street priceThe Akai MPC One stands as the most compact member of the MPC family, offering a powerful music production solution in a remarkably portable package. Weighing just over 2kg, it's designed for producers who need professional-grade capabilities without sacrificing desk space or mobility. While it lacks battery power — requiring a constant connection to a power supply — this design choice helps maintain both its competitive price point and lightweight form factor.
Despite its reduced footprint, Akai has masterfully arranged the MPC One's control layout to maximize functionality. The device features the same high-quality 7-inch touchscreen found in its larger siblings, complemented by four Q-Link rotary controls and a primary browser knob. Though the plastic buttons don't quite match the tactile satisfaction of the rubber ones on the MPC Live II, the MPC One actually offers more dedicated front panel controls, including specific buttons for Program Edit and Q-Link editing functions.
The pads, while slightly smaller than those on other MPC models (more comparable to the Novation Launchpad Pro), remain exceptionally responsive and maintain the premium feel that MPC devices are known for. Under the hood, the MPC One shares the same multicore CPU and RAM configuration as the MPC Live, ensuring identical software performance across both platforms.
Some concessions have been made in storage and connectivity to achieve the smaller form factor. The onboard storage has been reduced from the MPC Live's 16GB to just 2GB, resulting in fewer pre-loaded sounds — though the included 2GB library remains impressively comprehensive. Both USB and SD card slots are present, allowing for easy storage expansion when needed.
The input/output configuration has been streamlined to the essentials. The MPC One offers a single stereo pair for master output alongside a headphone port, and just one stereo input pair without the phono input found on the Live model. This simplification makes sampling directly from vinyl slightly more complex but not prohibitively so — most users with turntables likely already have mixing equipment that can bridge this gap.
Connectivity includes one MIDI input and output, single USB-A and USB-B ports, and an ethernet connection. The reduction to a single USB-A port may be limiting for those who regularly load samples while simultaneously controlling external MIDI devices. However, Akai has maintained the full complement of CV minijack connections, a thoughtful inclusion for modular synth enthusiasts.
Since its release, Akai has continuously enhanced the MPC One through software updates that have introduced workflow improvements, new instruments, and additional effects. The OS 2.11 update has been particularly transformative, introducing a new Sounds browser for quick navigation through instrument presets and a Setlists feature that streamlines project recall during live performances.
The update also brings probability sequencing — a feature familiar to Elektron users — allowing for more dynamic and evolving patterns. Additionally, many new instruments (available as paid plug-ins) significantly expand the MPC One's sonic capabilities. These include Fabric, OPx-4 (an FM synthesizer), Organ, Stage Piano, Stage EP, and Studio Strings — all offering professional-grade sound quality.
The depth of these instruments is impressive. For example, the Stage Piano includes four meticulously sampled pianos with multi-layer recording, comprising 2GB of sample data and extensive articulation controls. The OPx-4 FM synthesizer features built-in effects, eight macro knobs, and a 32-slot modulation matrix, offering weeks of sonic exploration potential. Each instrument comes with extensive preset banks, providing immediate creative options without requiring users to build sounds from scratch.
With its combination of sampling capabilities, sequencing tools, and expanded instrument roster, the MPC One has evolved into an endlessly explorable production platform suited for both studio work and live performance.
Country of origin / production: China
Recommend product to a friend| Usage area | |
|---|---|
| Groovebox/ MPC | |
| Sampler | |
| Color | |
| Black | |
| Production start | 2020 |
| Production ended | |
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