Akai Pro have just introduced their most accessible standalone sampler to date, making the iconic MPC experience available in a portable, battery-powered unit designed for users of any skill level. The MPC Sample draws its inspiration from the likes of the MPC60, and allows users to sample, chop and arrange beats anywhere with no computer required.
The latest addition to the MPC line-up is small enough to fit into a backpack, and is fitted with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that’s capable of providing up to five hours of operation. Waveform editing can be carried out using the unit’s full-colour display, while 8GB of internal storage and support for microSD expansion provide plenty of space for projects and audio files. It’s even kitted out with an onboard speaker and microphone, meaning that users can even capture and audition samples without needing any additional gear.
Any MPC unit is defined by its drum pads, and the new arrival sports a set of 16 RGB-backlit pads that boast velocity sensitivity and polyphonic aftertouch, delivering the expressive playing experience that users have come to expect of the series; hands-on parameter control is provided by a set of three knobs and a legacy MPC fader. The device offers an array of sample manipulation and sound-shaping tools, including an Instant Sample Chop Mode that automatically divides samples into playable sections, real-time time-stretching and pitch tools, and internal resampling. There’s also an onboard effects engine that offers a total of 60 built-in effects.
“The MPC Sample represents a new chapter for the MPC legacy. For decades, MPCs have been the foundation of modern music production, and now we’re opening the door wider than ever. MPC Sample gives anyone — whether they’ve never made a beat or they’ve been producing and sampling for years — the same iconic workflow that shaped entire genres, in a format they can take anywhere.” - Andy Mac, Brand Director, Akai Professional
Key Features
Performance & Sound
- 16 RGB velocity-sensitive MPC pads with polyphonic aftertouch.
- 32 stereo voices of polyphony with disk streaming.
- MPC Sequencer with Real-Time Swing (960 PPQN).
- Instant Sample Chop Mode.
- Real-time time-stretch and re-pitch.
- Internal resampling with FX.
- Over 100 factory kits included.
Effects
- Four effects engines with 60 effect types.
- Pad FX.
- Knob FX.
- FlexBeat.
- Color-Compressor.
Interface
- 2.4-inch full-colour LCD with waveform editing.
- Three real-time control knobs.
- Legacy MPC parameter fader.
- MPC Note Repeat, Sequence Recall and Sample Recall.
Portability
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (up to five hours).
- Built-in three-watt speaker.
- Internal microphone.
- Compact footprint: 236 × 194 × 50 mm.
Connectivity
- 2 × quarter-inch TRS inputs.
- 2 × quarter-inch TRS outputs.
- 3.5mm headphone output.
- MIDI In/Out.
- Sync Out.
- USB-C power, MIDI, audio I/O and file transfer.
Memory & Storage
- 2GB RAM
- 8GB internal storage.
- microSD card expansion.
- Software Compatibility
- Standalone operation — no computer required.
- MPC Sample projects load directly into MPC3.
- Supports WAV, MP3, AIFF, FLAC, OGG and more.
Pricing & Availability
The MPC Sample is available now, priced at $399£349 including VAT / €399.
