Good bye, and good luck.

Well fellas, (and what few ladies) this is where we as fellow MPC Renaissance users part ways. It has defiantly been a roller coaster ride. I picked up the ren last year 11/15/2012. Then the Studio a couple weeks later. Sold the studio 6 months ago because I was not as mobile as the prior years. And it was not a problem since I didn't like the control of the studio. It's all jumbled. The rotary dials are a pain to scroll threw. It does look fantastic though!
Well honestly I really love the Ren. Super fun. And many new possibilities. Yes these are the good sides to this piece of gear. We all know the bad. No need to elaborate.
My line has been drawn with this maverick driver fiasco. Between the thread I started about driver issues and the EiE thread I commented on, my email account is packed daily. Insane amount of negative comments of users demanding the resolution. Well. Two nights ago it dawned on me that this will be a ongoing battle.

What I think most of us want is a solid instrument. And being tethered to the computer will not really bring that, in the long run. Check out what I mean. Let's look at this like the ren is solid as can possibly be. All issues fixed and all user wishes applied. This is great! But we need to step back and look at the big picture. This is a instrument made by the corporate industrial machine we call the music industry. And the only thing those people running these machines care for are your pocket books. Not your talent or magic.

I use the GREAT MIGHTY apple products. Joyfully I add. Can't stand PC any longer. But these bastards care nothing of my interests either. So all the money a spend building my system using their products will for some reason not work 5 years down the road. They just won't make drives for them. Like the PS4 won't play PS3 games. .
(I don't own a PS4) these type of marketing schemes are rediculas.

My point for us is to look at the standalone beauties of our past. All the keyboards and drum machines many of us still use. Gracefully. In 5 years my computer will not support the instrument tethered to it. It will be treated like the larger tube computer monitors. And I paid 1344.09 for my Ren. So before I loose any more time or money it's time to say good bye. Thanks to all the heads on here that help. Lots of great people in this forum. And I'll see some of you still.... When I pick up what I have wanted for years and should have got b4 the ren.

MPC 4000 here I come. And I will have it for another 25 years. And my kid will build on it. I fell for the treat on a rope held by the monetary monkey on my back.

So I will never buy another instrument tethered to the computer. Good luck to the rest of you it has been fun. Keep banging out beats.

Peace,
pK1
The Ivoryviking

I understand why people say their Ren/Studio will not work with their computer 5 yrs down the road. I took that into consideration before I made the leap to the Studio.

I came to the conclusion that my setup will still work cause if I need to, i will continue using my working setup and not upgrade my current laptop beyond an OS where no drivers exist.

Will I get new computing technology? Of course.... but just like the old MPC60 works today, my MPC Studio and my current Windows 8 or Windows 9 or so will work, even if I am not using Windows 13 with it...

Oh and Sony with PS3 & 4 games, we all know its only software that doesn't allow compatibility. I am guessing in 12-18 months they will do update that will allow ps3 games on ps4

Who's to assume drivers will not be created, even if not immediately? Even with new versions of Rens and such coming, it would be wise to create a small residual income by providing upgraded software to previous hardware users. I think N.I. charging existing users 'too soon' for the 2.0.. (It's def not been 5 yrs for a large number that purchased the previous machine hardware) but that's another story. if people are willing to pay there will always be people willing to sell

Back on topic: GL and We will see you in 4k forum. Definitely a solid pierce of gear

I am by no means trying to make this NI vs. Akai. That's another thing altogether, and after a point a dead horse anyway. But Maschine is nearing the 5 year mark next year and even the oldest units are supported by 2.0 so there are ways to keep the life going.

Fully understand your personal takes pk1, and aside from a little hoop jumping to run AkSys the 4k is as good now as it was 12 years ago. It is pound for pound the champion MPC. If I sell mine to move I would just get another, hell I want a backup one now.

But we'll see with Maschine 2,0/Studio model out now how Akai reacts over the next two years, and perhaps the Ren line long term gets on the same steady ground NI is on. No reason they can't, just respect the legacy more as far as user wants, and be willing to bleed a little more development money if Akai is serious long term. Honestly they don't need to spend much on marketing. The "Shawty Red" style dough they spread around accomplished zilch.

At least they have people that know beatmaking consulting right now. Def Jef told me last week he's working with Akai. He knows his stuff coming from the true school golden age of hip hop.

Obviously NI has now accelerated when a MK II Ren will be designed and released so this tale is far from over. But totally understand you want to be sorted in the present pk1.

Good luck!

pk1, do you not like seeing your musics and having vst access?

While I love the MPC software. The MPC 4K blows it out the water. Not even in the same league.

godlike wrote:pk1, do you not like seeing your musics and having vst access?

You seem to have trouble believing anyone could think negatively of the MPC Software and controllers, just because you think it is perfect for you.

SimonInAustralia wrote:

godlike wrote:pk1, do you not like seeing your musics and having vst access?

You seem to have trouble believing anyone could think negatively of the MPC Software and controllers, just because you think it is perfect for you.

This is not true Simonin, I am merely asking why he fails to enjoy the machine. Perhaps he does not like a unit with the full capabilities and integration of all needs like MPC Ren/Studio.

Some may like to have numerous pieces of hardware in their set-ups. If so, Ren is not for them.

Ren is more for those who like touch one good piece.

....why he fails to enjoy the machine.

interesting wording.

Lampdog wrote:Actually Ren is for whoever wants it.

Maybe if Akai starts giving them away.

Ren is more for those who like touch one good piece.

Technically, two. as you still need a PC to use it

Best of luck. i'll leave you with a quote from Edison i think you'll find appropriate.....

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”

i find with equipment we are all on the search for a perfect setup, but along the way we find many ways we don't want it to be like.

Peace

...for me one of the big advances of working with mpcs over the years was and will always be the fact, that you DON'T arrange your music that much with your EYES.....

if it comes to vst's and looking at your music, any daw is your best friend......

and a company that was always famous for stand alone hardware, but never for their sofware skills, will never compete successfully with a long time major software company that also found out years ago, selling hardware is a good idea......

there is no battle....and there never will be....that race was lost years ago when a software company took the best ideas of an oldschool never died concept and pushed it to new limits.....
no chance to catch up again, ever.....

it's like nokia vs apple.....

and the oldest rule of all......what your gear was doing fine yesterday, will be fine tomorrow.....
best tools are always the tools you really know.....
worklflow is a state of mind.....and so is hardware....stand alone....but never left alone...

The fact that the 4k can take years too really get to grips with (yeah im still learning new ways to make it sing and theres many more ahead if i keep at it)and it needs no outside computer help,it really is future proof.Good choice if the ren is failing you imo.I just think the ren just needs a whole computer just to run it in conjunction with a daw.When you get a system that works just stick with it and make music.But its only going to go down in value.Use it for what it is-a giant plugin/controller "]

Sorry OP but the thread just go boring again....