The competition - Akai

I think the MPC Touch will be overhyped.

It makes for an interesting innovative move but I don't think NI will follow suit. If you're gonna go touchscreen I still say iPad is the better route. Add an inexpensive controller, increase the app capabilities and you have a mobile workstation.

If I were a betting man, I'd wager NI puts more development dollars into iMaschine before making a touchscreen controller.

 

I respectfully disagree, simply because I believe they have no choice: Pioneer has done it, Akai has done it, it's the logical evolution of coloured screens, and we're already used to it on our phones. It just makes sense, and they'd be foolish to ignore it. But hey, they took out the jog wheels from Traktor so what do I know?

 

So they should follow and do everything that pioneer/akai does?

 

No it needs to go into the maschine sequencer before any of that. Imaschine is used as a sketchpad to get users to upgrade to the mikro or studio or whatever. They don't want to put all the features in imaschine because that would kill the maschine hardware sales.

 

I think it's the opposite. You get users to play with the app and they'll want to do more with their "sketches". Thus leading them to purchase the Studio or Mikro. I'm not saying give the app the full capabilities of the software, but a few enhancements couldn't hurt.

Also, I do think at some point there will be a controller that will incorporate a touchscreen, but I think the smart move would be to make improvements on the software (and app) before anything else. The Studio controller is still one of, if not, the best controllers out there, they just need the software to be better.

 

I'm still using the original controller. I thought about the mkII for the colored pads. But I didn't care for the omni knob.

I thought about getting Studio for the mixer, but I found out how to get to it with my mkI

A touch screen won't get me to buy a new controller. The dials work great for zooming in/out, setting loop points, adding/deleting markers...

 

Well since Biggcess claimed to have seen the new NI line and now he says he "think" NI is not going to follow touch route...

 

I don't think he said that exactly.

 

@dreddiknight, you're right I didn't say that exactly.

@mkotechno, you'll see in about a week what I saw. It was a "glimpse", at best, but looked very promising.

That's all I'm saying and have said.

 

Dang....that's commendable that you've been able to keep it to yourself. 'Loose lips sink ships' as they use to say in the Navy ...using some counter psychology however, have you thought of the possibility that they wanted you to spread it? And by not doing so you are foiling their plans???? (double wink). Anyhow, won't be long now till we find out what's up. Was all this crazy speculation worth it? Time will tell...

 

I'm almost certain that they didn't want me to spread the word as I would have gotten some detailed info to go with the visuals. Usually, "intentional leaks" include some juicy bits and my glimpse would have been more of "go ahead, give it a try". I was told straight up "this better not show up on Twitter or the Gram!!"

Plus, I had to promise I wouldn't be a leak and as a great man once said, "All I have in this world, is my word and my balls and I don't break them for nobody!!"

 

If next tuesday they announce nothing but NKS integration you are gonna burn your credibility here FOREVER.

 

I dont think tueday was the firm date, as the article at createdigitalmusic suggested shortly after the 27th; and cess said in about a week so prolly could be upto the first week of Nov.

 

I wonder what the new software update or new controllers is going to look like.

 

Please be new controllers, please be new controllers...

 

Why?

 

God, I hope we don't get a new controller I just ordered a Maschine Studio!!!

 

The MPC Touch is does seem to be a step forward in the workflow improvement! The beauty of hardware is that everything, for the most part, is hands on, dedicated functions. I still own and use hardware for that particularly reason. With the push forward into present day, I’m still looking for that dedicated / hands on experience. We are close, The software companies are getting better at providing this in the last couple of years: Maschine, Push, Protools rigs, MPC touch, etc… I think the ultimate leader of the battles, is who can provided the most SIMPLE STUPID WORKFLOW.

You have things like this going on right now:

Minim & Beatmaker


Recording Hip Hop - iPad and Apogee ONE


Mannie Fresh We bounce Everything


I do use beatmaker2 on my iPhone more and more, cause i am on the move. Beatmaker does provides sound packs like NI & AKAI, that are Damn Good! at a fraction of the cost! Really looking forward to what is on the Horizon for beatmaker 3..

The Auria App has 3rd party plugin available from PSP, Fabfilter, etc…http://auriaapp.com/Products/auria-tour

Plus you have the new iPad pro coming with more portable screen real-estate..

I see the value $ of these controllers dwindle fairly quickly.. Ableton Push, MPC Ren, Maschine, etc… Resale value kind of sucks.. Most dedicated hardware does seem to hold a decent value..

One other thing that has me leaning to the iPad type environment is that i haven’t dealt with a lot of crashing/ freezing, beach balling. The apps seems to be very well streamlined. Not to mention all the other non music possibilities with tablets. Hell even the storage is gaining ground, iPads at 128GB!

Honestly, how much longer are Desktops and Laptops going to be a standard at the rate things are developing?

Just some observations that I’m looking at and thinking about, on whats the future holds as far as investment into gear..

 

I don't have a Maschine now, I don't want to buy a MK2 when is obviously to be replaced soon. It's like buying a full price iPhone a week before september Apple conference.

So I continue making music with my current setup and hoping for a MK3.