The New MPC "Renaissance" for 2012

[V-F!]

http://www.akaiprompc.com/mpcrenaissance.php

Hmmm the hardware looks pretty cool, but it's hard to imagine the software putting it over Maschine. Looks like Maschine has it's number on pretty much everything actually.

[ellaguru]

i'm just saying this: roland guys are crazy (or suicidal, depending on your taste): they anticipated everything (maschine and now this mpc...) with sp606/555 (soundcard/controller/sampler all in one), but they didn't developed well that way of making production...for example: i have the sp606 but they left it without any upgrade for win7 64bit, so it's unusable as a soundcard with this os...example2: they just thougt to use it with a soft (called p606) dedicated -a bit weak indeed-, they didn't think to relate it with ableton live (and others); you can do it by yourself, sure, but at least some template by them could have been cool...example3: when you record patterns in sync with softs (other than p606) you can record 1 at time, if not you "mix up" everything...

this mpc looks like a mixture of:mpc2000xl, apc40/20 and xr20...who knows(I)...anyway the "Vintage Mode changes output sound character to MPC3000, MPC60 and more" thing sounds nice, who knows(II)...

ps
the "MPC Renaissance" means that they (akay guys) recognise that it was "dead" ?

[Leptic P]

nobody beats akai ! but i keep my sp !

[E.Simon]

So you do need your computer for this one right?
Why do they named it MPC instead of MPD?

Looks nice nut i'm not gonna mess with it i guess.

[ghost ghost ghost]

Looks alright. It was only a matter of time really, Maschine is outgrowing MPC at a ridiculous rate, and since Numark took over Akai their products have really gone downhill so I say respects to Numark for at least trying to do something right. Don't get me wrong, I'm actually one of the few big fans of the 5k but it was not a machine for the 21st century and it definitely wasn't a worthy successor to the 4k. I'd probaby check this out if I used a computer. With regular updates it could do well enough to compete with Maschine, and if it can then that's a good thing. Healthy competition = better end product. Lot's of people will buy this just because it says Akai on it.

[springwater]

Its weird to slowly see the generations move more towards computer based EVERYTHING. Social networking, online banking, midi controllers and whatever else they can think up. The thing about a computer based system is being at the mercy of it. It does look fucking cool as shit but you need a computer. Assume everyone has one, like computers are 2 bucks. What kind of processor do you have, do you download porn and could possibly get a virus. Its funny to see all of these dj and producers rocking shows with a mac laptop in front. Like, How many mother fuckers you know rocking mac laptops. I know one dude and im just giving it an honest glance. Macs are the shit but they aint fucking cheap. Its just odd that everyone seems to be done with hardware and moving towards an industry where if you dont have a computer, you aint making beats right. More power to you if you can rock it and rock it hard. Im guilty of it as well, dealing with computers until i gave up on giving a fuck about latency and all the other computer bullshit that fucks up creativity.
Shit dows look dope tho, maybe buy a broken one for a couple bucks and take it apart and fit the case to an old 2000xl, just for the looks.

[ellaguru]

do maschine and renaissance need a pc to work? if it's the case, then 606/555 are still cool. they don't need usb power to work. they just need pc to master tracks and the damn pitch (!!!).

[ghost ghost ghost]

Yeah they do. But I can see why some people might be confused about this since they are both advertised as operating "stand-alone" (ie. not within a VST host)

But after thinking about it, this thing looks killer.

If Maschine's biggest selling point is seamless integration and workflow, then Akai could do really well. If I'm right in thinking that the software will basically be Akai OSXL, with the ability to load VSTs, then this is just an MPC which uses an external processor as its brain. Hopefully they won't bog down it down with features and keep it streamlined so that workflow is just as good on this as it is a real MPC.

Add to that the aspect of getting away from the mouse and keyboard that Maschine users like, this thing has 16 Q link controllers, 50ish buttons and an LCD screen the size of the 2500.

Oh and it has that dope armrest like the og 60 had. And it is huge, like MPs are supposed to be

I want them to release some more specs, and a decent photo of the back panel. I think that if the software is solid and it the price is right (definitely needs to be less than a g) then there is potential.

[Dj_just_jeff]

I bet it will be PRICEY! It just seems to be a controller and you can load Sample packs in to it, or your own samples. I'm more interrested in the software. The bids as of yet fail to show the sampling abilities of the box. It would be cool if it had a large hard drive so you could do production at home with the computer for editing and bring it out live. I think I like it better than the 8800 in that case, with that being said I do own an 8800. The sound changearoo to old mpcstuff is cool but you could make those changes in production. Seems cool, let me know what you think when someone buys one.

[Unfolding]

If it doesn't have a D-Beam, I don't care about it.

[ellaguru]

If it doesn't have a D-Beam, I don't care about it.

anyway, beatthang forever!
look at the adversary akai...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMerFpbkd8Y

[UbiquitousCanuck]

Seems really corny to me...Maybe I'm a hating fool, but that vintage mode ish is kind of lame.. For some reason all I can think of is the beatkangz beat thang...Who knows though, It could be dope.

[springwater]

beatthang= TRONBOX!
Turn then fucking lights down. Makes that thing look like a toy with all the lights, like they make ur beats better or something. And its kinda of bizarre to see that after so long with the 16 grid pattern pads, to see a new machine laid out like a old ass asr sampler pads. Like who was smokum peace pipe when they were doing to design of this thing. But then again, im just hating.

[kel]

Two reasons why I don't care about this thing.... software and no JJ.

but i did get to play with maschine recently and it's pretty cool.... just too much futuristic bells and whistles. I scraped all the words off my faceplate after I learned the SP because they distracted me.

[BARRY LURKIN]

LOL, AKAI.