Akai Pro to announce the MPC RENAISSANCE

[Logical Mind]

Originally Posted by xanax

^ uh sorry that looks kinda wack...really trying to milk the MPC concept to h it seems... btw whats this mpc fly "turntable function"?

That looks ufkcing fantastic, what u talkin about? Direct drive platters with vinyl, 16 sample/ loop triggering pads, it's own software...from a production standpoint that's the best DJ controller concept I've seen. I might buy it if they get the bells n whistles right.

[M.Brew]

Originally Posted by peteblues

if you really want to combine turntables with MPC, there's also this:
Want To Help Design The New Numark MPC DJ Controller? | Digital DJ Tips

This looks like it could be more innovative then the ren. Hope they get it right and it comes out.

[IMAKEMADBEATS]

Originally Posted by Retrofreak

I do hope that Ren software can be used without the hardware as I'd like to continue editing on my laptop without an ilok or dongle hanging from my USB ports.

Dan Gil said the software only looks for the hardware on start up. So after the software is open, you can disconnect the controller and continue to use the software.

[MIDIchlorian]

Originally Posted by Shobiz

I currently own a MPC 4000 and I am waiting for the MPC Ren. I want to sale my 4000 when the Ren comes out, but I haven't seen anything on transferring the content to my cpu. Any Ideas on how to get my info off the 4000 into the computer. Aksys, doesn't work on Windows 7.

Easy just back up all your MPC4000 projects to a USB external hard drive.
Then dump into your computer.

[Shobiz]

Originally Posted by MIDIchlorian

Easy just back up all your MPC4000 projects to a USB external hard drive.
Then dump into your computer.

WORD!!! Thanks

[moneyrollbeats]

Given that its just gonna be a midi controller, it will all come down to the software and stock sound bank. The mpc looks great and futuristic, the software looks alot like the NI's just gotta wait and see....

[peteblues]

Originally Posted by moneyrollbeats

the software looks alot like the NI's just gotta wait and see....

Does it? I see more differences than similarities.

[Clonkified]

Like what? Just curious. Time stretch would've been a big one, but NI confirmed that Maschine 1.8 will have that.

[MONSTA_ONE]

lol here we go i see it now ahahahaha

[peteblues]

Originally Posted by Clonkified

Like what? Just curious. Time stretch would've been a big one, but NI confirmed that Maschine 1.8 will have that.

for starters, Maschine gives you 8 16pad drum parts. MPC has 128 tracks, each track can have it's own program, each program can have 128 pads. The MPC can also have 128 sequences, not sure how many Maschine has right now. Then there's 16 assignable qlinks, pad coloring, etc.

Looks wise, the MPC software looks very different, and is IMO much easier to use, much more intuitive. It has, well, the MPC workflow

[Classicbeats101]

Aug/Sept you guys should expect it to release.

[IMAKEMADBEATS]

Originally Posted by peteblues

for starters, Maschine gives you 8 16pad drum parts. MPC has 128 tracks, each track can have it's own program, each program can have 128 pads. The MPC can also have 128 sequences, not sure how many Maschine has right now. Then there's 16 assignable qlinks, pad coloring, etc.

Looks wise, the MPC software looks very different, and is IMO much easier to use, much more intuitive. It has, well, the MPC workflow

Hey Pete, I have a question about the Ren.
I know when dealing with samples, you can change the colors of pads for grouping purposes which is great. Can you do this for the pads on a midi and/or vst track? For example, manually setting all the pads that correspond to the keys that fit C Minor to BLUE...

[peteblues]

Originally Posted by IMAKEMADBEATS

Hey Pete, I have a question about the Ren.
I know when dealing with samples, you can change the colors of pads for grouping purposes which is great. Can you do this for the pads on a midi and/or vst track? For example, manually setting all the pads that correspond to the keys that fit C Minor to BLUE...

There's something I haven't tried before. I just checked and it works....the inventor of the trumpet forgot to tell Dizzy Gillespie about it's restrictions too

we don't have blue coloring though so you can't highlight the 'blue' notes

[IMAKEMADBEATS]

Originally Posted by peteblues

There's something I haven't tried before. I just checked and it works....the inventor of the trumpet forgot to tell Dizzy Gillespie about it's restrictions too

we don't have blue coloring though so you can't highlight the 'blue' notes

HA!


Any other color will do. This is going to be great. Thanks!

[kaydigi]

Pete is the studio and ren dropping the same day or is the release staggered?

[peteblues]

Originally Posted by kaydigi

Pete is the studio and ren dropping the same day or is the release staggered?

I can't speak to that....yet.

[SeriousPancakes]

^
Which is why I don't need to get the Ren, I may get it just to get maschine and ren in a workflow though

[Jahrome]

@wickedbeats
You are absolutelty right. But for me, this is the one aspect of Maschine I don't like. I prefer traditional track based sequencers like found in every MPC ever created and DAWs. It just makes more sense to me.

