Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

Bug reports & end-user support for Akai's MPC Software 'controllers' including the new MPC Studio 2, the MPC Touch, MPC Renaissance & original MPC Studio and MPC StudioB lack.
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Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By Lampdog Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:52 pm
MPCWeapon1 wrote:LOL, Akai is marketing this thing to kids. The new Akai approaches music making machines like its a video game or something.

That's why I'm not going to be part of the 1st wave of buyers.

So you'll be part of the 2nd wave of "kids". :lol:

MPCWeapon1 wrote:It appears that The 2500 pulled 9th Wonder away from Fruity Loops.


That's not even a valid reason for buying/wanting an machine.
No offense intended but that's not a valid reason for anything imo.

Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By JVC Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:11 pm
DJ Hellfire wrote:...
I don't care for those old stripped down MPC's just because of the "nostalgia." I need to have features! I know they say limited equipment makes you "do more with less" and all the yada yada yada! But **** that, I like to work smart, not hard! :lol:
...

I think it is a valid argument, but I often feel that machines with too many functions often make users distracted. I think that's what happened to newer MPCs, they became less intuitive compared to older MPCs. They overlooked the fact that user interface must be even more streamlined, then MPCs got more functions & capability.
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Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By MPCWeapon1 Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:04 pm
Lampdog wrote:
MPCWeapon1 wrote:LOL, Akai is marketing this thing to kids. The new Akai approaches music making machines like its a video game or something.

That's why I'm not going to be part of the 1st wave of buyers.

So you'll be part of the 2nd wave of "kids". :lol:

MPCWeapon1 wrote:It appears that The 2500 pulled 9th Wonder away from Fruity Loops.


That's not even a valid reason for buying/wanting an machine.
No offense intended but that's not a valid reason for anything imo.


I have a wait-and-see approach toward the Ren.

I didn't mention 9th Wonder to say that's a reason to buy a MPC 2500. I stated the 2500 doesn't really have a distinct sonic quality. Although if you could freak JJOSXL modulation matrix you can get good sound out of it.
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Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By DJ Hellfire Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:28 pm
JVC wrote:
DJ Hellfire wrote:...
I don't care for those old stripped down MPC's just because of the "nostalgia." I need to have features! I know they say limited equipment makes you "do more with less" and all the yada yada yada! But **** that, I like to work smart, not hard! :lol:
...

I think it is a valid argument, but I often feel that machines with too many functions often make users distracted. I think that's what happened to newer MPCs, they became less intuitive compared to older MPCs. They overlooked the fact that user interface must be even more streamlined, then MPCs got more functions & capability.



I feel you! This is why I was never really interested in JJOSXL. Just seemed like too much shit! JJOS1 on my 2500 is damn near the perfect drum machine for me! Only thing it really lacks, IMO, is enough outputs, efficient midi editing (like with a mouse), and the ability to do most functions without stopping the sequencer. This is where Maschine picks up the slack. But I just like the feel of the MPC a bit better, maybe because it's just so comfortable on it, being that I've used it for almost half of my life. I can practically used it with my eyes closed. Hopefully the Ren will be a perfect combination of both.

VST's on the tracks are cool, but it's not really a necessity for me. I've been using my MPC to control VST's via midi through Pro Tools for years. However, the advantage to using VST's within the Ren goes back to what I said about being able to edit the midi via mouse. I can currently do this with my MPC's now, but I first have to record the midi notes into Pro Tools first, then edit. So having that capability directly within the MPC environment will be a big plus.

But I could never go back to 10 seconds of sample time, lack of chop shop style chopping, zip/floppy disks, or lack of global mute groups to name a few.
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Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By MPCWeapon1 Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:15 am
DJ Hellfire wrote:
MPCWeapon1 wrote:I see what you're saying, but I don't think a MPC 2500/1000/5000/500 are must haves like the earlier machines, because you can probably achieve that sound with a software program.



I feel the opposite. I don't care for those old stripped down MPC's just because of the "nostalgia." I need to have features! I know they say limited equipment makes you "do more with less" and all the yada yada yada! But **** that, I like to work smart, not hard! :lol: And I'm not really impressed by that "sound" vintage drum machines have personally! Just my preference though!


Well I'm a 4k owner. Love my 4k. I did hear a MPC 60 and 3k drums and they were impressive. Especially the 60. Not too much difference between the 3k and 4k.
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Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By MPCWeapon1 Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:18 am
JVC wrote:
MPCWeapon1 wrote:LOL, who goes to Best Buy to purchase high end professional music gear? Who in Best Buy is qualified to discuss professional music gear?

Umm, I feel the many BB employees are not even qualified to assisting to sell electronics. Well, Staples is even worse, that place is so depressing...

A large part of the MPC success was because of the tape saturation quality that came from the earlier machines. Even the 4000 has some of that quality. The new Akai doesn't have that attention to sonic detail, that's why its falling off.


I don't think "the tape saturation quality" was the reason why older MPCs were successful, I think it was more to do with its unique workflow it offered. I think un-intuitiveness and bugs on MPC-5000 and MPC-500 was the biggest reason why those are now considered as failure by many (I know there are some people love MPC-5000!)
Interestingly, Akai Pro seem to think the same way, I see MPC-2000 (both classic and XL), 3000, and 4000 on MPC Ren promo video, but I don't see MPC-5000 and 500 anywhere. (Maybe because they are still selling 5000?)


