Akai

Beat machines and controllers to bring your tracks to life.

About Akai

Akai Professional has been building tools for beat makers and producers since the 1980s. Based in Japan, the company earned its reputation with the MPC series, samplers and drum machines that defined hip-hop production and remain studio staples today. Akai's approach is hands-on: pads, knobs, and faders designed for tactile control. Their gear integrates with DAWs and standalone workflows, making them a go-to for producers who want hardware that responds like an instrument. The MPC line continues to evolve, while their keyboard and surface controllers bring that same build quality to MIDI control.

MPC Samplers and Drum Machines

The MPC series is Akai's flagship. These are standalone samplers with sequencers, effects, and touch-sensitive pads. The MPC Live II and MPC One let you produce without a computer, sampling audio, chopping loops, and arranging beats on the hardware itself. The MPC X is the studio centerpiece, with a larger screen and expanded I/O. If you're working in a DAW, the MPC Studio connects as a USB controller with the same workflow. These machines are built for finger drumming and sample manipulation, with swing quantization and note repeat that feel natural under your hands.

Keyboard Controllers

Akai's keyboard controllers range from compact 25-key models to full 88-key hammer-action boards. The MPK series includes pads, knobs, and faders alongside the keys, turning a MIDI controller into a production hub. The MPK Mini is portable and USB-powered, good for sketching ideas on the go. The MPK249 and MPK261 add aftertouch and more controls for studio work. These controllers map to most DAWs out of the box, with presets for Ableton, Logic, and FL Studio. The pads are velocity-sensitive, pulled from the MPC design.

Surface Controllers

Akai's surface controllers focus on mixing and parameter control. The APC series was designed with Ableton in mind, with clip launching, scene triggering, and mixer control built into the layout. The APC40 MKII and APC Key 25 give you hands-on access to session view without reaching for a mouse. The MIDI Mix and MIDI Mix Pro are compact fader controllers for mixing in any DAW. These units are straightforward: buttons, faders, and knobs that do what you expect. No menu diving.

Shop Akai at Blackout Audio

Akai's MPC samplers and keyboard controllers are designed for producers who want tactile, responsive gear. Browse the full range online, with free shipping on orders over $199 across Canada. Questions about which MPC or controller fits your setup? Contact the team.