Akai's MPC Sample Key Revealed in New Images, With 37 Keys and Open-Source Ambitions
Newly published images provide a closer look at Akai's unreleased keyboard sampler, revealing controls for melodic performance, a built-in looper, and an unfamiliar Swarm effect.
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Akai's forthcoming MPC Sample Key is taking shape ahead of its formal launch. In an October 30 exclusive, The Verge published new images that reveal additional details about the instrument's control layout and intended use. Unlike the pad-based MPC Sample, the keyboard model appears primarily designed around pitched sample playback and melodic performance. Akai has not announced a retail price or release date.
The hardware pictured in the report features a 37-key keyboard, dedicated pitch and modulation wheels, three context-sensitive encoders, and a larger main encoder. Buttons for octave selection, chords, and arpeggiation suggest a workflow built around playing samples as musical notes rather than slicing drum loops. The original MPC Sample's dedicated chop button is absent from the newly pictured layout.
A separate looper control points toward live layering and performance-oriented sampling. Another notable addition is an effect labeled Swarm, which appears in place of the MPC Sample's Flex Beat effects. The Verge reports that the exact purpose of Swarm remains unclear. The instrument also retains a built-in microphone and speaker, suggesting that users will be able to capture sounds and make music without immediately connecting additional recording equipment.
Akai has already indicated that it intends to open-source software for the device and support independent modifications. That approach could make the MPC Sample Key appealing to musicians who want an instrument they can customize beyond its original factory functions. Front-panel settings also suggest MIDI and potentially control-voltage connectivity, although the rear panel has not yet been shown publicly. Those connections, along with the complete feature set, remain subject to formal confirmation.