Akai Pro today introduced the MPC Sample – their most portable standalone Music Product Center ever.
With 16 velocity-sensitive MPC pads, a classic MPC sequencer, Instant Sample Chop Mode, real-time Time-Stretch and RePitch, three assignable control knobs, an old-school MPC fader, and four onboard FX engines, the MPC Sample is less a ‘stripped down’ MPC than a ‘scaled down’ one.
Features:
- Built-in Speaker
- USB-C powered with internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery (5 hours)
- Instant Sample Chop Mode
- Internal microphone
- 4 internal effects processors with dedicated knob control
- SD Card Mac/PC File Transfer via USB-C
- Real-Time Timestretch/RePitch
- 16 RGB backlit MPC pads with poly aftertouch
- Onboard sequencer
- Internal Resampling with FX
- 60 onboard effect types
- 3 real-time control/effects knobs
- microSD card storage for user samples
- Legacy MPC parameter slider
- Headphones – 1/8″ TRS
- New master compressor with retro color
- Record Gain knob
- MIDI In/Out (will require 1/8″ to MIDI?DIN adapter which is not included with product)
- USB-C Audio/Midi Connectivity
- Comprehensive rear I/O:
- Stereo In/Out – 1/4″ TRS line-level
- Internal disk-streaming sample engine (fast sample playback)
- Sync Out
Here’s an intro with West Coast beatmaker & producer Dibia$e:
Getting Started with the MPC Sample – Navigation and Sounds:
Getting Started with MPC Sample – Making a Hip Hop Beat:
Getting Started with MPC Sample – Making a House Track:
Getting Started with MPC Sample – Sampling From Vinyl:
Pricing and Availability:
The Akai Pro MPC Sample is available now for $399 USD.


Very nearly almost brilliant but 16 pads, a screen and no step sequencer kills it for me. Maybe not the ‘iconic’ MPC workflow but surely do-able given the processing spec. If a firmware update can ever add a decent TR / Elektron style sequencer this could be in a league of its own, so much fun.
Come on everyone. I know yall got SOMETHING to complain about… lets have it.
ok, i prefer real midi ports and no need for dongles in that area
also its just too damn cute
Lol everyone is too busy purchasing to comment
I’m also disappointed. Here and on other sites it was a rampage, when the leaks leaked. Now that it’s out, everyone is bored.
@Rango Nobody else is bored by this release
If it had stem separation I’d totally get one.
Why tf would something like this have something like that?
I think you’re looking for laptop
uh, let’s see… only because several other Akai products (MPC) have it???? That’s why tf.
And it’s only a matter of time before we see that technology on more and more hardware products. Hell, the JBL Bandbox (amplifier) has it.
plus, I don’t use computers in my set up. Try thinking outside of your own box, dude.
If you don’t see how stem separation would be useful in sampling, then I guess I don’t know what to tell you.
Dude, it’s obviously not going to have stem separation!
Why not? The $250 JBL Bandbox does.
And those other Akai products have a nerfed version of Stems to allow it to tlrun standalone!
If it was an unreasonable expectation (/opinion), fine. I didn’t appreciate the condescending reply from Eoin.
@Randymcnasty
Um, ever tried editing and filtering like everyone did before a few years ago before AI gave us separated stems with wobbly artefacts (and decimated eq and phase) nobody ever would want to use for the basis of an original sequence?
Remember all those dope tracks you love?
Zero AI stem separation.
Double-Dee and Steinski created the groundbreaking Lessons 1-3 pre digital with just vinyl, eq, tape, quick fingers, and sharp minds.
Just because everyone is talking about stem separation doesn’t mean it is the saviour of music production. Relying upon it for original production is lazy.
like most portable samplers-drum machines lacks LFO’s – modulation and limited or inexistent MIDI CC implementation
Damn. People want too much out of this $399 V1.0 contraption lol. If anything this is one of those “limited on purpose” things like Ableton Move or Seqtrak.
IMHO, I already have other things that are way more capable like Push 3 standalone, Syntakt with that new firmware and a new iPad, enough to last me whatever time I have on this earth.
Yes looks nice and Im tempted because is very cheap (and cute lol) but rather save the money and use the time to better learn what I already have.