Top 5 Dead or Alive: JJ OS Feature Edition

TagOne wrote:

distortedtekno wrote:By all means, everything I've mentioned is merely constructive criticism for everyone to learn from based upon my own experiences

No doubt DT, I dig what your saying. I feel that the ren/studio won't really affect me as an mpc 1000 JJ user, can't ever seeing me swapping or selling my mpc 1000 for any other sampler to be honest with you. Feel like the new JJOS03 will give the ren/studio a run for it's money. Think we are just at the beginning of a whole new chapter as far as the JJ OS03 is concerned, just imagine if JJ was able to code the OS to constantly read itself off the HDD, it would open up an endless ball park of possibilities for the mpc 1000.

Yeah I feel the same way about the 1000 after all these years. I've had many times where I thought I would sell it. But I kept finding it to be essential for my needs, no matter how powerful running a DAW is in comparison to it. A lot of times, I really don't feel like using software. I can sit most anywhere with my 1000 and make a beat where a laptop and a midi controller would end up not being as comfortable. Then between exporting audio tracks from the JJ OS and importing them into Reason 6, and still being able to use the 1000 as a MIDI controller for Kong (with the q-link sliders assigned to MIDI CCS for Kongs parameters), I got the best of both worlds. I can't justify buying anything else at the moment expect for the MAX 49, as it has some key features that allow me to further integrate more hardware (CV/Gate and step sequencer are a plus for my analog drum modules I've built).
As far as JJ OS3 is concerned, I have absolutely no idea what what direction it will be taking. But like every other version since the beginning, I'm still right along for the ride. Some people may be speculating integration with the Ren or maybe a new JJ OS sequencer as a substitute. But I'm just sitting in anticipation, watching everything unfold between JJ, Akai, and all the possibilities of what can be accomplished. Honestly, this has been the most exciting time ever out of all these years.

distortedtekno wrote:Honestly, this has been the most exciting time ever out of all these years.

I know what you mean DT, I'm more excited then Peter Stringfellow on board, a coach full of virgins .

TagOne wrote:

distortedtekno wrote:Honestly, this has been the most exciting time ever out of all these years.

I know what you mean DT, I'm more excited then Peter Stringfellow on board, a coach full of virgins .

Yeah definitely!

I'm trying to think of what else we can all benefit from, as Akai is open to suggestions. So I sent Andy Mac a PM about a suggestion concerning the MAX 49. If Akai can implement what Nektar had done with the Panorama (as far as having the 3rd row of pads alternate to a 4th row with the push of a button), then most Reason users will definitely be in line to pre-order it. It's been a hot topic for quite a while over at the Propellerhead User Forum. So the opportunity to make a suggestion now was certainly in the best interest for everyone there, as well as users of other DAWs. Hopefully Akai can make that happen. It would be well worth their effort to have that edge on the keyboard controller market.

distortedtekno wrote:I'm trying to think of what else we can all benefit from, as Akai is open to suggestions.

Will have to get my thinking cap on, as i've got a idea but I'm having trouble trying to explain it without it ending up as a mumbo jumbo post

(quote)well. Being able to take your MPC1000/2500 wherever you want to make a beat and then being able to export the project into the Ren/Studio is VERY GOOD.

I wound love to have this explained or elaborated on.We are talking JJ
users right?

TYPO wrote:(quote)well. Being able to take your MPC1000/2500 wherever you want to make a beat and then being able to export the project into the Ren/Studio is VERY GOOD.

I wound love to have this explained or elaborated on.We are talking JJ
users right?

Yeah specifically. I've been aware of Akai being open to compatibility with the JJ OS. I haven't quite followed up on it, as I've seen nothing else mentioned lately. I'm not sure what JJ knows about it, since I haven't been in contact with him in a while. So I'm thinking the best solution is to have that integration, as it would still insure the sales of the MPC1000 (and the JJ OS) and there would surely be no reason to discontinue the product. I know there's so many ways to keep the 1000 from going the way of the dinosaur. It's still very modern and evolving by all means. No other drum machine in the history of drum machines (beside the 2500) has seen so many features being added in the course of 6 years. So it's extremely important that the MPC1000 remains in production. It would make no sense for Akai to add support for JJ and discontinue the machine. I understand if it's not selling as well, Akai would be looking to cease production at some point. But we all need parts too, and I hope they will be procurable for a long time to come. yeah, I got a lot of concerns and i'm looking to address them pubicly now while the time is extremely crucial to make all the right decisions. This seems to be a good thread to mention it, as far as everything is concerned.
Share your thoughts everyone.

I know some of you are still against it. But I'm trying to look at the bigger picture.

distortedtekno wrote:

TYPO wrote:(quote)well. Being able to take your MPC1000/2500 wherever you want to make a beat and then being able to export the project into the Ren/Studio is VERY GOOD.

