Akai MPC60

Akai MPC60 Image

The MPC60 is the music production studio that has single-handedly taken over the Rap and R&B music genres as the main instrument of HipHop production. Designed by Roger Linn (Linn Drum), the MPC60 is a one-box-does-it-all sequencer-sampler workstation.

The built-in sequencer is very complete and professional. There are 99 tracks per sequence, 99 patterns, and 99 sequences that can be created, edited and stored in the MPC60 with ease. Most artists create their patterns in real-time adding drum parts to a beat-loop spontaneously creating a groove that captures the vibe. These patterns are varied and chained into a sequence. Full MIDI, SMPTE and various other forms of external control prepare the MPC60 for any studio situation.

The Sampler section is lo-fi but highly respectable. Its 12-bit sampling at 40KHz is pretty good. Sample editing, looping and transforming is simple to do. And finally, there's even a built-in drum machine for extra groove! Finally, the 18 voices of polyphony should be plenty of room for anyone who wants to create HipHop on the machine of professional artists worldwide including Apollo 440, BT, Jean-Michel Jarre, Jimmy Edgar, DJ Shadow, Jermaine Dupri, and A Guy Called Gerald.

Akai MPC60 II Image

In 1991 the MPC60 mkII was unleashed. It wasn't much different, the casing and a head-phone jack were new and either machine is still very useful for today's aspiring musicians.

27 Visitor comments
knobexploit
September 21, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
Great sounding drum sampler with very tight sequencer.
Has that unmistakable early Hip Hop gritt sound we all love.
12 bit resolution somehow makes the samples sound very punchy (probably good D/A convertors as well).
The MPC trick is to sample at high pitch and playback at lower, saves sample memory and gives your sound that "star dust" feeling...
Roger Linn still offers some service on parts for this machine like OS Eproms etc etc.
Excellent choice for sampling your TR808, reproduces your 808 like no other sampler and adds some extra punch as well.
Built like a tank and i loved that great arm rest.
Jeremy
August 19, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
Actually this is the MPC that DJ Premier uses.
 
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  • Demos & Media
  • YouTube Thumbnail
    Video 1
    - About the Akai MPC60 PT. 1

    Manual - Click this link to download the Akai owner's manual.

  • Specifications
  • Polyphony - 16 voices
  • Sampler - 12-bit, 40kHz, Stereo
  • Memory - 768KB (13.1 seconds) expandable to 1.5MB (26.2 seconds)
  • Filter - No filter
  • Sounds - 32 Drum sounds
  • Keyboard - 16 soft pads (w/ velocity & aftertouch)
  • Arpeg/Seq - Sequencer: 20 songs, 99 sequences, 99 tracks, 60,000 note capacity
  • Control - MIDI, MTC, SMPTE, FSK24, Pulse 96, click in
  • Date Produced - 1988

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