Akai MPC Sample

[cryophonik]

It will be interesting to see if/how this little thing integrates with a computer/DAW. Maybe I missed it somewhere, but you'd think that AKAI will integrate this with the MPC software or a similar dedicated app/plugin. Otherwise, its usability will be pretty limited. I love that Elektron has Overbridge for getting ideas from the hardware straight into your DAW.

[Uncle E]

I like the concept of an MPC for sample work, but I also wonder if it is just more tedious than working on a PC? I mean a laptop is pretty portable if you don't necessarily need pads. And on the Laptop I can drag and drop and not have to remember key combinations or menu dive, generally. And using key combinations and menu diving are what I always try to avoid.

It reminds me of the old school MPC's. Every button and pad has a shift function but they're placed logically.

I'm surprised someone hasnt made a bank of pads, knobs, and faders that attaches to a tablet and then developed an MPC-like software. Or even a similar shroud for a laptop that doubles as a case. Make it an MPC haha

MPC Fly. I have one but the weak link is the app. MPC Sample seems much better to me.

[VitaminD]

Wow looks like that was announced 14 years ago. But thats nearly exactly what I had in mind. My idea is old..

[Uncle E]

It will be interesting to see if/how this little thing integrates with a computer/DAW. Maybe I missed it somewhere, but you'd think that AKAI will integrate this with the MPC software or a similar dedicated app/plugin. Otherwise, its usability will be pretty limited. I love that Elektron has Overbridge for getting ideas from the hardware straight into your DAW.

With the other MPC's, you can simply load your projects in the MPC app or plugin. I think Elektron might still have the advantage in terms of real-time control, but I could be wrong about that.

[Uncle E]

Wow looks like that was announced 14 years ago. But thats nearly exactly what I had in mind. My idea is old..

The other problem was it only fit the iPad 2 and 3. Once my iPad 3 died, the MPC Fly became useless.

[audiojunkie]

Wow looks like that was announced 14 years ago. But thats nearly exactly what I had in mind. My idea is old..

The other problem was it only fit the iPad 2 and 3. Once my iPad 3 died, the MPC Fly became useless.

Yeah, I got bit by hardware requiring software exactly once—never again. I bought a Roland JV-1010. It was never anything but a rompler preset player for me, because I never could access the “synth” aspects of it.

Equipment like this should never be made. What a waste.

[VitaminD]

Wow looks like that was announced 14 years ago. But thats nearly exactly what I had in mind. My idea is old..

The other problem was it only fit the iPad 2 and 3. Once my iPad 3 died, the MPC Fly became useless.

ahh they should have designed the tablet holder with springs and spacers to adjust to different sizes. Maybe they'll make another one day? At least I think with the write software it would do well. But they probably don't want that since it would reduce hardware sales..

[Constructed Identity]

Looks pretty impressive for live use + portability.

[audiojunkie]

It DOES!




"I’m told I lie constantly when I say Linux is great — which is wild, because I’m apparently “misleading” you with things like: it boots, it runs my audio workflow, it stays stable, it gets updates, and it keeps existing despite being declared dead every year since forever. Also yes, it’s “too hard,” “too niche,” “no devs will ever care,” and “Linus complained once,” so clearly I must be fabricating my entire operating system out of pure delusion."
-----The Delusional Linux Advocate

[VariKusBrainZ]

Trying to compete with the Roland SP404 and Teenage Engineering EP. The Roland winds hands down effects wise

[Old Norse]

CDM's Peter Kirn does a feature-by-feature comparison with the original MPC60.

https://cdm.link/akais-mpc-sample-vs-original-mpc60/

[audiojunkie]

Trying to compete with the Roland SP404 and Teenage Engineering EP. The Roland winds hands down effects wise

Oh yeah. The SP404 mk2 effects are excellent. The only problem that holds me back with the SP404 mk2 is the rudimentary sequencing capabilities. Aside from that, it would be an ideal sampler. The Akai MPC Sample may just be the one that wins over all, since it's also battery operated. Time will tell.




"I’m told I lie constantly when I say Linux is great — which is wild, because I’m apparently “misleading” you with things like: it boots, it runs my audio workflow, it stays stable, it gets updates, and it keeps existing despite being declared dead every year since forever. Also yes, it’s “too hard,” “too niche,” “no devs will ever care,” and “Linus complained once,” so clearly I must be fabricating my entire operating system out of pure delusion."
-----The Delusional Linux Advocate

[audiojunkie]

OK, I did some checking and I found a problem for me with this device:

You’re asking whether the MPC Sample can do this:

Take one sample → map it across a range of keys → play polyphonic chords from a MIDI keyboard (like a synth or keygroup sampler).

