Option to use software on my laptop without REN connected?

I fly alot, in the car alot, and continually want to produce on my laptop..I don't like the feel of the mpc studio, a bit too toyish for me, and tbh, I program most of my beats with ren and daw.. (using a mouse)
So my question is can Akai please allow the software to work without my ren being connected? whats the purpose of restricted end users?

1 of numerous related threads:

viewtopic.php?f=36&t=161313&hilit=dongle

bobbybland wrote:whats the purpose of restricted end users?

only nukai knows...

Probably $ is the motive.

Once it works without the hardware, people will not pay for it, they will just use some sort of cracked copy.

At least while the hardware is a form of copy protection, they can make $ from it, and therefore hopefully have $ for possible ongoing development.

SimonInAustralia wrote:Probably $ is the motive.

Once it works without the hardware, people will not pay for it, they will just use some sort of cracked copy.

At least while the hardware is a form of copy protection, they can make $ from it, and therefore hopefully have $ for possible ongoing development.

Disagree. These same people that wouldn't pay for it after its cracked wouldn't pay for it now anyway. How many people using and relying on cracked Waves plugins would actually spend the $6000-8000 on a Waves bundle if it couldn't be cracked, for example ?

DJ Hellfire wrote:

SimonInAustralia wrote:Probably $ is the motive.

Once it works without the hardware, people will not pay for it, they will just use some sort of cracked copy.

At least while the hardware is a form of copy protection, they can make $ from it, and therefore hopefully have $ for possible ongoing development.

Disagree. These same people that wouldn't pay for it after its cracked wouldn't pay for it now anyway. How many people using and relying on cracked Waves plugins would actually spend the $6000-8000 on a Waves bundle if it couldn't be cracked, for example ?

Disagree.

I think that people that want the tight MPC/DAW integration, and loading of legacy MPC programs into that integrated software (when/if they get it sorted), are much more likely to pay $599 (or less) for an MPC Studio than $6000-8000 for Waves plugins.

Using a $6000-8000 plugin bundle to compare to a $599 MPC, not really sure that is a fair, valid, and realistic comparison.

I can see many legacy MPC owners paying for that functionality by buying a Ren or Studio, but not nearly as many once the software is cracked and available to steal for free.

Once it is cracked, can be used without the hardware, and can possibly be used with other MIDI controllers instead, I think the target market becomes a lot smaller.

Will be interesting to see the reaction of MPC software users if/when upgrades become paid, rather than free.


What is your theory on why there is no standalone MPC software available, without the controllers?

The software is not that good for anybody not having a Ren to be cracked (there are way more mature sampler softwares out there). The only people that wold beneffit from a cracked version right now, would be us the actual users, cos it would end up with the NO SOUND resctriction applyed to our payed software (which is ridiculous).
Just my thoughts

this one rolled round again, i feel like sunshine anderson

I have maschine on my computer.. I dont have the controller... but I have an mpd that works in tandem with the mouse and keyboard... essentially I can use it to make beats... but I never use it.. the only time I fire it up is to take a look at projects my friend made on it. (my copy is legit) .... basically, not having the controller makes using the software pointless... I might as well use **** battery 3 or some other thing cause the integration is pretty much the only thing those products have that make them worth using. (except for the purpose mentioned with exporting or doing work on the side where you can't bring the controller)

as mentioned... a cracked copy will be probably be downloaded for shits and giggles by people cause of the hype made about them... (just the way the demo probably is) but it will probably be most useful to people who already bought the product.


if anything, piracy would probably encourage people to go out and buy a ren controller cause of it sucking without it.

SimonInAustralia wrote:

DJ Hellfire wrote:

SimonInAustralia wrote:Probably $ is the motive.

Once it works without the hardware, people will not pay for it, they will just use some sort of cracked copy.

At least while the hardware is a form of copy protection, they can make $ from it, and therefore hopefully have $ for possible ongoing development.

Disagree. These same people that wouldn't pay for it after its cracked wouldn't pay for it now anyway. How many people using and relying on cracked Waves plugins would actually spend the $6000-8000 on a Waves bundle if it couldn't be cracked, for example ?

Disagree.

