Imagine taking the legendary MPC workflow—those unbeatable pads for beats and sampling—and stretching it across a full 61-key semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch, turning it into a standalone powerhouse that plays melodies as effortlessly as it crafts rhythms. Released in 2022, this workstation bridges beat-making and key-driven performance like nothing else in Akai's lineup.
At its core, it packs sample-based synthesis alongside virtual analog and FM engines, with 128 voices of polyphony, dual envelopes, and LFOs per program, plus over 25 plugin instruments from AIR Music Tech and more than 6000 factory presets for instant inspiration. The 7-inch color multitouch display makes browsing and editing a breeze, while 16 RGB velocity-sensitive MPC pads with Note Repeat handle drums, a touch strip adds expressive sweeps, and four Q-Link knobs plus pitch/mod wheels give precise real-time control. Sampling shines with dual mic/line inputs (phantom power included), direct-to-track recording, and eight audio tracks; connectivity is vast with stereo outs, four discrete line outputs, headphone jack, eight CV/Gate jacks for modular, MIDI, USB hosting for drives/interfaces/controllers, Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth, and Ableton Link. Powered by a quad-core ARM processor, 4GB RAM, and 32GB storage (expandable), it measures 986 x 313 x 97 mm and weighs 8.1 kg—sturdy for studio or stage.
Users love how it nails live performances with set lists and seamless layering of keys, pads, and loops, often calling it a game-changer for hybrid producers who want MPC sampling depth without a computer. Some note the pads are fewer than on pad-only models, but the keybed's responsiveness wins over melodic players every time.
