Uncompromising MPC Production Power: Expanded
With the release of the MPC Key 61, Akai Professional combined their legendary MPC production platform with a keyboard workstation for the first time. The latest iteration packs the full scope of its multimodal sonic forces into a mobility-minded form factor. Enter: the MPC Key 37, an unrelenting fusion of iconic MPC beat crafting and a 37-key range of voltaic performance possibilities. Akai’s MPC changed music forever in the late ’80s once pop and hip-hop luminaries got their hands on it, and this MPC Key 37 features refined versions of MPC tools with additional pressure-sensitive velocity pads, polyphonic aftertouch, touch-sensitive Q-Link knobs, and much more. Use the MPC Key 37 as a standalone workstation; a controller/input for DAWs, MIDI devices, or hardware synths; a sampler; and almost anything else. The onboard LED display features a vivid, full-color 7-inch touchscreen, and the MPC’s 32GB onboard storage comes loaded with 10GB of preinstalled content ready for use right out of the box. Plus, it’s easy to expand the MPC’s storage, thanks to a built-in drive bay for solid-state or hard disk drives, a feature that Sweetwater’s groovebox enthusiasts are eager to embrace with the wealth of sonic tools instantly available for Akai’s versatile, plug-in-capable MPC architecture.
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Endless ways to sample and create
Together, MPC software and keyboard workstation tools are forces to be reckoned with. There are endless ways to apply the MPC Key 37. You can use it as a sampler, as a controller for analog synths, as a MIDI controller in a DAW, or simply as a standalone production studio using onboard sounds, instruments, and software plug-ins. The device has a plethora of I/O options: dedicated 5-pin MIDI I/O, USB Type-A and USB Type-B slots, eight CV/Gate outputs for connecting modular analog gear via four TRS jacks, and a stereo input pair for extensive external audio incorporation. Plus, the MPC Key 37 supports Ableton Link over Wi-Fi so you can wirelessly connect with and use Ableton Link–supported apps. But wireless connectivity doesn’t stop there: onboard Bluetooth supports wireless MIDI performances with compatible iOS devices, making the MPC Key 37 a no-holds-barred behemoth for limitless multi-format setups. Finally, to get you up and running, your keyboard arrives with eight plug-ins: Bassline, Electric, Hype, Mellotron, Odyssey, Solina, Tubesynth, and MPC Drum.
Tailor-made for production with dedicated OS and RAM
With so many onboard features, the Akai MPC Key 37 ensures lightning-fast performance via onboard RAM and a dedicated operating system powering its tools. In short, it’s a standalone computer built for music production — no PC, extra software, or purchases necessary. And while it’s a fiercely independent device, the MPC Key 37 also plays well with others, with endless ways to connect analog and digital devices.
Modular storage with limitless sample size
The MPC Key 37’s 32GB onboard storage comes preloaded with roughly 10GB of classic and cutting-edge Akai sonics. Expanding the onboard storage with your samples, sequences, and more is easy by using the USB Type-A and Type-B slots for thumb drives or a built-in slot for adding a dedicated solid-state or hard disk drive. Such features make the MPC Key 37 practically future-proof with plenty of ways to ensure storage never runs low. What’s more, it places no limit on sample sizes — the only thing that will ever restrain your sample size is available storage space, which means more room for experimentation and high-quality audio.
Generous track allotments
The MPC Key 37’s sky-high track count gives creators incredible room for self-expression. Hardware sequences can contain up to eight audio tracks, while a sequence in the MPC software can contain 128 audio tracks. Up to 128 MIDI/drum/VST tracks at 16-, 24-, or 32-bit resolutions up to 96kHz are possible, as well. And that’s far from this device’s limit. There’s additional support for up to eight stereo tracks and another 128 MIDI/drum/VST tracks from external hardware. Subtle features like these are just one peek at what’s made the MPC essential hardware for producers, beat creators, and artists of all kinds for decades.
The MPC legacy
Picture this: the year is 2007. A 60 Minutes camera zooms in on Kanye West as he taps out a simple beat on an Akai MPC. Interviewer Bob Simon remarks, “I don’t think anyone would believe you’re doing that all from this one rhythm machine.” And yet, it was true. Indeed, the MPC platform’s tools built some of the most memorable hip-hop tracks of all time, a big reason why it continues to be a popular choice for both beginners and professionals. Now, the Key 37 version builds on that MPC’s legacy with an array of features not found on previous models.
Akai Professional MPC Key 37 Standalone MPC Production Keyboard Features:
- Standalone music production center — no computer required
- Sequence, sample, or connect to a DAW, a MIDI device, or analog synth hardware
- Backlit LED color display with touch control
- MIDI in/out
- 16 RGB-backlit pressure-sensitive pads, 8 banks, and 38 function buttons
- 4 fully assignable, touch-sensitive Q-Link knobs for any parameters
- 8 configurable CV/Gate outputs across 4 TRS jacks that provide extensive support for modular gear control
- Hardware that supports up to 8 audio tracks and software that supports up to 128 audio tracks and 128 software MIDI/drum/VST/key group/CV tracks
- 32GB of onboard memory with flexible expansion options to build your perfect multimode production and performance powerhouse
- Ableton Link, built-in Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth support for expanding wireless connectivity options for flexible production
- Wireless MIDI over Bluetooth with compatible iOS devices that guarantees near-endless support for setups of all connectivity formats
- Wide assortment of I/O, including USB, MIDI, 1/4-inch, TRS, and dedicated expression/sustain jacks, that ensures expressivity is always on tap
- Flexible computer connectivity that lets you treat the Key 37 as a 2-in/2-out USB audio interface for malleable studio arrangements
- 8 plug-ins included: Bassline, Electric, Hype, Mellotron, Odyssey, Solina, Tubesynth, and MPC Drum
