Akai Professional has introduced the latest member its music production center (MPC) family, the MPC500.

Portable and battery-powered, the MPC500’s functionality includes drum programming, sequencing, and sampling capabilities that allow artists the luxury of creating music on the go in a compact, road-worthy chassis. The MPC500 is data compatible with both the MPC1000 and the MPC2500 and includes both line and mic inputs for sampling your own sounds.

Other enhancements include a mass storage-class USB port, which makes it easier than ever to store a massive amount of sample and sequencer data. With the addition of the built-in compact flash drive, musicians and producers will have greater access than ever to all sounds and sequencer data.

Features:

• A 32-voice drum/phrase sampler with up to 128MB RAM
• Pattern-based 48-track sequencer allowing users to assign a different program on each track or record MIDI data to be sent to an external sound module Renowned MPC style pressure sensitive pads including 12 levels and full level features
• Built-in Analog I/O with switchable Mic/Line inputs, 1/4″ stereo headphone output and MIDI I/O
• Support for standard WAV files and MIDI sequences
• Internal sounds in flash with on-board stereo and master effects
• A low-pass filter with resonance per voice capability

General
• Display: 2 x 16 character LCD w/back light
• Memory card slot:Compact Flash (The size of the compact flash card that MPC500 can handle is from32MB to 2GB)
• Dimensions: 266mm x 175mm x 44mm
• Weight: 1.34 kg
• Power requirement: 12v DC 600mA (negative tip)
• Battery life: Approximately 4.5 hours of continuous use with LCD backlight ON.

Sound Generator

• Sampling rate: 44.1kHz
• Memory capacity: 16MB standard (11.5MB for sound memory), expandable to 128MB
• Recording time: 136sec. (16MB, MONO) or 24m28sec. (128MB, MONO)
• Memory expansion slot: 1 x for optional EXM128
• Data format: 16-bit linear
• Polyphony: up to 32 (dependent on processing)
• Dynamic filtering: 2-pole lowpass filter per voice
• Preset sound memory: 5MB
• Number of programs: 24

Effects

• Effects: 2 stereo effects and Master effect
• Effect type: Chorus, Flanger, Bit grunger, 4 band EQ, Compressor, Phase shifter, Tremolo,
• Flying pan, Reverb, Delay
• Master effect: 4 band EQ, Compressor

Sequencer

• Maximum events: 100,000 notes
• Resolution: 96 parts per 1/4-note
• Sequences: 99
• Tracks per sequence: 48
• MIDI output channels: 16
• Song mode: 20 songs, 250 steps per song
• Drum pad: 12 (velocity and pressure sensitive)
• Drum pad banks: 4
• Sync mode: MIDI clock

Inputs/Outputs

• Record input (L and R): 1/4-inch stereo phone x 2, pseudo balanced -40dBu, input impedance 9k ohm
• Max. Input level: +10dBu
• Stereo output (L and R): 1/4-inch phone x 2 pseudo balanced +11dBu, output impedance 1k Ohms,
• Max. Output level: +5 dBu
• Phones output: 1/4-inch stereo phone x 1, 200mW / 100 ohms
• MIDI inputs: 1 x 5-pin DIN
• MIDI outputs: 1 x 5-pin DIN
• USB: Slave connector x 1, USB MASS STORAGE CLASS support (Windows 2000/ME/XP or later version, or Mac OS 9.x/10.x or later version.)

Data Compatibility

• MPC1000: SEQ, WAV, PGM
• MPC2000/2000XL: SEQ, WAV, SND, PGM (Most parameters of PGM file can be loaded.)
• MPC2500: SEQ, WAV, PGM
• MPC4000: SEQ, WAV, PGM (DRUM program only. Only note assign and tune are loaded.)
• MPC3000: SND (THRU Computer)
• Z4/Z8: WAV, PGM (DRUM program only. Only note assign and tune are loaded.)
• S5000/6000: WAV only (THRU Computer)

The MPC500 has an MSRP of $1,299.00 and is shipping immediately.

More information is available at the Akai site.