MPC Renaissance Akai Drop the ball

I'm just a casual observer, but it may be time for Akai to modify that strategy, i.e. wait until the product is closer to being released before announcing or demoing it. I may be comparing Apples and oranges, but that stategy has worked quite well over the past decade for Apple.For example, the Akai Synthstation49 was demoed at NAMM 2011 way before it was ready for release. I was very interested in getting it and pre-ordered it from an online music vendor. After numerous delays, I eventually lost interest and ended up buying a competing product.

How can ANYBODY associated with the "Beat Thang" sit on that video and talk about how a product is supposed to be sold?

i think its great that they introduced it before they release it. so they can ask us what we like and what not, we can shape the final product! isnt this exciting?

I agree! Having input in shaping a product that you will one day use is indeed exciting.

I give the current Akai team credit for being proactive and listening to us. Some companies take weeks, months and sometimes years to respond. The Akai rep. here has responded to nearly every question/suggestion we have thrown at him.

coolderb wrote:I agree! Having input in shaping a product that you will one day use is indeed exciting.

I give the current Akai team credit for being proactive and listening to us. Some companies take weeks, months and sometimes years to respond. The Akai rep. here has responded to nearly every question/suggestion we have thrown at him.

not to judge Akai's new way of listening (because I'm excited as you are that they are now listening to us), but this: "Some companies take weeks, months and sometimes years to respond" has been Akai's way untill last month...

I repeat, I'm happy they are here now, and I really hope for the best and that they will keep going on like this, but let's not forget the past... before I jump in joy I want some results and I want to see this thing go on even when the products will be out and when people will find bugs and stuff like that.

coolderb wrote:I'm just a casual observer, but it may be time for Akai to modify that strategy, i.e. wait until the product is closer to being released before announcing or demoing it. I may be comparing Apples and oranges, but that stategy has worked quite well over the past decade for Apple.For example, the Akai Synthstation49 was demoed at NAMM 2011 way before it was ready for release. I was very interested in getting it and pre-ordered it from an online music vendor. After numerous delays, I eventually lost interest and ended up buying a competing product.

Yeah, delays suck. But in this case I think what they are doing is smart. They are telling us "this is what we are working on" and actually asking use what we want in it. I personally would rather them deliver a product as close as possible to what we want than taking a swing with their eyes clothes and missing!