Another thing I like about the Ren is Program Editing. In Maschine's software, you have to tab through pages to edit the sound. The Ren displays all program params on one screen. It is like night and day. Maschine can not match the ease of use in this aspect.

[mp3]

Depends on which screen you're talking about. I'd have no problem looking at the LCD to figure out knob assignments. That's the way current MPCs operate. Being forced to look at the monitor, otoh, would ruin things a bit....

BTW, I'm particularly fond of the LED rings around the knobs... I think all knobby interfaces should be that way.

[IMAKEMADBEATS]

Originally Posted by wickedbeats

Maschine is a track based sequencer as already described above. Just because it doesn't use the term "track" doesn't mean it doesn't work pretty much the same way as "traditional" track based sequencers.


Maschine has a tabbed interface on the hardware LCD. The way you page through parameters on the Maschine hardware is super quick and has a hardware workflow vibe. What we've seen of the MPC Ren doesn't seem any quicker at all and in fact, looks to have less of a standalone hardware vibe and more of a controller vibe because you're forced to constantly look back and forth from the knobs and the screen to know what you're controlling unlike with maschine where the knobs and buttons are directly above and below the labels of the parameters your controlling.

That's a huge design fail on Akai's part. The fact that the Ren's knobs are off to the side and would force you to constantly look back and forth between the screen and what you're controlling doesn't bode too well for the workflow of their still unfinished prototype. Even with the hype of the "touch sensitive knobs", that's still an extra step of looking at the knob, touching it and then looking at the display to know what it will be controlling. There's no need for any of those extra steps with the LCD scribble directly above/underneath the controls approach of Maschine.

If the Ren was the size of a mixing console, I could understand this and would agree. But at the size of an MPC 3000, it's not like I'd even have to move my neck to go from the looking at the QLink to the screen. I'd just move my eyes. It's no different from looking at which pad you want to hit, hitting it, and checking the parameters on a 2000xl. Moving my eyes from the pads (or Q links) to a screen 6 inches way doesn't hinder my workflow. To anyone used to the MPC workflow, I don't think this would be a problem. To each his own though, and If that would hinder your workflow, then of course, staying with something that doesn't operate that way makes sense.

[SeriousPancakes]

I worked for years on the MPC 2000 and loved it for its efficient workflow and great audio outputs and sound design. When I moved onto maschine, it was as if everything was flipped upside down software interface wise, but I got used to it. I do believe that the MPC Renaissance will have a great workflow which is why I'm even giving it a chance.

It would be taken more seriously as a "Music Production Center" if it was able to be standalone but it needs a computer. Thus you may as well use it inside of your favorite DAW, making it not unique at all. As there are DOZENS of VSTs and AUs that do all the editing/sampling/sequencing that the MPC does.

They cheaped out on us like they underestimated the customers for the 5000. And it's twelve hundred dollars?! You KNOW that this Renaissance will quickly become a novelty item once someone develops a real "Music Production Center" that can be used WITH OR WITHOUT a computer.

[MIDIchlorian]

Originally Posted by Clonkified

Like what? Just curious. Time stretch would've been a big one, but NI confirmed that Maschine 1.8 will have that.

Maschine might be adding Time Stretch,but not all Time Stretch algorithms are created the same.
It is public knowledge that the MPC software is using Izotope.
Most regard izotope audio processing as the best in the game.

[alkota]

Yawwwwnnn @ Akai.

[E-Maddox]

Originally Posted by MIDIchlorian

Most regard izotope audio processing as the best in the game.

The RX product is pretty sweet but Radius is pretty antiquated and sounds it's age.

[Jahrome]

Originally Posted by wickedbeats

Maschine is a track based sequencer as already described above. Just because it doesn't use the term "track" doesn't mean it doesn't work pretty much the same way as "traditional" track based sequencers.

Maschine doesn't use the term "track" because it doesn't use tracks. NI re-invented the wheel and developed a convoluted method of sequencing. This is partially the reason why it doesn't fully support MIDI tracks like a traditional multi-track sequencer.

Originally Posted by wickedbeats

Maschine has a tabbed interface on the hardware LCD. The way you page through parameters on the Maschine hardware is super quick and has a hardware workflow vibe. What we've seen of the MPC Ren doesn't seem any quicker at all and in fact, looks to have less of a standalone hardware vibe and more of a controller vibe because you're forced to constantly look back and forth from the knobs and the screen to know what you're controlling unlike with maschine where the knobs and buttons are directly above and below the labels of the parameters your controlling.

