History
The original MPC60 was a first result of alliance between Roger Linn and Akai to design products similar to those of Linn Electronics. He developed the functional design, including the panel layout and software/hardware specifications. He then created the software with a team of engineers. The hardware electronics were designed by English engineer David Cockerell and his team. Cockerell was a founding member of the synthesizer firm EMS (co-creator of their famous VCS 3 along with Peter Zinovieff,), and then worked for effects manufacturers Electro-Harmonix.
Shortly after the MPC60's release, the MPC60-II was designed. Released in 1991, the MPC60-II offered most of the same features as the MPC60, with an added headphone output and a plastic housing replacing the original metal one. In 1994, Akai released the MPC3000, which boasted 16-bit, 44 kHz sampling, 32-voice polyphony, and SCSI data transfer. Akai developed and released the MPC2000 without Linn in 1997. Akai tried to save money by dropping Roger Linn, the brainchild behind the MPC, to whom they would have to pay royalties on future models. The MPC2000 came with 2 MB of RAM, an optional effects board, and a 100,000 note 64-track sequencer. The MPC2000 was replaced by the MPC2000XL in 2000. The MPC2000XL added an improved 300,000 note sequencer, a 64-track mixer and time-stretch and resample features. Four limited edition models of the MPC2000XL were released.
In 2002 Akai unveiled the MPC4000, the most powerful MPC ever made (higher bitrate and resolution than the later 5000). The MPC4000 featured 8 assignable outputs, a hard drive and CD-ROM drive. The MPC4000's memory could be expanded to up to 512 MB of RAM, the largest amount on an MPC to date. Only two years after the release of the MPC4000, Akai released the MPC1000, which was the smallest in the MPC product line at the time of its release. It was also the first MPC to utilize CompactFlash memory. Both the MPC2500 and the MPC500 were added to the Akai MPC series in 2006. The MPC2500 is a mid-range MPC with 8 assignable outputs and CompactFlash storage. Designed for portability, the MPC500 features 1 MIDI In/Out and CompactFlash storage, and can be powered by 6 AA batteries.
At NAMM in 2012 Akai unveiled a line of controllers named the MPC Renaissance, and MPC Studio which work with MPC Renaissance software on Mac or Windows computers. Additionally they unveiled the MPCFly, an iPad2 controller which runs on the iPad MPCFly app, available from the Apple app store.
September, 2012 - The MPC Renaissance was publicly released. The Renaissance is the first hybrid MPC combining the computer with and MPC hardware.
Read more about this topic: Music Production Center
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