By
Orphew
Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:52 am
Wow...I expected 6 pages of extra features debate and joyful expectations for 2.0 Rennaissance, or at least useful pressure for AKAI determination in what's essential in 2015 and that "final" version...but, ironically, the most of the pages are covered by the metaphoric discussion/fight of "opposites" in fact generated not by personal taste or nuances focuses/preferences...but by the LACK of SENSE in the product strategy and development by AKAI. It's a perfect example of the no one's land in which AKAI is loosing its steps. I have pointed it some times here before:
1) Clear lack of strategy of quality heritage-evolution with the past knowhow accumulated by the firm:
You can and try to re-create a modern 2012 competitive version of your essential concept of Music Production Center (Or Beat making magic machine....= Recording/Importing-Editing-Stretching/Chopping/Pitching-Audio/midi Sampler/Sequencer...BUT, you decide to block it into a modern speculative way, not trying to find the real quid in nowadays: INTEGRATION.
AKAI don't want to give their fans, supporters, users, clients, a modern experience in soft and capabilities of the inheritance that made them GREAT...not at all (what else) considering the obvious possibility of assuming a potential integration of the old MPC hards through midi out messages with the NEW modern SOFT version (that evry of us would be buyed around 180-240 bucks)...neither their own Midi Controllers (MPD-MPK)!!
They decided to create a particular product line intended as midi controllers for the specific soft...but BLOCKED in a nonsense (and under competence offer) into a underdeveloped software, not covering even the past experience of old products at all, but also not allowing any rational and present use and integration in the DAW, or other controllers, equipment...Theoretically yes, due to the I/O of audio/midi, in the Ren, for example...but, in fact???
2) The soft is "arisen" sold from the beginning even as a "DAW", and it's focused in covering what is suposed to be offered by the AKAI concept of modern-propietary-exclusive blocked hard-soft integration DAW in 2012-2015...and then, the crazy tumbling with no compass starts....general behavior here, unstability issues there, a lot of improvements that should be BASIC in a 2012 MPC soft concept, and even more in a SIMPLE midi controlling+soft code approach for a Transnational group with a lot of $ to invest in people who know what and how must be done! Little of the REAL MPC Behavior for INTEGRATION in 2015 has been found since then...because it is difficult to advance fast always balancing on a tightrope. For sure, any similarity with a 2015 DAW (not expected nor necessary for the 80%? of potential users that have their own DAW of confidence) would be bare coincidence.
3) The huge list of wishes and frustrations from the POV of those who want their own version of a non fixed-well designed-conceived-focused product, with long periods for improving and incorporating those OBVIOUS functionalities...(not talking about the extra tricks and wows, libraries and etcs to be competitive with NI and others in 2015 scenario) then is unmanageable by the company or the team of people that have to manage a bad strategy or intentional policies of their managers.
4) Far from this, the position of AKAI is to continue making the experience of INTEGRATION a pain in the neck for all those who bet for them and the heritage hope....and launching another product in the same approach but with a screen....for a Midi integrated meeeeeh controller? WTF AKAI!!??
5) So, the obvious discussion starts around audio tracks...and DAW. Seriously, any of you who considers that AKAI MPC Soft can be considered a DAW or to be developed to that competitive, logical, useful term in 2015 market/scenario...is CRAZY! Independent from this, obviously, the kind of limited, blocked, NOT Integrated sequencing existing into a PLUGIN!!! IT IS WHAT IT IS....RIDICULOUS! Nevertheless, the possibility of adding basic audio tracks or a global sequencer with simple but modern total integration: Midi/drum pattern tracks/objects!!; Audio tracks or loops; automation lines; effects insertion by time....IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE, and it could be like a parallel "DRUM" machine integration in multitrack recording...For me it would also be essential to develope before the BASICS of the previous mentioned MPC soft concept integration, as autonomous Sampler/Plugin with Midi and Audio Mixer to DAW...But, in any case, I think that everything is possible, and not complicated in a 3 years development...don't fight for that...fight those who are joking with all that.
OBVIOUSLY,....for some of us, the loop approach can be a good closing point for Audio tracks, and for others not...
Others will be satisfied with the midi/audio/OS integration of the tool, or plugin, and the behavior of mixer, external plugins, synths, etcs....BUT it's obvious that these are simply modifiable and to be integrated in what is expected by the MOST: Something serious, flexible, with heritage of the best and improvement of the new...:
Direct midi recording into DAW is THE BIBLE in a product like this...or at least all kind of DRAG & DROP from and to any part of the Soft...Audio editor/sampler, pads, audio track, midi sequencer, and between the different areas of the soft...
Anything different than this from the beggining in a product like this, is a BIG FAIL, or intentional speculative and annoying policy by AKAI...or a totally unforgivable lack of understanding in the design-concept-architecture process. Both are putting AKAI in the mud for future, mainly with their only lifesavers, that were their traditional and confident customers. Well done, guys...see you in the
6) SO...now we are here, in 2015, discussing about the raw reality...IT is not the expected, obblied heritage soft integrated version of the best of the past AKAI MPC universe with the new Soft and Computer experience and far beyond...neither a Modern DAW with the MPC capabilities integrated.
Far beyond....it continues intentionally BLOCKED for the potential real integration of the BASICS!! of its conept that is MIDI sequencing of edited/chopeed/pitched audio, and Drum sampler...against the trend and market asumptions of today in many other competence Plugins and DAWS for sure.
7) It's obvious that the essence of this discussion is in fact caused by the lack of very very very BASIC features in this concept of product,...ready to be abandoned for other product series that will be covering (badly) what the people from the market, have been asking for AKAI for a long time...acting like it would not be possible to close and give a GOOD product with the existing line, base, soft development and etc.
If we accept this kind of illogical logic, and start to fight for the crumbs...then we are really **** off.