Feature Request: MPC Ren MKII controller

crossings wrote:

JAH wrote:So why are you commenting in a thread I created?

because i stumble upon threads by using the NEW POSTS button...

GodDevilWhatever wrote:JAH, your obsession with Akai has made it so people are starting to scrutinize Akai themselves. Maybe your intention is being so annoying that everybody starts hating Akai. Some Native Instruments double agent type ****. And can you please go away for a little while? You've been posting here for like 5 years straight.

Well...I should warn you that if you use the NEW POSTS button, you will find me in many (if not all) the MPC Ren threads. To avoid anything I write, you may want to use the foe function.

Nobody that has a brain would scrutinize Akai because I have a positive outlook on the MPC Ren. Last time I checked, this is the MPC Ren forum. Based upon forum rules, I have as much right as you to post here. Perhaps you should go away if you are annoyed. Your absence will not negatively impact this forum. In fact..it would benefit the forum as there will be much less negativity here.

you little sissy

my completely unofficial thoughts, just because I happened to run across this:

1. do people really want a color screen? it would cost a whole lot of money for not much return. i mean blue sky, sure, but meh.

2. if thunderbolt can get stable enough, this would be a cool addition.

3. does anyone use wordclock anymore? or rather would they, if the controller is already integrated into the computer in question and therefore is sample-accurate?

4. so lose the RCA? and turntable pre?

5. interesting...

JAH wrote:Being the gearslutz that I am...and feature requests/suggestions is what I do...here is my idea for MPC Ren MKII controller:

1. Larger, Color LCD screen
2. Thunderbolt and Firewire options
3. Word clock I/O
4. Two Mic Inputs + 2 TRS 1/4" analog inputs
5. Two 1/4" headphone outputs

Other than that....I can't think of any improvements to make to the hardware.

Yes...I am bored.

xparis001 wrote:my completely unofficial thoughts, just because I happened to run across this:

1. do people really want a color screen? it would cost a whole lot of money for not much return. i mean blue sky, sure, but meh.

2. if thunderbolt can get stable enough, this would be a cool addition.

3. does anyone use wordclock anymore? or rather would they, if the controller is already integrated into the computer in question and therefore is sample-accurate?

4. so lose the RCA? and turntable pre?

5. interesting...

JAH wrote:Being the gearslutz that I am...and feature requests/suggestions is what I do...here is my idea for MPC Ren MKII controller:

1. Larger, Color LCD screen
2. Thunderbolt and Firewire options
3. Word clock I/O
4. Two Mic Inputs + 2 TRS 1/4" analog inputs
5. Two 1/4" headphone outputs

Other than that....I can't think of any improvements to make to the hardware.

Yes...I am bored.

Just me and some of my grand (and not so grand) ideas....for a future MPC Ren interface to accompany the possibilities of a future fullblown MPC DAW.

1. Larger, color LCDs just look nice but not needed. The Fantom G is just gorgeous.

2. The claims of how Thunderbolt surpasses Firewire and USB has my mouth watering

3. I added workclock In/Out as the MPC Ren has an audio interface. Several manufacturers of audio interfaces (RME, UA, Focusrite, Motu, Avid/M Audio, Apogee, Mackie, etc) still include work clock on their products for those that require it.

4. We can't have it all? If I had to choose, I would stick with the turntable pre amp. I honestly like the I/O capabilities of the MPC 4000/5000.

5. I would take two 1/4" phone outputs over one 1/4" and one 1/8". This is just preference noting that several popular studio headphones have 1/8" plugs with 1/4" adapters.

When I was bored 18 months ago talking color LCDs.....

xparis001 wrote:1. do people really want a color screen? it would cost a whole lot of money for not much return. i mean blue sky, sure, but meh.

