Is the REN doomed to fail in the market?

A lot of interesting points where made. Im guilty of not wanting to stick it out with the maschine, I ditched it. I didn't feel like it was like a 2kxl in any major way, I don't knw about that. The biggest fail for me was no song mode, I didn't agree with their scenes, and how the pattern layout was, I hated the editing. But as far as the Ren, I don't think its gonna have any problems in the market all those guys on youtube using the maschine gone be on there with Ren, or studio. I need a Ren please.........

ceasi wrote:A lot of interesting points where made. Im guilty of not wanting to stick it out with the maschine, I ditched it. I didn't feel like it was like a 2kxl in any major way, I don't knw about that. The biggest fail for me was no song mode, I didn't agree with their scenes, and how the pattern layout was, I hated the editing. But as far as the Ren, I don't think its gonna have any problems in the market all those guys on youtube using the maschine gone be on there with Ren, or studio. I need a Ren please.........

That's the thing. The whole layout of the scenes/patterns IS just one big scene mode. The beauty about it is you can have dozens of different patterns for a certain group without having to make a whole bunch of new sequences. I hated it to at first too, but it was because I didn't understand it. Once you understand and see just how simple it really is, there's no way you could not appreciate it.

ceasi wrote:The biggest fail for me was no song mode, I didn't agree with their scenes, and how the pattern layout was,

Here's a basic beat in song mode form. Now all these scenes basically started out as a copy of the main sequence. Then you just go in and start swapping patterns in certain scenes to build your song. And you can name the patterns to keep track of what they are for. So for example, if you wanted to try 3 different drum patterns for your intro, you can make the 3 patterns, select your intro scene, and audition each of the 3 different patterns to pick the one you like. And you can just build as you go. On the MPC, you have to make 3 entire sequences just to do this.



And here's just another more complex song mode layout:




IMO, the only place NI failed with this whole method is not being able to tell how many bars or how many minutes long your song is.

That's pretty much how scenes/patterns work in Geist too. It's a great way to build tracks really.

' others will sit back and see how things develop '


+1

( I've said this since they first appeared on the horizon ... )

inthemix wrote:' others will sit back and see how things develop '


+1

( I've said this since they first appeared on the horizon ... )

Yeah. Anyone that's able to make their music right now, whether on hardware or software, can just sit back and enjoy the ride. Even complete newbies can learn 'beat making' with an eBay-deal MPC or Geist or a dozen other software tools.

Still, I think it's interesting for those of us that grew up with Akai sampling to think about whether the brand is really going to find a place in plugin-land.

groovemonger wrote:Still, I think it's interesting for those of us that grew up with Akai sampling to think about whether the brand is really going to find a place in plugin-land.

Agreed! Like I said, if it weren't for the tightly integrated hardware, they wouldn't have a chance. Software only would have failed for sure, IMO, because there is just so much competition out there. Having the familiar hardware is their golden ticket! I know I wouldn't be using Maschine if it weren't for it's hardware and how tightly it's integrated!

for shizzy. Akai have identified a market that they can enter and do well, and it is an extension of there history so to speak, even though these things are new. I think they will ride the MPC cred all the way to the bank. Every kid will get one as it will have that MPC cred. Like apple you know it has associated good will and or cult status, so will sell on that alone. Marketing helps as well, and they are doing a top notch job here. Notice they are around here to? That is a very big deal and not only makes them look good but also means they can actually determine what will be desired and or not desired. This in turns strengthens their product. So even though there is things out there like machine, they will make it better with foresight and considered functions that are better than its rivals. That hopefully what they have and will do. I love my hardware and do not use computer to make music, but im a dying breed. I might get one, I might not, but every one else with a computer and wants that MPC mystique then will get one...... so Akai/Numark is gonna make millions of this. But G if they stuff up support then they are shooting them selves in the foot.

DJ Hellfire wrote:

groovemonger wrote:Still, I think it's interesting for those of us that grew up with Akai sampling to think about whether the brand is really going to find a place in plugin-land.

Agreed! Like I said, if it weren't for the tightly integrated hardware, they wouldn't have a chance. Software only would have failed for sure, IMO, because there is just so much competition out there. Having the familiar hardware is their golden ticket! I know I wouldn't be using Maschine if it weren't for it's hardware and how tightly it's integrated!

I think if Akai just released a software VST they would have done well if done right. There are no VSTs on the market that can load projects from any MPC and play them back correctly. This would eliminate syncing and multi-tracking your MPC into a DAW.

I think the Ren will be a great success for only $1200.00, I personally hated any software related drum programming controller, and yet I'm thinking this may be the greatest drum product I can use to date. I have a 4000 and 5000 and I'm thinking I may have to retire them when the Ren come along.

Teddy Riley was at Namm lusting after the Ren.
Warren G was Namm lusting after the Ren, saying he's gonna become the greatest producer ever with the Ren on You Tube videos.

Regardless that the Ren is mostly software dependent, that loses nothing, and gains everything if the software becomes rock solid.

Akai is said to be working overtime making sure the software is totally bug free with the release of the Ren to the market.

Because the Ren is the biggest and the baddest beat controller to date, I'm about 99% sure it will be a great success if it's only competition is the Maschine and the Beat Thang.

There is no denying that even on face value that the Ren is funky fresh. Now, on the looks of the software that goes with, it's a killer concept.

Right now, Ren is smashing the competition IMHO.

Too much hype will kill the Ren. I also think the price is ridiculously high for what it is/will eventually do. It's not a ground-breaking concept to have a flashy controller with it's own custom software.

Credit where it's due for allowing projects to be opened within the new software, but again this is hardly pant-sh*ttingly exciting. That's a natural progression and I would expect that to be supported whether you buy a Ren or not in the future if Akai are going to introduce more software products.

Also most people on here make loop-based music which lasts around 3 minutes, it's really not that much of a burden on our lives to have to track things out. Also, you will still have to track out from the Ren if you want to use the 3000 gain stage circuitry or whatever has gone into it.

kday wrote:Right now, Ren is smashing the competition IMHO.

The Ren ain't smashing shit!

It's not out till August so come back then and your statement may have a slight grain of truth to it.

Honestly I think Ren will have a great launch as good as every
other mpc before it. Most of the market testing was done with the said producers
who gave back their feedback on improvements and what features to have
for a more quasi retro mpc akin to the 60 and 3k series. Though many people
see computer intergration and think futuric mpc with untold functions and the beyond.
At their most basic function, they are to have the classic mpc workflow of the said series if the testers and the programmers get it right then it can and wil succeed or it will be the last of the line for all mpcs. Hardware is finished no matter how much we delude
ourselves.

Blue Haze wrote:Hardware is finished no matter how much we delude
ourselves.

This gets said year after year, yet we continue to see hardware products introduced by old and even new companies. If you are being MPC specific then for the next year or so, I agree. But as technology progresses there's no reason we won't see another dedicated standalone unit.

Yes I'm talking specifically about the topic at hand the mpc and no other.

I got the info first hand from akai itself. Of course other companies will come
out like Roger Linn, Korg and others but those are not the topic.