NAMM 2020: Akai’s New MPC One – Fully Featured Standalone MPC

It just wouldn’t be a NAMM show without some new samplers to sink our teeth into, lucky for us Akai have provided the goods. Akai Professional continue their DAWless beat making and music production product line with a new standalone MPC One which Akai claims as their most powerful MPC yet. 

The MPC One runs the same software as it’s predecessors the MPC Live and X, and can also be run in a controller mode with the MPC desktop software. Pop the hood and the MPC One is powered by a multicore processor with 2GB of RAM and 2GB of preinstalled sounds and samples. The hardware features MPC’s familiar multi-gesture touch display, 16 RGB pads and the usual buttons and encoders for navigating around the hardware. 

A couple standout features for me at first glance is the ethernet connectivity for creating a network, enabling use with Ableton Link or to sync your Splice library from your desktop.  It’s also rockin’ 4 TRS CV/Gate outputs to play nice with your semi modular and modular gear. Plus there’s also something to be said for the form-factor, Akai say it’s their most ‘compact and tactile’ Akai ever designed (maybe since the MPC 500, if you can remember that far back?!). 

Looks like Akai may have gone back to their roots, The MPC One instantly brought back memories of my beloved old MPC2000, a legendary sampler from back-in-the-day and still revered by many. It seems to have answered the calls for a fully stand-alone production workstation at an attractive price point.  

 Features: 

• Full-colour LED-backlit display with touch interface
• 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads
• 2GB RAM, 4GB onboard storage
• Processor: Quad-core ARM® processor
• MIDI In/Out
• 4 TRS CV/Gate Jacks, 8 Outputs Total
• USB Flash & SD Card storage
• Works as a control surface for PC & Mac and includes a full version of MPC2 Desktop Software

 US $699, local pricing yet to be announced.

akaipro.com/mpc-one