The New Maschine Studio: NI just BODIED the Renaissance.....

Looks like a nice toy

Wow, they came correct.

From a business standpoint, NI probably just lapped Akai by about 3-5 years. While Akai is scrambling to get basic stability and basic options in their software, NI just demolished them from a hardware standpoint and the NI software has been light years ahead of the MPC software for years now. I feel sorry for Ren/Studio users because in order for the Ren/Studio to evolve and improve, it needs to be purchased. Retailers can't give Ren/Studios away and used prices plummet daily (they will plummet even FURTHER now). This new Maschine is going to steal what little market share the Ren/Studio had and leave Akai with very little to work with.

Also, the decision for NI to drop this now is very smart because with the holidays and holiday deals around the corner, I am sure you will see this on many Christmas lists. The only thing that Akai has that can rival this, is the Element and that's only because of the pricepoint and the fact that it says MPC on it. If you are looking for something in the $1000 range, this is a no brainer.

Oh, and I hate the Maschine sequencer and do not like computer beatmaking.

Wow, its pretty large. Meter on the panel is definitely the star feature for me as well as the dual color screens. NI did very good here.

Ren looks so beat thang right now.

Akai was teasing everybody like they were the last glass of water
In the desert. They had you all anxious for updates and better workflow but they were just f**king with your emotions as well as production. Now that NI came out, they wanna play like better business and finally listen to what we really wanted.

Akai is washed up.

all AKAI had to do was hire more programmers and get the software right from the start... it's all downhill for them now, and they never even got it stable in the first place. NI already had them beat with the software stability and now they just released the better controller as well.

at this point the wisest thing AKAI could do is make a stable software program which is compatible with all hardware MPCs to facilitate importing/exporting/mastering beats from any older model of MPC. of course they'll never do it, but if they gave a fvck about what any of their longtime customers actually wanted and could use, then they should do it.

but we'll probably just see AKAI release a cheezy ren upgrade with a color LCD screen or something like that instead...

Yep, certainly makes the Ren look like seriously ancient tech (which it is). Those hi res, full colour LCD displays just completely shame the dot matrix MPC displays. It's like having two mini computer screens.

Marketing is a different class as well.

I assume this means Akai will be furiously designing the Ren Mk 2. Anyone remember people insisting that the Ren hardware was to be a 'constant' while only the software needed to be updated? 12 months later, it now seems inconceivable that Akai will stick with the current Ren hardware for much longer.

Still, let's see what it's like under the hood. But I'm definitely getting one. Any confirmation on UK/EU pricing?

EDIT: just noticed 999 EUR/$999. That EU price is harsh compared to the US price, even with VAT added. So probably looking at £850 UK, that's nearly twice the current price of Mk 2.

soundtech wrote:Looks like a nice toy

I hope that was meant as a joke.

As I have sad before, Akai went with a small screen when the 4k/5k proved the value of a larger screen.
It was the reason I couldn't vibe with the Ren, just too many things force you to go the mouse/screen route.

NI did a better job of hardware without the mouse/screen and with the new display on the Studio the visuals truly get you away from the computer.

If Akai was getting real feedback instead of fanboys trying to make a name for themselves they would have never given the Ren a screen that limits the hardware so dramatically.

Unfortunately they are at a point where they have to decide how much more mileage than can get out of the current design compared to starting over now with a better design.

Maybe Akai should give Open Labs a call and they can compare notes on how to kill a company with product designs and pricing.

Don't get me wrong this isn't wishing hardship on a company but bad choices are bad choices.
With all that Akai has riding on the Ren/Studio they have got to make better choices.
So much for that false 1.5 hype that was floating around.

How is this an audio interface? All I see is MIDI and Footswitch on the back.

There is just WAY too much for Akai to keep up with here. They would have to:

1) Get their software stable
2) Get their software to the level that NI's is
3) Completely redesign their software as the new 2.0 Maschine software looks amazing
4) Come out with a completely new hardware piece
5) Probably much more that we can't see right now

That would take years and a ton of money. They basically almost have to do something else. And, maybe that's why they dropped the Element (in addition to getting rid of their Fly stock). They won't be able to compete with this for a long while and by the time they catch up, NI will pass them again.

Ill-Green wrote:How is this an audio interface? All I see is MIDI and Footswitch on the back.

I don't think it has an audio interface, I think it was a mistake in the Sweetwater catalogue.

MaZe wrote:There is just WAY too much for Akai to keep up with here. They would have to:

1) Get their software stable
2) Get their software to the level that NI's is
3) Completely redesign their software as the new 2.0 Maschine software looks amazing
4) Come out with a completely new hardware piece
5) Probably much more that we can't see right now

That would take years and a ton of money. They basically almost have to do something else. And, maybe that's why they dropped the Element (in addition to getting rid of their Fly stock). They won't be able to compete with this for a long while and by the time they catch up, NI will pass them again.

I hate to say it but this sounds about accurate. I never bought any of the new Mpc's so it doesn't concern me either way but for the homey's that did it's tough, my only hope is that Akai don't throw in the towel on the Ren and Studio at this point.

Upright wrote:

MaZe wrote:There is just WAY too much for Akai to keep up with here. They would have to:

1) Get their software stable
2) Get their software to the level that NI's is
3) Completely redesign their software as the new 2.0 Maschine software looks amazing
4) Come out with a completely new hardware piece
5) Probably much more that we can't see right now

That would take years and a ton of money. They basically almost have to do something else. And, maybe that's why they dropped the Element (in addition to getting rid of their Fly stock). They won't be able to compete with this for a long while and by the time they catch up, NI will pass them again.

I hate to say it but this sounds about accurate. I never bought any of the new Mpc's so it doesn't concern me either way but for the homey's that did it's tough, my only hope is that Akai don't throw in the towel on the Ren and Studio at this point.

I bought both the Mashine MK2 and Ren, and promptly returned both because neither was for me, so I'm speaking objectively here. I have no horse in the race and I am perfectly happy with my setup. I am speaking from a business perspective. This is a HUGE shot.