fairly cheap and very powerful. MPC Ren with decent built computer, you're still ahead of the game cost wise than what a new hardware model would have costed.

Keys is very on point except for the "late to the party" statement. The Swiss didn't invent the watch.

Mr. Hellfire, suppose Akai named it the MPC Ren because an MPC 6000 is planned in the future. With all the expectations people have for MPCs, the fact that new features have never swayed ol skool MPC 3000/60 users, and the economy...how much do you expect a hybrid MPC to cost?

Keep in mind:
1. MPC 5000 - $1999
2. Tempest - $1999
3. Maschine Drum - $1700
4. Motiif XF - $2399
5. Korg Kronos - $2999
6. Fantom G - $2799
7. Octotrack - $1440
8. Mox6 - $1199
9. M3 - $1899
10. PC3LE6 - $1495
11. Mac Pro - $2300

Where would this product fit price-wise?