That feature is typically called:

Keygroup mode
Chromatic / keyboard mapping
Multi‑sample or single‑sample pitch mapping


What the MPC Sample actually supports
Polyphony — YES

The MPC Sample supports 32 stereo voices of polyphony, meaning multiple notes can sound at once [nxcode.io], [anthropic.com]
You can trigger many pads simultaneously
You can layer sounds and overlap voices

Key‑range / chromatic mapping — NO

There is no keygroup program type
No way to assign a single sample across a keyboard range
No chromatic pad mode
No root‑key + range + tuning system

Akai explicitly describes the MPC Sample engine as a “streamlined sampling engine” focused on pads, chopping, and resampling — not instrument‑style playback. [aadhunik.ai]
The official FAQ and user guide list:

Pad‑based sample assignment
Chopping
Looping
Resampling

…but do not list keygroup instruments or chromatic playback, which are listed features on MPC One / Live / X models.

This means that you either have to assign a sample per pad for each transposed note, or you don't get to play with anything other than single sounds and drums. You can't assign a note and map it up and down the keyboard. It also doesn't look like you can create and save an instrument, but you save samples directly to pads as a bank.

So, the weakness with the SP404mk2 is the sequencer, and the weakness with the Akai MPC Sample is lack of keymapping.




"I’m told I lie constantly when I say Linux is great — which is wild, because I’m apparently “misleading” you with things like: it boots, it runs my audio workflow, it stays stable, it gets updates, and it keeps existing despite being declared dead every year since forever. Also yes, it’s “too hard,” “too niche,” “no devs will ever care,” and “Linus complained once,” so clearly I must be fabricating my entire operating system out of pure delusion."
-----The Delusional Linux Advocate

[Uncle E]

Usually that's done on MPC with 16 Levels.

[audiojunkie]

Another thing that has a potential problem is the instrument creation and reuse. It looks like you can save a template project, but that seems like it would be quite a pain:

Is there a way to save a set of pads as an instrument?
Copilot said:
Copilot
Short, accurate answer first — then the nuance:

No — on the Akai MPC Sample, you cannot save a set of pads as an “instrument” in the MPC sense.
You can save pad sets, but only as part of a project, not as a reusable instrument or program that behaves like a keyboard or keygroup.

Here’s the precise breakdown.

What “saving a set of pads as an instrument” usually means
Typically this implies one of the following:

A reusable program (load it into other projects)
A keyboard‑playable instrument (key‑ranged, chromatic)
A self‑contained pad instrument that retains tuning, envelopes, FX, etc.
This is possible on MPC One / Live / X / XL
This is not supported on MPC Sample

What the MPC Sample does allow
Pad sets exist inside a project
You can load samples across multiple banks of pads
Those pad assignments, tunings, envelopes, and FX are saved with the project
When you reopen the project, the pad layout is restored
This is explicitly how saving works in the MPC Sample user guide: projects are the top‑level container.
inmusicbrands

Individual samples can be saved
You can save raw samples to internal storage or microSD
Those samples can later be re‑assigned to pads in a new project
But:

Pad tuning
Pad envelopes
Pad FX
Pad layout
are not saved as a reusable instrument object

What the MPC Sample explicitly does not support
Based on Akai’s FAQ, user guide, and launch reviews:

No Program Save / Load (Drum Program, Keygroup Program)
No Keygroup instruments
No Pad Perform / Notes Mode
No instrument browser
These features are intentionally absent and are clearly listed on higher‑end MPCs but missing from the MPC Sample documentation.
nxcode
+1

Akai describes the MPC Sample engine as “streamlined” and pad‑centric, not program‑centric.

Practical workaround (important to understand)
If your goal is reuse, the only supported workflow is:

Build your pad set
Save the entire project
Duplicate that project as a template
Start new ideas from the template
This works
It is not the same as saving an instrument or kit

Comparison table (very clear)
Feature MPC Sample
Save project Yes
Save individual samples Yes
Save pad set as reusable kit No
Save pad set as instrument No
Keygroup / keyboard instrument No
Bottom line (no ambiguity)
The Akai MPC Sample does not support saving a set of pads as an instrument or program.
Pad layouts live only inside projects.

This is one of the main differences between the MPC Sample and the rest of the MPC lineup.

So, based on what I'm reading, it appears that this is going to be really good for drums and loops, but it will be a pain for setting up musical instruments for it. It can be done, but getting it done would be a pain.


"I’m told I lie constantly when I say Linux is great — which is wild, because I’m apparently “misleading” you with things like: it boots, it runs my audio workflow, it stays stable, it gets updates, and it keeps existing despite being declared dead every year since forever. Also yes, it’s “too hard,” “too niche,” “no devs will ever care,” and “Linus complained once,” so clearly I must be fabricating my entire operating system out of pure delusion."
-----The Delusional Linux Advocate