Overview Video Specs Downloads
Find a Dealer
NEW

MPC Live 3

Unleash the Power of Standalone

Where to Buy Downloads

We built MPC Live III for producers who move fast. It’s packed with dynamic production tools, responsive controls, sounds designed by the industry’s top sample makers, and the fastest processor of any MPC to date. From basic beatmaking to advanced music production and the most demanding live-performance workflows, MPC Live III redefines the power of standalone.

WATCH THE FEATURES OVERVIEW WITH ANDY MAC

AN ICON EVOLVES

MPC has been at the heart of modern music—powering iconic records, shaping genres, and defining the sound of a generation. We’ve listened closely to the creators behind that legacy, taking in what you need to stay inspired and keep creating.

MPC Live III is the result: a genre-defying, boundary-breaking production machine built for wherever music takes you. It honors the past, drives the present, and empowers you to shape what’s next.

Unbelievably Fast, Undeniably Slick

Powered by the fastest processor we’ve ever put in an MPC, this complete standalone system gives you all the production, mixing, and performance capabilities you expect from next-gen Akai Pro hardware, while unlocking the full potential of the MPC3 operating system.

Experience dynamic features like Pro Stems Separation and the ability to load up to 32 instrument plugin instances and 16 audio tracks seamlessly. This is creative horsepower without bottlenecks—it’s your flow, uninterrupted.

The Classic MPC Pad, Reimagined

MPC Live III debuts our new MPCe pads: 3D-sensing, ultra-responsive, and designed for more nuanced expression and performance. These pads enable X/Y control of one-shot layers, seamless sample blending, and dynamic note repeats and articulations for more ways to perform and produce with feeling.

Standalone, Portable, Designed to Adapt

MPC Live III is built to break out of the studio. With onboard battery, speakers, and mic, plus deep MIDI and CV control, your full setup goes wherever inspiration hits—no laptop, no limits. Whether you’re programming beats, sampling grooves, layering stems, triggering clips, or sequencing a whole track from scratch, MPC Live III’s got the range to keep up.

Expanded Workflow for the Perfect Drop

For the first time ever in an MPC, clip launching, step sequencing, and assignable performance buttons empower new ways of working—beyond the classic production toolkit. Trigger clips that land on the one. Lock in basslines and grooves that form the backbone of electronic styles.

Whether you're building a live set or dialing in the perfect drop, this MPC is for modern performance.

EXPLORE THE MPC LIVE III

with Andy Mac

Introducing MPC Live III. The most powerful all-in-one standalone music production center to date.

Features in Motion

Meet the New MPCe Pad
Step Sequencer
Clip Launching
Touch Strip Effects
24-Channel USB-C Audio
Built-in microphone

KEY FEATURES

[NEW] Expressive pads

16 MPCe pads with 3D-sensing technology for flexible music production and expressive performance

[NEW] 16-step sequencer

Dedicated controls for groovebox-style workflow

[NEW] Built-in condenser microphone

For those moments when inspiration strikes

[NEW] Direct sampling via USB-C

Grab sounds from your computer or smartphone to expand your palette

[NEW] 8-core processor with 8GB RAM

The most powerful processor ever put in an MPC

[NEW] 24-channel audio interface

With 32 channels of MIDI for seamless DAW integration, via class-compliant USB-C connection

Classic MPC-style beatmaking and programming tools

All the essentials

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

To enable wireless collaboration and file transfer

Ableton control mode

Connect via USB-C to use MPC as a controller for Ableton Live

[NEW] MPC Pro Pack

Powered by next-gen MPC3 OS and enhanced with new MPC Pro Pack features like studio-grade time-stretch, clip-launching, expanded CV control, and new pro plugins

Standalone operation

Create freely and without distraction — no computer required

7-inch multi-touch display

Intuitive layout and easy navigation, stay in the zone and in control

Touch-strip and four rotary encoders

Add tactile control for dynamic real-time performance

Rechargeable 4hr battery life

Run your session off the grid or on the plane

[NEW] Clip Matrix

Clip launch workflow for enhanced song arranging and performance

Powerful stereo monitors

For instant playback

Included sounds and samples

Access over 1,000 MPC-ready drum kits and instruments, along with a collection of premium plugin instruments for instant inspiration

What they’re saying

“It’s not recreating the old, it’s bringing the new.”

