AKAI Professional MPC Sample
Sampler
- Compact sampler, sequencer and effects processor
- 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads
- Onboard MPC sequencer
- 32-voice polyphonic (stereo)
- 2 GB RAM and 8 GB internal memory
- More than 100 factory kits pre-installed
- 2.4" colour display
- Three knobs for real-time control
- Four effects processors with 60 effect types
- Master compressor
- Internal resampling with effects
- Smart device sampling via USB-C
- Built-in lithium-ion battery for mobile use
- Built-in microphone and speaker
- Level indicator
- Micro SD card slot
- USB-C port (computer connection and power supply)
- Stereo line output: 2 x 6.3 mm jack
- Stereo headphone output: 3.5 mm jack
- Stereo line input: 2x 6.3 mm jack
- MIDI In/Out: 2x 3.5 mm jack
- Sync output: 3.5 mm jack
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 192 x 235 x 49 mm
- Weight: 900 g
- Includes USB-C cable
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Available since March 2026
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Item number 637611
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Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
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Polyphony 32
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Internal Storage Yes
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Storage Medium MicroSD Card, USB
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File Format WAV
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Time Stretching Yes
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Effects Yes
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USB-port Yes
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MIDI interface MIDI In/Out
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Analogue Inputs 2
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Analogue Outputs 2
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Digital Outputs No
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Display Yes
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Sequencer Yes
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Design Desktop
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Control MIDI, USB
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Optional Expansions -
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Special Features Sequencer
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The most compact MPC ever
The MPC series from Akai Professional has long held a special place in producers' hearts, with the original MPC60 achieving near-legendary status among beatmakers and finger drummers in both Hip-hop and Techno. Over the years, countless tracks have been created across successive MPC generations, while the instantly recognisable layout with 16 velocity-sensitive pads has become one of the most influential designs in sample-based music production. Modern MPC models have evolved into highly capable production environments, offering many of the advanced features commonly associated with software DAWs, though this increased functionality often comes with added complexity. The compact Akai Professional MPC Sample takes a different approach, focusing on immediacy and ease of use while capturing the core appeal that made the MPC concept so popular in the first place. By stripping the process back to its essentials and combining portability with an accessible workflow, it offers a refreshing reminder that creating beats can still be straightforward, engaging, and fun.
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Honey, They Shrunk the MPC!
The design and colour scheme of the Akai Professional MPC Sample clearly pay tribute to the iconic MPC60, reflecting the shared philosophy that has defined the MPC range from the very beginning: a strong focus on sample-based beatmaking. Its 16 velocity-sensitive pads provide immediate access to more than 100 factory kits spanning a wide variety of musical styles, allowing users to start creating straight away, while additional sounds can be sampled directly through the audio inputs, transferred from a smartphone via USB-C or imported from a computer. The eight available pad banks accommodate up to 128 samples, offering ample capacity for complete productions, supported by 32-voice stereo polyphony for flexible playback. At the heart of the workflow is the classic MPC step sequencer, complete with features such as swing, quantize and note repeat, enabling up to 128 patterns to be created, arranged in Song Mode and exported as finished audio files, all without the need for a computer.
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Back to the roots
While its design draws clear inspiration from classic MPC models, the Akai Professional MPC Sample is a thoroughly modern and self-contained production tool. The 2.4" colour display, the familiar data slider, and the three dedicated controls for real-time parameter adjustment all combine for a hands-on workflow that feels equally at home in the studio and on stage. Creative features such as Flexbeat and Pad FX add further sound-shaping possibilities, while resampling and sample recall make it easy to capture and revisit ideas throughout the production process. A built-in summing compressor helps deliver a punchy and polished sound directly from the device, reducing the need for additional processing. The range of connectivity options is equally extensive: MIDI and audio inputs and outputs, a sync output, a headphone jack, and a USB-C port for sampling, triggering connected mobile devices, and powering the unit. The rechargeable battery offers a runtime of up to five hours, and the built-in microphone and speaker round off the hardware.
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From the beach to the stage
Thanks to its portable design and built-in battery, the Akai Professional MPC Sample is equally at home away from the studio, making it easy to capture ideas wherever inspiration strikes. In a production environment, it serves as an effective sketchpad for developing grooves and experimenting with samples, while on stage it functions as a compact drum machine and sample player that can fit comfortably into even the most space-conscious setups. With 2GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, and the option to expand capacity via a microSD card, there is ample room for projects, sounds, and performances. Compatibility with larger MPC systems adds further flexibility, as projects created on the MPC Sample can be loaded and edited by supported MPC hardware and software from version 3.8 onwards. Combining portability, ease of use, and a streamlined workflow, this compact MPC provides an accessible entry point into the world of sample-based music production.
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About Akai Professional
Akai Professional has its origins in the long-established Japanese company Akai, founded in 1929, which initially manufactured electric motors, soon to be followed by high-quality tape recorders and hi-fi products. Since 1988, Akai has also become a household name like no other on the Hip-Hop scene. With the development of its first MIDI Production Centre (MPC for short), created in collaboration with Roger Linn, Akai wrote history by decisively influencing the sound of Hip-Hop and Electronic music, which it continues to do to this very day. Famous exponents of the MPC series include DJ Shadow, Eminem, and Kanye West. Today, Akai is also well known for its robust and versatile USB MIDI controllers, not least of which is the bulletproof APC range of Ableton controllers.
A musical time machine
It is remarkable how much functionality has been packed into the compact Akai Professional MPC Sample. Samples can be shaped using filters and envelopes; they can looped, sliced, and rearranged via transient detection, beat-based chopping, or the manual Lazy-Chop function; time-stretching and pitch adjustment provide additional creative flexibility. Disk streaming also allows very long samples to be played directly from an SD card, and the Audio Recall feature makes it possible to recover and edit audio captured during the previous 25 seconds – almost like a musical time machine. Above all, the MPC Sample delivers a fast and intuitive workflow that recalls the appeal of classic groove samplers, while offering a range of modern tools that make beatmaking feel both creative and accessible.