I wound love to have this explained or elaborated on.We are talking JJ
users right?

Yeah specifically. I've been aware of Akai being open to compatibility with the JJ OS. I haven't quite followed up on it, as I've seen nothing else mentioned lately. I'm not sure what JJ knows about it, since I haven't been in contact with him in a while.

Seeing that JJ probably lives right around the corner from me and my wife being Japanese can effectively communicate with him, I had initially thought about spearheading the idea of JJ program support. But since I no longer use an MPC that runs the JJ OS, I felt someone that has been a long time JJ OS user should be the point man. No one has stepped up. While Akai said they would be open to it, there is no indication that they would aggressibely pursue the idea. They would more likely just implement popular features found in the JJ OS.

If I was a JJ OS user and had a good rapport with JJ...I would certainly step up and try to make this happen.

distortedtekno wrote:I've been quite puzzled as to why the 2500 was discontinued when it was released after the 1000. I can't draw any conclusions as to why it's been discontinued. But I have to say it's very unfortunate, as many people are still wanting to buy them brand new.

I think Akai as a company are looking to move on. They've been plagued by hardware problems with the 1k and 2500... If it's not the pads it's the damn tact switches! Today I powered up my 2500 for the first time in a few weeks, and low and behold my up cursor and Q2 After button have taken a shit! Quite literally out of nowhere...

10 years of XL ownership and heavy use and not a single tact switch broken. 2 years of 2500 ownership with a lot less use, and 1 button is completely dead and a few others have one foot in the grave! Garbage components.

The saving grace for us 1k and 2500 owners is the JJOS, but this is another aspect where Akai have lost total control of their own product. They may have shifted a few extra units and unwittingly facilitated an OS that kicks the shit out of their own, but in general it makes the company look like a bunch of clowns.

JAH wrote:

distortedtekno wrote:

TYPO wrote:(quote)well. Being able to take your MPC1000/2500 wherever you want to make a beat and then being able to export the project into the Ren/Studio is VERY GOOD.

I wound love to have this explained or elaborated on.We are talking JJ
users right?

Yeah specifically. I've been aware of Akai being open to compatibility with the JJ OS. I haven't quite followed up on it, as I've seen nothing else mentioned lately. I'm not sure what JJ knows about it, since I haven't been in contact with him in a while.

Seeing that JJ probably lives right around the corner from me and my wife being Japanese can effectively communicate with him, I had initially thought about spearheading the idea of JJ program support. But since I no longer use an MPC that runs the JJ OS, I felt someone that has been a long time JJ OS user should be the point man. No one has stepped up. While Akai said they would be open to it, there is no indication that they would aggressibely pursue the idea. They would more likely just implement popular features found in the JJ OS.

If I was a JJ OS user and had a good rapport with JJ...I would certainly step up and try to make this happen.

Jahrome, I was reading those topics recently and was surprised nobody stepped up either. So here I am with a plan and a purpose that suits everyone. It's important for JJ to know that the MPC1000 needs to continue making money for Akai. Otherwise it may end up discontinued like the 2500... and that means loss of revenue for JJ. What people don't realize is that even though there's plenty of used 1000s and 2500s on ebay, a good amount of them already have JJ OS unlocked. So JJ won't make any money when someone got a good hookup on ebay with OSXL included. Thats one more reason why we need the integration of features, aside of many of us like myself who may end up buying an MPC Studio sometime in the future. I have no plans on selling my 1000, and I know I'd love to be able to start a project in the 1000 and finish it in the MPC Studio. That would be an even greater benefit to my workflow than just having one or the other. I know I'm not alone on that as far as the rest of the MPC users are concerned. But if there's a way to work out some type of agreement between JJ and Akai, everyone wins. I really don't see Akai and JJ being a threat toward one another at all, as far as how everything's been going. What happened with them in the past is one thing. JJ has been able to make money on an OS for the 1000 for 6 years without any cease and decist orders. Akai has made more sales on the 1000 because of JJ. So as far as I've seen, they have both complimented one another in that whole time. May as well team up again to some degree and financially benefit from it on both sides, which can continue to be separate entities and coexist more successfully. I'm really hoping others see my point and look at the entire picture here.
But anyway Jahrome, if you'd like to take the time and discuss all the points I've made today with JJ, I would definitely appreciate it. I'm sure it will make perfect sense to him.

DT -> JJ could cease development of his OS today and I'm set. Akai could discontinue the 1k/2.5k today and I'm set. Like you said they've already sold a boatload, and JJ has already sold so many copies of his OS, that there will be JJOS units on the used market for the next 20 years, if some unfortunate destiny befalls my beloved. Eventually they'll all die, parts will become obsolete, etc., but the reality is that that will happen loooonnnggg after we're done being beatmakers...