I think that people that want the tight MPC/DAW integration, and loading of legacy MPC programs into that integrated software (when/if they get it sorted), are much more likely to pay $599 (or less) for an MPC Studio than $6000-8000 for Waves plugins.

Using a $6000-8000 plugin bundle to compare to a $599 MPC, not really sure that is a fair, valid, and realistic comparison.

I can see many legacy MPC owners paying for that functionality by buying a Ren or Studio, but not nearly as many once the software is cracked and available to steal for free.

Once it is cracked, can be used without the hardware, and can possibly be used with other MIDI controllers instead, I think the target market becomes a lot smaller.

Will be interesting to see the reaction of MPC software users if/when upgrades become paid, rather than free.


What is your theory on why there is no standalone MPC software available, without the controllers?

I've said this over and over. No one wants to use this software without the hardware for making beats. It's no fun and the same goes for Maschine. There are much better standalone production programs out there than MPC that do not rely on dedicated hardware like MPC/maschine (like reason or fl to name a couple). And native instruments isn't having piracy issues with maschine. So there really is no need for this restriction. If a guy currently isn't willing to spend the money on the $600 piece of gear while its uncracked, they are not losing money from this person (or people like them) if the software gets cracked and they use it. They weren't gonna buy it anyway. That's why I used the waves as an example. The price is irrelevant.

My theory on why they don't sale the software without the hardware? No one wants it. I wouldn't buy it. I just want the software unlocked so I can play back my beats, of bounce them, or tweak them before sending out for collabs, etc, none of which I need the large hardware for. But when I want to actually create music, I want my hardware. The Mashine is great in this very aspect. As a legit buyer, there is no way my audio should be disabled because I don't plug in my hardware.

DJ Hellfire wrote:I've said this over and over. No one wants to use this software without the hardware for making beats.

Saying it over and over doesn't mean sh it to me.

I want to make beats on my legacy hardware MPC, load them into the MPC Software for the mixing advantages that the tight DAW integration offers.

I want it.

Currently, I have to pay $599 for an MPC Studio to get it.


I think that $599, or lower street price, is more likely to be within the budget of an MPC user, than $6000-8000 for a Waves plugin bundle. You are using the $6000-8000 price for drama, it is not a realistic example/comparison.

DJ Hellfire wrote:My theory on why they don't sale the software without the hardware? No one wants it. I wouldn't buy it. I just want the software unlocked so I can play back my beats, of bounce them, or tweak them before sending out for collabs, etc, none of which I need the large hardware for. But when I want to actually create music, I want my hardware.

I would like standalone MPC Software so that I could load my beats from hardware MPCs, and then play them back on a computer wherever I want, or bounce them, or tweak them before sending out for collabs, etc., none of which I need the Ren or Studio hardware for. But when I want to actually create music, I want my hardware MPC.

The exact same advantages that you want the standalone MPC software for, also apply to owners of legacy hardware MPCs, even more so because it would add the tight DAW integration that is lacking from the hardware MPC workflow.

You wouldn't buy it, because you already have it, that does not mean everyone thinks the same way.


No one but Akai knows anyway, we are all just guessing, maybe they will release a standalone version, maybe not, we will just have to wait and see.

I think there is no need to follow what NI does. For one, Maschine has only been on the market for a few years. MPCs have been around for 2 1/2 decades. MPC users far exceed the number of Maschine users.

I believe the software sold alone would be attractive for hardware MPCs users especially if it supports loading of legacy MPC programs, sounds, sequences, and songs.

Whether Akai intended the Ren/Studio to be dongles for copy protection or not.....I think a Ren crack would be more appealing than a Maschine one.

SimonInAustralia wrote:

DJ Hellfire wrote:I've said this over and over. No one wants to use this software without the hardware for making beats.

Saying it over and over doesn't mean sh it to me.

I want to make beats on my legacy hardware MPC, load them into the MPC Software for the mixing advantages that the tight DAW integration offers.

I want it.

Currently, I have to pay $599 for an MPC Studio to get it.


I think that $599, or lower street price, is more likely to be within the budget of an MPC user, than $6000-8000 for a Waves plugin bundle. You are using the $6000-8000 price for drama, it is not a realistic example/comparison.

