Need help upgrading!!! Is MPC Ren the way to go?

So ive been making beats as a hobby for just over a year now and im deciding to fully upgrade my setup.

For the past year ive been using an MPC1000, and Axiom 25, and an old crappy pc with no monitors.

Ive looked at other controllers and no others have convinced me as of yet, the maschine looks like a fine piece of hardware but im so used to the workflow of the 1000 Ild rather prefer sticking to an mpc. So....the Ren has got me really interested due to the whole software integration thing which I think would greatly help my workflow, but im a bit hesitant to buy it due to all the bugs and crashing ive heard people complain about while doing my research on it. I dont want to spend almost 1400 on a piece of equipment thats going to be doing that....is it still worth getting, have these problems been fixed, etc???

Second I got rid of my old mac and am looking to buy a new computer....has to be a laptop only because I need something portable in regards to things besides beatmaking. The most logical thing to do for me was buy the latest macbook pro....any thoughts on this?? Recommendations on other laptops?

Lastly, ive been wanting to invest on some monitors as well as a synthesizer so im thinking of picking up some KRK RP8's as well as a Novation Mininova...any thoughts/recommendations??


Thanks for all the help guys....and btw keeping the 1000 isnt an option anymore as its been sold

ILLM47IK wrote:So....the Ren has got me really interested due to the whole software integration thing which I think would greatly help my workflow, but im a bit hesitant to buy it due to all the bugs and crashing ive heard people complain about while doing my research on it. I dont want to spend almost 1400 on a piece of equipment thats going to be doing that....is it still worth getting, have these problems been fixed, etc???

viewtopic.php?f=36&t=163817

That is 18 pages regarding bugs.

You want someone to tell you it's all ok now, or that 1.4 will solve all the issues?

Sounds like you have some money to spend right now, I wouldn't buy a Ren today, even if I found $5000 in the street. You like the MPC workflow, well the Ren hasn't quite got it yet. It has enough to make you believe its an MPC, but when you scratch below the surface, it's a software program not dissimilar to a few others. Not as capable as a DAW like Logic Pro. Apple Vs Akai is a no contest.

If I were you I'd consider the MPC2500 with JJOS or the Beast from the East, the MPC4000. Either of these in conjuction with a capable DAW/audio interface provides the most flexible, stable and powerful MPC based workflow - without the headaches the early adopters have been forced to endure these past 9 months.

Me, I said give the Ren 12 months to mature when it first came out, now I'm thinking it will take at least 18-24 months . Standalone mode appears to be useable for most people, but if you're gonna use the Ren in standalone mode, you may as well stick with hardware and use plug-ins via your DAW.

Real talk.

in one sentence... no, ren is NOT the way to go.

The Ren is not yet a DAW and not yet an MPC.