MPC RENAISSANCE WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS.. 

Man, I'm still banging tracks on my Ren... This machine is a gem.💎

Still one of the best MPC’s I own

I'm one of the ones who wasn't into switching from standalone with MPC. I'm glad to see that they went hybrid and that the new ones are standalone and controller. I still prefer the old standalone units as the really older ones are simple to use and they have a sound that is their own character. Just go with the one that suits your needs

Went from FL studio to reason to the mpc ren. I couldn't be happier w the ren

Ren is my go to these days. MPC Beats software and the Ren is what I wanted my 2kxl to be before maschine furst dropped

I've really enjoyed this series, really good stuff.

Man, you bring it all to life as a Voice who witnessed it, and that's what makes this so essential. I hope people appreciate you as a historian. I definitely do.

Copped a Ren for $242.00. Love it! Running 2.10 with it is the bombdiggy!!

I absoultely love my MPC Renaissance. I have seen so many people bad mouth it but my goodness it is a beast! I will never part with it.

Got one for 150$ today ! I’m hyped af

still rocking mine, still best piece of gear i own and have no need to upgrade because it does everything i need and more

Enjoying your channel man. I think you hit nail on the head around 6:30. The MPC REN really did seem like the old school clashing with the new school production. Hardware vs. Computers and the Ren was a break away trying to be both but not truly dedicated to one thing. I remember being on MPC forums talking about how I brought a Maschine (they had just came out)... they bashed the sh*t out of me and the Maschine. Dudes just couldn't see the benefits of something not standalone. There was already blood in the water with software vs hardware. When the Maschine dropped and younger producers were flocking to it taking advantage of its capabilities it made those stand alone MPC's look and feel ancient. Just seeing something that had "sound libraries" and easy sample management (no SCSI no Scrolling for days looking for your samples), advanced sequencing where you could see a grid and edit your stuff was undeniably dope! The classic MPC's couldn't touch that workflow. Then the Renaissance drops and it's like "what is this!?!" This ain't no MPC! and dudes just started attacking the the thing like a lion attacking it's own young. I thought the whole thing was funny. It's nice to see that Akai perfected the idea and gave us the Live and X and MPC Software. Now you don't have to pick and choose anymore...even Maschine is trying to jump into the stand alone game now. Only sad part for the MPC Ren is that it has no value because it's just a controller more than an MPC and it uses dated software so there's no real reason to go out and get one and skip out on the current offerings.

My first MPC was the 2000 then the 200XL. Back then a computer and DAW (Cakewalk Sonar) were secondary because I created my beats in the MPC then export the 2-Track to record vocals. I bought the Ren when it came out in 2012 and, like so many others, I hated it at first. But the more I got into relying on the computer when plugins started getting better, I started using the Ren more. Now I love it. I still prefer using my XL for beat making, but I still really enjoy using the Ren. It gets the job done for me, which is why I never upgraded to the new disco light boxes that they have been releasing lately.

The MPC Renaissance is the best controller ever. I still love it.

I really like what you're doing with this series, please keep it going!! Just subscribed to your channel bro!!🙏🏾✊🏾🔥🔥🔥

I'd still buy one of these & the studio black if they weren't so rare

I love the Ren. Still got mine. 💯💯💯✔

This videos are epic keep it up!!!! Thank you for sharing so many perspectives

There are still a lot of people who hold the Ren in high standing. I wasn't crazy about it. It looks incredible, but the idea of going back to that little screen after using Reason for 6 years wasn't appealing. I didn't make that move until the Touch. Best move I ever made

It would be cool to see a new renaissance

I'm one of those who couldn't get with it. NOT because of the direction it was going BUT - the price. They were asking around $2000.00 for this controller. That was the deal breaker for me. It is the MPC X without Standalone functionality. On eBay, Reverb and others people are still trying to get them off for $1,000.00.

I bought this joint when it first came out (spent close to 2k) and sold it probably three months later (for than 1k....the market value dropped quick on these) and went back to the 5k. I wasn’t happy with anything Akai put out until the Mpc X. This is where they got it right and started being forward thinking.

i'm researching what hardware sampler i should get right now and this was a really interesting video. thanks man!

Young Andy... lol that's my homie right there

This was very elaborate controller.

I still use my Ren on occasions. Nice piece!

