The Official MPC Element Thread

JAH wrote:Maschine has been out for 5 years now and is still missing several functions the Ren and hardware MPCs have. Visit the NI Forum and you will be greeted with several threads pointing this out.

How's this relevant to this thread?

I'm a former maschine user...and that is not my point so don't be smartass...and don't go around treating people as stupid I'm not a child( I'm a PhD), so you won't be messing with me and retorics ! please try to not ever answer me in this manner or I'm going to be in the anti Jah league...so sometimes you should STFU and don't try to pull the conversation to your interest....

A two month long sales pitch is not what this forum needs for a 100 quid controller.

m:t:c wrote:

JAH wrote:Maschine has been out for 5 years now and is still missing several functions the Ren and hardware MPCs have. Visit the NI Forum and you will be greeted with several threads pointing this out.

How's this relevant to this thread?

Forum member made a comment that after 1 year, the Ren/Studio doesn't have a function that Maschine has. When Maschine has been out for 5 years and still doesn't have functions MPCs (including the Ren/Studio) have had for 25 years.

I know very well what the thread topic is. And multiple forum members have added caveats that have nothing to do with the thread topic.

Or should I say...to hell with this product...Akai is trying to pull an okeydoke. That would probably pass without scrutinization.

By the way...I tried the plugin. MPC Software users will be satisfied IMO once they try it.

InspectahEX wrote:I know exactly who this product is for, its for that guy who listens to your/any beats and he's like "awww man I bet I could do that too, I want to make beats! I bet I could make beats"

You know they arent serious about music production, they have little money to spend, but they are super eager to start making music. You know they will never get deep inbto making music but you are a decent friend and be like hey, if your low on money you can buy this mpc element thing. In reality dudes like this will never go on to make music seriously and might buy something like an mpc element to mess around to see if they like making music on an mpc.

Other then that I would say its for anyone who wants a more mobile setup.... but really who wants a stripped down version of a software where the full version isnt even completely above par with features yet to begin with, now you have a stripped down version. For the friend I mentioned above, you might as well suggest him a maschine or studio in my opinion. Also this thing is still chained to your computer, its not standalone. If you want a decent mobile setup your going to have to throw in a mini midi keyboard at least also so any way I see it, this product is for pure amatuers or pure pros who own a Ren and also want a more mobile solution. Either way I'm a little irritated they are wasting their time with kiddie toys instead of their flagship mpc.

What would of been dope is if that element mpc was a standalone hardware mpc, still same size, it looks about the size of an iPad, and the cover that closes on it was actually an lcd screen

Or...it could just be somebody who does mostly everything in a DAW and is in the market for a new pad controller and wants to add a little MPC workflow to his rig?? For little coin, at that...

If they would have added 8 tracks so the software could function standalone with the controller...they would have really had something here...But I am sure they want to play it ultra safe as to not undercut their own flagship product and the Studio.

JAH wrote:
By the way...I tried the plugin. MPC Software users will be satisfied IMO once they try it.

Glad to hear this. Jah can the software be ran alone without the midi controller? You mention you tried the software, I'm assuming it's unlike the REN whereas the controller acts as the dongle.

Hobbs wrote:

InspectahEX wrote:I know exactly who this product is for, its for that guy who listens to your/any beats and he's like "awww man I bet I could do that too, I want to make beats! I bet I could make beats"

You know they arent serious about music production, they have little money to spend, but they are super eager to start making music. You know they will never get deep inbto making music but you are a decent friend and be like hey, if your low on money you can buy this mpc element thing. In reality dudes like this will never go on to make music seriously and might buy something like an mpc element to mess around to see if they like making music on an mpc.

Other then that I would say its for anyone who wants a more mobile setup.... but really who wants a stripped down version of a software where the full version isnt even completely above par with features yet to begin with, now you have a stripped down version. For the friend I mentioned above, you might as well suggest him a maschine or studio in my opinion. Also this thing is still chained to your computer, its not standalone. If you want a decent mobile setup your going to have to throw in a mini midi keyboard at least also so any way I see it, this product is for pure amatuers or pure pros who own a Ren and also want a more mobile solution. Either way I'm a little irritated they are wasting their time with kiddie toys instead of their flagship mpc.

What would of been dope is if that element mpc was a standalone hardware mpc, still same size, it looks about the size of an iPad, and the cover that closes on it was actually an lcd screen

Or...it could just be somebody who does mostly everything in a DAW and is in the market for a new pad controller and wants to add a little MPC workflow to his rig?? For little coin, at that...

If they would have added 8 tracks so the software could function standalone with the controller...they would have really had something here...But I am sure they want to play it ultra safe as to not undercut their own flagship product and the Studio.

Yeh exactly, I'm a REN user, have owned every mpc since the 2000, and am still gonna buy this, oh and I run my own studio, make music everyday, love it, and wouldn't change it for the world.

Just because certain beatmakers are used to standalone mpc workflows, this is perfect for my daw! I don't find working with REN in standalone intuitive at all, I like the idea to create and bang out vocals quickly.. rens editing is nowhere near what my daw offers too.. this product just makes it better for daw users, n I love that!

Akai hasn't released any details whether the Essentials software can be used without a controller. So I will assume a controller needs to be attached to your computer...and if this is not the case then icing on the cake for those that wanted this.

JAH wrote:Akai hasn't released any details whether the Essentials software can be used without a controller. So I will assume a controller needs to be attached to your computer...and if this is not the case then icing on the cake for those that wanted this.

This would be huge without a doubt....

Can it be opened? I think this is very important. Many MPD owners did mods to their pads because of sensitivity issues. The new MPC line suffers from the same pad issues as the MPK. If the controller has a fixed construction....it's going to be a major buzzkill

I've only seen the software not the hardware. Pad issues in new MPC line? I have zero complaints about the Ren's pads nor the Studio's.

It leaves a lot to be desired even with the sensitivity set at 16, IMO

I personally feel the Ren's pads are the best feeling, most sensitive pads of any MPC. I keep the default pad settings...never felt a need to adjust them.

bobbybland wrote:Just because certain beatmakers are used to standalone mpc workflows, this is perfect for my daw! I don't find working with REN in standalone intuitive at all, I like the idea to create and bang out vocals quickly.. rens editing is nowhere near what my daw offers too.. this product just makes it better for daw users, n I love that!

Agreed bobby. I also prefer a Ren/DAW workflow. And while all this of rhetoric/ hype/ hate...whatever, about the Element is all well and good, it is still a $150 "booby prize" as a replacement for the multi-timbral and controller mode functionality that should have been included in the $1,300 Ren from the beginning.

So basically...in 1-2 years when the Ren/Studio has been upgraded numerous times over...you will be discussing what you believe it should have had in the beginning?

It's been said here on this forum numerous times that each and every product should be judged based on what it does right NOW. Don't buy into "we'll add/fix that in the future". That's the road to a certain disappointment.