Akai Professional Announces Portable MPC500
Akai Professional has introduced the MPC500. As the newest addition to the music production center (MPC) family, the battery-powered MPC500 now gives everyone the ability to take this popular compositional tool anywhere they go.
The new 500 makes that dopey Coors commercial (see below) with Dr. Dre a reality. Portable and battery-powered, the MPC500 allows professional musicians and producers to meet the needs of their increasingly mobile lifestyles. Its functionality offers drum programming, sequencing and sampling capabilities that allow artists the luxury of creating music on the go in a compact road worthy chassis.
The MPC500 is data compatible with both the MPC1000 and the MPC2500 and includes both line and mic inputs for sampling your own sounds. Other enhancements include a mass storage-class USB port, which makes it easier than ever to store a massive amount of sample and sequencer data. With the addition of the built-in compact flash drive, musicians and producers will have greater access than ever to all sounds and sequencer data.
General Features:
• Display: 2 x 16 character LCD w/back light
• Memory card slot:Compact Flash (The size of the compact flash card that MPC500 can handle is from32MB to 2GB)
• Dimensions: 266mm x 175mm x 44mm
• Weight: 1.34 kg
• Power requirement: 12v DC 600mA (negative tip)
• Battery life: Approximately 4.5 hours of continuous use with LCD backlight ON.
Sound Generator
• Sampling rate: 44.1kHz
• Memory capacity: 16MB standard (11.5MB for sound memory), expandable to 128MB
• Recording time: 136sec. (16MB, MONO) or 24m28sec. (128MB, MONO)
• Memory expansion slot: 1 x for optional EXM128
• Data format: 16-bit linear
• Polyphony: up to 32 (dependent on processing)
• Dynamic filtering: 2-pole lowpass filter per voice
• Preset sound memory: 5MB
• Number of programs: 24
Effects
• Effects: 2 stereo effects and Master effect
• Effect type: Chorus, Flanger, Bit grunger, 4 band EQ, Compressor, Phase shifter, Tremolo,
• Flying pan, Reverb, Delay
• Master effect: 4 band EQ, Compressor
Sequencer
• Maximum events: 100,000 notes
• Resolution: 96 parts per 1/4-note
• Sequences: 99
• Tracks per sequence: 48
• MIDI output channels: 16
• Song mode: 20 songs, 250 steps per song
• Drum pad: 12 (velocity and pressure sensitive)
• Drum pad banks: 4
• Sync mode: MIDI clock
Inputs/Outputs
• Record input (L and R): 1/4-inch stereo phone x 2, pseudo balanced -40dBu, input impedance 9k ohm
• Max. Input level: +10dBu
• Stereo output (L and R): 1/4-inch phone x 2 pseudo balanced +11dBu, output impedance 1k Ohms,
• Max. Output level: +5 dBu
• Phones output: 1/4-inch stereo phone x 1, 200mW / 100 ohms
• MIDI inputs: 1 x 5-pin DIN
• MIDI outputs: 1 x 5-pin DIN
• USB: Slave connector x 1, USB MASS STORAGE CLASS support (Windows 2000/ME/XP or later version, or Mac OS 9.x/10.x or later version.)
Data Compatibility
• MPC1000: SEQ, WAV, PGM
• MPC2000/2000XL: SEQ, WAV, SND, PGM (Most parameters of PGM file can be loaded.)
• MPC2500: SEQ, WAV, PGM
• MPC4000: SEQ, WAV, PGM (DRUM program only. Only note assign and tune are loaded.)
• MPC3000: SND (THRU Computer)
• Z4/Z8: WAV, PGM (DRUM program only. Only note assign and tune are loaded.)
• S5000/6000: WAV only (THRU Computer)
The MPC500 has an MSRP of $1,299.00 and is shipping immediately. More information on the MPC500.
