Akai MPC Sample Music Production Workstation

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Akai MPC Sample Music Production Workstation, New, Main

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Akai MPC Sample Music Production Workstation, New, In Use

zZounds Gear Experts Say...

With one foot in the past and one in the future, the Akai MPC Sample makes it easy to chop up samples for gratifyingly hands-on loop and beat creation.

Overview

For nearly 40 years, MPCs have shaped the sound and culture of modern music production. MPC Sample carries this legacy forward by making the art of sampling more accessible and approachable than ever before. Inspired by the legendary MPC60 design, this portable sampler, sequencer, and effects processor puts the iconic workflow of vintage MPCs into a compact, modern format with features that empower limitless creativity.

Legendary MPC pads, a full-color display, and simple creative controls encourage hands-on sampling, looping, and beat-making right out of the box. For immediate idea generation, this standalone hardware comes with over 100 kits, inspiring pad and knobs effects, and an intuitive chopping workflow.

MPC Sample is equipped with all the storage and connectivity options creatives need. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery, microSD card storage, an onboard sequencer, an internal microphone, a built-in speaker, and USB-C connection make it easy and convenient to record, edit, and play back audio on the go--no computer or DAW required.

Features:

- Most portable standalone compact MPC
- 16 RGB backlit MPC pads with poly aftertouch in a smaller format
- Built-in speaker
- Internal microphone
- USB-C powered with internal rechargeable battery (5 hours)
- Onboard sequencer
- 2 GB RAM, 8 GB storage (internal eMMC)
- Over 100 factory kits
- Internal disk-streaming sample engine (fast sample playback)
- 2.4" full-color display
- 3 real-time control/effects knobs
- 4… read more internal effects processors with dedicated knob control
- 60 onboard effect types
- New master compressor with retro color
- Simplified button set for fast, one-touch workflow
- Instant Sample Chop Mode
- Real-Time Timestretch/RePitch
- Internal Resampling with FX
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (5 hours)
- Legacy MPC parameter slider
- microSD card storage for user samples
- Smart Device Sampling via USB-C
- SD Card Mac/PC File Transfer via USB-C
- USB-C Audio/Midi Connectivity
- Smart device sampling via USB-C
- Record Gain knob
- Comprehensive rear I/O:
- Stereo In/Out - 1/4" TRS line-level
- Headphones - 1/8" TRS
- MIDI In/Out (will require 1/8" to MIDI DIN adapter which is not included with product)
- Sync Out

Get a closer look at the MPC Sample with producer and beatmaker Dibia$e:

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.p65Warnings.ca.gov.

Specs

- Storage Capacity: 8GB internal (*Including ~2GB factory data), microSD expansion
- RAM: 2GB
- Pads: 16 RGB-lit velocity-sensitive MPC Pads with aftertouch
- Display: Full-color LCD with high-resolution waveform editing
- I/O: INPUT: 2x 1/4-inch TRS (AUDIO IN) mic/line; OUTPUT: 2x 1/4-inch TRS (AUDIO OUT), +9dBu/2.2Vrms, 1x 1/8-inch TRS (HEADPHONES); MIDI: 1/8-inch TRS In/Out (with 'midi-through' capability); SYNC OUT: 1/8-inch TRS CV (with configurable sync rates); USB Type C (power and data)
- Mic/Speaker: Built-in mic and 3-watt speaker for portable standalone recording and monitoring
- USB Capabilities: Power, Audio In/Out Device, Midi In/Out Device, SD Card Access (file transfer to/from computer)
- Supported Power Supply: USB-C
- Battery: Lithium-Ion battery (USB rechargeable), ~5h of continuous playback
- External Storage: microSD card
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 9.29 x 7.64 x 1.97 inches (23.6 x 19.4 x 5.0 cm)
- Polyphony: 32 stereo voices
- Disk Streaming: Fast onboard disk streaming (up to 32 voices)
- Recordable Data: 128 samples/128 sequences (16 samples x 8 banks per project, 16 sequences x 8 banks per project), no project limit
- Maximum Sampling Time: 20 minutes per sample
- Recall Recording: 30 seconds audio, pad performance record to sequence
- Import Format: .wav, .mp3, .aif/.aiff, .snd, .s1s, .s3s, .flac, .ogg
- Processing Sampling Frequency: 44.1k / 32-bit float
- Supported Sampling Frequencies: File import: 24-bit or 16-bit, 44.1k, 48k, 96k; Recording: 24-bit 44.1k
- Sequencer: MPC Sequencer with Real-Time Swing, 960 pulses per quarter note
- Sampling: Fast sample-to-pad workflow from Mic, Audio In, USB (Mac/Win/iOS/Android), Resample; Threshold-controlled sampling; Fixed-length sampling for accurate loops
- Record: Classic MPC Note repeat, "Sequence Recall" (midi retrospective record), "Sample Recall"
- Effects: 60 different FX across Pad FX, Knob FX, FlexBeat, Color-Compressor
- Effects Routes: Main Output, Input, Per-Pad; Internal (Main Output, Knob FX per-pad); Real-time processing of External Inputs; Input record Knob FX
- Advanced Sample Editing: Chop mode, lazy-chopping, auto-snapping, real-time looping, warping, and Re-Pitch
- Fast Workflow: Fast one-touch functionality for intuitive sampling, recording and performance
- Legacy Fader Control: Assignable fader for customizable controls over pad parameters
- Song Mode: Easy arrangement of songs and export
- MPC3 Support: MPC Sample projects can be loaded in MPC3 to continue production in-the-box
- Accessories: USB-C cable

