Bug reports & end-user support for Akai's MPC Software 'controllers' including the new MPC Studio 2, the MPC Touch, MPC Renaissance & original MPC Studio and MPC StudioB lack.
By Jonespnice1 Sat Mar 28, 2015 2:11 pm
DJ Hellfire wrote:
Jonespnice1 wrote:I think everyone has a workflow that works for them. I have a friend that's been using Pro Tools for years and at first he didn't know how to sync his external keyboard with Pro Tools to dump his tracks for mixing. He developed his workflow, he would hit record/start on pro tools and then start playback on his Roland keyboard and record 1 track at a time (all the way thru for each track) and then after every track is recorded into pro tools he would trim and align them and move them to the beginning in pro tools. After I started using pro tools (a couple of years later) I figured out how to sync it so I tried to teach him but he said nah my way is quicker for me. The point is everybody has their own workflow that works for them.



Makes sense. But in the case of naming from an MPC's pads, I don't really see how that can possibly be any faster than just using a keyboard, unless your keyboard is way across the room somewhere. And I actually memorized how to type on MPC pads and can do it pretty quickly, for what it is. But you have to keep in mind that some letters, you have to press a pad two or three times just to access, and the same goes for punctuation. With a keyboard you press a letter once and it's onto the next. So I don't really buy the whole "workflow" thing in this regard. As an experienced user of both methods, the desire to have the MPC method is just nostalgia of feeling like you're on a standalone unit. There's no actual real speed benefit to it no matter how fast you can tap the letters out. Not saying there's anything wrong with wanting this feature. I just don't buy the whole faster workflow part of it. It's more like a boutique feature to me. Maybe just my opinion! 8)


I Agree with you it's not faster, as a matter of fact I used a keyboard all the time with my MPC 4000 but for some people workflow isn't always about speed it's more about how they like to work.
I have another friend (sorry about all the stories, lol) and when we were teenagers we'd be walking around somewhere and if I happened to split a pole this dude would walk all the way back and go on the other side of the pole, he'd say "that's bad luck to split a pole" and it would piss me off because it made no sense but after a while I just accepted it as that's him being him. That was his workflow (so to speak) and it made sense to him.
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By Coz Sat Mar 28, 2015 2:14 pm
If Akai go with a touchscreen on the mythical next standalone MPC, then naming from the hardware will be decent. I don't see the benefit with the Ren though.
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By pk1 Sat Mar 28, 2015 3:21 pm
to me its not about being able to type letters from pads like our legacy mp's.

its having the option to name from hardware, then reach up type with keyboard and then back to mp. not get mouse right click then type. be better if as I'm highlighted on track two i just put claps. i can click window type name done. having to reach for my mouse .. well i don't. i just skip for now. then when its time to mix i have to go back and name all then.

id rather be able to opt the naming process from hardware then type keyboard.

just like 4000
By Iron Leg Sat Mar 28, 2015 5:29 pm
Jay Rolex wrote:What do you use the mouse for?


to reply on this forum while making a beat :lol:

they still haven't put the browse mpc.forums.com button in yet, something that should be of of the list for most on here. :lol:
By TT_Lab Sat Mar 28, 2015 5:53 pm
pk1 wrote:to me its not about being able to type letters from pads like our legacy mp's.

its having the option to name from hardware, then reach up type with keyboard and then back to mp. not get mouse right click then type. be better if as I'm highlighted on track two i just put claps. i can click window type name done. having to reach for my mouse .. well i don't. i just skip for now. then when its time to mix i have to go back and name all then.

id rather be able to opt the naming process from hardware then type keyboard.

just like 4000

Yes, I think the same. :nod:
[sarcasm]Plus, why do I need a ferrari when I have an old good horse like we had in the XIX century? [/sarcasm]LOL
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By DJ Hellfire Sat Mar 28, 2015 7:14 pm
Jonespnice1 wrote:
DJ Hellfire wrote:
Jonespnice1 wrote:I think everyone has a workflow that works for them. I have a friend that's been using Pro Tools for years and at first he didn't know how to sync his external keyboard with Pro Tools to dump his tracks for mixing. He developed his workflow, he would hit record/start on pro tools and then start playback on his Roland keyboard and record 1 track at a time (all the way thru for each track) and then after every track is recorded into pro tools he would trim and align them and move them to the beginning in pro tools. After I started using pro tools (a couple of years later) I figured out how to sync it so I tried to teach him but he said nah my way is quicker for me. The point is everybody has their own workflow that works for them.



