Akai Pro has released specifications for the upcoming iMPC Pro – a 64-track music production center for iPad, offering built-in sampling functionality, a sound library, effects, and performance-driven features.

In addition, they’ve released a new demo video, in collaboration with developer Retronyms, that demonstrates using hardware pad controllers with the app. 

Akai iMPC Pro Features

iMPC Pro offers 64 tracks, each with 4 pad banks of 16 pads. Each of the 64 tracks has a dedicated, automatable mixer channel that features a gain fader, 3-band EQ, pan, and four effect sends. Plus, a Master Channel includes a master fader and in-line master compressor threshold and gain.

iMPC Pro can record samples three different ways:

• sing the microphone on the iPad
• using the line input on the iPad, or
• using the multi-touch turntable interface in iMPC Pro to record samples directly from iTunes or other music libraries.

In addition, a resampling feature records audio that comes out of the Master output and places it in your current project as a new sample.

iMPC Pro also comes with a sample editor that supports multi-touch editing with zoom, envelopes, gain controls, and more. Slice mode automatically splits your sounds along a time-divided grid, making it easy to chop up samples into one-shots or loops. You can then trim and audition the sample prior to committing any of your trim edits.

Additionally, you can process your sound with reverse, normalize, amplify, fade-in, and fade-out effects directly from the sample editor.

Timeline View

The all-new Timeline View opens a multi-touch gestural editor that enables you to sequence, program, record, and edit note events and their parameters all on one screen. The Timeline consists of a grid that can be set to various beat divisions, making it easy to program beats or songs by locking note events to the Timeline.

In addition, you can record directly to the Timeline, and use Time Correct to automatically quantize your playing from a range of 1/8-note to 1/32T settings with variable swing. Each note event has a horizontal line that displays the level of a specific parameter, such as the velocity level, for quickly checking or editing without diving into more menus. You can also select, copy, paste, and cut any number of note events using iOS gestures.

Built-in Sounds

iMPC Pro comes with 1,200+ sounds from sound designer Richard Devine. This collection of samples includes drum beats, synths, basses, leads and more.

You can edit any of the sounds, re-sample them, and add them to your own bank of custom sounds.

iMPC Pro also supports .WAV and .AIFF files, so you can import, edit, and produce with your own sample libraries.

Performance Features

In addition to its production capabilities, iMPC Pro offers a series of performance-driven features.

Flux, an expressive performance control, is an easy way to warp and glitch your beats into something entirely different. With real-time controls, you can drop beats, create glitch effects, and smooth out track transitions during any live performance. Flux also supports automation, so you add the same dynamic intensity to your productions.

The 3D-performance mode, a new addition to iMPC Pro, allows you to map iMPC Pro parameters to your iPad’s accelerometer and manipulate your music by tilting your iPad.

Next Sequence lets you queue and juggle your sequences, allowing you to remix and perform on the fly. And classic MPC functionality, such as MPC Note Repeat and Note Variation, let you control samples expressively.

Effects

iMPC Pro comes with an array of onboard effects that include reverbs, delays, bit crushers, limiters and more. The Turbo Duck compression effect fattens up your tracks by mixing in sidechain compression. It can also create a pumping-and-breathing effect. In addition, the Turbo Duck icon animates to the compressor’s dynamics—dipping up and down when the compressed sound “ducks” out—to provide real-time visual feedback of the effect’s intensity.

New User Interface

iMPC Pro’s UI was redesigned for a cleaner look and improved gestural control.

iMPC Pro’s interface is broken down into five tabs – Main, Program, Mixer, Timeline, and Song – that organize the core elements of your music.

iMPC Pro is also outfitted with Precision Knobs, controls that can be tapped and magnified so you can precisely dial in parameter values. Undo History allows you to roll back edits from a list of changes, enabling you to experiment with changes and return to previous states.

Inter-App Audio Integration

iMPC Pro lets you can sample directly from your other music apps.

Inter-app audio allows you to route audio and control data between apps on your device. Use iMPC’s sampler and inter-app audio to record new sounds from compatible apps for use in your programs.

iMPC Pro is also compatible with Retronym’s Tabletop app, a modular audio environment with dozens of synthesizers, sequencers, effects, and more.

AudioCopy

AudioCopy 2.0 makes it easy to paste sounds from compatible apps. Updated for compatibility with iOS 7, AudioCopy 2.0 also includes an updated UI and other improvements. Visit retronyms.com/audiocopy for more information.

Share Your Sounds

With integrated community support, you can produce a track and then upload it directly to SoundCloud, Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr from your iPad.

Hardware Control

The latest video looks at using hardware controllers, like the MPC Element and the MPC Fly, with iMPC Pro:

• The MPC Element is a portable USB MPC pad controller, with pressure and velocity sensitivity. It has a street price of about US $150.
• The MPC Fly is an iPad case that features 16 velocity-sensitive MPC pads.

Akai has also released specifications for iMPC Pro, which address a lot of reader questions about the new app:

• A platform for creating sample-based music on your iPad with renowned MPC functionality
• Sample audio from the iPad microphone, line-in, or your music library using the multi-touch turntable interface
• 64 tracks for flexible multi-tracking recording and production
• Sample Editor with undo history for slicing, chopping, trimming, and categorizing your loops and samples
• All-new Timeline View opens a multi-touch gestural editor for sequencing, recording, and editing
• All-new Flux mode lets you warp and glitch your beats in real-time or with automation
• All-new Precision Knobs expand on command for precisely dialing in parameters
• All-new 3D-performance mode lets your perform with your iPad’s accelerometer
• All-new Turbo Duck effect fattens up your tracks with sidechain compression
• Exclusive sound library featuring 1,200+ samples from sound designer Richard Devine
• Improved sampling workflow with re-sampling and sample library organization
• 16 Levels mode with attack, velocity, length, and tuning settings for quickly creating variations of your sounds
• Note Variation slider lets you adjust attack, velocity, length, and tuning as you play
• Onboard effects include delay, bit crusher, and master compressor/limiter
• Live Sequence queuing for real-time performance and playback
• Time correct: 1/8 note – 1/32T with variable swing
• MPC Note Repeat featuring 1/8 note – 1/32T timing with latch
• Supports Inter-App Audio in iOS7 for sampling from your other music apps
• AudioCopy and AudioPaste for copying/pasting beats and sequences from compatible apps
• Seamless integration with Retronym’s Tabletop app for iPad, a modular audio environment
• Export tracks to MPC Software for use with MPC Renaissance and MPC Studio
• Works with MPC Element via the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit (sold separately)
• Supports WIST, wireless Sync Start protocol from Korg
• Community sharing built-in: directly upload to SoundCloud, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or export to your computer
• iOS support for simple drag-and-drop, plucking, and multi-touch music gestures
• Interactive gesture control for automation, mixing, and effects

Note: iMPC Pro is currently in development, so features are subject to change. Pricing and availability for iMPC Pro are to be announced.

Check out the specs and demo and let us know what you think!