This is the best piece of hardware ever made. Hands down, I got MPC Studio to this day, my first was 500. With Ren/Studio there are no limits, when you got nice PC and know the AKAI workflow well. You can pull up whatever VST or project template you want via LCD, all the options are there on the hardware. Truly underrated machine, especially if you got more MIDI controllers set up nice and ready into MPC Soft 💥 Best of both worlds, it truly feels like DAWless work, minus the limitations

Think most people were mad the Ren wasn't able to run standalone, that still was almost the only advantage over Maschine for using an MPC. They were like: hey, if I wanted an integrated software controller I would have bought a Maschine couple of years ago. I picked up the Studio, made same great beats with it and got the opportunity to blend the MPC into a more DAW-like environment. Still I never could shake the need of having a standalone unit and returned to my trusty old 2500, with some great new experience and knowledge under my belt. It wasn't Akai prettiest step forward, but a necessary one nonetheless.

as i begin my transition from software to hardware, i found a broken mpc 3000xl and just in my research just heard and understood Q-Tip's The Renaissance album , and im thankful to be able to actively listen to music and understand this beautiful art of hip hop even a little bit

I got the ren about 2 years after it came out. I was fanboying the legacy MPC machinery from the sidelines for years before but like you said, I was intimated by a sample-centric workflow and all the knobs and the screens on these things looked dated after having used a DAW. I tested out a NI Maschine and HATED how cheap it felt. When I got my hands on the Renaissance to demo, I was like, this is the one!! I really wanted standalone when I bought it but I had no real idea where AKAI was really going at that time ( they released the live within less than 3 years later to my dismay). But I just needed those pads and knobs on that Ren after feeling how solid it was and seeing what it was capable of. It might have been a bit hasty to buy at that time, but I felt I just had to make a move for myself and also as a middle finger to Maschine cause they were getting popular. I tend to zig when they zag if you know what I mean.

Thanks for this!!! I’m heading straight to the Beat Kang vid! Also I copped a Maschine before they dropped Renaissance and I’m glad I didn’t trade my Maschine in. This era was crazy for real!

Bold prediction: 6 years into a post covid world no one will care about stand alone and the ren will be seen in a new light. Right now in 2022 you get one of these for like $500 used. in five more years it's gonna be close r to $1000. It won't matter that' it's older, the chip shortage is gonna stunt computer growth. Fans of the MPC will always keep the ren running long after Akai gives up on it.

Akai has a long history of not listening to their customers. They want to advance, but the decisions they make with the machines doesn't make sense. Funny thing is most of what makes the MPC an MPC has been made available in every daw. Ableton even grabbed the warp algorithm and took it further. I picked up a force when it first came out and had that same experience that it didn't live up to what they advertised. I took it back but ended up buying it again 2 years later after they fixed the thing.

The ren is dope

That was me I was one of those that left. I just stayed with my 4k and didn't return until the live came out. Lol

It really is a great addition to the MPC line. I still have mine 😉

Tbh the retro look on this unit makes it so sexy. I don't have one but if I did, the looks alone would make me wanna get busy on it. To me that's what ppl slept on the most.

I had the Akai Renesance and the Studio. But as i tried the NI MASCHINE the Akai had to leave because MASCHINE is way much better for me. Now i have a workstation WIth an Macbook Pro, NI MASCHINE, NI S88, AUDIO-6 and some small and some BIG KRK Monitors: What a massive dope combo! I love it!

I am trying to do a wooden wall art version of the most popular MPC. For some reason I can't get a straight answer.

It's my first and last MPC, ran into issues with this iLok BS and after different tries I got frustrated and it became dust collector in my lab

I actually appreciated the REN because I had already moved to computer-based production and grew to appreciate it even more, when they started dropping the standalone products because there was no learning curve. But if you had jumped from the last piece of hardware that Akai released to the newest standalone's you would be lost

Can you do one on the akai mpd 24 pad

I actually purchased a REN but took it back reason being i couldn't get the darn thing activated over the computer. I got a TR-8 drum machine instead. I wished i would have kept the REN, I did however purchased the MPC Studio (MK1). Loved the fact the REN/Studio came with the Legacy MPC emulations 60/2500/3000/other(SP1200). Damn!!!!....

Yo your what had happen was series is pretty cool man

This was my first MPC back in 2018 and while I loved it I had to sell it because it's audio interface was not working well with my PC. They eventually got it right with the MPC X, Live, and One which are all hybrids.

Still the best colorway in all honesty💯💯💯☝🏾

Heh... the X definitely wears its Renaissance origins on it's proverbial sleeve. :) I sometimes wonder about getting an X, but I look at the Renaissance and think, "Hell, I could pair this with a decent laptop that has the MPC software installed and still save a chunk of change." I Been debating on grabbing an MPC studio for my truck as I'm still on the fence about taking an MPC One or hauling a Renaissance with me.

I miss my Ren.. may have to buy one again 😎

I always thought it was just a midi controller! Forgive me, for I have sinned...

I guess I was one of the ppl who were cool with the renaissance (kept my 5000 though) - in Europe there were lots of ppl who were doing their patched phrases with recycle from propellerhead. And they were like what? I can slice up my stuff and immediately play the phrase or key group while I be still chop shoppin? For ppl using this workflow, it was actually kind of a renaissance. Because it made everything so much quicker. Just imagine, you didn’t need to record your sample, save it, mount the drive, download the file, work it with recycle and go all the way back anymore.

When that joint came out was crashing more than the stock market in 2008 I remember DOC over at Sampling Kings telling don't buy the first run because he was on the beta team and was like they can't even get the 1.0 os working so this joint aint gonna be hitting the market anytime soon when it did finally Q-TIP , PETE ROCK and who ever else from the 90's golden era the coned into pushing this couldn't save this joint so they just said ok boys lets go back to making hardware .

