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Filed under: Drum Machines & Groove Boxes, Music News, User Reviews, Workstations
The MPC500 is Akai’s first portable MPC. It features a 48-track sequencer with a 32-voice stereo sampler. It has 12 velocity and pressure-sensitive rubber MPC pads. 16MB of memory comes standard and can be expanded up to 128MB.
When connected to a Mac or PC via USB, you can drag and drop data between the computer and your MPC500’s CF card, just like a hard drive. Because MPC500 is compatible with other MPCs, beats and productions created in MPC500 can be dropped into your MPC2500 when you get back into the studio.
The videos above, via riosbeatz1, demonstrate the features of the Akai MPC 500, along with how to use it.
If you’ve used the Akai MPC 500, let us know what you think of it below!
FEATURES:
- Battery powered (6 AAs) or wall powered (AC adapter included)
- Pattern-based 48-track sequencer with 16 MIDI channels
- 32-voice drum/phrase sampler with up to 128MB RAM
- Velocity and pressure-sensitive pads for responsive, accurate programming
- 12-level function places one sound on all pads with progressive level or tuning per pad
- Compact Flash drive and USB port (Mass Storage Class)
- Support for standard WAV files and MIDI sequences
- Analog I/O, headphone output, MIDI I/O
- Sounds included to get started quickly
- Four-way sample layering and velocity switching per pad
- Low-pass filter with resonance per voice
- On-board effects: two stereo effects and a master effect
Storage:
- Compact Flash: Type-II, support up to 2GB card
Memory:
- 16MB installed (Can be expanded to 128MB with EXM-128)
Analog Input/Output:
- (2) Balanced 1/4″ Inputs
- (2) Balanced 1/4″ Outputs
- (1) Headphone Output
MIDI Input/Output:
- (1) MIDI Input [5-pin DIN]
- (1) MIDI Output [5-pin DIN]
Other Input/Output:
- (1) USB [Slave only]
Levels:
- Analog Input = +10dBu
- Analog Output = +5dBu
Sampler Resolution: 16bit/44.1kHz
Sampler Recording Time:
- 136sec [16MB/MONO]
- 24min 28sec [128MB/MONO]
Sequencer Details:
- 100,000 notes resolving at 96ppq
- 99 Sequences with total 48 tracks per seq
- 20 Songs with total 250 steps per song
- 24 “Active (loaded)” Programs max
Pad Details:
- 12 (velocity and pressure sensitive)
- 4 Pad Banks [A, B, C, D]
Synchronization:
- MIDI Clock only
Power Options:
- 12V DC 500mA pin-negative power adapter (included)
- (6) AA batteries [lasts about 4.5hrs continuous use w/backlight ON]
Dimensions (W x H x D):
- 10.47″ x 1.73″ x 6.89″
- 266mm x 175mm x 44mm
Weight (net):
- 2.93 lbs / 1.34 kg
Data Compatibility:
- MPC1000 SEQ, WAV, PGM
- MPC2000/2000XL SEQ (saved as MID file only), WAV, SND, PGM (Most parameters of PGM file can be loaded.)
- MPC2500 SEQ, WAV, PGM
- MPC4000 SEQ (saved as MID file only), WAV, AKP (DRUM program only…No Keygroups. 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)
- S1000/3000 No compatibility
- Akai MPC 500 review
- MPC Sounds
- Official Akai page for the MPC 500
Related Posts
- Akai Intros MPC500 Music Production Center
- 2006 NAMM Update: Akai Debuts New MPC 2500 Music Production Center
- Akai Pro MPD32 Controller Review
- The Akai MPC 5000
- Akai Music
Tags: Akai, demo videos, MPC, music production workstation
One Response to “The Akai MPC 500 Portable Production Workstation”
Please Wait
The delivery was shoddy. Sorry you didn’t have time to figure out the functions instructor dude, but why did I need this instructional video again? Could not have figured out the 500 without your vid. Ugh, let’s see what else I have to cover..10 minutes.. wait. gotta clean the bird crap off my shoulder.