Akai announces stem separation for MPCs! [26/03/24 update - OUT NOW]

reffahcs

March was the time frame I've seen for standalone mode, but like you said dates have a tendency to slip. So yeah we'll just have to wait and see. I agree with you, the real test will be standalone performance and quality.

As far as the MPC goes, yeah a lot of people just really don't like the workflow, but I suppose that's just how things go and why there's so many different groove boxes out there. Something for everyone.

iNate

I think the weird thing is that people go on and on about it, as if we don't expect this to be the case on a Maschine forum. It's like they don't realize we own Maschine hardware and use the Maschine software, as well. Why do they think we're here?

Workflow doesn't matter when one simply doesn't allow you to accomplish something the other one does. In that case, there is no workflow disparity - insofar as how equivalent solutions are accomplished. There is only a disparity between one that "works" and another that "doesn't work."

People want this so that their Maschine+ can allow them to do the same "work" that the MPC will, once this launches.

I also found it weird that they didn't rush to port some version of RX Music Rebalance to the Maschine, as that seemed like an obvious high value feature to get out. They really haven't done anything of major note for the Maschine+ since it was released.

If the Maschine+ got this first, the same people downplaying it in this thread would be touting it as a killer feature vs. the MPCs - or saying something along the lines of: "Nothing to see here, we've already gotten this."

darkwaves

the autosampler was petty major.

iNate

I'll give 'em that one.

Rebelkleff

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/124682#Comment_124682

Unfortunately the demos online are all being showcased in controller mode via the MPC desktop software and not standalone. Akai have said that will launch later on down the line but I imagine will not provide the same quality seen in these videos.

PK The DJ

Update - available NOW for desktop MPC software.

https://www.akaipro.com/stems.html

Andy Wt

MPC Stems allows you to separate audio and samples into 4 layers inside MPC Desktop software. 

So this is not a standalone-mode feature, exactly as expected

PK The DJ

No, because as Akai clearly stated some months ago, standalone will follow at a later date.

DeepThumb

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/143213#Comment_143213

At least Malo Beats tells the same at 0:35:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzQTqLL3tYo

MaikR

In the meantime Roland ‘simply’ collaborated with a ‘competitor’ app on iOS / ipadOS and made it into a ‘companion’ app for the SP-404mk2. Now, that’s what I call user-centric innovation thinking:

https://youtu.be/-9ZOTlUx-Zs?si=p8Z1-2BtVpNm0OBA

PK The DJ

Yeah I read about the 404 update, then looked into the app. It's a sampler.

It doesn't seem innovative to pair a sampler with another sampler.

What's shown in the video could already be done anyway. It's just recording the output of one into the other, then back again.

Besides, MPCs and the Maschine+ can already be paired with Koala and many different apps via Link.

D-One

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/145199#Comment_145199

You're missing the point, mainly the premise of being open for collaboration, being humble enough to admit "we can't do XYZ" so we can partner with someone else who can + acknowledging and answering users requests and production trends... it's more than just playback sync... Connecting a standalone to a phone in an integrated way is cool, not for me atm but I can see the appeal for others and the doors this might open. All this is crazy to see especially when Koala and SP share A LOT of the same target audience.

Speaking of LINK Maschine hasn't even updated to the 2018 LINK 3.0 that added start and stop commands to be shared... It was 6 years ago!! Maybe in 2030? -.-

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/145189#Comment_145189

Avoid double/cross posting please.

PK The DJ

Being "open for collaboration" is one way of putting it. Another way is "not having features that other similar devices have". Maybe the the CPU isn't up to stem separation (simple screen and all). I know Roland don't have Link.

It's a shame NI dropped the iMaschine app, but that was just a mini version of Maschine anyway. Can anyone think of a companion app that would make sense for Maschine?

ozon

@D-One wrote

You're missing the point, mainly the premise of being open for collaboration, being humble enough to admit "we can't do XYZ" so we can partner with someone else who can + acknowledging and answering users requests and production trends... 

I also think this is a bigger move than it looks right now, especially for a company like Roland which is traditionally offering every accessory for their products by themselves.

The general direction reminds of a concept from the late 90s of apps implementing just the core functionality to manipulate parts of a (open standards) document’s content instead of owning the whole document and allowing to interact with each other to achieve an ever growing pool of editing capabilities.

Sort of going back to how the real world works: There are no giant full featured can-it-all objects.

@PK The DJ asked

Can anyone think of a companion app that would make sense for Maschine?

Yes. Quite a few capabilities could be added this way, especially to a standalone version like the M+. One example could be to offer generative sequencing as an app which directly injects the events into volatile Patterns/Clips on the fly.

Sure could be done similarly with MIDI, but doing it with a custom integration would also allow e.g. full Parameter Modulation control.

Another application could be to offer touch screen capabilities with a touch optimized UI (remember iMaschine FX?).

LostInFoundation

So MANY opportunities could be achieved by well thought companion apps, if only NI weren’t so allergic to touchscreens world.

One example for all: people still praises (and for a reason) the added workflow the Jam brings to Maschine. What about resurrecting it in the form of an app? The expanded Step sequencer, Patterns/Scenes/Lock states launching without sacrificing the access to playing pads, all the functionalities the 8 Touch strips bring (FXs parameters, macros, strumming, Live FXs,…). All things that would be perfect on a touchscreen. Not to add piano roll editing…that would be a dream

At the moment I’m creating my Maschine midi controllers with various apps on iPad, but I would surely buy a well thought NI branded companion app. Not even necessary to think too much about what to do: as I said, only reproduce the Jam as an app and that would already be a winner.

All of this…without even considering what ozon said: it’s not only what NI could bring to the table, but also what a thousand of already existing apps already provide: midi controllers, chords apps, sequencers, oscillators, expanded sounds availability through synths, piano rolls that I can prepare on a more functional app on iPad sending its midi to the M+ (or even on desktop) before partially committing and recording it in Maschine patterns,…