Akai Professional has released the MPC Live III Retro, a limited colourway edition of its flagship standalone production centre that pairs next-generation hardware with the visual identity of the original MPCs.
Akai Professional has given the MPC Live III a makeover. The Retro iteration takes the same hardware that earned the original its reputation and wraps it in a colourway drawn from Akai’s iconic late-1980s MPC lineage, a nod to the machines that shaped modern beatmaking culture.
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Under the hood, nothing’s been watered down. The system runs on the same Gen 2 8-core processor as its predecessor, delivering four times the processing power of the MPC Live II, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It’s enough headroom to run big projects, load third-party plugins and keep things moving without the sluggishness that used to come with standalone setups.
The 16 MPCe pads feature 3D-sensing technology – pressure, velocity and positional data all working together to give performers and producers a more expressive playing surface. A 7-inch multitouch display keeps navigation straightforward, and the performance touch strip adds an extra layer of real-time control for live sets.
Its portability remains a strong suit. The built-in rechargeable battery offers up to three hours of use, and onboard stereo monitors plus a built-in microphone mean sampling ideas on the fly doesn’t require any additional gear. When studio integration is needed, there’s comprehensive connectivity on offer: two XLR combo inputs, six audio outputs, eight CV/gate outputs, dual MIDI ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB-C with Ableton Control Mode support.
It also ships with several features exclusive to this model – Pro Reverb, Pro Stems Separation, Clip Matrix, CV Playgroup and Super TS among them – running under MPC3 OS.
The MPC Live III is available for pre-order now, with an estimated arrival date of August 2025. Head here for local enquiries.