I love my Renaissance and 1000.

Dope Story Appreciate the history

forever REN Gang

I hate my ren.........and fell back to my 1000 it’s like making homemade soup 🍲 on a rainy day in rainyville 🔥🇨🇦👊🏿

I’m still deciding if I should grab this or wait for this MPC Key thing. I’m just using an MPK49 and Reason 11 🤷🏾‍♂️

The audio interface built into this thing doesn’t work with any recent macOS releases

You should do one about the minimoog and when Dr Dre helped bring it back into fashion with the whole Gfunk thing

It’s a midi controller :/

I watched the mpc world scream they wanted to be hooked to a computer……..then I watched them come right back to standalone lol. Hate to say it but I TOLD YOU SO!!! 😂

I had one and it was cool but I wanted the stand alone option with computer integration. Still rock my XL but I want the Live II or X. Just wish they would have kept the Q-Sliders. I get that they are considered obsolete but they really give you some great editing options.

Rick Rock still uses his.

Time for the Ren 2 to come out. Limit it to 10 thousand units. It will definitely sell out has to be standalone though

I think they could really sell this now. People understand the concept now. Come out with an all black improved model.

I got a ad for Maschine…. LMAO

I mean can they please make an upgrade to the MacOS Monterey because I don’t want to have to downgrade my computer

Should have been a stand alone system like the 2000xl, could have been a classic.

NOW AKAI industry standard

I spit my red bull out at the NAMM part. Poor akai dan.

Dope please do one on the 3000

Nice video and story, i remember that time... I also remember the "offended MPC comunit"y (What a bunch of P*ssies)... Is not THAT bad, and is really comfortable for a lot of producers who enjoy the classic workflow and the modern daws capabilities.

Just say that you needed a computer to work with it. This video could have been 5 seconds long.

i USE MINE STILL BUT i'M ABOUT TO GET A 5000

I'm about to buy this , but is it possible to use the renaissance with FL studio ?

Can I use the ren to control parameters on the one in standalone mode?

The MPC X was obviously bassed off of the Renaissance.

The backlash 😆

I just wish that Akai would go back to their old classic visual designs and make the units in metal instead of the ugly looking plastic stuff they make today :)

MPC Live is near perfect to me. It’s a great hybrid.

What are some affordable ( cheap), decent standalones, if there is such a thing?

I bought a 1000 then that came out an I didn't like the specs on it still use the my 1000

For real, we need a bunch of bold-ass beatmakers to run up on these Nukai clowns and read them the news.

it's just a controller.....FOH!

Akai dan 😂😂😂 so what do you think about the attack

I died a little when he said reNAYsance

This might be dumb a question but is there any way you can use the MPC Renaissance on the new MAC update (MAC OS Big Sur) mine is collecting dust. It appears there are no longer bringing any updates for it :(

Akai's like really? 🤣

It looks just like my MPCX

It’s a nice loooking machine

Almost as bad as the new ones. 2KXL for life.

A Great "NEW" next gen DAW tool...only the " akai register my product " is sooooooooo.....ok!...What ever....Next! ( I'm only rocking the MPC 1.9 version...please don't PUSH me to use MPC 2.0 !!!!! " unlock call center drama " ) #TheRen #TheR #TheHorror #IamWannaMyBeats #TeamAdam

In fact Akai was doing so-so even with the return to hardware (which btw never will be like jjOS but Akai lovers wanted to believe it...) and now NI release a M+ with lots of delay (and outdated hardware inside aka atom) and still gets over the actual MPCs because Akai lost lots of knowhow and so. There are rumours about new updates to Live (and Force) so get them on par with M+ but these all still overpriced for what they offer (all of them M+ included and the worst bangxbuck probably). Akai did well with first APC40, not so with the mk2 and Push rip off from Ableton ended in Force... I hope Akai gets things well and optimise all of these so MPC lovers can get true Midi sync and stability (alongside channels and so that they are bringing). It's a shame Akai didn't build over old foundation (well... firing jjOS developer was the worst mistake they probably did ever) and then put a computer inside a Ren and called it "hardware". Ok, now M+ doing the same... okok... next? People needs to figure out how market work for these brands and what a business plan (and hardware developing cycles) makes them get some decisions instead just get stuck with "branding". Study the guts of these things and understand what are you buying ppl!

Meanwhile..... I was on my 4000 Beast!..like...😩😩😂😂😂😂😆😆😆

1500$ controller.

Hilarious

I keeps it 5000, never will go fully computer integratabtle

Dude you just kept repeating yourself without saying anything

What mascine sucks Akai is on top always in my opinion it’s all about analogue

I found mine at a pawnshop for $175!!! Not even registered hahahahhahahs I don't even use it that much. Lots of pllastic. My Maschine Studio is wayyyyyy more advanced. NI is a software company not Akai. I'm sorry