If you’re interested in an MPC, get ready to drool.

Akai is shipping the MPC5000, the MPC they call “the most advanced MPC on the planet.”

It offers 8-track streaming hard disk recording, a 20-voice, 3-oscillator analog synthesizer with arpeggiator, a new sequencing engine with 960 ppq resolution, pad and track muting and mixing, 64 continuous sample tracks and a new effects engine with 4 FX buses and 2 FX per bus.

The Akai MPC5000 has an MSRP of $3,499.

Details below.

MPC5000 features:

• Three-oscillator virtual analog synth engine with built-in arpeggiator
• Over 300 Virtual Analog synth presets included
• Eight tracks of Direct-to-Hard Disk recording
• Over 40 all new effects available within a modular 4-bus effects processor
• Master compressor and equalizer
• Built-in hard disk drive
• Optional CD-R/DVD drive
• USB 2.0 port for computer connectivity
• CF Type-2 card slot (up to 2GB)
• Chop-Shop 2.0 - slices a stereo loop into individual samples with automatic pad assignment
• Patched Phrases - creates multiple splits in looped samples to ensure proper tempo sync without changing pitch
• Continuous Sample Track - ensures samples play in perfect sync no matter where you start the beat in a loop
• 12 Q-link controllers for internal automation, external MIDI control and quick parameter editing.
• 240 x 128 hinged backlit LCD
• 10 built-in analog outputs, plus 8 ADAT-optical outputs and stereo S/PDIF IO
• Powerful new multimode filter
• Two MIDI inputs and Four MIDI outputs
• Turntable phono inputs with RIAA pre-amp
• XLR / 1/4″ combo jacks with selectable mic/line levels
• Sample library provided by Loopmasters.com
• 64-voice drum/phrase sampler with 64MB memory built-in. Expandable up to 192MB RAM