Akai Force

The Akai Force is an MPC in a different shape. Announced at NAMM in 2019 for $1,499, it runs the MPC engine but swaps the classic 16 pads for an 8×8 grid of clip-launch pads, promising an Ableton Live-style workflow without a computer.

How it works

You build songs by launching clips in rows and columns, with a touchscreen, touch-sensitive knobs, audio inputs and CV/Gate for synths. It shares sounds and features with the standalone MPCs, but the workflow is built around performance.

The hip hop connection

Just Blaze has talked about how the Force changed his live performance workflow. Most of its other high-profile users come from electronic music.

Buying one today

It isn’t branded MPC, so search for both names. The grid layout is very different from the 16-pad MPCs, so try one if you’re coming from classic MPC workflow.