Long time MPC User. First Day with the Ren. Thoughts.

First, I would like to preface this post by saying that I am in NO WAY an Akai hater. If it wasn't for my OG 2XL (which I sold, and shouldn't have), I would have never learned how to make music. If it wasn't for my 3000, I wouldn't have what I consider to be my prized possession. It if wasn't for my 4000, I wouldn't be back into making music now. If it wasn't for my s5000/s6000, well you get the point. And although I haven't been on this forum in YEARS, you can tell by my join date, that I've been around a while.

Now, coming from a hardware based background, I felt that it was time to get with the times, plus, I no longer have the hardware nor the space that I used to have and I have amassed a collection of some good VSTs. I started this quest by purchasing an MPD32 and Logic. In hindsight, that was actually a pretty solid setup but I didn't like the linear nature of Logic's (any DAW really) sequencer. I took the MPD back. I then recently purchased the Maschine and while I think it is a phenomenal piece of gear, I really could not work with their scene/pattern/song arranger setup. I guess I am used to the Akai sequencer method. I am taking the Maschine back.

All of this leads me up to last night/today. I got the Renaissance in and I spent the entire night with it, of course. Now, while I was able to accomplish several of the core tasks that you should/expect to do with an MPC, there is a just a TON missing. Simple things at that, things that make you wonder how in the world we are up to 1.3 and still don't have, i.e. Step Edit (or just the general ability to know where your notes are on the grid). So it all boils down to this, if you have had an MPC before, or currently have one, you know that as it stands right now, the Renaissance does not come close to any MPC hardware, at all. It's really not in the same league. If you have never owned an MPC before and the Ren is your first, I will tell you that you are being cheated out of a complete music making experience. Grab a hardware MPC and you will see why in minutes.

Now with all of this being said, I do see the great potential in the Ren. It is a well made product. It has the workflow that I love and it is very comfortable. I SINCERELY hope that the Ren achieves its true potential. Unfortunately, as of now, for me personally, the Ren is not in a state that I could use it to do what I'd like to do, what Akai taught me how to do in the first place.

So, for now at least, I will be going back to my beloved 4000 with the hope that Akai can (sometime soon) elevate the Ren into the pantheon of Akai MPC greatness.

Just my thoughts.

....amen.

It's very much worth pointing out that all the classic MPCs and samplers you mention were created by the original Akai - Numark/InMusic bought out the original Akai when it went under many years ago, so the actual company you loved is long gone, I don't believe anyone involved in the original Akai are still employed by the current Akai.

I can tell you haven't been on the forum for years (welcome back BTW), because this type of topic is always guaranteed to turn into a bloodbath by the time we reach page 2, so please don't get offended if we have to eventually lock it

MPC-Tutor wrote:It's very much worth pointing out that all the classic MPCs and samplers you mention were created by the original Akai - Numark/InMusic bought out the original Akai when it went under many years ago, so the actual company you loved is long gone, I don't believe anyone involved in the original Akai are still employed by the current Akai.

I can tell you haven't been on the forum for years (welcome back BTW), because this type of topic is always guaranteed to turn into a bloodbath by the time we reach page 2, so please don't get offended if we have to eventually lock it

My apologies then! And, thanks for having me back!

MaZe wrote:

MPC-Tutor wrote:It's very much worth pointing out that all the classic MPCs and samplers you mention were created by the original Akai - Numark/InMusic bought out the original Akai when it went under many years ago, so the actual company you loved is long gone, I don't believe anyone involved in the original Akai are still employed by the current Akai.

I can tell you haven't been on the forum for years (welcome back BTW), because this type of topic is always guaranteed to turn into a bloodbath by the time we reach page 2, so please don't get offended if we have to eventually lock it

My apologies then! And, thanks for having me back!

If you are happy to stick with the Ren, I believe it will eventually get most of the features you want - the developers are a hard working bunch, and they are listening to the feature requests from the MPC community, but it will take time.

But I definitely do understand the frustration over the missing features, the step edit thing left me speechless.

MaZe wrote:Now, coming from a hardware based background, I felt that it was time to get with the times

The times are moving back to hardware. Akai just float in the general direction of the wind after the storm has passed unfortunately, so they don't realise this.