As for the progression of technology, last year's model will continue to work. It may not be able to jump through quite as many flaming hoops as the new ish but that didn't matter last year did it? Akai can move on for all I care. I'm set. Not one bit threatened.

Coz -> Deoxit. Hurry, the more you use those buttons, the less likely it is that deoxit will help.

As for Ren compatibility with JJ Programs, I'd be surprised if it happens. If I was JJ, I'd sell them the file format for the balance of what they owe me. As for Akai, like someone else said, if they want development ideas, then they can buy a copy of JJOS.

I am willing to do what ever I can. I think a petition thread here in the forums would have a bigger effect. We can write a letter to JJ and even have it translated in Japanese to post in a petition thread. Forum members can post in the petition thread if they are in favor of such support.

And I won't put anyone on the spot because everyone knows the forum members that are the biggest supporters of the JJ OS....but we need to get these guys involved.

mp3 wrote:Coz -> Deoxit. Hurry, the more you use those buttons, the less likely it is that deoxit will help.

I've got a bag of 50 top quality tact switches (12 pence each), so I'm just gonna buy a soldering iron and patch it back up myself.

i think the real thing to take away from this thread, jah, is that a good developer - motivated end user relationship is the best feature you can have. i know that answer kind of sucks.

i could tell a couple features from JJOS that i simply could not live without....

the GRID EDIT modes (DRUM/MIDI). they are exceptionally well implemented. there has been TONS of community involvement/testing that went into those modes. it'd be a real feat/challenge for a dev to write a better grid edit.

GPE. "no nonsense parameter access." let us control everything upfront. THIS should be the default view when editing programs. samplers should not bury this under "single pad" views as was the convention in MPCs - it should be the other way around.

Damn Fast Chopping. again, like grid edit, this was a looooong, incremental process of community involvement to get what we have now, which is like lightning. many years ago in OS1 days i put up a video on the "divide and conquer" chopping technique on youtube. that is now SLOW compared to how quick the job gets done now.

Coz wrote:

distortedtekno wrote:I've been quite puzzled as to why the 2500 was discontinued when it was released after the 1000. I can't draw any conclusions as to why it's been discontinued. But I have to say it's very unfortunate, as many people are still wanting to buy them brand new.

I think Akai as a company are looking to move on. They've been plagued by hardware problems with the 1k and 2500... If it's not the pads it's the damn tact switches! Today I powered up my 2500 for the first time in a few weeks, and low and behold my up cursor and Q2 After button have taken a shit! Quite literally out of nowhere...

10 years of XL ownership and heavy use and not a single tact switch broken. 2 years of 2500 ownership with a lot less use, and 1 button is completely dead and a few others have one foot in the grave! Garbage components.

The saving grace for us 1k and 2500 owners is the JJOS, but this is another aspect where Akai have lost total control of their own product. They may have shifted a few extra units and unwittingly facilitated an OS that kicks the shit out of their own, but in general it makes the company look like a bunch of clowns.

Back in late '07 or early '08, Nick from VST and I sat on the phone for 3 hours discussing how to get Akai to design a pad upgrade for the 1000, and we successfully came up with the plan to do so. Nick suggested I start the "Pad Proposal" topic in the MPC100 forum (I unstickied it a long time ago, since the issue had been resolved successfully). Our efforts, along with all the demand by the entire 1000 community (and even non-100 users were cosigning that for real) made an impact. Our voices were heard. The product survived, and so did JJ as a result. I'll be honest with you. At some point before I had that convo with Nick and put the plan into action, I was gonna sell my 1000. It was a bit difficult because I like the JJ OS. But I wasn't gonna buy a 2500 used or new for that matter either. I had drum machines and samplers coming out of my ass at that point in my life. So I could've easily said **** it. I could've bought an MPC60 or 3000 and never put another dime in Akai's pocket again. But the fact of the matter is that all these machines need replacement parts somewhere down the line. I've been lucky with my tact switches and jog wheel, never having to replace them on my 1000. Hopefully Akai would consider the fact that they need to use better quality components and I'm sure they will consider it given all the complaints that have been posted by many over the years. Sure I agree it's not a good look for them, as it's well known that they tried to cut a few corners and they got caught out there a few times. But we need to be persistent in the most constructive way possible in order to be assured they are doing what they can to resolve all the issues with the current models on the market. As much as they're focused on the Ren, they still need to take care of existing issues, and this seems like the best time to communicate with them while they're here communicating with us. We gotta grab that opportunity and address these issues in a concerted effort similar to what was accomplished with the pad fix for the 1000. Akai still need to keep hardware MPCs in the mix as well as the Ren/Studio because they know not everyone wants to be hooked up to a computer all the time when they're making music... and that's definitely true according to all that I've read in every single one of these sub-forums. So I'm down for brainstorming, communicating, getting ideas organized and seeing the improvements happen in return.
Let's all discuss more.