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging

Base Item

Shipping Weight: 2.82 lbs
Shipping Dimensions: 11 x 10 x 4 in
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): MPCSAMPLE

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 401-658-4032
Web: http://www.akaipro.com/support

Reviews

(4 ratings)

Submitted April 7, 2026 by Steve W in PATERSON, NJ

"Old School Tech with New Tech Benefits"

Overall:

(see rating details)

Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.

My first Akai was the S20 mini (back then) sampler. I had also used the MPC 3000, though in college I couldn't afford the 3k plus price tag back then, and also eventually Akai released the MPC 2000 and then XL. I eventually got my first MPC with the MPC 1000, and I immediately upgraded the Ram and built in Hard Drive. Even though my 1000 is still usable to this day, with USB 2.0 connection and CF Flash Cards, I was looking forward to a newer version of the "Old School" MPCs, don't get me wrong the Renaissance, Lives, and the XL are great, but in some ways they all reminded me more of the Roland MV 8000 (solid underrated unit) in terms of being DAWs in a box, and not so much the workflow of the older MPCs like the 2500, 1000 (with JJOS) , 4000 (underated) and the kings 2000s, 3000s, and the 60s. I have used Akai's MPC and MPK controllers, and do have the MPC Beats software, but the MPC Sample was the MPC that users like me were waiting for, I didn't wait I plugged the trigger on purchasing it immediately, because I said, this is a like an Updated 1000 with modern workflow. I have not been disappointed, well worth the purchase price, and also opens the door to work with more advanced MPCs via the MPC 3+ desktop software if you want to keep going and learn the newer MPC DAW style workflow, which like I said is also great, but just not what I wanted in a standalone MPC. Maybe I will get the XL one day, but for right now the Sample is where its at.

Sound… read more
Sound quality is very good, not quite on par with the older stand alone MPCs like the 2500, 1000, or definitely not the "boom bap" knock your windows compression of the 3000 and 60, but the sound is solid, cuts through a mix, and also is very easy to add compression and effects in post.

Features
The speed and use of the updated sample chopping, and the speed of the unit in terms of workflow and saving.

Ease of Use
Very easy, it comes pre-loaded with 100 internal kits, and mulitple demo projects to get started. That is more than the 1000 which came with sounds and demos preloaded also, but only about 20 kits and 10 Demo tracks, not 100, and these are very usuable sounds, not just generic "demo" sounds.

Quality
Very Solid, Plastic but solid.

Value
Well worth the price, its most direct competitors are the Roland SP 404 MK II and the Teenage Engineering 130 KO series. I think its definitely a better sampler and easier sequencer than the TE, not quite as good FX chains as the Roland SP 404, but a better sequencer than the Roland.

Manufacturer Support
Not with this product, but Akai Customer service is generally excellent.

The Wow Factor
Very high appeal.

Musical Style:
Hip Hop, Club, House, Reggae, Dance

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