Makes sense. But in the case of naming from an MPC's pads, I don't really see how that can possibly be any faster than just using a keyboard, unless your keyboard is way across the room somewhere. And I actually memorized how to type on MPC pads and can do it pretty quickly, for what it is. But you have to keep in mind that some letters, you have to press a pad two or three times just to access, and the same goes for punctuation. With a keyboard you press a letter once and it's onto the next. So I don't really buy the whole "workflow" thing in this regard. As an experienced user of both methods, the desire to have the MPC method is just nostalgia of feeling like you're on a standalone unit. There's no actual real speed benefit to it no matter how fast you can tap the letters out. Not saying there's anything wrong with wanting this feature. I just don't buy the whole faster workflow part of it. It's more like a boutique feature to me. Maybe just my opinion! 8)


I Agree with you it's not faster, as a matter of fact I used a keyboard all the time with my MPC 4000 but for some people workflow isn't always about speed it's more about how they like to work.
I have another friend (sorry about all the stories, lol) and when we were teenagers we'd be walking around somewhere and if I happened to split a pole this dude would walk all the way back and go on the other side of the pole, he'd say "that's bad luck to split a pole" and it would piss me off because it made no sense but after a while I just accepted it as that's him being him. That was his workflow (so to speak) and it made sense to him.



Hahaha! I hate when people do that shit! :lol: But I see what you're saying.
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By DaizM Sun Mar 29, 2015 2:52 am
pspsounds wrote:And why do a few of you want the ability to name tracks from the hardware? It's 'cool' to have the ability to do it but why?



For me it's less about 'needing' to name from the hardware as it is not wanting to have to break away from the lcd and the hardware to go reach for a mouse and look up at the monitor to rename a track/seq. To me that is slow (although not as slow as naming from pads). i agree, naming using pads or other weird scrolling is not faster than typing (even Elektron got it right), which is why i wish they would just implement a hybrid method where they implement a keyboard shortcut(s) that places the sequence name, track name, etc... into edit mode so I can just type immediately to name the track without having to reach for a mouse or look at the monitor. I've setup a work around and it's the fastest way to rename tracks even above the mouse/monitor method everyone seems to love. I did a video a while back and am about to revise it with a quicker solution that also would allow you to rename with presets (HF proposed a preset method recently) or place the fields n edit mode from an iphone. I just wish it was built in (not the iphone part). Even better if they enabled a button on the hardware to put the currently selected field into edit mode so you can just start typing with your keyboard and press enter to lock it in, because like someone said, I keep a small wireless one right in front my my Ren, but my monitor is off to the side sometimes or in front but up higher, so it's a focus breaker for me....

The simplest solution is just for them to put in keyboard shortcuts to put the fields in edit mode so we can type with the keyboard, press enter and be done with it. If they get it to trigger the shortcut with a button on the hardware it will feel like you are naming from the hardware using a keyboard--best of both worlds and takes the mouse/monitor out of it.

In the end it has a lot to do with how you work. most times I like to rename while I'm working and not having to reach for a mouse, look up at a monitor, re-orient my eyes to find the field and then try to navigate to it with the mouse is just awkward in that instance. Sometimes though I may rename after I'm pretty much done working from the hardware and am strictly in the software and at that time I don't mind using the mouse to rename because I'm already working on that plane...

Like many other features on the Ren, not everything is is for everybody or will everyone have a need for it (ie the looper or NDC), but it's there and if someone doesn't have a need for it it jusr goes unused. No harm no foul, but it's useful for someone else...
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By MPD MPK RAY Sun Mar 29, 2015 6:35 am
NubianMindz ‏@NubianMindz_ Mar 27

@petegoodliffe 1.8.2 Looks tremendous! Official release date??? :)




Pete Goodliffe ‏@petegoodliffe

@NubianMindz_ when it's done!

By Iron Leg Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:09 am
i'm guessing after Musikmesse end of april

while we are on the hardware screen tip, anyone think grid edit would be cool or are we happy with step seq. i used the grid edit a lot on the 4000/2500.
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By rookie Sun Mar 29, 2015 2:10 pm
just implement all of the features from the 4000, and rename it the MPC REN 4k. Naming from the hardware would just be another option. I was use to it on the 4k as all of us were, so its just a work flow habit, the option wouldn't hurt. My last request for it to be my dream machine would simply be to layer VST instruments , onto the same midi channel. Other than that its exceeded my expectations.
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By karlscott Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:08 pm
I think they missed a little trick with the "chord mode" as in when ur in that mode if u select to show "notes" only then all notes within the selected scale should be highlighted (if in C scale then CDEFGAB and so on should be lit) "GREEN" that would keep you in key and stop me from using the Ableton push alongside the Ren lol…..

But the main thing i would love to see is "real time swing", man how beautiful would that be…..
By DiskoDaveBBB Mon Mar 30, 2015 2:29 am
i think naming tracks/sequences on the pads would be pretty pointless for new mpc users on the ren/studio unless you add a custom skin for the pads. on the legacy models they had the letters marked on the top right side of the pads as guides. it would be useful for some of us experienced users that used this religiously, but for somebody new to the mpc they wouldn't know where the letters are on the pads. still would be a nice feature to have, but definitely not needed. anyway, update looks dope! looking forward to it!