At the 2008 Winter NAMM Show, Akai Professional announced the MPC5000, the first MPC to include eight-track streaming hard disk recording, a 20-voice, three-oscillator analog synthesizer with arpeggiator, a new sequencing engine with 960 PPQ resolution, pad and track muting and mixing, 64 continuous sample tracks and 12 Q-Link controllers. There is even a new FX engine with 4 FX buses and 2 FX per bus.

It’s an evolution, rather than a revolution, but at least it looks like a sweet new MPC.

Features:

• Sixty four-voice drum/phrase sampler with 64MB memory built-in; expandable up to 192MB RAM
• Three-oscillator virtual analog synth engine with built-in arpeggiator
• More than 300 Virtual Analog synth presets included
• Eight tracks of Direct-to-Hard Disk recording
• More than 40 new effects available within a modular 4-bus effects processor
• Master equalizer and compressor with “old school” mode that gives a vintage sampler sound
• Built-in 80 gig hard disk drive
• Optional CD-R/DVD drive
• USB 2.0 port for computer connectivity
• CF Type-2 card slot (up to 2GB)
• Chop-Shop 2.0 – slices a stereo loop into individual samples with automatic pad assignment
• Patched Phrases – creates multiple splits in looped samples to ensure proper tempo sync without changing pitch
• Continuous Sample Track – ensures samples play in perfect sync no matter where you start the beat in a loop
• Twelve Q-link controllers for internal automation, external MIDI control and quick parameter editing.
• 240 x 128 hinged backlit LCD
• Ten built-in analog outputs, plus eight ADAT-optical outputs and stereo S/PDIF IO
• Powerful new multimode filter
• Two MIDI inputs and four MIDI outputs
• Turntable phono inputs with RIAA preamp
• XLR / 1/4″ combo jacks with selectable mic/line levels

The display is twice the size of the MPC2500 and MPC1000. Chop Shop 2.0 now supports stereo chops and Patched Phrases. The MPC5000 is also the first MPC with Random and Cycle sample playback added to the Zone play, and a turntable preamp.

The MPC5000 is expected to be available in Q2 – 2008 with an MSRP of $3,499.