Maschine's software has a tabbed interface which is not user friendly and doesn't take full advantage of your computer monitor. When programming sounds, you have 6 tabs of params in the software. While this is ok for the hardware it is terrible for software. The MPC Ren also has 6 tabs of params for programming using the hardware. But the software displays all 6 tabs on one screen. This is huge for workflow. The Ren doesn't have the extra steps needed as Maschine does.

Originally Posted by wickedbeats

That's a huge design fail on Akai's part. The fact that the Ren's knobs are off to the side and would force you to constantly look back and forth between the screen and what you're controlling doesn't bode too well for the workflow of their still unfinished prototype. Even with the hype of the "touch sensitive knobs", that's still an extra step of looking at the knob, touching it and then looking at the display to know what it will be controlling. There's no need for any of those extra steps with the LCD scribble directly above/underneath the controls approach of Maschine.

Have you ever used a keyboard to type? Do you have to look down at the keys? If so....you need to practice so you are more efficient. The Ren will deliver you an awesome workflow once you learn how to use it. If you are an MPC user, it will quickly if not immediately become second nature to you. The issue you decribed about may be encountered by a novice. But this will be short lived once a novice digs deep into all the Ren's functions. Plus...like all MPCs before it, the Ren has cursor keys and a data wheel to navigate around the LCD. These have always been off to the side on MPCs. I have never felt a need to look down at the data wheel and cursor keys in order to navigate an MPC LDC.

[Jahrome]

Originally Posted by wickedbeats

"convoluted" pffft Each Pad/Sound in Maschine is a "track" and yes it does support MIDI "tracks".


Who said anything about the software on the computer monitor?

Sorry dude...it is not a track in the traditional sense. And it doesn't even have a track mixer, sound mixer, group mixer, or any other similar function. The Ren has no such limitations. Handling effects in the traditional sense is a headache in Maschine. The Ren has Track/Pad Mixers with channel strips. You can quickly add 4 Insert Effects to each channel strip very similar to a traditional DAW.

I was talking about programming using Maschine's software. You changed the subject..and I brought it back in focus. Look at Maschine's Sound Editing and look at the Ren's Program Edit Mode. If you were honest, you would clearly admit Maschine is out-matched.

When you see the products side by side...to compare and contrast...I am sure you will see the Ren is better laid out.

[Jahrome]

You resort to name calling because you can't prove your point?

Once you see the products side by side in your local GC, you will understand what I am talking about.

So I have a MIDI file with 64 tracks of MIDI data (that nearly all MPCs can load). Maschine has 128 MIDI tracks you 'claim' so it should be able to handle such a simple task. How do I load this MIDI file into Maschine?

I didn't say or imply that Maschine doesn't have effects. I stated the traditional method Akai has implemented using the Ren (4 Inserts/4 Send FXs per pad or track). The Ren has Program and Track Mixer. You can quickly insert effects in these mixers. At one glance, you can look at your computer monitor and immediately know what effects are inserted on each track. Maschine doesn't give you this.

[Clonkified]

I'll definitely be interested in trying out the MPC - especially never having used an MPC before. Maschine was my first foray into that sort of creation and I think it is quite well-designed - but of course, not to say it cannot be improved upon.

One thing though is that AKAI still needs to prove itself in terms of computer software. It isn't a computer software company, unlike NI. Remains to be seen how robust and stable their software will be.

[The Marrvel]

Maybe I'm just really "old school" but I really don't understand how a $1300 controller and software will beat any standalone MPC in terms of workflow.

Maybe it's just because I'm a Dilla-esque producer who only needs vinyl and a bass module. Maschine and the Ren just seem like extra clutter to me. I don't need all that extra stuff. I'm a "less is more" kinda guy though.

Now the MPC-2000 (fly) software on iPad for $10 with the virtual turntable...that thing is perfect for me!

[IMAKEMADBEATS]

Originally Posted by The Marrvel

Maybe I'm just really "old school" but I really don't understand how a $1300 controller and software will beat any standalone MPC in terms of workflow.

Maybe it's just because I'm a Dilla-esque producer who only needs vinyl and a bass module. Maschine and the Ren just seem like extra clutter to me. I don't need all that extra stuff. I'm a "less is more" kinda guy though.

Now the MPC-2000 (fly) software on iPad for $10 with the virtual turntable...that thing is perfect for me!

Ndeed. The irony of that is, for me, The Ren supports the concept of "Less is more", but perhaps in a different way. Less time on the repetitive work, and more time on the creative work, while maintaining the workflow that the hardware world is most familiar with. I can chop on my 2000xl faster than most people I've seen, but on my fastest chopping day, I can't chop a long sample as fast as the Ren or Maschine's "Recycle'like" technique.
I think the point of most of the additions to MPC's over the years was based on the idea of making what you already do easier to do. This yields "more"... at least for me.

btw...shout out to Jay Dee fans.