Honorable C.N.O.T.E.

“This is a dream for a writer!”

JERMAINE DUPRI

“It’s mind-blowing how advanced it is.”

MGK

“The Expressive Pads are incredible, especially for snare rolls to filters.”

KENYA GRACE

“It’s like the ultimate workstation.”

MIKE WILL MADE IT

“Having the XY grid in a pad! You can’t beat that!” 

JBLACK

“It’s literally a studio in box – Its all of Akai’s MPC’s put into one! It has no competition!”

iLLA-J

“You can record anything you want with so many modern features.”

TRICKY STEWART

“You can do so much live production you can go crazy!”

SONNY DIGITAL

“The creative possibility is outstanding.”

DECAP

“I don’t need a computer anymore!”

PAPATINHO

Compare

NEW

The most powerful next-generation all-in-one portable standalone music production center to date.

Second Generation portable drum sampler with built-in speakers and rechargeable battery for powerful music production anywhere.

Core
8 x Core Quad-Core
RAM
8GB 2GB
MPCe Pads
Yes No
16 Step Sequencer Buttons
Yes No
Touchstrip
Yes No
Microphone
Yes No
Internal Battery
Yes No
Stereo Monitors
Yes Yes
7in Multi Touch Screen
Yes Yes
USBC
Yes No
2 x MIDI
Yes Yes
XLR/ Jack
Yes Line Only
CV Gate
Yes Yes
Plugin Tracks
32 8
Audio Tracks
16 8
Timestretch Algorithm
** Super (high quality fft based timestretch) -
Proten Proten
Repitch Repitch
Stem Seperation Algorithm
Stems Pro Stems efficient
Number of Simultaneous Vocal Harmoniser Instances
16 1
App Max Polyphony
256 stereo voices 64 stereo voices
Drum and Keygroup Single Track Max Poly
64 32
SATA Drive Bay
Yes No

MPC LIVE III ACADEMY

Everything you need to create

Included Software

Powerful New Features and Plugins

MPC 3.6 introduces powerful new features and plugins, fully unlocked on the MPC Live III. Take your creativity further with tools like Clip Launching, Super Timestretch, Pro Stems, Pro Reverb, Visual EQ, CV Playground and much more. The 3.6 OS update is compatible with all legacy MPC devices excluding new features/plugins only available inside the MPC Pro Pack.
Note: Pro Stems is only supported on MPC Live III.

Endless Experimentation, Greater Control

MPC Live III introduces the new MPC3 Pro Pack, a comprehensive feature expansion that takes the MPC Live III workflow to the next level with studio-grade time-stretch, clip-launching, expanded CV control, and new pro plugins like AIR Reverb Pro, AIR Visual EQ4, AIR Fabric Select, and AIR Utility.

Premium Plugin Collection

Premium Plugins/Instruments: Fabric XL, Fabric, Fabric Piano, Fabric Electric, OPx4, Studio Strings, Organ, Hype, Tubesynth, Odyssey, Solina, Mellotron, Drumsynth, Bassling, Electric.

World-Class Sample Library

Sound Libraries: 91Vocals, Marco Polo, ProducerGrind
Samples: MARS, Sample Tools by Cr2, F9 and more
MPCe Expressive Kits Expansion

Expand your creativity with supporting Akai products

MPC Stems

Explore stem separation with MPC Stems. Isolate, split, blend, and mix drum, vocal, melodic, and bass parts of a sample to create new building...

World-class Instruments

From vintage emulations to groundbreaking synthesis, explore a full spectrum of sounds to shape your signature style.

Cutting Edge Insert Effects

Craft radio-ready hits or take your remixes to the next level with our powerful, plug-and-play FX — all from your MPC.

MPC Expansion packs

Fuel your creativity with genre-specific packs and exclusive Artist Packs. Instant inspiration to elevate every production.

Technical Specifications

We built MPC Live III for producers who move fast. It’s packed with dynamic production tools, responsive controls, sounds designed by the industry’s top sample makers, and the fastest processor of any MPC to date.

