Renaissance discussion 1 year later

I packed up my Renaissance last week and listed it on eBay. I'm more than satisfied with sticking with my 2500 with OSXL at this time.

DJ A-Sharp wrote:
I'm like Jah at this point. Nobody better say nothing bad about THE MPC REN.

LOL

The thing that strikes me is that you don't really see a lot of these posts. Posts that show loyalty. Posts where the user is really in love with their new machine. Posts displaying cool new tips and tricks. It just seems like these new PC-based controllers don't inspire the sense of gear lust, satisfaction or wonder that other past MPCs have. Every post about buying one is approached with trepidation and warnings to get it as cheap as possible. That, to me, is a sign that these new PC-based controllers simply aren't that much fun to use.

JAH wrote:There have always been tons of MPCs on the second hand market. These products are massed produced in the thousands. Seeing several dozen show up on the second hand market is typical. Even the prices of hardware MPCs are still dropping. Likewise, look up the number of Maschine units on eBay. There are plenty of MK1 and MK2 units on the second hand

Maschine retains its second hand value, mk1 is about half the price of what it was when it came out yrs ago. Used Mk2 maybe 100 cheaper. Ren already is getting discounted at retail and half the price for second hand units. Wonder if demand and pricing has anything to do with it

Prices of hardware MPCs are irrelevant as hardware MPCs are discontinued

I think that some people have the mindset like the early Jordan commercials. Remember, "its the shoes, it got to be the shoes". What they are really trying to buy is talent. They expect the box to do it all and they just come along to collect the checks. Just looking at the Ren, you can see it was designed to envoke nostalgia. Its trying to get the old akai fans to buy it along with the new kids on the block. The marketing department did a good job. However, I think reasearch and development was lagging behind. The expectations from old heads was missed and for newbies it may have been too much. It seems like they have worked out some of the bugs.

My issue is I want to like this alot. I would rather work "in the box." Nevertheless, Im cheap, lol. Is the Ren worth the cost? I think it all depends on what you are doing. Im still trying to decide but its growing on me.

dccarson wrote:I think that some people have the mindset like the early Jordan commercials. Remember, "its the shoes, it got to be the shoes". What they are really trying to buy is talent. They expect the box to do it all

Stop cr*p talking! We just want the damned thing to work as it should!!!!

dccarson wrote:I think that some people have the mindset like the early Jordan commercials. Remember, "its the shoes, it got to be the shoes". What they are really trying to buy is talent.

I said SOME people, not all or most.

Your post sounded like an excuse for Nukai´s mismanagement. Look what Bitwig did. They´re still beta testing! Why? Because these guys are pros. They have a reputation to lose. Ask Roger Linn about Jack O´Donnell´s reputation.

EDIT: Linn lost his one a bit, too, after releasing an unfinished OS for the Tempest. This I admit is true.

plovdiver wrote: They have a reputation to lose. Ask Roger Linn about Jack O´Donnell´s reputation.

good point.

one year later. how does the rep hold?

that should say something. not at all everything, but something substantial anyway.....


is akai's reputation better or more favorable now or one year ago?

has this new product line helped or hindered their reputation UP TO THIS POINT?

@plovdriver and others. let me ask you this. Do you think that Akai knew when they released the Ren it had most of the issues? Just think about it for a minute. You have a multi-million dollar business with empolyees who have degrees out the you know what. THEN, you have it tested by some industry pros. YET, it isnt until it gets into the hands of many basement studio users they realize something is really wrong? not a chance. It wasnt mismanagement, it was brand management. They knew no matter what they would have a ton of people buy it and they could build as they go. Its done all the time in business. They know they have a loyal following so they can release these type of products that are unfinished and know people will buy. Not to mention if they realase a product with everything perfect, they will shorten a products life cycle which in turn decreases return on investment.

The Ren was released to get something out there ASAP. I call it the short game. The long game is a chess match with NI. Im sure they will win it in the end. As a consumer I accept some of the corporate strategic games they play. BUT, Im not going to give anybody my money unless you can prove its worth every cent. Hype means nothing. Potential means nothing (the graveyard is full of it). What I want is a solid product to fit my needs now and years to come. It seems like is there, I just want to make sure. I am not hating on this product at all. I just wish I could get some hands on time with one.

dccarson wrote:let me ask you this. Do you think that Akai knew when they released the Ren it had most of the issues?

my best guess is that the devs lied to o´donnell. the irony here is that he probably didn´t know what was coming imho. goodliffe knew, peteblues knew, xparis001 knew. out of consideration that they didn´t. why? easy. the software was ported over from the 5k. os2 is still buggy, some people even downgraded. there was a video where dan talked about the ren´s 4 midi out jacks. he said something like that: ”you can use your fantom, motif or kronos” in conjunction with the ren. at this stage he definitely knew that midi beat clock wasn´t implemented. he *should* have said: “well, if you wanna sync the ren with the onboard sequencer of your workstation or your drum machine, make sure you choose mtc. unfortunately midi beat clock isn´t available at this point in time.” guess what: my three circuit bent ry30´s do not have mtc. only one year later i´m finally able to run them together...WHO DO THEY THINK I AM?! even the damned 500 had midi clock in the first place! to sum it up, sure, the dev team had a lot of reasons not be plain with potential customers, but given the history of nukai failures i´d consider this behaviour light-minded, to put it mildly.

As of 1.4, MIDI Clock and MTC Master and Slace sync have been implemented. The Ren shipped with it being a MIDI Clock and MTC Master like hardware MPCs. If you wanted to sync it as a Slave, you had to use it as a plugin.

The capabilities were always there just not exactly how some users wanted. This is the case with all music production products especially new products.

It is weird to see a bunch of posts talking about Nukai failures when the MPC line is still the standard for sampling drum machine workstations. MPC 2500? Loving it right? When I picked up the MPC 2500 in 2005, half of this forum was hating on it..the same was true with each subsequent MPC release. But the fact is (at least my not so humble opinion)....there are no products on the market that can match the MPC line. MPCs have gotten better/more powerful software-wise. They are more affordable than ever. If there was a produt on the market better, many of you wouldn't be here commenting on this subject but rather using the product you find more superior. But you feel yourselves drawn in every single day...strangely curious to what use Ren/Studio users are excited about. Perplexing isn't it?

We all know there are alternatives. Visit the dedicated forum for these alternatives and you will find similar posts.....such as complaints and feature requests for functions many believe should have been there from the start. This is typical of these geek/nerd forums. Just like the trolling that is going on now from a bunch of guys who have yet to actually use these new MPCs.

So slow your roll. Enjoy the MPC Ren/Studio beat threads...and/or get back to work using your favorite new toy.

For Ren/Studio users/loyalists....there is something big on the horizon as far as continued development and support. Stay tuned.....

And thank you both for another entertaining emptysea VS JAH ,
I mean plovdiver VS JAH post.....

peace

JAH. I tried to be civil here. However, you keep adding little insults to your post that aren't called for. So people aren't allowed to have opinions? You have to like the Ren or else your some troll? How in the h*ll is that beneficial to this conversation or even this forum as a whole? It's not. Rather than coming off as a loyalist, it's more in line with an elitist mindset. Im not going to put down $1000 just to "see" if I like it. That isn't wise and unwise to even suggest it. Lets just disagree and get this back on topic.

You are eluding to something new coming out. Well I can't wait to see it. If it turns out to be all that, then I was smart to wait. I look forward to seeing what's next for the ren.

If you are not a troll, there is nothing I wrote that should be taken as an insult.

Shoulda seen this coming!