Stability of 1.5 is rock solid so far!

dryad-66 wrote:Good idea coming from the 4k???

It depends on how much use you get out of the 4K's sample engine? It's still way ahead of the Ren in several areas.

The more pertinent question is why would you go for the Ren over the new Maschine, especially as they are the same price? The list of significant reasons to buy the Ren over Maschine has literally dropped to zero overnight.

Akai have now got to be seen to be continuing development of the Ren, which is tough because their sales will drop through the floor from this point onwards. The only saving grace will be if they've put some development money to one side to try and gain some traction in the market. If development is entirely linked to sales, at this point I'd be wondering what state they're going to leave the Ren in when they are forced to abandon it.

3 years into development and they still can't get the browser to work right. It looks grim to be honest.

dryad-66 wrote:Ok Ok................i might have to try the ren for myself now.I mean actually buy it.Good idea coming from the 4k???

No.

Grab a MPC Studio (for the low, $350 or less) to **** around with, but I wouldn't buy a Ren if I had a 4k. I would go for the MASCHINE STUDIO.

Coz wrote:

dryad-66 wrote:Good idea coming from the 4k???

It depends on how much use you get out of the 4K's sample engine? It's still way ahead of the Ren in several areas.

The more pertinent question is why would you go for the Ren over the new Maschine, especially as they are the same price? The list of significant reasons to buy the Ren over Maschine has literally dropped to zero overnight.

Akai have now got to be seen to be continuing development of the Ren, which is tough because their sales will drop through the floor from this point onwards. The only saving grace will be if they've put some development money to one side to try and gain some traction in the market. If development is entirely linked to sales, at this point I'd be wondering what state they're going to leave the Ren in when they are forced to abandon it.

3 years into development and they still can't get the browser to work right. It looks grim to be honest.

The thing about this all is that it's not always about features. That's only a part of it. For me, a part that is nearly as equal as features is enjoyment of using the gear. As much as I love Maschine's features, the refinement of the software, and the overall output of what I create with it, I've never really actually loved using it. The Ren, IMO, is just much more enjoyable to actually use, even missing some of the better features and having annoying bugs. Everyone is caught up on strictly features this and features that and who kills who, when workflow preference and enjoyability are really the most important things in the end!

DJ Hellfire wrote:...workflow preference and enjoyability are really the most important things in the end!

I don't think NI could have done any more to enhance the workflow and enjoyability factor than with the Studio hardware and new software to be honest. I'm not overly hung up on features myself, but the Ren has no wow factor. It just looks twee in comparison.

I never really gelled with the old Maschine hardware, but IMO they've created the first real 'game changer' in controllers. I don't think the old Maschine workflow can be truly put up against the Ren until people get their hands on the Studio. I think it'll be a night and day improvement. We'll see...

DJ Hellfire wrote:The thing about this all is that it's not always about features. That's only a part of it. For me, a part that is nearly as equal as features is enjoyment of using the gear.

I have to agree with that...

Everyone has their preferences but I say they are all tools and if 20 years ago, I could make music with a Tascam 4 track cassette recorder, a radio shack mic, an Alesis AR16 drum machine, and a casio 'casiotone' keyboard, surely I can do it with any type or workstation keyboard of today and any pc multitrack software, even audaicty... but since I have changed gear over the years and tried different things, i go with what I enjoy. Some don't enjoy hardware mpc nor the newer software mpcs so i tell them, not to knock it just cause it's not their thing, but to find their thing and go make music.

Too many people want the one end all piece of gear that they can turn on and press the "Make HIT button".

I say, whatever you choose, turn it on, have some fun, and make your music, or even make your next hit, cause others are doing just that on MPCs, Machines, Korgs, Rolands, Kurzwiels, Live intruments, etc...

MPCTNT wrote:Too many people want the one end all piece of gear that they can turn on and press the "Make HIT button".

I don't encounter that at all. The people I know and speak to want good value for money and solid forward-thinking gear. Preferably from reliable and trusted manufacturers.

DJ Hellfire wrote: Everyone is caught up on strictly features this and features that and who kills who, when workflow preference and enjoyability are really the most important things in the end!

MaZe wrote:

dryad-66 wrote:Ok Ok................i might have to try the ren for myself now.I mean actually buy it.Good idea coming from the 4k???

No.

Its always funny to hear people talk about the 4k with highest regards now. I was one of the early adopters who bought it when it first came out, it was and still is a brilliant machine, but it was buggy as f**k.

EVERYBODY slated it, because it was a slightly more complicated beast then previous mpcs and because the inital os release state was SHITE..much much worse then the rens first os. Those who first bought the 4k, will know what im talking about.

Nowadays the 4k is seen as one of the best MPCs ever released after Akai continued to support it with updates to fix bugs and make it stable.. sounds familiar to the ren story....

To the guy (or gal) asking the question..its all about your workflow.
If i came to this forum before buying my ren, i prob wouldnt have bothered or i would have waited, but i bought it when it came out, and im really pleased with it.

