The new compact standalone sampler brings the classic MPC experience to a portable, battery-powered device that anyone can pick up and play.
The MPC has shaped more records than most producers care to count, and now Akai Professional wants to put that same legacy in your back pocket.
Just released, the MPC Sample is the brand’s most accessible standalone sampler to date. Drawing inspiration from the legendary MPC60, it’s a compact, battery-powered device built for spontaneous creativity, whether you’re on the couch, backstage or in transit.
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The Sample’s battery life sits at up to five hours on a single charge, and the built-in 3-watt speaker plus internal microphone means you can capture ideas without the need for extra gear. A 2.4-inch full-colour display handles waveform editing, while 2 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD) give you plenty of room to work. Sixteen RGB velocity-sensitive MPC pads with poly aftertouch deliver the same expressive feel the MPC name is been known for. Three real-time control knobs and a legacy MPC parameter fader keep things tactile without being overwhelming.
Sampling features include Instant Sample Chop Mode, which automatically divides samples into playable sections, plus real-time Timestretch and Repitch. Internal resampling with effects means you can flip and sculpt sounds directly on the device. You don’t even need a DAW – this unit is built to pick up and play.
The MPC Sample ships with over 100 factory kits spanning hip-hop, house, drum & bass and lo-fi, backed by 60 effect types across four engines: Pad FX, Knob FX, FlexBeat and Colour-Compressor. Stereo inputs and outputs, MIDI in/out, Sync Out, and USB-C round out the connectivity, and projects load directly into MPC3 for anyone wanting to continue working in software.
Akai MPC Sample at a glance
- Performance & sound 16 RGB velocity-sensitive MPC pads with poly aftertouch · 32 stereo voices of polyphony with disk streaming · MPC Sequencer with Real-Time Swing (960 PPQN) · Instant Sample Chop Mode · Real-time Timestretch and Repitch · Internal resampling with FX · Over 100 factory kits included
- Effects 4 effects engines with 60 effect types: Pad FX, Knob FX, FlexBeat and Color-Compressor
- Interface 2.4″ full-colour LCD with waveform editing · 3 real-time control knobs · Legacy MPC parameter fader · MPC Note Repeat, Sequence Recall and Sample Recall
- Portability Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (up to 5 hours) · Built-in 3-watt speaker · Internal microphone · Compact footprint: 23.6 × 19.4 × 5.0 cm
- Connectivity 2 × 1/4″ TRS inputs · 2 × 1/4″ TRS outputs · 1/8″ headphone output · MIDI In/Out · Sync Out · USB-C power, MIDI, audio I/O and file transfer
- Storage 2 GB RAM · 8 GB internal storage · microSD card expansion
- Software compatibility Standalone operation, no computer required · Projects load directly into MPC3 · Supports WAV, MP3, AIFF, FLAC, OGG and more
“MPC Sample represents a new chapter for the MPC legacy,” said Andy Mac, Brand Director at Akai Professional. “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.”
The MPC Sample is available now through authorised dealers worldwide. To learn more, please visit www.akaipro.com. Head here for local enquiries.
