Akai just released a portable and relatively budget-friendly MPC sampler

Akai conscionable revealed specs and different specifications astir nan MPC Sample aft teasing nan gadget earlier this month. This is simply a portable sampler and groovebox that looks eerily akin to Teenage Engineering's EP series. It besides resembles immoderate legendary Akai gadgets from decades past, including nan MPC3000 and MPC60. In different words, it's easy connected nan eyes and benignant of looks for illustration a Super Famicom.

It seems beautiful capable. The Sample has 16 velocity-sensitive MPC pads pinch poly aftertouch, which should please digit drummers. It tin grip 32 stereo voices of polyphony and there's a sequencer for making existent beats.

As for sampling, there's an easy accessible chop mode, successful summation to time-stretching and repitching capabilities. Samples tin beryllium edited via waveform, acknowledgment to a full-color LCD display. The instrumentality tin resample internally pinch FX, letting creators make immoderate unsocial soundscapes. The MPC Sample boasts entree to 4 effects engines and 60 effect types.

The gadget ships pinch complete 100 mill drum kits, but users tin easy adhd immoderate they want. It comes pinch conscionable 8GB of soul storage, but there's a microSD slot for more. It can, of course, link to MIDI keyboards for playing melodic samples. The Sample besides hooks up to DAWs.

The RAM is connected nan little side, astatine conscionable 2GB. However, this is nan modular configuration for immoderate much costly units, for illustration nan MPC Live and Live II. It should beryllium capable to get nan occupation done, but nan MPC XL is nan merchandise to prime for those looking for maximum horsepower. That 1 has a whopping 16GB of RAM. It besides costs astir $3,000.

The rechargeable artillery present lasts 5 hours, which is respectable but not groundbreaking. Teenage Engineering's EP bid boasts amended artillery life, but requires pricey AAs. Finally, there's a speaker, but I've ne'er had overmuch luck pinch speakers connected this type of thing. Bring immoderate headphones to really perceive what's going on.

Perhaps nan biggest news present is nan price. The MPC Sample costs conscionable $400, which seems reasonable fixed nan shape facet and features. It's disposable correct now.

Casio precocious unveiled different nifty-looking portable sampler called nan SX-C1. It besides resembles a Nintendo product, but this clip it's a Game Boy and not nan Japanese SNES.