DJ Hellfire wrote:My theory on why they don't sale the software without the hardware? No one wants it. I wouldn't buy it. I just want the software unlocked so I can play back my beats, of bounce them, or tweak them before sending out for collabs, etc, none of which I need the large hardware for. But when I want to actually create music, I want my hardware.

I would like standalone MPC Software so that I could load my beats from hardware MPCs, and then play them back on a computer wherever I want, or bounce them, or tweak them before sending out for collabs, etc., none of which I need the Ren or Studio hardware for. But when I want to actually create music, I want my hardware MPC.

The exact same advantages that you want the standalone MPC software for, also apply to owners of legacy hardware MPCs, even more so because it would add the tight DAW integration that is lacking from the hardware MPC workflow.

You wouldn't buy it, because you already have it, that does not mean everyone thinks the same way.


No one but Akai knows anyway, we are all just guessing, maybe they will release a standalone version, maybe not, we will just have to wait and see.

So you're saying you're a hardware user that just wants the software for mixing and is unwilling to spend the $599 to do so? So my point is that you are not a lost sale for akai if the software gets cracked and you use it, because you aren't buying it anyway at $599. I HIGHLY doubt anyone is buying $600 Studios or $1300 Rens just to use the software to load legacy shit.

Also, you cannot put MPC users in a "budget bracket". Sounds like you're implying that all MPC users are broke or low budget or something. My example of waves plugins doesnt apply to only MPC users. It applys to all software users. You're concentrating on the $6000-8000 price too much that you're missing the point. The point is that it doesn't matter if the software is $600 or $6000, a person unwilling to buy it from the manufacturer does not equal a lost sale if they use the cracked version. Shit, they might even end up buying it legit after using it cracked.

Lastly, if I didn't own a Ren, I would not buy the software only if it was available. I'd just continue to track my hardware MPC beats directly into pro tools to mix, or just buy an actual Ren, or just use maschine. The Ren will never play back your hardware mpc beats with complete accuracy unless you never use the built in filters or effects of your hardware MPC.

JAH wrote:I think there is no need to follow what NI does. For one, Maschine has only been on the market for a few years. MPCs have been around for 2 1/2 decades. MPC users far exceed the number of Maschine users.

I believe the software sold alone would be attractive for hardware MPCs users especially if it supports loading of legacy MPC programs, sounds, sequences, and songs.

Whether Akai intended the Ren/Studio to be dongles for copy protection or not.....I think a Ren crack would be more appealing than a Maschine one.

It does matter what NI does because for one NI isn't new to software. Only maschine is new, and that is only in comparison to MPCs. A person today currently shopping for a new drum machine will likely be debating between the Ren, studio, and maschine. So paying attention to each others key features is something both akai and NI should be doing to each other.

As far as a Ren crack being more appealing than a Maschine one, well, Maschine doesn't need one.

DJ Hellfire wrote:

JAH wrote:I think there is no need to follow what NI does. For one, Maschine has only been on the market for a few years. MPCs have been around for 2 1/2 decades. MPC users far exceed the number of Maschine users.

I believe the software sold alone would be attractive for hardware MPCs users especially if it supports loading of legacy MPC programs, sounds, sequences, and songs.

Whether Akai intended the Ren/Studio to be dongles for copy protection or not.....I think a Ren crack would be more appealing than a Maschine one.

It does matter what NI does because for one NI isn't new to software. Only maschine is new, and that is only in comparison to MPCs. A person today currently shopping for a new drum machine will likely be debating between the Ren, studio, and maschine. So paying attention to each others key features is something both akai and NI should be doing to each other.

As far as a Ren crack being more appealing than a Maschine one, well, Maschine doesn't need one.

I don't think Akai needs to use the same copy protection scheme as NI. I believe the majority of folks buying these products (that don't frequent these forums) are not looking at these schemes nor factor them into the equation.

Key features are a different story. While I think companies should keep an eye on their competition...they don't have to match them feature per feature. In the case of the Ren/Studio, how many features specific to Maschine has been included in the updates? I don't see very many if any.

As far as the 'crack' issue, I am only saying that if both products are readily available, there will be more individuals trying to acquire the Ren/Studio software than Maschine based upon the number of actual MPC users out there.