It helped turn drum machines from somewhat of a gimmick, into a truly viable instrument. No longer did musicians need a full band, or have to head to the studio now you could create complex rhythms entirely in the box. It quite literally changed the game, delivering a whole host of fresh digital production techniques to the music world. This was something that hadn’t really been seen up until this point. This suite of features made it far more flexible than other popular drum machines like the Roland TR-808, (which boasts a more traditional step-based system).

It was sampling made simple, combined with powerful sequencing, recording and editing tools. These could be played with your fingers, allowing you to craft beats/loops from percussion, synths, horns and other samples that were stored within the unit. Each as intuitive as the next, the very first – the highly sought after MPC 60 – consisted of a grid of 16 velocity sensitive, programmable pads. Since its introduction in the late ’80s, the Akai MPC has spawned a whole range of subsequent samplers.

It’s regarded as one of the most influential electronic instruments ever produced, leaving an indelible mark on not just the hip-hop genre, but recorded music itself. This cutting-edge instrument provided producers and beatmakers with new and unparalleled sequencing and sampling functions. The Akai MPC – which stands for Music Production Centre – isn’t just any old drum machine.

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