Akai teases SampleKey keyboard sampler with open firmware

Akai has teased the SampleKey, a keyboard sampler with open firmware, in a video on its Instagram account. There has been no formal announcement. Akai says only that it is coming soon, with no release date and no price.

The day before, Behringer announced a $150 sampler in the style of the MPC with open-source firmware, and many people noticed its similarity to Akai's MPC One. Akai answered with this video on its own account. Retailers usually leak Akai products weeks ahead, but this time the company teased the unit itself.

What the video shows

SampleKey looks like the keyboard variant of the MPC Sample. It has a two-octave keybed with 24 keys, pitch and mod wheels, three knobs, a larger encoder and another one on the left side. A screen sits in the centre, likely the same one used on the MPC Sample, with numerous buttons around it. In the video the quick editing makes details hard to read, so the exact feature set is not confirmed. An onboard speaker appears to be there too. The MPC pads are missing, since they stay exclusive to the MPC Sample.

In the voice-over, Akai Dan says the unit can sample on individual keys, make automatic key splits and "do all the fun things you want with sound".

Open to the community

The firmware is the surprise. Dan says Akai is opening it to the community, so that users can vibe-code their own functions into the unit. Akai says it is down with the AI and vibe-coding community and that SampleKey "can be whatever you want".

The video gives two examples. One person has Claude write an 808 beat while playing the pitch wheel and keys. Another codes with Claude to install a variant of Native Instruments' Massive on the device.

The video does not say how powerful the processor inside is. The MPC Sample, of which SampleKey appears to be a keyboard variant, is on sale now.

Source: Gearnews