Akai's newly revealed device is tailored for melodic production, replacing the traditional "chop" button with tools like dedicated chord, arpeggiator, and looper controls. In addition to a 37-key keyboard and octave controls, the unit introduces a new feature labeled "Swarm" in place of Flex Beat effects. It is engineered as a standalone workstation with an onboard microphone and speaker, though launch dates and prices remain unannounced.
Key points
Melodic instrument creation replaces traditional drum-chopping functionality as the core…: Melodic instrument creation replaces traditional drum-chopping functionality as the core focus of the new machine.
An integrated microphone and speaker establish the unit as a completely self-contained mu…: An integrated microphone and speaker establish the unit as a completely self-contained music production workstation.
Crucial commercial details including the official pricing structure and the commercial re…: Crucial commercial details including the official pricing structure and the commercial release date have not yet been disclosed.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Akai teased its new MPC Sample Key on Instagram earlier this week, and said it plans to open-source its software so the modding community can hack it to their hearts’ delight. While there’s no word yet on when the device will launch or how much it will cost, The Verge has received exclusive images of the upcoming instrument that offer some details about its feature set.
Exclusive details about Akai’s MPC Sample Key
The open-source MPC Sample Key won’t be focused on chopping up drum breaks.
The open-source MPC Sample Key won’t be focused on chopping up drum breaks.
While the Sample Key shares many of the same controls as the MPC Sample — including the three context-sensitive encoders, a large main encoder — it seems designed for pitched sample playback, rather than chopping up drums. In fact, the “chop” button from the MPC Sample is missing entirely from the Sample Key.
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