What's taking so long with updates?

I read these posts and quickly realize that most here apparently have never used a hardware MPC ipon its initial release. The Ren's software has received more updates in a shorter period of time than any new hardware MPC. August/September will mark the 1 year anniversary of the Ren and we (Ren/Studio users) are about to receive the 4th update (not including 1.3.1).

As far as beta testing....can't comment much. But it has been expanded to include a few 'MPC Experts' in this very forum. I assume they are busy making music and testing as I don't see many forum posts from them lately.

As for what somebody said about threads about 1.4 getting locked...
I agree, they shouldn't be locked. Why not let ppl talk? There'll always be more and more of those threads, and then they'll get locked, and it's kind of pointless.

They've also served as pretty OK general-büllshít-talk-cathin' threads, which you'll eventually need on every forum.

I also can't help thinking, that in this day and age, it wouldn't be too hard to have a thread where the dev(s) could drop an update (verbally) every now and then, for as you can see, everybody's curious about what's going on.
I don't mean they should be using their precious time on constantly reading and updating the thread and addressing all the questions etc., but maybe say something every now and let ppl know it's coming, etc...you know it'd calm some ppl down and eliminate some of the "OMG I PAID 1,000+ DOLLARS AND AKAI ISNT DOING ANYTHING FOR MY MONEY" type of stuff.
That'd be fairly easy to do, and also very interesting. It'd establish some sort of interaction between the company and its users.
For a good example of this, see the Gearslutz forum and their DMGaudio threads: Dave, the main man, has been interacting constantly, telling ppl how things are looking, and people love him and support the company – for a very good reason.

JAH wrote:I read these posts and quickly realize that most here apparently have never used a hardware MPC ipon its initial release. The Ren's software has received more updates in a shorter period of time than any new hardware MPC.

Quality over quantity...your flawed analogy that ren received most updates in shortest amount of time than any previous mpc mean absolutely nothing. Mpc 5000 received least amount of updates, does that that make it feature rich, most stable, bug free mpc

JAH wrote:The Ren's software has received more updates in a shorter period of time than any new hardware MPC.

gee. i wonder why?


it may take some dynamic brain exercise to figure that one out.


are you up to it JAH?

Fanu wrote:As for what somebody said about threads about 1.4 getting locked...
I agree, they shouldn't be locked. Why not let ppl talk? There'll always be more and more of those threads, and then they'll get locked, and it's kind of pointless.

Come on man, we let people talk, and when it degrades to trolling and sniping we try to clean up the topic, but if they carry on, it gets locked down. We let people vent and we let discussion breathe, but it's not a total free-for-all and we need to have some limits on these things. It's worked perfectly well for over 10 years. I truly believe we have a good moderation balance here on the forum and I'm not about to change that. The problem IMO is down to some users not taking any responsibility for the way they act when they are here.

As for the 1.4 topics specifically, I completely disagree. There is absolutely no need for a dozen concurrent topics essentially talking about the exact same thing. We need to maintain some structure to keep the forum easy to read and contribute to.

They've also served as pretty OK general-büllshít-talk-cathin' threads, which you'll eventually need on every forum.

For general BS talk, we have a dedicated off topic forum. The 'technical' forums are primarily for technical issues and general help on that specific MPC. But clearly we also have general chitter chatter about the Ren as well. Scanning through the first few pages of the Ren forum, I see plenty of those topics. But as I said, it's not a complete free-for-all, we need to maintain a good balance and draw a line when things go too far.

I also can't help thinking, that in this day and age, it wouldn't be too hard to have a thread where the dev(s) could drop an update (verbally) every now and then, for as you can see, everybody's curious about what's going on.

Not hard at all, and if Akai were up for it, I'd set that up today. I've always wanted a sticky Q&A topic or sub forum for Akai to officially participate in.

fobedafied wrote:

JAH wrote:The Ren's software has received more updates in a shorter period of time than any new hardware MPC.

gee. i wonder why?


it may take some dynamic brain exercise to figure that one out.


are you up to it JAH?

That's easy. It's the best supported MPC to date. For one....each update included bug fixes and new features submitted by MPC users. Akai, regardless of ownership, have never been known to add new features or significant improvements to existing functions.

In the past, there was an update/upgrade so the MPC 60 has same/similar capabilities of the MPC 3000. Instead of improving the OS of the MPC 2000....Akai simply released the MPC 2000XL. The MPC 1000 received OS 2.0 which was a dumbed down version of 1.0 of the 2500....when internally, both products are the same. The MPC 4000 didn't even work with OS 1.0 and needed several updates just so that it could actually be used. And you can still read the rants about OS 1.7 in this forum...just long forgotten. MPC 5000 and 500? I don't believe I need to say anymore.

post chicanery detected.