Considering the way people are drooling over Maschine Studio, I believe people perhaps don't just want a colour screen, they want two of them

it's not so much the screens themselves as much as the way you can see how they integrate into the maschine software's workflow to avoid really even having to look at the computer screen or use a mouse... something the ren & studio seem light years away from accomplishing.

i don't think anyone really cares how either machine LOOKS so much as how it WORKS. putting a color screen and additional audio ins/outs on the ren won't solve the issues users have with it at all... but AKAI is supposedly listening to everything their customers say.... so they already know this.

but of course jah thinks he invented color LCD screens along with the ren now...

I just wish that people understood that these dumb@ss request is why Akai keeps making mistakes they listen without comprehension.
So they would throw a colored screen in but not give it anymore integration than the current screen.

When you look at Maschine you see that it has a somewhat awkward layout then you realize it's based on the layout of the software.
The Studio seems to have taken that even further and this is what Akai has got to do.
Hear what the people want but put some focus into implementation.
would also help if Akai understood the difference between people who are trying to make the Ren more function compared to those working toward bragging rights.

I still say and will continue to say that the screens on the 4k, 5k and even the JJ re-arrangement is more functional than the Ren.
You can't get pass having to mouse around on the Ren.

This is what crossings is saying and I totally agree with him.

The screen on the Ren should have NEVER been as small as they chose to make it.
Akai wanted to keep the old MPC layout without seeing the flaw of doing such.

Dumb@ss requests aside.....

Hardware integration with the software....has always been among my top requests. Anything that is available in the software should be controlled from the hardware.

A colored screen relates directly to this to an extent. This is why I would have preferred a larger and colored screen. When done properly, it is more appealing and easy on the eyes. Take for instance Chop Mode. There is a huge difference between what you see on the hardware and software. I can barely make out slices on the hardware.

I actually prefer the way it is done on older MPCs like the 2000XL where the currently selected slice (zone/region) is inverted in color. And only the selected slice is displayed on the LCD. Having multiple slices displayed on a screen without color doesn't look to great.

On a side note, Maschine is not able to do all things from it's controller. Additionally, there are things you would think you would be able to do with the software which isn't possible...like using your mouse to click in the waveform to add slice markers.

JAH wrote:Additionally, there are things you would think you would be able to do with the software which isn't possible...like using your mouse to click in the waveform to add slice markers.

You don't buy a controller to then have to click around with a mouse. It defeats the object.

if akai listened to everyones suggestions the ren would turn out like this



just take the good ideas akai

Coz wrote:

JAH wrote:Additionally, there are things you would think you would be able to do with the software which isn't possible...like using your mouse to click in the waveform to add slice markers.

You don't buy a controller to then have to click around with a mouse. It defeats the object.

"...While...'legacy-MPC' mentality works incredibly well for many operations, there are some situations where it simply makes more sense to head over to your computer and take advantage of the benefits the computer environmentc an offer." MPC-Tutor

In the case of the MPC Ren and the MPC Software, you can split regions to create slices from the controller. But you can also click on the waveform displayed on your computer monitor to insert slices as you would in Recycle. This is amazingly fast and efficient as opposed to trying to do the same with the hardware. Maschine does the same thing with the exception you don't have the option of adding slices with a mouse.

JAH wrote:Maschine does the same thing with the exception you don't have the option of adding slices with a mouse.

The waveform display on the Ren hardware is awful, so it's a bonus for Ren users that you can chop with the mouse.

It shouldn't be an issue with the Maschine Studio's 2 big screens.

I only have three words for this request. . .

Standalone hardware, standalone hardware, and standalone hardware.

Get it into your heads!

Sheesh

Coz wrote:

JAH wrote:Maschine does the same thing with the exception you don't have the option of adding slices with a mouse.

The waveform display on the Ren hardware is awful, so it's a bonus for Ren users that you can chop with the mouse.

It shouldn't be an issue with the Maschine Studio's 2 big screens.

I agree. The waveform display on the Ren as well as Maschine isn't great.

It is not a bonus that you can slice with a mouse. That is an essential part of all software sample editors. Maschine is the only software sampler I can think of that you can't edit with your mouse.