Can I use a Ren without looking at the computer screen?

I got a MPC5000 and really have the MPC workflow down. Its fast and its effective.

If I get a Ren, can I keep my head down on the MPC and its screen without grabbing a mouse and looking over at a computer screen? I can't tell from the manual how many standard MPC features are completely covered on the 'hardware'.

B

I had great workflow with the 5000 too.

With the ren I find myself always using the PC to scroll through various projects, name things and I don't think you can manipulate VST's without the PC.

LivePsy wrote:I got a MPC5000 and really have the MPC workflow down. Its fast and its effective.

If I get a Ren, can I keep my head down on the MPC and its screen without grabbing a mouse and looking over at a computer screen? I can't tell from the manual how many standard MPC features are completely covered on the 'hardware'.

B

No.

The MPC software is probably 1 major update away from that. Simple things like naming from the hardware are not possible yet.

what maze said

the ability to change edit zones from hardware is a big improvement in terms of not using the computer screen.

i def find myself using the mouse less and less

es-k wrote:what maze said

the ability to change edit zones from hardware is a big improvement in terms of not using the computer screen.

i def find myself using the mouse less and less

Agreed. The software is not nearly as reliant on the computer screen as it was an update or 2 a go but it is still about 1 update away from having to almost not look at the screen at all. I can't wait for that update.

Thanks for your replies, I gotta think about this. Having all formats of samples ready without any transferring was selling me on the idea.

B

I don't get it. The whole point of the Ren and Studio was to BE ABLE to use a computer with an MPC. Not to not use a computer with an MPC. If you don't want to use the computer, then you should probably stick with the 5000, honestly. If you don't like using a computer, I don't see what possibly the Ren can do for you that the 5000 can't other than quickly get your beats onto the computer or a daw, which requires the use of a computer!

DJ Hellfire wrote:I don't get it. The whole point of the Ren and Studio was to BE ABLE to use a computer with an MPC. Not to not use a computer with an MPC. If you don't want to use the computer, then you should probably stick with the 5000, honestly. If you don't like using a computer, I don't see what possibly the Ren can do for you that the 5000 can't other than quickly get your beats onto the computer or a daw, which requires the use of a computer!

I have to agree... If your hardware is working and that is your workflow, stick with it. Don't change to something New and mess up your workflow because it doesn't do everything like the platform you already know and are productive on.

I am noticing that I am one of the 'few' old MPC heads that loves the speed of doing things with the mouse and keyboard on a huge screen

What works for me may not work for you and visa versa. I sold my 5K when 1.6 came out...

i agree and many things i DEF prefer over doing on hardware .. browsing files, naming tracks, picking vsts, etc...

BUT

all creative things - i'd rather do from a controller, not with a mouse.

and the "edit zones" without a mouse is a big part of workflow/creativity for ME .. having to look up and grab the mouse just to click one little box every time was annoying. i got used to it tho.

mouse and keyboard is only faster for me when it comes to "non-creative" elements of the process

oh yea i llike editing midi with the mouse too .. note placement sometimes, etc.. so thats semi creative

still tho the bottom line is they advertised it in a way that led you to believe you could "pretend computer wasnt even there!"

DJ Hellfire wrote:I don't get it. The whole point of the Ren and Studio was to BE ABLE to use a computer with an MPC. Not to not use a computer with an MPC. If you don't want to use the computer, then you should probably stick with the 5000, honestly.

I think it's more about having that option when you need it - so sometimes you might want to go 'full legacy style' and work solely in the hardware, while others you want to use the computer interface as that might suit the current task (.e.g. more accurate sample editing)

It's also about the power and features the computer can give your 'standalone' MPC - i.e. more processing power, more memory, more storage, infinite effects via vsts, etc etc. There is a hard limit to what can be added or handled by an MPC5000, but less so if you have a computer remotely dealing with all that.

DJ Hellfire wrote:I don't get it. The whole point of the Ren and Studio was to BE ABLE to use a computer with an MPC. Not to not use a computer with an MPC. If you don't want to use the computer, then you should probably stick with the 5000, honestly. If you don't like using a computer, I don't see what possibly the Ren can do for you that the 5000 can't other than quickly get your beats onto the computer or a daw, which requires the use of a computer!

Sounds like you are misunderstanding the original question and everyone's responses. There is a difference between "using" a computer and "looking" at a computer. The OP said "looking" at a comouter. In today's day and age you have to undetstand that a computer is an extremely useful and powerful part of the music making process. That does not mean though, that you "have" to "look" at one especially for the creative/creative workflow parts like es-k said. And like Tutor said, the draw of the Ren, at least initially and still for me though we arent quite there yet, is having an MPC backed by the almost infinite power of a computer without having it get in the way.

ESK, Tutor, and MAZE broke it down and that I do understand. You want the power of the attached PC but many time do not want to have to look up and also feel attached to it, while working...

I'm not missunderstanding anything. It just makes no sense to me. I just think a lot of people go overboard about having to use a mouse for some little things. It's just not that big of a deal in most cases when you actually compare how much more effecient certain functions are with a mouse than they are with a cursor and data wheel. I personally don't think anyone needs a Ren if they don't want to do the things that computers give you the advantage to do. Hardware MPC's are plenty capable as far as the actual music making goes. You only need so much RAM. How many samples are you really gonna load?

Bottom line, if you wanna use VST's and extra harddrives and ifinite storage and processing power, you're gonna have to glance at a computer screen at one point or the other. I think there's way bigger shit to worry about than whether or not you have to take a peak a the huge monitor that displays 50x more information than the little 2.5" screen that only displays two colors! Especially given how much control over the software the Ren actually has.

My main point here is that sure, there are some things that are annoying because they are accessed only in the software. But is that enough to really NOT buy the thing given all the other advantages it comes with? C'mon son!

@ Hellfire:

I don't think anyone mentioned one shouldn't buy the Ren because of those small things you can't do from the hardware. And since 1.7 there are way less things that annoyed me. BUT you have to consider this before buying the Ren. And if it annoys you in a way that it stops your creative workflow, then maybe all the other advantages of the computer are not enough to buy it. Of course everyone has to decide for himself.

acura wrote:@ Hellfire:

I don't think anyone mentioned one shouldn't buy the Ren because of those small things you can't do from the hardware. And since 1.7 there are way less things that annoyed me. BUT you have to consider this before buying the Ren. And if it annoys you in a way that it stops your creative workflow, then maybe all the other advantages of the computer are not enough to buy it. Of course everyone has to decide for himself.

Well I'm referring to the fact that the OG poster is taking into consideration for his buying decision wheter or not he can not look at the screen or grab the mouse. "If I get a Ren, can I keep my head down on the MPC and its screen without grabbing a mouse and looking over at a computer screen?"

So to me it sounds like if we answer no, then he probably wouldn't buy the Ren, which I think is a bit strange, even without 1.7. He can just keep his 5000 and still do many of the same things the Ren can do without touching a mouse. If he does get a Ren, so what if you have to look a the screen a few times or move the mouse once or twice. I think people make this shit a much bigger deal than it actually is. I think in many cases, dudes are just holding on to the whole "nostalgia" of doing everything from the hardware, even though workflow wise, some of these things actually are not more efficient from the hardware or do not actually have any negative effect on creativity.