If Native Instruments dropped a standalone or hardware accelerated Maschine it'd spice things up.

Wal Martian wrote:I've had similar experiences with maschine. It's just not the same as hardware for so many reasons. Little things that are so logical on the classic MPCs are left out of these new midi controllers. Even the clocking/timing/swing is not quite the same.

The Maschine is a phenomenal piece of gear, as I said in the OP. But like you said, coming from an MPC background, I couldn't really work within their arrangement system. And trust me, I tried for weeks. I feel that both the Maschine and Ren are probably great pieces for first time music makers. Those that really haven't developed a workflow or a true sense of that they really want to/and can expect to get out of their equipment. For these users, they can develop their own workflow and thought process within the confines of the unit. Whenever I've used an MPC, especially the beast that is the 4000, I never felt that there were ANY confines and this is why I feel that both pieces, the Machine and Ren, are cheating people (not maliciously) from a complete music making experience as they are both missing basic music making tools (the Maschine doesn't have step edit either) that many longtime beatmakers would expect to have. I have no doubt that you could make great music on both units, which I guess is the point. But, I personally don't see how longtime MPC users can really use either unit the way they would expect to coming from an MPC hardware unit, and that's my point.

Coz wrote:

MaZe wrote:Now, coming from a hardware based background, I felt that it was time to get with the times

The times are moving back to hardware. Akai just float in the general direction of the wind after the storm has passed unfortunately, so they don't realise this.

If Native Instruments dropped a standalone or hardware accelerated Maschine it'd spice things up.

I agree, there will always be a healthy market for standalone units, but I suspect the software/controller model will also stay strong. Definitely doesn't need to be an 'either-or' situation though - but I think the stumbling block is that most manufacturers see the software/controller model to be more lucrative in terms profit margins and resources.

Yeah Maze, I just picked up an MPC4000. I'm a Ren owner but the Ren just isn't ready to do what it's suppose to do and that's just the simple things.

monogee wrote:Yeah Maze, I just picked up an MPC4000. I'm a Ren owner but the Ren just isn't ready to do what it's suppose to do and that's just the simple things.

The 4000 makes my heart skip a beat. You will NOT be disappointed. I beg of you to put the time and care into the unit. It will pay you back with love. I do want to try out an MPC 1000 with JJOSXL though. I'm envisioning a mini/stripped down/but still robust 4000.

Anyway, back to the topic.

The step edit thing is bizarre.
Somebody had to make the conscious decision to leave it out which makes you wonder if Akai even knows how people use their products...

That being said, I enjoy the Ren overall. I come from a background of the 1000 and 5000 though so I can understand your point of view having worked with the classic Akai products for so many years.

Peace

J.O.BEATS wrote:The step edit thing is bizarre.
Somebody had to make the conscious decision to leave it out which makes you wonder if Akai even knows how people use their products...

That being said, I enjoy the Ren overall. I come from a background of the 1000 and 5000 though so I can understand your point of view having worked with the classic Akai products for so many years.

Peace

I personally have not used the 1000 of 5000, though I'd like to. But having used them yourself, I am sure that you can see that the Ren is nowhere near either of those pieces right now.

And I am sure that the Ren is VERY enjoyable. I personally didn't get into the enjoyment part of it yet as when I first got it I was looking to do things on it that just aren't available at the moment.

MPC-Tutor wrote:but I think the stumbling block is that most manufacturers see the software/controller model to be more lucrative in terms profit margins and resources.

I'd love to see the numbers. There's only a handful of products out there that rely on a hardware/software combination. The cheap midi controllers don't really count because they often only require a driver to work.

I know Native Instruments have got large teams of coders working around the clock on Maschine, which can't be cheap. What separates NI from Akai is a vast ecosystem of software products and sound libraries that all work seamlessly with Maschine as a front end. If NI introduced an 'MPC Sequencing Mode' (and they should) it'd be a dagger to the heart of Akai.

I think what will eventually happen is companies like Korg will drum up a 'real' sampler renaissance, and drop something cheap with character. If they can make an analogue poly for £120 then anything is possible.

well this has got all the elements and the M word has been mentioned all we need is
mr emptysea back