To me, 1.5 makes it a good time to get a ren for those who have been holding out, especially if your used to the akai way of working.

I got rid of my 4k to get a maschine, and while Maschine is an amazing bit of kit, it has a way of doing things which isnt natural..for me!!

Maschine studio looks amazing, but when i've checked the specs closely...its still maschine, and has that Native Instruments workflow, of scenes, patterns, groups and sounds.

If you dont mind all that, go for it, but dont sell that 4k loool

Again, sticking with the topic.. 1.5 is a great release and i think if you like your current workflow and want it in a computer environment with plugins support, export option etc. you wont be disappointed at all!


Better still, try them both out at your local store.

Coz wrote:

MPCTNT wrote:Too many people want the one end all piece of gear that they can turn on and press the "Make HIT button".

I don't encounter that at all. The people I know and speak to want good value for money and solid forward-thinking gear. Preferably from reliable and trusted manufacturers.

True Coz. I am exaggerating of course. I speaking along the lines of some that speak as if the gear makes their music, better or worst, when it's more so that we all haev dif workflow and some equipment better appeals to differnt individuals.

I do music for the love of it and if I happen to sumble across a couple dollars here and there, thats' great!

fuzzy wrote:Nowadays the 4k is seen as one of the best MPCs ever released after Akai continued to support it with updates to fix bugs and make it stable.. sounds familiar to the ren story....

Lets hope the similarity ends there and doesn't culminate in Akai going down the pan... again.

DJ Hellfire wrote:

Coz wrote:

dryad-66 wrote:Good idea coming from the 4k???

It depends on how much use you get out of the 4K's sample engine? It's still way ahead of the Ren in several areas.

The more pertinent question is why would you go for the Ren over the new Maschine, especially as they are the same price? The list of significant reasons to buy the Ren over Maschine has literally dropped to zero overnight.

Akai have now got to be seen to be continuing development of the Ren, which is tough because their sales will drop through the floor from this point onwards. The only saving grace will be if they've put some development money to one side to try and gain some traction in the market. If development is entirely linked to sales, at this point I'd be wondering what state they're going to leave the Ren in when they are forced to abandon it.

3 years into development and they still can't get the browser to work right. It looks grim to be honest.

The thing about this all is that it's not always about features. That's only a part of it. For me, a part that is nearly as equal as features is enjoyment of using the gear. As much as I love Maschine's features, the refinement of the software, and the overall output of what I create with it, I've never really actually loved using it. The Ren, IMO, is just much more enjoyable to actually use, even missing some of the better features and having annoying bugs. Everyone is caught up on strictly features this and features that and who kills who, when workflow preference and enjoyability are really the most important things in the end!

Very well stated! It's a lot like the automotive industry when they come out with the new models each fall. We're wowed by all the glitzy, glamorous new features but the 5 year old model that we have is broken in, drives fine and we know where everything is AND is fun to drive AND is paid for:)

coolderb wrote:Very well stated! It's a lot like the automotive industry when they come out with the new models each fall. We're wowed by all the glitzy, glamorous new features but the 5 year old model that we have is broken in, drives fine and we know where everything is AND is fun to drive AND is paid for:)

Nailed it. And this is the reason why I won't be buying anything Ren/Studio/Maschine/etc. because I am perfectly happy with my "stone age" setup.

And also, my advice above about 4K vs. Ren is not really only about the 4K vs. Ren but more about what you have now vs. what you don't. Are you happy with what you have now? If so, do not pass go. Are you not happy with what you have now? If so, why not? Will this new piece of gear fill your void of unhappiness? Are you sure it will? Are you REALLY sure? I see most people complain about tracking and that's why they want a Maschine/Ren instead of a hardware box. If you have a 4K, grab the ADAT expansion. That part really couldn't be any easier. I think a lot of people will be surprised at how LITTLE they actually use all of the things that a computer based system will afford them. I think at first you are like "man, I'm going to use 10,000 instances of Kontakt, and Massive, and Scarbee, oh and Trillian, and, 10,000 saturators, and bit grungers, and etc., etc., etc." and then you realize that you are using your new shiny and expensive Maschine/Ren to do the EXACT same thing you were doing on your MPC 60 and the music isn't any better or more fun to create.

MaZe wrote:because I am perfectly happy with my "stone age" setup.

Why are you selling half of it then?!

Sorry, I couldn't resist after noticing your sig.

THANX FOR THE REPLY S AND NO I WONT BE SELLING THE 4K BUT DO NEED SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL AS A CENTRE PIECE TO RELOCATE FOR THE WINTER WITH.I WANT SOMETHING STABLE,MUSICAL AND ABOVE ALL FUN AND NOT STATIC AND DEAD.SOMETHING THAT WILL GIVE ME THE HW FEEL AND CONTROL BUT MAYBE ITB.GLAD TO HEAR THINGS ARE STABILIZING AND THE UNDO/REDODO BUTTON NOW WORKS "]