Brand
Akai, a Japanese company, made their biggest impact with the MPC series of samplers. The MPC revolutionised hip hop, R&B, and beat-driven music. Modern Akai still make powerful MPC units that combine standalone hardware with DAW integration. They also produce popular controllers like the MPK series. If sampling and beatmaking is your world, Akai’s legacy and present-day gear are second to none.
Category
Drum machines are electronic instruments designed to create and control rhythm, allowing you to programme beats, patterns and grooves with precision. They are widely used in electronic music, hip hop, pop and experimental styles, as well as for songwriting and practice. If you want tight, repeatable rhythms or creative control over percussion without a full drum kit, drum machines offer a powerful and flexible way to shape the rhythmic foundation of your music.
Tags
Digital is sound generation and processing based on digital signal processing rather than analogue circuitry. It is used for precise control, stable tuning, patch memory, and complex sound design that would be difficult to achieve with purely analogue systems. For example, a digital instrument might be used to create detailed evolving textures or realistic emulations while storing and recalling complete sound setups instantly.
MIDI is a digital control standard used to transmit performance and control data between electronic instruments, computers, and hardware devices. It carries information such as note data, velocity, timing, and parameter changes rather than audio, allowing instruments and software to communicate, stay in sync, and control each other. MIDI is fundamental to modern music production, sequencing, and live performance setups.
A sampler is an instrument that records, stores, and plays back audio recordings as playable sounds. It allows samples to be triggered, pitched, sliced, and processed, turning recorded material into musical elements. Samplers are widely used for rhythm creation, melodic parts, and sound design in both studio production and live performance.
Stereo is a two-channel sound format that uses separate left and right signals to create a sense of width and space. It is used to place sounds across the listening field, making music feel more immersive and detailed. For example, a stereo synth or effect can spread a pad or texture across both channels, giving a track greater depth and separation compared to a mono signal.
USB is a digital connection used to transfer data and power between instruments, computers, and devices. It enables MIDI communication, software integration, firmware updates, and in some cases power delivery, making setup faster and reducing the need for additional cables or interfaces.
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