Akai MPC Sample Key: Exclusive first look at new instrument
Exclusive images reveal Akai's upcoming 25-key MPC Sample Key, featuring melodic playback controls, a dedicated looper, and open-source software.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Akai reveals exclusive images of the upcoming MPC Sample Key instrument
- Features a 25-key keyboard layout with dedicated pitch and mod wheels
- Replaces the chop button with chord and arpeggiator modes for melodic parts
- Software will be open-sourced to encourage custom modding by the community
Following a teaser on Instagram earlier this week where Akai announced plans to open-source the software for its upcoming MPC Sample Key to let the modding community customize it freely, The Verge has obtained exclusive images of the new instrument that shed light on its feature set.
While the Sample Key shares multiple controls with the original MPC Sample—including three context-sensitive encoders and a large main encoder—it appears tailored for pitched sample playback rather than chopping drum breaks. In fact, the chop button from the standard model has been completely removed.
Opening up the software as open-source represents a notable strategy in electronic instrument design, allowing developers and musicians to craft custom extensions that stretch hardware limits far beyond factory specifications, much like custom firmwares seen in vintage and modern synthesizers.
Dedicated pitch and mod wheels offer another strong hint at its musical focus, alongside buttons for shifting the octave range of the 25-key keyboard, plus controls labeled chord and arp. These likely activate chord playback and an arpeggiator, functions far more suited for melodic and bass lines than for percussion.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The device also incorporates a dedicated looper that could prove valuable for live performances and sound layering, along with an effect termed Swarm which replaces the Flex Beat found on the original MPC Sample, though its exact mechanics remain under wraps.
Much like its predecessor in the Sample series, the Key features an onboard microphone and speaker for standalone music production. While rear panel views are not yet available, front panel configuration hints at MIDI support alongside CV outputs designed for interfacing with modular synthesizers.
Source: The Verge
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