considering going from maschine studio to ren

Hey guys. I recently switched my sequencing to a Maschine Studio, and I find the workflow retarded, but Kontakt has become pretty essential. I've been doing some reading and studying of the alternative, and have a few questions.

Can you browse presets from the mpc hardware? For instance, could I call up the Spring kit preset in Abbey Roads or the Crunchy preset (nki) from Scarbee Bass packs or whatever (I can't think of the name off the top of my head).

Can you change midi note assignments on the pads and save them? For instance, on the 4k, I made a program for IMAP midi settings how I liked them, saved them, and could recall that setting when I needed.

Generally speaking, how is the integration with Kontakt? On Maschine, Multis may as well not exist, which always seemed like shooting themselves in the foot. Are the midi knobs assigned for 3rd party libraries, or do you have to set them up by hand?


AND!!! How much can you run the mpc without looking at the software, really? MAchine talked about this all day long, and it's garbage. In your use, if you don't want to look at the computer, do you have to?

And the other really big question is this -

The other thing I use Maschine for is to take the 16 i/o from my vs2480 and mix through maschine, applying effects and whatever in real time. Can this be done in the mpc software? Could I have 4 or 5 inputs going, create the fx chains I want on the inputs and then output back into the vs2480, for instance?

havent used maschine..but i want too cuz i like the little screens it has. and it looks cool
but i got mpc ren and cant afford maschine
anyways with that being said
ive been working on using mpc a lone and not have to look at lappy. and it works pretty damn well

What issues were you coming across with the monitor less workflow?

You can download the mpc software for Akai's website, that won't help you with hardware specific questions but can point you in the right direction.

Yes, download and run the software. Tells you more than forum posts ever could. While I was sceptical on usb controller/software vs hardware, the software is damn fast and appears to be solid. Running the demo made me like the Ren a lot. But try it yourself.

manji wrote:Can you change midi note assignments on the pads and save them? For instance, on the 4k, I made a program for IMAP midi settings how I liked them, saved them, and could recall that setting when I needed.

You can save a Program, load that into a text editor, edit the default MIDI note number assignment, save it, and load that each time you want to use a non-default pad-note number assignment.

no you can't scroll threw abbeys Kontact presets. but it works great with the Ren i use it allot.

{this tool did a few good things around here. he just couldn't keep his trap shut.}
anyway he showed this:
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=169007&p=1605600&hilit=massive+presets#p1605600

haven't tried it with kontakt but now that you brought it back up and reminded me of this ill take a look at it too.

you will still need to grab the mouse for a few small things.
mine: naming tracks or programs. deleting samples. using the new X plorer.
i don't use mouse much. I'm sure there a re few more. just not remembering.

you will build fx chains in a few different places if you like. you can put em on pads {sounds} or on the whole program. there is a send strip you could work {4 slots}
and a master channel to effect.

For me Maschine sequence is garbage. just building tracks is like playing tetris on that thing. there are many really cool options on maschine. that make it a great instrument. i really dig native instruments gear. i also have Traktor, most of there controllers, and Kontakt Complete. love there stuff. dislike the way they tried to bite the mpc. but really glad they did. made nukai step up. if you can afford it grab it. you can sell either one that doesn't suit you.

goood luck

I had Maschine mkII and returned it. Bought the Ren after watching painful cries of beta users subside to a low whine.

Can you browse presets from the mpc hardware?

No. (I think this is a big deal)

Can you change midi note assignments on the pads and save them?

Yes. As a Midi, Keygroup or Drum Program.

Generally speaking, how is the integration with Kontakt?

No experience.

AND!!! How much can you run the mpc without looking at the software, really?

A lot. I can use it for periods, Standalone in sync with a DAW, and have the software in background.

Still room for improvement. A couple of areas, what's available on the hardware menus and what's on screen, forces you one way or the other. Generally, if you are willing to arrow down 4-5 buttons and flip a page or two, you can avoid the software for good stretches.

Quote:
Can you browse presets from the mpc hardware?


No. (I think this is a big deal)

I found out last night, at least for the Akai virtual instruments, you CAN scroll through presets.

I don't have any third-party VSTi's to test, but it seems possible.

How? Put the cursor on the name of the VSTi on the Main screen. You'll notice the Window key lights up. Press it. Now you'll get a list of the presets.

How about getting an MPC Studio and have the best of both worlds? Load the Maschine up in the MPC Studio software as a plugin.

wilcofan wrote:

Quote:
Can you browse presets from the mpc hardware?


No. (I think this is a big deal)

I found out last night, at least for the Akai virtual instruments, you CAN scroll through presets.

I don't have any third-party VSTi's to test, but it seems possible.

How? Put the cursor on the name of the VSTi on the Main screen. You'll notice the Window key lights up. Press it. Now you'll get a list of the presets.

Unfortunately Akai only shows the name of the currently selected preset in the scroll with third party plugs.
Akai still has some stuff to iron out before their VST implementation can be said to adhere to the VST standard.

I would seem they are working on it since they are trying to improve not just available content but also how it's accessed.
The last update gave new content but also added a more direct way to access so there's hope that scrolling third party content will show up at some point.