As we celebrate the best of 2021 and look forward to 2022, the Akai MPC Studio 2 takes the award for best new MIDI controller.
The legendary Akai MPC series has grown and evolved immeasurably since its debut in 1988. The overall concept is largely the same – sequencing, samples and loops with a smooth, inspiring workflow – but the approach has changed significantly.
In the early days, it was all about standalone operation, and early models like the MPC60 and MPC3000 were extremely basic by modern standards. By the launch of the MPC Renaissance in 2012, Akai had embraced the software revolution, creating hybrid models which worked smoothly with DAWs and virtual instruments. These days, the MPC range embraces a flexible approach, with standalone hardware models like the MPC One and MPC Live designed to work alongside MPC software and even iOS apps (you can read all about the Akai Professional range in our Brand Focus feature).
The second-generation MPC Studio arrived this year and takes the award for our MIDI controller category, but that really only tells half the story; the Studio controller is designed to work seamlessly with the included MPC 2 software, which runs on Mac or PC. Combining the two, you have a hybrid hardware-software MPC, with the hands-on feel and efficient workflow of hardware, plus all the processing power and flexibility of software. In practical terms, it feels more like a sequencer or a sampler than ‘just’ a MIDI controller thanks to the excellent MPC pads, colour screen and unique assignable touch strip.
There are pros and cons to the hybrid workflow, but the biggest pro of all is the simple fact that it’s more affordable than standalone options, assuming you have a suitable computer on which to run the software. The MPC Studio’s £209 price tag makes it an entry-level rival to Native Instruments’ Maschine Mikro Mk3. Both are great options, but the excellent MPC 2 software and innovative MPC Studio hardware make it a hugely appealing instrument.
The Akai MPC Studio 2 is in stock now, priced at £209.