New Akai MPC2500 Announced

On the down side, the unit ships with a mere 16mb RAM and only holds a maximum of 128MB (at time of press). It is compatible with all previous MPC program and sample data, though will only read the sample data from Akai S5/6000 and Z4/8 samplers.

Akai Professional CEO Jack O’Donnell commented on the new MPC, “The new MPC2500 Music Production Center elevates Akai Professional’s MPC Series reputation as an indispensable music production tool to a new level and further demonstrates our commitment to the music market. This is an exciting product that music professionals have been eagerly awaiting.�

The MPC2500 will be available Q4 of 2005. Pricing is not yet available but we hear it may be in the region of $2000

The MPC2500 close up

KEY FEATURES
1) Improved Akai MPC design
• Large graphic LCD display based on the friendly user interface of the MPC series
• MPC’s iconic “feel� and “groove�
• Velocity and pressure sensitive pads allow for expressive programming, with more pad banks
• New Features such as Chopshop, Patched Phrase, Grid Edit, Effect and LFO sync, Mixer Automation, and Input Thru
• Expanded Pattern-based 100,000 notes, 64-track sequencer and 64 external MIDI channels
• 32-voice full-featured 16bit sampler equipped with up to 128MB RAM (comes with 16MB) 2) Extensive connectivity
• Two MIDI inputs and four MIDI outputs
• Built-in USB Slave port for connection to a Windows or Mac OS computer
• Built-in 10 analog outputs
• 2 1/4� stereo analog inputs and outputs with 16bit/44.1kHz sampling
• Master/Slave synchronization capabilities: MIDI clock
• 2 Assignable Footswitch inputs
3) Sample Library Compatibility- Compatible with Akai MPC1000 Sequence, .wav, Program,
MPC2000/2000XL Sequence, .wav, SND, Program, MPC2500 Sequences, .wav, Programs,
MPC3000, Z4/Z8.wav and S5000/6000.wav
4) Extensive sound control
• Extensive sample editing that includes cut and paste, timestretch, slice, resampling etc, with waveform display
• Dynamic resonant multi-mode filters, 2 envelope generators and 1 LFO for each of the 32 voices
• 2 Q-Link sliders and 2 knobs for real-time control over a wide variety of dynamic changes
5) Self-contained • Optional user installable Internal hard drive to store custom sound libraries and sequences
• Optional user installable CD-RW drive to load CD-ROM libraries, sample Audio CDs, and backup personal data

SPECIFICATIONS
SOUND GENERATOR
• Sampling rate 44.1kHz
• Memory capacity 16MB standard (11.5MB for sound memory), expandable to 128MB
• Recording time 136sec. (16MB, MONO), 24m28sec. (128MB, MONO)
• Memory expansion slot 1 x for optional EXM128
• Data format 16-bit linear
• Polyphony 32
• Dynamic filtering 2 x 2-pole filter per voice
• Filter type Low pass, Band pass, High pass
• 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 64
• MIDI output channels 64 (16 channels x 4 outputs)
• Song mode 20 songs, 250 steps per song
• Drum pad 16 (velocity and pressure sensitive)
• Drum pad banks 4
• Sync mode MIDI clock

DRUM PADS:
• 16 velocity and pressure sensitive pads
• 4 pad banks
• 16 Levels: Velocity, Tuning
• Automated Pad Mixer (Level, Pan and FX send)
• Track Mute and Next Sequence features for live performance

DATA COMPATIBILITY
• MPC1000 SEQ, WAV, PGM
• MPC2000/2000XL SEQ, WAV, SND, PGM (Most parameters of PGM file can be loaded.)
• MPC2500 SEQ, WAV, PGM (DRUM program only. Only note assign and tune are loaded.)
• MPC3000 SND (THRU Computer)
• Z4/Z8 WAV only
• S5000/6000 WAV only (THRU Computer)
• S1000/3000 No compatibility


SPECIFICATIONS
Q-LINK
• 2 sliders and 2 rotary knobs
• Assignable to internal sampler controls: pitch, filter cutoff, resonance, LFO, attack, decay, and Assignable to internal effects parameters
• Assignable to external Midi Controllers
GENERAL
• 240 x 64 dot graphic LCD w/back light
• Compact Flash (up to 2GB)
CONNECTIONS
• Record input (L and R) 1/4-inch stereo phone x 2, balanced -40dBu, input impedance 11k ohms;
• Max. Input level +10dBu
• Digital input RCA-pin x 1 S/PDIF
• Stereo output (L and R) 1/4-inch phone x 2 balanced +11dBu, output impedance 1k Ohms,
• Max. output level +22dBu
• 4 individual outputs 1/4-inch phone x 4 balanced +11dBu, output impedance 1k Ohms,
• Max. output level +22dBu
• Phones output 1/4-inch stereo phone x 1, 200mW / 100 ohms
• Digital output RCA-pin x 1 S/PDIF
• MIDI inputs 5-pin DIN x 2
• MIDI outputs 5-pin DIN x 4
• USB Slave connector x 1, USB MASS STORAGE CLASS support
• (You need Windows 2000/Me/XP or later version, or MacOS 9.x/10.x or later version.)
• Footswitches 1/4-inch phone x 2
POWER
• 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz
• Consumption: 70W max (with all options)
STANDARD ACCESSORIES
32MB Compact Flash card, Power cable, Operator's manual

OPTIONS
EXM128 128MB expansion memory card

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