Akai's roots trace back to 1929 in Tokyo, known for high-quality tape recorders and audio equipment. In 1984, the company launched a dedicated music division — Akai Professional — and brought on legendary drum machine designer Roger Linn to create something new.
The result, in 1988, was the MPC60 — the original Music Production Center, combining sampling and sequencing in one intuitive instrument. It reshaped entire genres: producers like J Dilla, Kanye West, and DJ Shadow built their sound around it, and its pad-based workflow became the foundation of modern hip-hop and electronic production.
Today, Akai Professional carries that legacy forward with MPC hardware, keyboard controllers, and production gear built to put sampling and sequencing directly in musicians' hands.
