Akai Force

Akai Force is a modern production station and DJ system that takes you away from the computer. Perfectly mastered sampling a la MPC is a given with Akai, but Force adds four digital synths, a step sequencer, 64 pads for triggering loops, samples and scenes, a studio-quality effects section, mixing, time stretching and other features you can't do without in modern production.

Controls and connectivity
Control is highly intuitive with a seven-inch touchscreen display, colour-coded pads and function buttons that allow quick access to all important functions. On the rear panel, there's a pair of XLR/TRS combo inputs for direct sampling from mic, instruments or line, 3.5mm jacks for MIDI adapters, USB for computer and peripherals, four audio outputs and even CV jacks. The Akai Fire will also work with modular and vintage synths.

Loaded with sounds
The Akai Force is already packed from the factory with premium samples from Sample Tools by CR2, MSX Audio and Sample Magic. This means you immediately have 248 drum kits, over 2500 loops and over 500 patterns at your disposal. Viewing samples, editing them, and assigning them to individual pads is very fast thanks to the touchscreen display, and all content is also automatically synced to the BPM of the specific project.

A total of 16 GB of internal memory can be used for samples and you can also upload them using the SD card slot or a pair of USB 3.0 connectors.

Creating a track is thus a matter of a few moments. It's up to you whether you decide to remix loops, create your own groove and melodies using the step sequencer or perhaps transform samples into ambient surfaces.

You can use a total of 8 tracks at once and mix them using the virtual mixer. Each track has four send effects and there is a separate master section.

MPC sampling
Sampling can be done in real time using the combined inputs and you can also resample within a project. You can then edit individual samples in a similar way to the legendary MPC samplers - shorten, trim, chop, reverse, process - assign them to individual pads and then just wait for the applause.

The convenience you've come to expect from your DAW when creating beats is also available with Akai Force. Use the step sequencer to easily place individual beats on the grid and use the touchscreen or Swing function to fine-tune the groove. And let's not forget the highly sophisticated arpeggiator to get your chords moving.

Sophisticated synths
If you like to create your own sound from the ground up, there's nothing easier than diving into one of the four digital synthesizers. Hype combines wavetable, FM, subtractive synthesis and sampler to create rich pads, expressive leads and percussive sounds. Tubesynth embraces the sounds of analogue polyphonic synths, you'll accentuate the beat with a punchy analogue mono style bassline with Bassline, and fill in the mids with Electric 's sophisticated electric piano emulation. So. And that's it.

Controller
The Akai Force will also stand up as a full-fledged controller for your DAW. Fans of Ableton Live should get smart, for which Akai is preparing an update shortly after release that will give Force similar functionality to the controller whose name we can't reveal, but which any Live fan will immediately associate with the program's sophisticated controls (rhymes with "already").

All producers who dream of a computer-free live set-up or a powerful machine for quick beat scribbling, but which they can easily integrate into their studio, should consider checking out Akai Force.