Where to Buy Downloads

  • Digital Audio System

    ADCs
    24-bit @ 44.1, 48, or 96 kHz

    DACs
    24-bit @ 44.1, 48, or 96 kHz

    Digital Signal Processing
    32-bit floating point

  • Mic Inputs 1–2

    (2) balanced XLR+1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS

    Frequency Response
    20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0.2 / -1.2 dB)

    Dynamic Range
    110.0 dB (A-weighted)

    SNR
    101.8 dB (1 kHz, +4 dBu, A-weighted)

    THD+N
    0.002% (1 kHz, +4 dBu, -1 dBFS)

    Preamp EIN
    -131 dBu (max gain, 40 Ω source, A-weighted)
    -127 dBu (max gain, 150 Ω source, unweighted)

    Maximum Input Level
    +13 dBu (XLR-Pad ON), -1 dBu (XLR-Pad OFF)

    Sensitivity
    -46 dBu (XLR-Pad ON), -60 dBu (XLR-Pad OFF)

    Gain Range
    59 dB

  • Line Inputs 1–2

    (2) balanced XLR+1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS

    Frequency Response
    20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0.2 / -1.1 dB)

    Dynamic Range
    110.6 dB (A-weighted)

    SNR
    98.6 dB (1 kHz, +4 dBu, A-weighted)

    THD+N
    0.002% (1 kHz, +3 dBu, -1 dBFS)

    Maximum Input Level
    +16 dBu

    Sensitivity
    -20 dBu

    Gain Range
    36 dB

  • Phono Inputs

    (2) unbalanced RCA

    Dynamic Range
    92 dB (A-weighted, 135 mVrms @ 1 kHz, -1 dBFS, 20 Ω source)

    SNR
    79 dB (A-weighted, 4 mVrms @ 1 kHz, 20 Ω source)

    THD+N
    0.002% (1 kHz, +3 dBu, -1 dBFS)

    Maximum Input Level
    +16 dBu

    Sensitivity
    -20 dBu

    Gain Range
    36 dB

  • Line Outputs 1–6

    (6) impedance-balanced 1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS

    Frequency Response
    20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0.03 / -0.18 dB)

    Dynamic Range
    113.8 dB (A-weighted)

    THD+N
    0.003% (1 kHz, -1 dBFS)

    Maximum Output Level
    +12 dBu

    Output Impedance
    100 Ω

  • Headphone Output

    (1) 1/4” (6.35 mm) stereo headphone

    Dynamic Range
    111.2 dB (A-weighted)

    THD+N
    0.006% (1 kHz, -1 dBFS, 10 mW/channel into 32 Ω headphones)

    Frequency Response
    20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0.03 / -0.19 dB)

    Maximum Power Delivered
    +50 mW (<1% THD, 32 Ω headphones)

    Maximum Output Level
    +11 dBu

    Output Impedance
    32 Ω

  • Pads

    (16) velocity- and pressure-sensitive pas with 3D-sensing technology

    (8) banks accessible via Pad Bank buttons

  • Knobs

    (4) 360° touch-sensitive Q-Link Knobs

    (4) Q-Link Knob columns accessible via Q-Link button

    (1) 360° encoder for display navigation and selection via push

    (1) 270° volume control

  • Buttons

    (60) dedicated function buttons; red-, amber-, or green-backlit

  • Display

    6.9” / 176 mm (diagonal)

    5.9” x 3.7” / 150 x 93 mm (width x height)

    Full-color LED-backlit display with touch interface

  • CPU

    Processor:
    Quad-core ARM® processor

    RAM:
    8 GB

    Storage:
    128 GB, expandable via SATA connections

  • Connections

    (2) 1/4” (6.35 mm) Combo XLR/TRS inputs (1 stereo pair)

    (6) 1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS outputs (3 stereo pairs)

    (1) 1/4” (6.35 mm) stereo headphone output

    (2) RCA inputs (1 stereo pair)

    (2) 5-pin MIDI inputs

    (2) 5-pin MIDI outputs

    (4) Stereo 1/8” (3.5 mm) CV/Gate outputs

    (2) USB Type-A ports

    (1) USB Type-C® port

    (1) SD card slot

    (1) power adapter input

    (1) drive bay for 2.5” (635 mm) SATA drive

  • Power

    via power adapter:
    19 V, 3.42 A, center-positive, Included

    via battery:
    lithium-ion, rechargeable, up to 3 hours of battery life with typical use

  • Dimensions

    17.2” x 10.1” x 2.6”

    435.9 x 256.0 x 67.1 mm

  • Weight

    8.6 lbs.

    3.9 kg