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.
By labcoats Wed Mar 06, 2013 11:07 pm
Obviously my opinion means so much :twisted:

I cant knock it at all. I've been loading up my own MPC4000 progs and playing around for 2 days and found no major issues whatsoever. Obviously not all the progs load up and play exactly as they do in the MPC4000 but its not a huge deal - and was to be expected.

Nukai (and I may drop the N some day) have done a very good job with the controller. I don't even realise I'm using a controller until I have to do something with the mouse. There's some room for improvement but even then there is nothing to stop anyone getting on with the job of making tunes.

On 4k progs combined with sequence which load up exactly have allowed me a direct comparison between the Ren and the 4k. But Im not going to talk about any perceived differences yet as I need to get used to the thing.

Essentially it is really an excellent product - no doubt about it Your only limitation is your imagination.
My 4k isnt going anywhere though. :smoker:

I would love for Nukai to allow Ren sessions converted to 4k but I have a feeling that will never happen.

One bit of advice to new users. Forget playing around with the included library when you first get the Ren. Get your own sounds in there and you will find your self whizzing around the machine much faster. I found the library to be erratic and distracting. kits with a tiny kik accompanied by massive inappropriate snare drum, and kits just seem made up in some kind of random way. Its not that the individual sounds are bad its how they have all been put together. But this is no biggie at all.
By rougenavarre Wed Mar 06, 2013 11:37 pm
labcoats wrote:I would love for Nukai to allow Ren sessions converted to 4k but I have a feeling that will never happen.

:lol: :lol: :lol: I feel the same.
Anyway, thanks for your punchy post. I think quite close. :smoker:
User avatar
By JAH Wed Mar 06, 2013 11:41 pm
labcoats wrote:Obviously my opinion means so much :twisted:


I wasn't expecting this.

I was expecting a long thread discussing latency, MIDI jitter, sync issues, etc.
By e9000k Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:24 am
Good Info there..

I should get the MPC studio any day, every time I sit down with the 4000 I think to myself. What would I do without you lol

Lets see if I feel the same about the Studio, positive news is that I can use the kits from 4000 on the Studio. That is a huge bonus.
By Barfunkel Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:45 am
labcoats wrote:One bit of advice to new users. Forget playing around with the included library when you first get the Ren. Get your own sounds in there and you will find your self whizzing around the machine much faster. I found the library to be erratic and distracting. kits with a tiny kik accompanied by massive inappropriate snare drum, and kits just seem made up in some kind of random way. Its not that the individual sounds are bad its how they have all been put together. But this is no biggie at all.


Is there a way to browse the drums in a non-kit way? Ie. could I write a beat, then choose the snare drum for example and quickly scan all the snares in the library, while the beat plays?
User avatar
By Coz Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:59 am
labcoats wrote:...playing around for 2 days



Yep... I've read plenty of people gush about the Ren after just buying it. Lets see what you think after a month. :wink:
By labcoats Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:28 pm
JAH wrote:
labcoats wrote:Obviously my opinion means so much :twisted:


I wasn't expecting this.

I was expecting a long thread discussing latency, MIDI jitter, sync issues, etc.


hehe,

Well Jah I hold my hand up and can say you were right. I have been very happy with the response time. I haven't used any look ahead plugins but it would be stupid of me to do so because no one can work around that.

Haven't tested any midi outs but and the truth is I wouldn't expect jitter free because again no manufacturer can guarantee that - even with dedicated hardware.
The Ren as a self contained unit is truly excellent. It is without any doubt the best controller out there. (N)Akai have certainly done their homework.
I always knew the Ren version was for me. Had to have the flip screen and the look. And its excellently built. I even love the little hand rest. Oh, and I also like the MPC60 emulation. Ive never owned a real MPC60 so dont know how it compares but regardless clicking that mode sounds pretty damn good.
By labcoats Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:31 pm
e9000k wrote:Good Info there..

I should get the MPC studio any day, every time I sit down with the 4000 I think to myself. What would I do without you lol

Lets see if I feel the same about the Studio, positive news is that I can use the kits from 4000 on the Studio. That is a huge bonus.


Only issues you will have is filter settings, perhaps some adsr, and some of the more esoteric 4k settings wont translate which can mean levels are louder/softer etc but its not a massive deal. You might also find the odd sound wont load. It gets 95% there. Not bad at all.
By labcoats Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:34 pm
Barfunkel wrote:
labcoats wrote:One bit of advice to new users. Forget playing around with the included library when you first get the Ren. Get your own sounds in there and you will find your self whizzing around the machine much faster. I found the library to be erratic and distracting. kits with a tiny kik accompanied by massive inappropriate snare drum, and kits just seem made up in some kind of random way. Its not that the individual sounds are bad its how they have all been put together. But this is no biggie at all.


Is there a way to browse the drums in a non-kit way? Ie. could I write a beat, then choose the snare drum for example and quickly scan all the snares in the library, while the beat plays?


yes, no problem at all. I'm just saying that instead of spending six hours messing around with the library (as I did) its best to get some of your own familiar stuff in there and that way you immediately start using the hardware instead of looking at the screen.
By labcoats Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:36 pm
Coz wrote:
labcoats wrote:...playing around for 2 days



Yep... I've read plenty of people gush about the Ren after just buying it. Lets see what you think after a month. :wink:


Gush :lol:

Coz, trust me on this one Im no fanbois when it comes to any gear. If I found the Ren to be crap I would have been saying so here without any hesitation. This is not buyers agenda or anything like that. For the price alone, the chance to go at it with Jah would have been worth it :twisted: . But I gotta tell the truth.
By labcoats Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:43 pm
I usually only test hardware timing clocks. In the case of the Ren the clock is sample accurate. Already tested that but I was in no doubt it would be anyway. That test was done within five minutes of switching it on.

Further down the line I will test midi outs to hardware for jitter. It will have some of course but such tests are totally random - depending on hardware, manufacturers midi response times. `Some hardware responds very fast to midi, others dont so any tests using actual hardware wont mean much

Some hardware is diabolical. I think the worst one I had was an MT32. If I tested that it would show massive jitter which wouldn't be the fault of the Ren. The thing I need to do there is convert a midi lead to an audio pulse type deal so I can just measure the Rens midi outs response time. I will get around to in time.

And you know what. it shouldn't be up to people like me to do this. Manufacturers should do this and publish the results in their specs.
By foge1 Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:55 pm
Yeah man
Sold my 4k to get a Ren as all the main controls were dying so was a natural time to cross grade .
Akai are well on the road to creating something I am happy with having switched from the 4k
I think one more decent update and I won't feel the need to look back anymore.
G