I see a lot of tweets from Pete about moving offices & stuff.
I guess that's also adding to the release date.

alexbuga wrote:I see a lot of tweets from Pete about moving offices & stuff.
I guess that's also adding to the release date.

Sure. Anyway, the delay refers to several parameters. A huge work, really, as it has been already said, and may be not a lot of people coding, specially if Pete is the only one by now, and do several things at the same time, as it seems. However when we look at the credits for the first or second MPC software releases, we see several people. But i don't know. Anyway, it is a very huge task.... Requirements increase with the frequency of updates. More updates, even more confident, and more restlessness and impatience : good vibes. Less updates, more insults, neglect of products, less confident and less customers. Death.

i didn't read any post really but here is my opinion. First would every one stop please stop making sublinal fishing post about 1.4 hoping someone would send you some info on the new update release.

Second Akai is terrible on communication. Dan is so busy trying to keep customers instead of lose customers they keep trying to dangle updates over customers head to prevent them from jumping ship. I really don't think you have to do that and akai needs to stop because that is tacky!! Just release an update if you are going to release it. no heads up if it's coming or not just come out the blue and release it. that way you won't customers in anticipation of an update.

Me in particular i don't even check because i know i will get an email stating an update has been released then i will download it and keep it moving. That's just my take on it. have a great evening

It's the only supported MPC out right now.

JAH wrote:

fobedafied wrote:

JAH wrote:The Ren's software has received more updates in a shorter period of time than any new hardware MPC.

gee. i wonder why?


it may take some dynamic brain exercise to figure that one out.


are you up to it JAH?

That's easy. It's the best supported MPC to date. For one....each update included bug fixes and new features submitted by MPC users. Akai, regardless of ownership, have never been known to add new features or significant improvements to existing functions.

In the past, there was an update/upgrade so the MPC 60 has same/similar capabilities of the MPC 3000. Instead of improving the OS of the MPC 2000....Akai simply released the MPC 2000XL. The MPC 1000 received OS 2.0 which was a dumbed down version of 1.0 of the 2500....when internally, both products are the same. The MPC 4000 didn't even work with OS 1.0 and needed several updates just so that it could actually be used. And you can still read the rants about OS 1.7 in this forum...just long forgotten. MPC 5000 and 500? I don't believe I need to say anymore.

True as far as software updates from Akai which are traditionally no more than 2 years. Hopefully the Ren will continue to evolve. And if Akai uses the same business model as other software companies....paid updates my be a reality and necessary such as Live, Reason, etc. (Everyone knows Reaper and FL Studio are among products that break this mold).

JAH wrote:I read these posts and quickly realize that most here apparently have never used a hardware MPC ipon its initial release. The Ren's software has received more updates in a shorter period of time than any new hardware MPC.

True, but you can't compare the two different technologies. The original MPCs are more like firmware which has a smaller code footprint and needed less maintenance. The REN is pure software which requires more maintenance and attention to details. The updates should be more frequent cause now we're dealing with a Operating System Architecture(s), Hardware Platform (s), and 3rd party software. The game has changed for AKAI when they launched the MPC REN and can't not be played like the previous game. They will lose lots of money if they don't step up their game and I sure head will roll if they do. They need to get the guillotine ready if you ask me!

rougenavarre wrote:

alexbuga wrote:I see a lot of tweets from Pete about moving offices & stuff.
I guess that's also adding to the release date.

Sure. Anyway, the delay refers to several parameters. A huge work, really, as it has been already said, and may be not a lot of people coding, specially if Pete is the only one by now, and do several things at the same time, as it seems. However when we look at the credits for the first or second MPC software releases, we see several people. But i don't know. Anyway, it is a very huge task.... Requirements increase with the frequency of updates. More updates, even more confident, and more restlessness and impatience : good vibes. Less updates, more insults, neglect of products, less confident and less customers. Death.

I don't know why we as consumers are sugar coating this. Akai needs to go full in with this investment before it flops. There should of been a MPC Ren team or more like a dedicated company go in at this software since Day One. There simply isn't any excuses for this debauchery.

In the past, there was an update/upgrade so the MPC 60 has same/similar capabilities of the MPC 3000. Instead of improving the OS of the MPC 2000....Akai simply released the MPC 2000XL. The MPC 1000 received OS 2.0 which was a dumbed down version of 1.0 of the 2500....when internally, both products are the same. The MPC 4000 didn't even work with OS 1.0 and needed several updates just so that it could actually be used. And you can still read the rants about OS 1.7 in this forum...just long forgotten. MPC 5000 and 500? I don't believe I need to say anymore.

Nice history lesson, but with all due respect....no one cares about the previous MPCs update history. That was then with that equipment and this is now with this equipment. Technology has evolved since then. Someone in AKAI is slipping and needs to fix their business model. Heads should roll.