Work flow most def had something to with it.The sonic punch and tape saturation quality played a big part as well.

Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By EmuSp1200YamahaRs7000 Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:28 am
MPCWeapon1 wrote:LOL, who goes to Best Buy to purchase high end professional music gear? Who in Best Buy is qualified to discuss professional music gear?

The Best Buy in my city actually has a better music instrument display and selection than the Sam Ash across the street.

Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By audiounity111 Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:42 am
Yeah, it's easy to generalize mega stores, but it all depends on who happens to be working there at a certain point. The guitar center in my town went from being filled with uneducated foolishness 10 years ago, to having some knowledgeable cats that I can talk to. Of course, it helps that a few of them I met at jam sessions over the years, so when they started working there, I wasn't just a customer, and they've straight up told me if a product is unreleiable and even recommend something cheaper. Often I just go in there just to shoot the s###. The Best Buy right next to it is all right. I barely ever go in there, but the times I talked to the cats working we were able to trade gig/recording gear stories so it wasn't just some cat filling in from the laudramat department. Of course, Best Buy's selection can't hold a candle to GC.... which is why I never go in there. Anyway, 95% of the time when I want to buy something, I've researched it to death already, so I don't go to stores for opinions but for availability.
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Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By Lampdog Fri Feb 17, 2012 4:22 am
MPCWeapon1 wrote:I have a wait-and-see approach toward the Ren.

I see, says the blind man.
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Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By Jungleman Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:38 pm
Visited a local music store today (in Finland, that is) - unbelievably, found a BT there. So I had to try it out.

Small, very heavy (maybe too heavy) for its size. Pads felt cheap, they were somewhat responsive, though. Confusing OS, couldn't really navigate the functions. Didn't have the time to go through the manual - actually, don't know if there was any with the product. Last time I checked, there was only a rudimentary quickstart leaflet thing available on the BT site.

Midi Implementation chart says no aftertouch. For the price of the BT (about 1200€) I could almost get two new MPC1000s. Expensive toy. Yawn.

By the way, the side-mounted control wheels were nice.

Nothing to say about Ren. Yet.

Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By Elohimfetus Wed Sep 12, 2012 4:13 am
Jamon wrote:But it's like no one directing anything has any direction anymore. Aja seemed to inherit power because his dad was successful, and Numark has this power because Akai was successful. But the originals aren't around. It's like fans were at a show, and the originals left, leaving some fans to take the stage. They speak big, and bob around, but don't really know what to do.


I think they know exactly what to do... $$$Get Money$$$! And I think they took the first step in continuing that venture. The only difference is this time the REN does everything that my 2000XL did plus solve the issue of PC integration. Allowing it to use plugin effects and instruments, and !!EXPORT!!...these features alone are a colassal improvement. The MPC is actually scalable...ram, hd, effects, sounds, screen size!! Com'on son!


~The title of this thread is sacrilege.~
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Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By inflict3 Wed Sep 12, 2012 6:01 am
MeSoHordey wrote:
Jamon wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMerFpbkd8Y

Beat Thang has the computer built in, plus can be used as software alone with MIDI controller. Plus it's a new design, instead of just fronting the name and looks of an old cult classic. Plus it has "blang" and "bling" buttons instead of "vintage mode", and more lights. Oh, and the Thang can be worn on your chain.


If that AJ guy ends up with the last laugh on this one, I'm gonna be pissed. You sorta described the machine I was looking for Akai to announce (sans the chain part).

/secretly heads off to best buy


aja got fired yo... hahahhahahah.. he is yesterdays news..lol.. he still ruined it
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Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By inflict3 Wed Sep 12, 2012 4:35 pm
oh, and i said it before, let me remind you by saying it again.... "friends dont let friends buy beat thangz"

Re: Renaissance Vs. Beat Thang

By Elohimfetus Sat Sep 15, 2012 2:28 am
Elohimfetus wrote:
~The title of this thread is sacrilege.~


I officially want to take this statment back...

I actually got on a Beat Thang today at Sam Ash, I had never even seen one in person until today. This box is very solid. Sounds are dope. Its easy to use. Sampler is clever. And unlike some others, I loved the pads (though unwanted drastic velocity changes could be an issue) Based on my usage today I will say that I prejudged it unfairly. My use today prompted me to look at additional You Tube footage...and I'm impressed. Now I am not saying that it is perfect, or that I will buy one, or that anyone should, I only mean to say I prejudged unfairly and I take back any sarcasim or ill words that I have spewd from my fingers.

I can see why a comparisson was drawn.

My initial negative attitude was due to some people promoting the BT on YouTube were talking negative about the REN before it even came out, like back in January, hatin and chit. The Beat Thang was way better than Machine from a hardware perspective (I don't have xp with the software). I don't really know why more people like Machine outside of the sheer size of NI's library of sounds...which is understandable.

I think I will apprciate, however, the 16 Qlinks, the inst and effect plugins (MF3, BPM, Waves), and the audio interface (for my Fantom) on the REN.
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