Akai just moved the standalone MPC line into a new generation, and the two machines kicking it off are easy to like. The MPC One G2 and the MPC Key 37 G2 both run the new MPC3 operating system on a G2 eight-core processor that Akai rates at four times the performance of the last generation. In practical terms that means larger projects, faster load times, more audio tracks, and more plugin instruments running entirely on the hardware, with no computer in the loop. Akai also had some fun with the looks, pulling the colorways straight out of MPC history.
Both units share the same engine and the same headline numbers: up to 16 stereo audio tracks, up to 32 plugin instruments, a 7 inch color touchscreen, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal storage, and single-cable USB-C that carries 24-in/24-out audio plus MIDI at once. Where they part ways is the body you sit down to. One is a compact desktop beatmaker. The other puts a real keyboard under your hands.
MPC One G2
The One G2 is the compact desktop MPC, and the blue is a direct nod to the classic MPC1000 and MPC4000. It is small, about 10.7 inches square and 4.7 pounds, so it earns its spot on a crowded desk and travels without complaint. None of that comes at the cost of the workflow. You still get the 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive RGB pads MPC players reach for, four touch-sensitive Q-Link knobs, and the full 7 inch touchscreen for chopping samples and arranging.
What the G2 jump buys you here is room to grow. Sixteen stereo audio tracks and 32 plugin instruments is a lot of song to build on a box this size, and it all runs standalone. On the back you get balanced 1/4 inch ins and outs, 5-pin MIDI in and out, four TRS CV/Gate jacks driving eight outputs for modular and analog gear, an SD slot, USB-A, and the USB-C port that handles audio, MIDI, and host duties on one cable.
MPC Key 37 G2
If you write on keys, this is the one to look at. The Key 37 G2 is a standalone MPC built around a 37-key synth-action keybed with aftertouch, plus pitch and modulation wheels, so melody and harmony come from your hands instead of the pads. The cream finish is a tribute to the original MPCs from the late '80s, and it looks the part. The 16 MPC pads are still right there above the keys for finger drumming and sample triggering.
Under the hood it is the same modern production engine as the One G2: MPC3 OS, the G2 processor, 16 stereo audio tracks, and 32 plugin instances, all on a 7 inch multitouch display. Keyboard players also get the connections they actually use, including separate sustain, footswitch, and expression pedal inputs, balanced ins and outs, 5-pin MIDI, CV/Gate, and the same one-cable USB-C connection for audio and MIDI. It is a bigger instrument at roughly 22.9 inches wide and 9.6 pounds, which is the trade you make for a playable keybed.
What the G2 generation actually changes
The spec that matters most is MPC3 OS running on real horsepower. The track-based workflow and the Linear Arranger let you build full songs in a DAW-style timeline right on the hardware, not just loop layers. The extra processing is what makes 16 audio tracks and 32 plugins feel usable instead of a number on a box. You can sample straight from a phone, tablet, or external device over USB-C and turn it into a playable instrument in seconds. And when you do want a computer in the picture, both include Ableton Live Control Mode along with Ableton project import and export, so the MPC slots into a hybrid setup without becoming a paperweight when you unplug it.
Both ship with an upgraded factory sound library and bundled instrument plugins, so there is plenty to make music with the moment you power up. The choice between them really comes down to how you work: the One G2 if you build from pads and samples on a compact desk, the Key 37 G2 if you want keys, wheels, and pedals in the same box.
We have both of the new G2 MPCs at Chuck Levin's, and we are happy to talk through which one fits the way you make music. Come try them out in Wheaton, or pick one up at ChuckLevins.com.